Georgetown vs. Tufts

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
1

<p>While seeing the thread's title, you might think about international relations (both schools are solid in that area) but that's not what I'm asking. In fact, I would flounder if I wanted to go into IR. And I joked to my physics friends that I had a gift for finding not-that-great graduate physics programs that would not treat grad students like numbers (York, Tufts, Brown, maybe Georgetown).</p>

<p>Let's suppose for a moment that, while doing a MS, I had a change of heart and I decided that, while still wanting to do a physics PhD (changing physics subfields between a MS and a PhD is not that uncommon for those in countries where a MS is a prequisite towards a PhD, like Canada) I may not want to do astronomy or cosmology (which Georgetown does not do anymore) anymore, and I realized by then that biophotonics was my thing. So here are my questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How good is Georgetown in physics, compared to Tufts? </p></li>
<li><p>Would a physics PhD from a brand name U that isn't that great in physics hold some weight among employers that hire physics PhDs? (For the record, there's no way one can earn a PhD without having a half-decent research record)</p></li>
<li><p>Would Georgetown even be worth attending for a physics PhD?</p></li>
<li><p>How good is Georgetown's record in job placement for STEM PhDs?</p></li>
</ol>

2

<p>Where you get your physics PhD, who and how well regarded and connected is your thesis adviser, how deep is the physics faculty, and how strong are your peers — these are critical subjective elements of how well you’ll do after you graduate. And of course the depth, originality and relevance of your PhD thesis. But as regard your first job your thesis may not matter as much as you suppose.</p>

<p>Take a look at the past 5 years of published papers in the top physics research journals. How many of the research articles were published by Georgetown (or Tufts) professors and graduate students? Do the same with papers published by faculty at “less” prestigious State Universitiesas for example University of Wisconsin, University of Illinois, and even SUNY Buffalo). This may be an eye opener.</p>

3

<p>But do the physics department at Georgetown treat grad students like numbers?</p>

<p>Even if a school had the right subject for you, if it doesn’t fit you, it doesn’t amount to very much.</p>