Is grad school right for me?
If so, how do I get there?
Prof. Marjorie Olmstead
Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs
Undergraduate Faculty Advisor
UW Department of Physics
ufaphys@[Link] November 2019
What is a PhD?
ØTake some piece of knowledge about the
universe from (frontier – ε) to (frontier + ε)
2ε
ØStart out knowing nothing about a topic, and
four years later you are the world expert
Ø“License to think” – allows you to direct research
projects, teach @ college/univ, write grants
Why Go to Grad School?
You
are Grad School GOALS
here
ØParticipate in the excitement of the
intellectual frontier
ØDeeper understanding of a subject
ØBetter/different job prospects
ØDON’T Drift into graduate school
What else could I do?
Trends in initial outcomes of physics bachelor’s
Classes of 1995 to 2014 (1 year post degree)
2017/18
47% job
29% P/A grad
19% other grad [Link]
Field of Employment
5% seeking 2013-14 data
NSF Data on Physics B.S. Careers
NSF Table 3-2. Broad occupation category of employed U.S. scientists and engineers
with a bachelor's as the highest degree, by field of highest degree: 2013
Life Science STEM: 42%
1% CS/Math
13%
STEM-related: 19%
Non-STEM: 38%
Non STEM
38% Physical Sci
14%
Social Sci
0%
Engineering
14%
Technician Health
9% STEM Manager 0%
STEM Teacher
3% 8%
What might I earn?
1 yr post B.S. (2016/7)
1 yr post Ph.D. (2016/7)
10 yr post PhD (2011)
$30k $60k $90k
Private STEM
Private non-STEM
technical
Private Non-STEM
non-technical
Private Sector
Civilian Gov't
Active Military
Gov't Sector
HS Teacher
College or Univ
Academic Sector
0 30 60 90 120 150
Salary Range ($k)
Who gets a physics PhD?
10000
3000
350
8000
300 US Pop 2500
US Institution BS BS + 6 yrs
250
6000 2000
Bachelors
200
PhD
150 1500
4000
100
PhD 1000
50
2000 Scale Ratio 3.1
0 500
(but ~ half of PhD
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000
got B.S. abroad)
0 0
2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Physics PhD’s– 2017 data N=1865 Year
• 56% US Citizens
• 17% Female PhD Programs are no
• 27% of US citizens are non-white
longer tracking B.S.
Who gets a physics PhD?
10000
3000
350
8000
US Pop 2500
300
US Institution BS BS + 6 yrs
250
6000 2000
Bachelors
200
PhD
150 1500
4000
100 UW BS * 50
PhD 1000
50
2000 Scale Ratio 3.1
0 500
(but ~ half of PhD
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 got B.S. abroad)
0 0
2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Physics PhD’s– 2017 data N=1865 Year
• 56% US Citizens
• 17% Female UW now produces 2% of
• 27% of US citizens are non-white
Physics B.S.
Newly Hired Faculty Growth < PhD
2000
2008 Hire /2004 PhD = 40%
2010 Hire /2006 PhD = 26%
Physics PhDs 2014 Hire /2010 PhD = 30%
1600
Number
1200
Jobs like mine: è10%
General Academic: <30%
800
Instructor/Adjunct Hires All Depts Total # Departments ~ Same
400 2008 2013 2018
Asst Prof Hires Bachelors 509 497 503
Bachelor Dept
0 Masters 64 57 57
PhD 189 198 201
2004 2008 2012 2016
Academic Year Total 762 752 761
What else can I do with a PhD?
Classes of 1996-7 and 2000-2001
Polled by AIP in 2011
• Self-employed
• Finance
• Gov’t Contractors
• Health & Medicine
• Industry
• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Physics
• Other STEM
• Non-STEM
Most Common Activities:
• solving complex problems
• managing projects
• writing for a technical audience
So if I do go to grad school …
ØWhat happens?
ØHow long does it take?
ØHow do I finance it?
ØHow do I figure out where to go?
ØWhat are grad schools looking for?
“Standard Path” to the Ph.D.
Take Classes
Dream New Ideas Analyze Results
Present work
Take Data/Calculate
Read other
people’s ideas,
get trained
Publish results
GRADUATE
“Standard Path” to the Ph.D.
Take Classes
2-3 years
Dream New Ideas Analyze Data
2-4 years
Present work
Take Data
Read other
people’s ideas,
get trained
Publish results
GRADUATE
So if I do go to grad school …
ØWhat happens?
ØHow long does it take? 5 6 7
8 9
ØHow do I finance it? Years of Study
ØHow do I figure out where to go?
ØWhat are grad schools looking for?
You get PAID to go to grad school!!
PLUS: Your tuition gets paid
& you don’t have to pay off student loans until you graduate
You don’t add to your savings, but
you don’t deplete them, either.
