<p>^^^^
It looks like they have some research at UGA
[UGA</a> Physics and Astronomy | Departmental Research Facilities](<a href=“http://www.physast.uga.edu/facilities.html]UGA”>http://www.physast.uga.edu/facilities.html)</p>
<p>I know these physics grad programs are very selective, and I’ll admit I don’t know a lot about them. But I don’t know why you couldn’t get in to a highly ranked program from UGA. Maybe somebody will disabuse me of this assumption.</p>
<p>One thing I have heard is that successful applicants to these schools virtually all have 3.8 or higher GPA, and almost all of them have perfect 800s on the Math portion of the general GRE, and the Physics GRE subject test (where it’s required).</p>
<p>If worse comes to worse you can always do the intermediate step of getting a Masters someplace, then transferring.</p>
<p>Where are you in the Physics curriculum? Are you in upper or lower division? Because Physics can be tough and I noticed a marked leap in difficulty between my freshman physics class and my UD Mechanics, E&M, and QM. You want to keep on the ball and really learn your math (I didn’t and it was tough even getting through undergrad).</p>