Post on 12-Jan-2016
transcript
Secrets Revealed
Name, email
Talk a little about yourself.
You might consider a graduate program in physics if…• You enjoy doing research
• You enjoy teaching
• You want to be a professor
• You want a research job in industry or a national lab
• You want to learn more physics
• You don’t mind being poor for 5+ years
• You want to be a specialist in your field
As a Grad Student you might…
Spend a year or two taking classes and passing qualifying exams while doing part time research.
Spend the rest of your years on full time reseach.
Most PhDs take 5 or 6 years to complete, but the time varies.
PhD programs won't put you further into debt..
• Funding is usually available that will cover tuition and a living stipend.
• Teaching Assistants
• Research Assistants
• Fellowships (NSF, Ford Foundation Fellowships for minorities, Hertz, or fellowships from specific schools)
What can you do with a PhD in physics?
Academia – Professorships and research scientists at universities
Government Labs – Fundamental research Industry – R & D, engineering Finance -- Goldman Sachs Consulting – McKinsey, BCG, Booz Allen
Hamilton
Slides about your research
Slides about your research
Choose Your Schools Wisely Number -- 4-8 should include safety schools and ambitious
schools Quality of departments – your field and overall Specific faculty interests – you should have more than one
faculty member you could work for Geographic location -- Where do you want to live for 6
years? Application Deadlines – MIT’s is Jan. 1, 2008. Harvard is
Dec. 15th, 2007
Explore online and Network:– gradschoolshopper.com (run by AIP)– School websites. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with
faculty or students.
Applications (as seen from the eyes of MIT admissions)
GRE scores
Transcript
Letters of Recommendation
Statement of Purpose
MIT deadline is Jan. 1, 2008!
Physics GREsVery poor measuring device!
However, it is the first thing people will see! Register for the GRE (General & Physics)
sufficiently early– Physics GRE in October & November: later date may be
too late for some deadlines– General GRE (computer-based) has rolling administration
• Give plenty of prep time for Physics seek out study groups or review sessions for practice Look for patterns in sample questions (e.g. positronium)!
Recommendations Very important! Ask for recommendations EARLY
And be organized: give each referee a folder containing forms, pre-addressed envelopes, & a to-do list
Use people who know you. Better than big names!
One extra letter of rec is OK They should back up your personal statement.
The Personal Statement
DO– Reflect your research
experience, motivations, and preferences. Be specific!
– Be confident: this is an advertisement!
– Introduce relevant material that makes you stand out (not necessarily physics, but transferable)
– Discuss realistic research expectations (even if you don’t know what you want to do)
DON’T Lie or exaggerate State things about yourself
without examples Be arrogant or egotistical Discuss unrelated topics Talk about weaknesses Use “I have wanted to study
physics since…”
This is your opportunity to convince a reader that you are the dedicated to research and physics
(even if you are not!).
Once you get in, how do you decide? Visiting weekend
– Talk to both professors and students (and postdocs if you might work with them)
– Realize that they’re being way nice to you & calibrate– Consider the campus & surroundings (you have to live
there 5+ years)– Get contacts for further questions– Get a “feel” for how people interact in the department:
is it collegial? Antagonistic?
Ask about (in no particular order) Housing Health care Transportation Athletic facilities Student life Departmental resources Qualifying exams Course requirements Your special needs (family, childcare,
spouse/partner support, disabilities, etc.)
Moral:
You will be in graduate school for about 6 years.
It is important to choose a school and environment that fit your entire life, not
just your professional life!
Physics @ MIT
Research (just a small sampling)
AstrophysicsAtomic, Molecular
and Optical
Condensed Matter
String Theory
Particle Physics
Biophysics
Applied Physics
Don’t be fooled by the apparent divisions; collaboration is all around.
Especially with the new, shiny, futuristic….
Harvard
Green Center for Physics
Central location, Student lounges, Wong room for women in physics
Artwork, sunlight, and much much more!
Life @ MIT
MIT Facilities:• On-Campus Housing (family housing as well)• Gyms
• All dorms• Stata and Z Center have pools as well
• Extended Health Care Coverage and Medical Facilities• Extensive Library System• Transportation: Shuttles, Saferide
• Free Stuff• Symphony Tickets• Museum Admissions• Food!
Z center
Life@MIT
●Graduate Student Council●Orientation Events●Graduate Gala●Parties●Advocacy, Politics on a greater scale
●Clubs●Basically anything you can think of…
●Dormitories●Dance parties, socials, free food
Boston: Everything that’s good about a city without all the stuff that’s bad about LA
● Tons of restaurants, bars, clubs, sporting events, cultural events and, err…libraries.
● Buses, T (subsidized pass), shuttles
● Zipcar● MANY other universities
nearby● Plenty of places to go
nearby (beaches, skiing)
Life in the Physics Department
●Physics Graduate Student Council●Cookie Socials: Mingle!●First-Year Lunches: Professors give talks●Lunch Talks: Students give talks●Holiday parties, brewery tours●Advocacy, negotiation, a unified voice●Free Food: A Grad Student’s Best Friend
●Women in Physics●Physics Intramural Sports●PhysREFS: Trained Mediators and Advocates
Women in PhysicsSupported financially and ideologically by the department.
Every female application is read at least twice!
http://web.mit.edu/physics/wphys
Mentoring program with undergrads.
Retreats
Biweekly dinners
Hosting speakers
Travel Support
Taxis home
Respected voice in department!
Margaret Wong Room
Retreats
Social Activities
Child Support
MIT Physics Culture
• Grad School is not just a place for intense work
• Many life-lasting relationships are also formed here over many a delicious beer and/or coffee
• More laid back then people generally expect MIT to be
We’d Like to Think We’re More
Than