<p>I will be attending college next year but my ultimate academic goal is to get into a good grad school. Now I know that colleges look for everything in a student - grades, test scores, ECs, recommendations, etc. For grad schools, are these criteria basically the same? Because if so, I would like to begin ASAP. </p>
<p>Is there a higher focus on grades/objective data than ECs or service activities? I ask this because I will be a physics major and applying my time researching and participate in many clubs as well. But is it still important that I still seek leadership roles, try to beat everyone academically, etc? I want to do well in college, but would also like to enjoy it, which would be hard if all I focused on were good grades and ECs. If anyone has information regarding grad school applications, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!</p>
<p>ECs are completely irrelevant for graduate school applications.</p>
<p>What are you interested in going to graduate school for? Usually, the most important thing will be research, and that’s what you should focus on.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yes, since ECs and service activities count for nothing. However, grades are not necessarily the most important factor either, and test scores are relatively unimportant. Research potential, statement of purpose, recommendation letters - these are the real biggies.</p>
<h1>1 above all is always work experience and program/field-related experience. Physics grad programs as most will likely have research/thesis orientated direction.</h1>
<p>So, take this generic example Jane was asking this same question about what improves her chances for getting into Cornell’s Soil & Water graduate program.</p>
<p>What I (my opinion) would suggest to them, ranking from high to low interest:</p>
<p>1) Working as a research associate, lab hand on a grant-funded research based on physics at their undergrad college. Jane gets hands on experience on a field she’s interested in, and also gains insight of how graduate school works.</p>
<p>2) Working part time, or as an intern in a field that closely mimics what you want to gain out of the graduate program. </p>
<p>3) Good recommendations from #1/#2 showing that you excel or have mastered in the work you performed.</p>
<p>4) Strong SoP (Statement of Purpose) reflecting your goals, future, and interest of what you wish to gain out of the grad program. [Why does this program fit for you?] [What do you intend to do with it?]</p>
<p>5) GRE/GPA’s as I’ve always said, are supplemental information that don’t always display the full capacity or nature of the applicant. Obviously, higher grades will always be better, but it doesn’t prove in graduate school that you excel better than another colleague. Research/professional positions aren’t concerned on the grades while you are in the program, it’s more of a complete shift around from undergrad with a focus on projects and research questions.</p>
<p>So if I want to go to grad school for physics, I should try to make the best of every research/intern opportunity and get to know each professor well?</p>
<p>Also, I would like to double major in CS. Will grad school care about workload/class rigor? Also, it’s admittance into the program, not the school right?</p>
<p>Having a double major won’t matter unless the second major is somehow related to your research direction in the first major. And yes, you apply to the specific program/department that you are interested in.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Get to know a few of them well – don’t try to force it too much, just the ones where it’s very natural to go talk to them (you like their class and/or want to learn that stuff very well, etc). A genuine interest in some areas of study is the easiest way to make all this happen, I think.</p>
<p>Your graduate programs will look for research potential, and this is measured by a) strong mastery of the fundamentals, b) evidence of a keen desire to work to advance the field (this appears in letters of recommendation, substantial projects as an undergraduate, and such things).</p>
<p>You need 3 recommendations for most graduate programs. Focus on that, not trying to know everyone.</p>
<p>^definitely. Find people that you like and who seems at least a bit interested in YOUR well being. There are a lot of people out there who pretty much don’t give a **** about you and would not be good letter writers. </p>
<p>Some people I know don’t start really getting to know their letter writers until their 3rd year, and I really don’t know what they’re doing… whether the rest of your application is strong application or not, you need very good recommendations, and for the most part you don’t get that by just being in someone’s class for a semester.</p>