Fellowship*
Current UW Rates: $27-31k/yr
RA Current NSF Fellowship: $34 k/yr
TA Roommates
Used Car, New Computer
Time (yrs)
* NSF deadline is late October
So if I do go to grad school …
ØWhat happens?
ØHow long does it take?
ØHow do I finance it?
ØHow do I figure out where to go?
ØWhat are grad schools looking for?
[Link]
Hard copy in Student Services
Top Tier? Big? Close to home?
Ø Ranking
o Rankings are out of date – new hires make a big difference
o Top tier hire each other’s grads
o Next tier = schools like UW
o Lower tiers often have pockets of top-ranked subfields
Ø Size
o Large comprehensive department lets you change sub-fields
o Small lets you be a bigger fish in a smaller pond
o Your professional network = your grad school contacts
Ø Interdisciplinary Connections
Ø Geography
Ø Department Climate – Visit!!
So if I do go to grad school …
ØWhat happens?
ØHow long does it take?
ØHow do I finance it?
ØHow do I figure out where to go?
ØWhat are grad schools looking for?
Selection Criteria
Ø Probable success depends on traits such as:
o Commitment
o Creativity Letters and Personal Statement
o Maturity
o Confidence
o Leadership
o Communication Skills
Ø Good match between your goals and research in
the department (and not too many in one area)
Ø Successful research (or independent) experience
Ø Your UG academic performance and GRE
Ø Meet all deadlines; essay spelling and grammar
UW Admission Statistics
Ø 700 Apply ⇒ 90 – 100 Admit ⇒ 25 Enroll
Ø Physics GRE of US Admits:
o Average in the low 800’s (out of 990)
o Admission rare below the mid 600’s
UW Physics Grad Students
Ø Undergrad GPA: vs. UG GPA
50
o Average GPA = 3.8 40
30
20
o Admission rare below ~ 3.5 10
0
o Research Experience 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 4
Undergraduate GPA
o Expected: Almost everyone has some
UW’s current US News ranking is about 20
What do they know about me?
Letter of Rec 1
GRADES
Letter of Rec 2
Letter of Rec 3
GRE
Physics + General Personal Statement +
Cover Letter
Study for the GRE!
• Very different from classroom exams
• Balance Speed vs. Silly Mistakes
• Get the book “Conquering the Physics GRE”
Personal Statement
Ø Be honest and sincere
o Show, don’t tell
Ø Speak to your strengths and goals
o OK not to know your specialty, but don’t sound
wishy-washy
Ø Tailor and connect to the target department
o Mention specific research areas, faculty
Ø Address any irregularities in your record
o OK for this to be in letters of reference
Ø EDIT for grammar, spelling, coherence
o Have someone read your essay
Ø Give a copy to your references
Letters of Recommendation
Ø You need 3 letters from people with a PhD who
know you well outside the classroom
o Thank them if they say you should find someone else
Ø At least one should be from someone with whom you
have done research (either at UW or elsewhere)
o Summer REU, Local project with results by Autumn Sr Year
Ø Provide background information
o Aspects you want them to cover in their letter
Ø Give plenty of time
o Send email with a list, including deadlines and links
o Gently verify/remind as deadline approaches
Checkboxes for Recommenders
• Intellectual Potential • Motivation
• Intellectual Depth • Maturity
• Intellectual Independence • Self-confidence
• Resilience
• Intellectual Curiosity
• Concern for others
• Critical Thinking
• Analyze a Problem and • Social Skills
• Ability to Work with Others
Formulate a Solution
• Ethics and Integrity
• Creativity and Imagination
• Facility with English Language
• Academic Performance
• Research Aptitude & Potential • Oral Communication
• Written Communication
• Lab Skills & Techniques
• Planning and organization
• Potential for Teaching
• Potential for career advancement
Relative to other students at the same level, is this student:
Top 5%, 10%, 25%, above average, other, unable to judge.
Overall Advice
Ø Do research summer after junior year
o Form a GRE study group wherever you are
Ø Don’t overload your schedule senior year
o Applications and visiting weekends = extra half class
Ø Apply to 7–10 places
o 2-3 “Reach”, 2-3 “Safety”
o Don’t apply anywhere you aren’t willing to go
Ø Stand out from the rest
o Apply WELL BEFORE the deadline
o Visit, call and/or email someone you want to work with
• (but don’t bug them too much....)
Ø Check that file is complete
o Contact Grad Assistant by email
o Follow up on late letters, transcripts, etc.
It’s not for everyone, but ...
Ø Grad study in Physics can be a grand adventure.
Ø A Physics PhD prepares you for a wide variety of
careers and life experiences.
Ø If this is what you want, and you are willing to
work towards it at subsistence wages for 6 years,
GO FOR IT!
Grad Student Panel
