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