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grad school: prelim results
Jan. 20th, 2006 05:31 pm
I passed!From, I don't know, 2pm until 16:30 Aimee (
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lert), Trevor, and I chatted nervously in the library. At 4:30pm we went upstairs to look for Kris (vyncentvega) and Matt (lowgee). We loitered about. We'd been told that results would be available "after 4:30pm on Friday." Notification comes in the form of a mysteriously-delivered envelope with a letter containing just a few sentences. At 4 or something, we saw the faculty walking down the hallway, meaning their meeting was over, their meeting in which they discuss each one of us who took the exam and decide whether or not we should pass. Adrian (my advisor) saw us in the library and came and sat with us. "I don't write letters, but I'm happy," he said, offhandedly, before starting a discussion about a proposed light-on-light scattering experiment. Things boded well.
At 4:45pm we decided it would be alright to go down and check our mailboxes. Sure enough, there was a single thin envelope in each of our mailboxes.
Adrian went out and bought us
grad school: post-prelim
Jan. 19th, 2006 01:13 pmgah! Professor Hagen delivered a particularly brutal first session of his 408 course today (second semester quantum mechanics) which I attended for "fun." During this first class he vengefully and inexplicably worked out solutions to some homework problems from the previous course, which was taught by a different professor, as if these problems were neither adequately solved by us nor explained by the professor at the time. Then, for good measure, he solved two of the prelim problems, which he had written, for the class. The class, composed of first-years who have not yet covered the material necessary to solve these problems, quivered in bewilderment, maybe even wimpered. And while my solution for one of the problems turned out to be qualitatively correct, he dashed my illusions of having successfully solved the first problem, with, as one should expect from him, a two-line solution; my confidence is shaken.
The problem gave a hamiltonian consisting of the usual simple harmonic oscillator hamiltonian with the addition of a term "
Adrian's been giving me weird looks. The faculty have access to all of our scores but aren't supposed to say anything. I interpret the collection of weird looks and odd comments as a sign that I did well, but not well enough; and better on the second day than the first.
* * *
I saw Sid in the hallway this afternoon. He is a prodigy of an undergrad here, much more advanced than any of the graduate students, but not very self-confident. He turned down Caltech to come here; I can only presume that Rochester offered him a lot of money and Caltech none, because that is an insane thing to do. In the hallways he's told everyone his Physics GRE score (97th percentile!), looking eagerly for confirmation, affirmation. He is very sweet, too, not at all conceited but somewhat insecure. Today I ran into him in the hallway again (like I do every day while school is in session). He's moping about, with that despondent "I just applied to grad schools" look. It's January 19th, and he's moping about because he hasn't heard from any grad schools yet. Most graduate admissions committees are just starting to schedule their meetings when the'll start opening their mail at this point. "I'm not getting into Princeton," he laments, trailing off, "princeton, princeton, princeton...." I have to grab him by the shoulders and emphasize, "You are going to Princeton, do not worry." "Don't shake me," he says, and wanders, despondently into the library.
The problem gave a hamiltonian consisting of the usual simple harmonic oscillator hamiltonian with the addition of a term "
λx&delta(t)". Seeing the form "exactly-solvable H with addition of lambda times something else" I diligently approached the problem using time-dependent perturbation theory. Alas! The intent was to use the time-evolution operator Exp[I*Integral[H[t'],{t',0,t}]/hbar] and solve the problem exactly. I would not have thought to integrate the hamiltonian like that. You end up with an operator like Exp[a+a*] to which you apply the Baker-Campbell-Hausdorf identity...Adrian's been giving me weird looks. The faculty have access to all of our scores but aren't supposed to say anything. I interpret the collection of weird looks and odd comments as a sign that I did well, but not well enough; and better on the second day than the first.
* * *
I saw Sid in the hallway this afternoon. He is a prodigy of an undergrad here, much more advanced than any of the graduate students, but not very self-confident. He turned down Caltech to come here; I can only presume that Rochester offered him a lot of money and Caltech none, because that is an insane thing to do. In the hallways he's told everyone his Physics GRE score (97th percentile!), looking eagerly for confirmation, affirmation. He is very sweet, too, not at all conceited but somewhat insecure. Today I ran into him in the hallway again (like I do every day while school is in session). He's moping about, with that despondent "I just applied to grad schools" look. It's January 19th, and he's moping about because he hasn't heard from any grad schools yet. Most graduate admissions committees are just starting to schedule their meetings when the'll start opening their mail at this point. "I'm not getting into Princeton," he laments, trailing off, "princeton, princeton, princeton...." I have to grab him by the shoulders and emphasize, "You are going to Princeton, do not worry." "Don't shake me," he says, and wanders, despondently into the library.
Grad School: Prelim day 2
Jan. 18th, 2006 02:07 pmDone with the prelim! At least for now. Afterwards Kris and I held up our beers to cheers of, "to no more prelims!" Today went really well. Of course, it's a complete mystery what the standard for passing will be (to be decided in a smoke-filled/smoke-free [depending on whom you ask] room on Friday), but I feel very good about how I did.
