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

How to apply to grad school Make a list of schools to apply to. Consider: –Geographic location –Interests of the faculty (if you know what yours are) Make sure it’s not just one person! –Quality of the department –Going to a different school than for your undergraduate degree –Application deadlines! Explore these things online: –At the webpages of schools –At gradschoolshopper.com (run by AIP) –AIP website (aip.org)

Recommendations Ask for recommendations EARLY –And be organized: give each referee a folder containing forms, pre-addressed envelopes, & a to-do list Customize referees to institutions, when possible (e.g. if you know someone who attended or worked there) Stay within parameters of applications (if they say 3-5 letters, don’t send 7 or 2!)

Tests 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)!

The essay DO –Reflect your research experience, style, and preferences –Be confident: this is an advertisement! –Introduce relevant material that makes you stand out (not necessarily physics, but transferable) DON’T –Lie or exaggerate –State things about yourself without data (“peacock terms” in Wikipedia) –Be arrogant or egotistical –Discuss unrelated topics –Be emotionally loaded

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.) AAAH!!!

Moral: Graduate school involves your whole life for a significant fraction of its duration (~20%). Choose a school and environment that fit your entire life, not just your professional life!