<p>My son's a junior at Franklin Olin College of Engineering, and although he's getting an engineering degree (it's all Olin offers) he has managed to fit in as many Physics courses as possible (currently taking a Physics grad school course at Brandeis). He also had a REU position last summer with a Physics professor at Wellesley. Anyway... he'd like to pursue a graduate program in Physics after he graduates. Suggestions for how to get started with the process? And does anyone have any insight into what grad schools are looking for in their applicants? Summer experience, research, undergrad courses? From what I've been reading I'm guessing it's all program-specific, but any help to get us started would be much appreciated. He's heading to Beijing next semester for a study abroad experience, so he's trying to do some of the research now.</p>
<p>[Prospective</a> Physics Graduate Student Topics](<a href=“Prospective Physics Graduate Student Topics - Physics GRE Discussion Forums”>Prospective Physics Graduate Student Topics - Physics GRE Discussion Forums) is the page to look for. But don’t you think your son should do this kind of thing for himself?</p>
<p>… Research is the main idea, btw, but grad level classes help, too. And GRE subject. And a lot of other things. Grad school admission is way different from college adm.</p>
<p>His best resource will be his professors. If he expresses his desire to attend a PhD program, with a request for advice, I’m sure they will steer him toward appropriate programs. First, however, he must know which subfields interest him, since some programs are stronger in one area than another. Engineering professors should know something about physics programs, although ultimately your son will be the one who needs to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.</p>
<p>Steps he should take:</p>
<ol>
<li>Research, research, research</li>
<li>Decide what part of physics interests him</li>
<li>Talk to professors about programs he should investigate. These conversations will also pave the way to his letters of recommendation.</li>
<li>Research each program extensively, starting with the web site and moving to publications of specific faculty members.</li>
<li>Take the GREs the summer before senior year to give him enough time to retake, if necessary.<br></li>
</ol>
<p>He cannot rely entirely on professors. My D, when researching programs in a different science, compiled a list from her professors and PIs, but many of those programs didn’t have enough professors researching the areas that interested her. It was a relatively easy way for her to narrow down where she would apply. Still, she used four or five of those suggestions in her final list of nine. The rest she got because I passed on possibilities from this forum (again, she ruled out most) and reading various rankings of programs in her field. </p>
<p>A couple of things that your son needs to keep in mind: professors are only human, and they may project their own interests on your son, particularly since they are engineers with physics backgrounds and your S plans on studying physics with an engineering background. My D found this the most difficult part of these discussions – her LOR writers all tried initially to convince her to apply to their own niches of the field, and so it took some work for them to understand HER interests. Also, he needs to take responsibility for his own future, his own career. He must make all his decisions about where to apply and where to attend.</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you for your replies. He just registered to take the GRE in January since he’ll be in China for the spring semester. He’s already talked with some of his professors for their suggestions. I have total confidence that he’ll work it all out, in his own way, but I appreciate your input. Between taking 20 credits this semester and lining up his next semester abroad he’s a bit tight for time at the moment.</p>
<p>As a junior, he won’t need to have his final list until next September. He’ll be fine, especially since he is already thinking of it, but there’s no use adding extra pressure right now.</p>
<p>Contact some potential advisors at places where he wants to go. Try to do a REU there.</p>