The first question was a straightforward uncertainty principle / variational method calculation, the second... I don't even remember the second question! [Looks at notes] The second question was time dependent perturbation theory, and may have actually been the first and only time dependent perturbation theory question I've ever solved, rederiving the relevant equation on the exam based on a memory of reading Dirac's book a couple days ago. That one also involved some raising/lowering operators, etc. Third question was a very Hagen-esque one about a system of two spin 1/2 particles. Unable to see Hagen's doubtlessly two-line proof I worked out the thing with all the matrices. It didn't quite work out but I think I will receive substantial points for the effort. Then two stat mech questions which I clobbered, adding "I [heart] Stat Mech" for emphasis.
Special thanks to everyone who offered encouragement, baked lemon squares, sent nice emails or text messages, etc, that was awesome of you and I appreciate it tremendously. And now, to go get some food. Once again, you can take a look at today's questions, if you want.
The first question was a straightforward uncertainty principle / variational method calculation, the second... I don't even remember the second question! [Looks at notes] The second question was time dependent perturbation theory, and may have actually been the first and only time dependent perturbation theory question I've ever solved, rederiving the relevant equation on the exam based on a memory of reading Dirac's book a couple days ago. That one also involved some raising/lowering operators, etc. Third question was a very Hagen-esque one about a system of two spin 1/2 particles. Unable to see Hagen's doubtlessly two-line proof I worked out the thing with all the matrices. It didn't quite work out but I think I will receive substantial points for the effort. Then two stat mech questions which I clobbered, adding "I [heart] Stat Mech" for emphasis.
Special thanks to everyone who offered encouragement, baked lemon squares, sent nice emails or text messages, etc, that was awesome of you and I appreciate it tremendously. And now, to go get some food. Once again, you can take a look at today's questions, if you want.
grad school: prelim day 1
Jan. 17th, 2006 03:45 pmWell, the first day of the prelim went okay. Afterwards we went out to Aja Noodle which was actually quite tasty. Now it's time to go home and take a nap. And then cram for Day 2! You may take a gander at the questions from today if you desire. Tomorrow will be much more difficult.
grad school: prelim eve
Jan. 16th, 2006 10:31 pmAh, yes, the much awaited "prelim exam" awaits me tomorrow morning. Bree and I walked in on Kris, Matt, Aimee, and Julie in 472 (Matt and Kris's office) this afternoon, interrupting some obscure ritual. A candle burned on Kris's desk, the others were bent over it. On the display of Kris's computer terminal glowed the Wikipedia entry for "Cyanide". Hmm! As for the prelim, I would describe myself as "cautiously optimistic." Though my passing it would be a miracle. How are those for contradictory thoughts? Studying for it has actually been quite useful and moderately entertaining (!). Of exams given in the past, were they given again tomorrow, some I could pass, most I could not. We'll see how it goes.
The exam is over two days. Tomorrow is mathematics, electromagnetic theory, mechanics, and special relativity. Wednesday is statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics. Each day's exam is 4.5 hours. Results (only in the form, "you passed" or "you did not pass") are distributed on Friday at the close of business. My prediction is that none of the american students who are taking it for the first time will pass, and that american students taking it for the second time as well as all foreign students will pass. We have two opportunities to pass the exam (the next being at the end of August), which must be passed "all at once," and not in parts. For samples of the exams, see Kris's posts from day one and day two of last August's exam.
The exam is over two days. Tomorrow is mathematics, electromagnetic theory, mechanics, and special relativity. Wednesday is statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics. Each day's exam is 4.5 hours. Results (only in the form, "you passed" or "you did not pass") are distributed on Friday at the close of business. My prediction is that none of the american students who are taking it for the first time will pass, and that american students taking it for the second time as well as all foreign students will pass. We have two opportunities to pass the exam (the next being at the end of August), which must be passed "all at once," and not in parts. For samples of the exams, see Kris's posts from day one and day two of last August's exam.
grad school: prelim
Jan. 14th, 2006 02:23 pmMy studying has been lackadaisical, and, I dare say, at times fun. I know Kris (vyncentvega) and Matt would disagree; but then, they are under much greater pressure to pass than I am. A fun part of physics is figuring out problems that have elegant, clever solutions. Solving them analytically on paper and then achieving perfect correspondence with numerical simulations on the computer is quite satisfying. Dabbling at them is entertaining too, and reminds me of similar dabbling with the old programming contest problems at Berkeley. That dabbling at problems there was punctuated by annual trials at the actual programming contest, which, after a first try in which I was relatively clueless, I began to win.
I am not really expecting to pass this time, though it would certainly be to my benefit to do well.
vyncentvega) and Matt would disagree; but then, they are under much greater pressure to pass than I am. A fun part of physics is figuring out problems that have elegant, clever solutions. Solving them analytically on paper and then achieving perfect correspondence with numerical simulations on the computer is quite satisfying. Dabbling at them is entertaining too, and reminds me of similar dabbling with the old programming contest problems at Berkeley. That dabbling at problems there was punctuated by annual trials at the actual programming contest, which, after a first try in which I was relatively clueless, I began to win.I am not really expecting to pass this time, though it would certainly be to my benefit to do well.
post-prelim photos
Aug. 30th, 2005 11:33 pmCheck out this awesome picture posted by vyncentvega:
One of these days maybe I should do something about the bed-head. Or not.
vyncentvega:One of these days maybe I should do something about the bed-head. Or not.
