Graduate School Admissions:

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Graduate School Admissions The Inside Scoop
Alan Nathan Former Associate Head for Graduate
Programs Current Member of Graduate Admissions
Committee (GAC)
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Overview
To be, or not to be (a graduate student)
Things to consider when deciding whether to go
to graduate school
Tips for choosing a graduate school Sources of
information on schools, faculty, and
research Other things to consider
Tips for getting into your favorite graduate
school How the GAC does things at
Illinois Tipping the balance in your favor
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To be, or not to be (a graduate student)
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Things to keep in mind when deciding whether (or
when) to go to graduate school
Did you enjoy your summer research experience?
Graduate school is (almost) all about research.
You must be willing to invest the time (typically
5-6 years) and long hours to get a PhD.
Do the research areas you have been, and will be,
hearing about sound interesting?
Its important for you to expose yourself to all
the different research areas, to see if anything
strikes your fancy!
There is no rush to go to graduate school!
If youre not sure about your plans, consider
taking some time off before entering grad school,
but use that time productively.
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Tips for Choosing a Graduate School
Where to get information on departments Departme
ntal websites
http//www.physlink.com/Directories/Departments/In
dex.cfm
caveat emptor!
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Tips for Choosing a Graduate School
Where to get information on faculty
members Faculty websites
Go to departmental website, then to Research or
Faculty links
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Tips for Choosing a Graduate School
Where to get information on faculty members
INSPEC
http//gateway.library.uiuc.edu/phx/
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Tips for Choosing a Graduate School
Where to get information on faculty members
Web of Science
http//80-isi4.isiknowledge.com.proxy2.library.uiu
c.edu/portal.cgi/wos
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Tips for Choosing a Graduate School
Where to get information on faculty members
Graduate Programs in Physics, Astronomy, and
Related Fields
http//www.GradschoolShopper.com
http//www.aip.org/pubs/books/graduate.html
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Tips for Choosing a Graduate School
Where to get information on hot research areas
Right here! Physics Frontiers talks
But dont just take our word for it
DOE Reports (Mostly Condensed Matter/Bio)
http//www.sc.doe.gov/bes/reports/list.html
Physics in a New Era (NAS Board on Phys
Astro)
http//www.nap.edu/books/0309073421/html/
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Tips for Choosing a Graduate School
Where to get information on hot research areas
Attend seminars and colloquia!
Also Spring chooseup talks for 1st year
graduate students
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Tips for Choosing a Graduate School
Other issues to consider Is your top choice
faculty member taking students? Call or e-mail
him/her and ask, ask during visit days
What is the style of the group in which youre
interested? (find out from current grad students,
by calling or asking during visits)
Relevant Questions

• Is the advisor constantly bugging students about
  data, or is he/she only a distant memory?

• Are there collaborative research projects
  (multiple students), or does every student have
  his/her own project?

• Will you be expected to build a new apparatus
  (or write new code), or will you be jumping in
  the middle of a well-developed project?

• Is it likely youll be constantly funded during
  your tenure, or will you be expected to TA
  periodically?

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Side Issue Choosing an Advisor
The two primary issues to consider --Am I
excited about the physics? --Can I work with
this person?
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Tips for Choosing a Graduate School
Other issues to consider
Environment matters! Can you stand living in the
schools environment for 6 years?
Also, can you stand living in the groups
environment for 6 years?
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Tips for Choosing a Graduate School
Other issues to consider Dont be too
selective Apply to all the programs in which
you have a strong interest
Aim high! Dont be too quick to convince
yourself that there are schools you simply cant
get intobut also apply to a safe school
Fellowships! Remember, its not just about
admission. If your application is in top shape,
you can also have a shot at a fellowship
Dont put your eggs in one research basket
Make sure there is more than one research project
youre interested in at a particular school
Dont focus on a particular research area too
quickly Youll have time to shop around
Consider an advisor who is just starting out
Youll have to set up a lab, but this is
invaluable experience if you want to set up your
own lab someday
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Tips for Choosing a Graduate School
Other issues to consider
If you havent settled on a research area, think
big Larger schools generally have more
diversity of opportunities and research areas
Look for opportunities outside the department
Some schools may have interesting research
opportunities for physicists in other
departments, e.g., EE, Materials Science,
Biophysics, Geophysics
Go on as many visits as possible This is a
great way to see the true level of activity in a
department, to get a feel for the style of the
department and of the different research groups,
and to get a feel for the surrounding community
Apply to some safe schools
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Tips for Getting into Graduate School
Every prospective student gets an applicant
score based on a combination of GRE scores and
GPA.
The committee reads the letters of recommendation
and statements of purpose (SOP) carefully and
assigns a committee score.
The committee carefully reviews academic
transcripts to look for deficiencies in
preparation.
The students combined score, on which the
admissions decision is based, is the sum of
his/her applicant and committee scores!
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Tips for Getting into Graduate School
Admissions score
Automatic Admit
Top 20-30
Limbo
Bottom 20-30
Automatic Deny
My tips can help you if youre here!
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Tips for Getting into Graduate School
Get Involved in Undergraduate Research Undergradua
te research is becoming so common that youre at
a disadvantage if you havent been involved.
Quality Recommendation Letters Line up references
early they are important people who really know
your research and can talk specifically about
your research abilities.
Quality Statements of Purpose (see Celias
presentation!) Dont ignore the SOPits
important! Use this opportunity to discuss your
enthusiasm and love for research!
Dont slack off your senior year! If youre on
the borderline for admission, admissions
committees often ask for updates of grades and
look at course deficiencies.
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Life cycle of a grad student

• First year
• lots of courses (2-3/semester) prep for qual
• learn about research opportunities
• TAequivalent to 1 course
• First summer
• hook up with research group
• hopefully that is start of longer term
  relationship
• Second year
• fewer courses, ramp up on research
• RA in this an subsequent years
• Third year
• courses more specialized, mostly research
• thesis proposal (prelim exam)
• Years 4-N
• focus is entirely on research
• occasional seminar course