Applying for a Physics PhD with a EE B.S.?

Graduate School
1

<p>I have been considering changing my field of study to physics for grad school. However, I am currently majoring in EE. I am afraid that I will not have the adequate background in undergraduate courses to be prepared for a physics program. </p>

<p>My reason for switching is due to my prior summer research. For the past two summers I have been working with a high energy physics research group at one of the national labs. I have also spent a semester at a NASA center doing work in physics. I have grown more interested in those areas of physics research than in EE topics. </p>

<p>Recently, I have been looking through some of the EE faculty’s websites to look for someone that I will be interested in working with for this coming term. I have looked through most of the EE department’s websites, but I have not found anything that has captivated me. </p>

<p>I could switch my major to physics for my undergraduate degree. The amount of classes that are needed to graduate between the two different majors are about the same (give or take 2 classes). However, I have also completed a substantial amount of upper division engineering classes, and it makes it hard to just throw them away in terms of graduation requirements, if I do switch. So I have been thinking of just finishing up with a B.S. in EE and apply to physics graduate programs.</p>

<p>Now the worrisome part of applying to a physics PhD program:</p>

<p>1.The competitiveness of admission. (Currently, I have a low GPA; 3.3)
2. I won’t have the undergraduate background. (subject GRE, etc.)</p>

<p>I know that physics PhD admissions are very competitive because I’ll be competing with students with 4.0 GPAs, research experience, etc., but I will be applying. After all, in the worst case scenario I won’t get accepted anywhere, which means I’ll just reapply for the following year.</p>

<p>My questions:</p>

<li>How will the admissions committee view my GPA if I stick with engineering?</li>
<li>Will I be at a huge disadvantage not having an undergraduate physics background?</li>
<li>Should I switch majors?</li>
<li>Any advice?</li>
</ol>

<p>Sorry for the long post!</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>What are you interested in doing as a career? It seems to me that that's key in deciding what to do about your major and about graduate work.</p>

3

<p>I know someone who did a Physics B.S. at Stanford, and then went on to a EE Ph.D. also at Stanford. So, it seems like there is a decent exchange of students between the two disciplines. I don't know very much more, though.</p>