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I am finding the graduate school application process incredibly frustrating. I'm pretty sure I want to study physics, or possibly computer science theory, but this is not my undergraduate background exactly. It seems that the way to get into a good physics graduate program (say, Princeton, Columbia, UChicago, ...) is to be a physics undergrad and do excellently. I did quite a lot as an undergrad — definitely more than most — but I don't feel strong in any particular area. To whit, it feels almost absurd to apply to a graduate physics program when I've taken only three upper division physics courses. Indeed, many of the physics graduate programs explicitly state that having a bachelor's degree in physics is a prerequisite to applying to their graduate program. I'm increasingly of the opinion that perhaps the best route might be for me to continue taking courses through Extension until I can put together a strong application to the particular program of my choosing. On the other hand, the AS&T program at Berkeley would probably be pretty good for me too.
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choices, choices
Nov. 6th, 2003 01:20 amI'm so conflicted. When I get negative vibes from Google I start scheming for how I could make my application better, I start envisioning just how cool it would be to work there in these pre-IPO days, along such luminaries as Rob Pike himself... But then — I am so weird — the positive vibes scare me even more, and suddenly I have pre-emptive nostalgia for lazy days is Berkeley, taking courses, working at LBL, living in the co-op, hanging out at the 88" cyclotron. (Honestly right now the latter alternative sounds so much more attractive, but tomorrow my view will probably change again...) Sometimes I'm glad these things aren't entirely up to me.
Oh yes, I should add that the U.C. Berkeley "letter of recommendation" form for graduate school has checkboxes with the following options:
That's what we're up against.
