email
Talk a little about yourself.

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You enjoy doing research
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You enjoy teaching
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You want to be a professor
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You want a research job in industry or a national lab
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You want to learn more physics
• You don’t mind being poor for 5+ years
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You want to be a specialist in your field

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Spend a year or two taking classes and passing qualifying exams while doing part time research.
Spend the rest of your years on full time reseach.
Most PhDs take 5 or 6 years to complete, but the time varies.

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Funding is usually available that will cover tuition and a living stipend.
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Teaching Assistants
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Research Assistants
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Fellowships (NSF, Ford Foundation Fellowships for minorities, Hertz, or fellowships from specific schools)

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Academia – Professorships and research scientists at universities
Government Labs – Fundamental research
Industry – R & D, engineering
Finance -- Goldman Sachs
Consulting – McKinsey, BCG, Booz Allen
Hamilton

 Number -- 4-8 should include safety schools and ambitious schools
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Quality of departments – your field and overall
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Specific faculty interests – you should have more than one faculty member you could work for
 Geographic location -- Where do you want to live for 6 years?
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Application Deadlines – MIT’s is Jan. 1, 2008. Harvard is Dec. 15 th , 2007
Explore online and Network:
– gradschoolshopper.com (run by AIP)
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School websites. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with faculty or students.

(as seen from the eyes of MIT admissions)
GRE scores
Transcript
Letters of Recommendation
Statement of Purpose
MIT deadline is Jan. 1, 2008!

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However, it is the first thing people will see!
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Register for the GRE (General & Physics) sufficiently early
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Physics GRE in October & November: later date may be too late for some deadlines
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General GRE (computer-based) has rolling administration
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Give plenty of prep time for Physics
 seek out study groups or review sessions for practice
 Look for patterns in sample questions (e.g. positronium)!

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Very important!
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Ask for recommendations EARLY
 And be organized: give each referee a folder containing forms, pre-addressed envelopes, & a to-do list
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Use people who know you. Better than big names!
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One extra letter of rec is OK
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They should back up your personal statement.

This is your opportunity to convince a reader that you are the dedicated to research and physics
(even if you are not!).
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DO
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Reflect your research experience, motivations, and preferences. Be specific!
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Be confident: this is an advertisement!
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Introduce relevant material that makes you stand out (not necessarily physics, but transferable)
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Discuss realistic research expectations (even if you don’t know what you want to do)
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DON’T
 Lie or exaggerate
 State things about yourself without examples
 Be arrogant or egotistical
 Discuss unrelated topics
 Talk about weaknesses
 Use “I have wanted to study physics since…”

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Visiting weekend
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Talk to both professors and students (and postdocs if you might work with them)
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Realize that they’re being way nice to you & calibrate
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Consider the campus & surroundings (you have to live there 5+ years)
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Get contacts for further questions
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Get a “feel” for how people interact in the department: is it collegial? Antagonistic?

(in no particular order)
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Housing
Health care
Transportation
Athletic facilities
Student life
Departmental resources
Qualifying exams
Course requirements
Your special needs (family, childcare, spouse/partner support, disabilities, etc.)

You will be in graduate school for about
6 years.
It is important to choose a school and environment that fit your entire life, not just your professional life!

(just a small sampling)
Astrophysics
Atomic, Molecular and Optical
Particle Physics
Harvard
Condensed
Matter
Applied Physics
Biophysics String Theory
Don ’t be fooled by the apparent divisions; collaboration is all around.
Especially with the new, shiny, futuristic….

Central location,
Student lounges,
Wong room for women in physics
Artwork, sunlight, and much much more!

MIT Facilities:
• On-Campus Housing (family housing as well)
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Gyms
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All dorms
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Stata and Z Center have pools as well
• Extended Health Care Coverage and Medical Facilities
• Extensive Library System
• Transportation: Shuttles, Saferide
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Free Stuff
• Symphony Tickets
• Museum Admissions
• Food!

● Graduate Student Council
● Orientation Events
● Graduate Gala
● Parties
● Advocacy, Politics on a greater scale
● Clubs
● Basically anything you can think of…
● Dormitories
● Dance parties, socials, free food

Boston :
Everything that ’s good about a city without all the stuff that ’s bad about LA
● Tons of restaurants, bars, clubs, sporting events, cultural events and, err…libraries.
● Buses, T (subsidized pass), shuttles
● Zipcar
● MANY other universities nearby
● Plenty of places to go nearby (beaches, skiing)

● Physics Graduate Student Council
● Cookie Socials: Mingle!
● First-Year Lunches: Professors give talks
● Lunch Talks: Students give talks
● Holiday parties, brewery tours
● Advocacy, negotiation, a unified voice
● Free Food: A Grad Student’s Best Friend
● Women in Physics
● Physics Intramural Sports
● PhysREFS: Trained Mediators and Advocates

Supported financially and ideologically by the department.
http://web.mit.edu/physics/wphys
Mentoring program with undergrads.
Travel Support
Biweekly dinners
Taxis home
Retreats Hosting speakers
Respected voice in department!
Every female application is read at least twice!

Retreats
Margaret Wong Room
Child Support
Social Activities

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Grad School is not just a place for intense work
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Many life-lasting relationships are also formed here over many a delicious beer and/or coffee
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More laid back then people generally expect
MIT to be