Hey everyone
Just got into CCS Physics and I’m trying to figure out if I should go. It sounds like a really nice program, especially as a preparation for physics grad school. Right now the other school im really considering is UCLA ( or Berkeley or Cornell if I get off their waitlists).
Does anyone have any input?
so all the material CCS put out wasn’t convincing, but anonymous posts will do the trick?
Sometimes it helps to listen to other peoples’ perspectives. Some of these “anonymous posts” can be extremely helpful, particularly when from current students who can shed some light onto their experiences in a certain program. Of course, you made an account on this forum, so I assume you understand the value of these posts as well.
@geoff119, ok, let me put it a bit longer. To get into CCS you obviously are bright and submitted a strong app. However does that mean CCS is right for you? Look right at the top of the CCS webpages and you see “A Graduate School for Undergraduates” on every page. Do you know what PhD programs are like, the implicit assumptions that come when you are treated as if you are in grad school?
Grad students are expected to be largely self-driven. Many PhD programs have a list of classes to take, but by and large they are optional. If you’d prefer to take a more advanced class, or think you already know the material and want to skip it, they’re usually ok with that. You still have to pass the quals, but they’re not going to insist you take a specific list of classes to prepare. CCS is the same way.
In your PhD research you are expected to figure out what you need to learn and go out and learn it thru classes, on your own, whatever. You need to get profs to be on your thesis committee, get a topic, etc. Not all of this is on your own, you get advice, but in the end the responsibility is yours and nobody is going to be very sympathetic to “they didn’t tell me…” Since they call themselves “A Graduate School for Undergraduates” my bet is CCS has similar expectations of its students (as applicable).
So here’s the point. Not everyone is ready for this level of initiative and responsibility at 18, and there’s no shame in that. A lot of kids blossom with a bit of structure & guidance in undergrad and cheerfully accept responsibilies in grad school that would have sunk them at 18.
Are you ready? CCS over and over on their website and on posts you can find on forums like this has faculty and students saying “Hey, got questions, want to learn more, give us a call! We want to help you make the right choice.” That you, for whatever reasons (couldn’t find this out, don’t want to call and talk to profs and/or ask them to put you in touch with students, etc) have apparently not done so and instead think throwing out a question to an anonymous forum is your best approach ought to give you pause; are you really ready be take on grad-student level responsibilities in September?
Thanks for the very well put response. Yes, I have of course contacted the professors and students there, and have visited the program and will be visiting again soon. I posted this because I was hoping that students who had previously found themselves in my current position could have elaborated on their experiences with this program. I’m not sure why you feel that if someone asks for input from others, then they must not be able to take the initiative to explore their question on their own. But nonetheless, any input is of course appreciated; so thanks for what you have to say.
Thanks for keeping the tone here civil. My mistake for assuming that you had not contacted any current students.
Geoff119
This is a great forum to get personal insight and experiences and I applaud you for asking. I have used cc to contact previous ccs posters and get first hand info. Good for you.