Graduate School Pathways and Selecting Programs

PHYS 4604 · Lecture 8

Andrew J. Steinmetz

2026-10-16

PHD Comics strip titled How Grad School Is Just Like Kindergarten, six paired panels comparing kindergarteners to grad students: all-day napping is acceptable, there is constant adult supervision, you get cookies for lunch, the most common activity is cutting and pasting, there are no grades (you just have to play well with others), and crying for your mommy is normal.

Copyright © 2010 by Jorge Cham · Source: (Cham 2010)

Upcoming

What When Points
NSF GRFP reference letters Oct. 16 (today), 8:00 PM ET –
NSF GRFP deadline – Physics & Astronomy Oct. 23, 8:00 PM ET –
Astrophysics/Astro Graduate Q&A (Room CCB 103) Nov. 12, 3:30–4:30 PM ET –
Personal statement or cover letter Nov. 20, 11:59 PM ET 15%

The goal of today’s lecture: leave with the start of a program list, and a plan for who to contact.

Part I: Two ways to a graduate degree

Direct PhD

  • The U.S. physics norm: apply straight from your B.S.
  • Funded: tuition waiver plus a stipend (CoS GT: $37,500/yr for the 2026-27 academic year)
  • About 5–6 years; often M.S. along the way

Terminal M.S.

  • 1–2 years, coursework or thesis
  • Often self-funded; or funded via external job
  • Primarily a route to industry

PhD abroad: in much of Europe a master’s comes first, then a 3–5 year PhD, often a paid position with a named supervisor (e.g., Germany, the Netherlands). UK research-council funding for international students is capped at 30% of awards.

Also consider engineering, materials science, optics, medical physics, and astronomy.

(Mulvey et al. 2019; Research in Germany, n.d.; Korteweg-de Vries Institute for Mathematics, University of Amsterdam, n.d.; UK Research and Innovation 2021)

Georgia Tech BS/MS: a fifth year here

BS/MS in Physics

For Physics, Applied Physics, and Astrophysics majors.

  • To apply: ≥ 30 GT credit hours, ≥ 3.3 GPA, < 90 total hours (can be waived)
  • 6 hours of 4000-level+ courses count toward both degrees; thesis or non-thesis M.S.
  • No application fee, GRE optional, one letter
  • Deadline Dec. 15

BS/MS in Management

Scheller College of Business; open to all College of Sciences majors.

  • M.S. with a major in Management, 30 credit hours
  • 6 hours count toward both degrees
  • Full-time, on campus, fall start
  • Scheller’s 2025 criteria: ≥ 60 credit hours, ≥ 3.5 GPA, two letters

Finish the M.S. within two years of your B.S. for shared credits to count. Undergraduate scholarships do not cover the M.S. year.

(Georgia Institute of Technology School of Physics, n.d.; Georgia Institute of Technology, n.d.; Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business 2025)

Who pays for a physics PhD?

Primary support, first-year physics grad students

Source Share
Teaching assistantship 64%
Fellowship (e.g., NSF GRFP) 18%
Research assistantship 9%
  • Most also receive a full tuition waiver
  • TAs usually come first; RAs come from your advisor’s grants once you join a group
  • A fellowship moves with you and frees you to pick any advisor

A PhD offer should include a tuition waiver and a stipend. If yours doesn’t, ask.

Survey years 2014–15 and 2015–16 · (Mulvey et al. 2019)

The Physics/Astro admissions landscape this cycle

Fall 2025 first-year enrollment, PhD departments

  • Down 8% (270 enrollments)
  • Domestic down 5%; international down 11%

Fall 2026 and 2027 offers

  • Half of PhD programs made fewer international offers
  • Most plan about the same number of offers for Fall 2027

Meanwhile, a record 2,067 physics PhDs were conferred in 2024–25.

The international picture is depressed, domestic is similar to prior years.

(Mulvey et al. 2026; Mulvey and Nicholson 2026)

Part II: Who admits you, a department or advisor?

Department admission

Most large U.S. physics programs.

  • A committee admits you to the department
  • Year 1: coursework and TA duties
  • Choose an advisor in your first year or two

Advisor admission

Many smaller or niche programs, interdisciplinary and applied programs, and most PhDs abroad.

  • A faculty member with funding has to want you
  • You join a group, and often an RA, from day one

Check each program’s website: “apply to the department” or “contact faculty first”?

(American Association of Physics Teachers, n.d.-a)

Large programs: target the department

  • At least three faculty you’d work with; funding changes, retirements, and moves happen
  • Breadth, and how easy it is to switch groups
  • Qualifying exams: what, when, and how many pass
  • Time to degree and where graduates go
  • Stipend vs. cost of living in that city
  • GradSchoolShopper (AIP): applicants and admits by department

You are betting on a department, not a person.

(American Association of Physics Teachers, n.d.-a)

Smaller or niche programs: target the advisor

  • Find one to three faculty whose work you want to do
  • Read their papers from the last two or three years; websites go stale
  • Email before you apply (October–November): are they taking students for Fall 2027?
  • Name them in your statement of purpose
  • Ask a mentor here for an introduction; a referral beats a cold email

At a small program, one faculty member saying “I want this student” can decide your admission.

(Conrad and Wright 2023; American Association of Physics Teachers, n.d.-a)

Talking to a potential advisor

Subject: Prospective PhD student, Fall 2027

Dear Prof. Lastname,

I am a senior in physics at Georgia Tech,
working with Prof. X on [project]. I read
your 2025 paper on [topic] and am interested
in [specific open question].

I am applying to [Univ.] for Fall 2027. Are
you taking new students? CV attached.

Thank you, [Name]

Keep it short: under 150 words, one person at a time, no mass emails.

Questions to ask, by email, at visits, or in year one:

  • Are you taking students?
  • How is the group funded?
  • Where did past students go?
  • How often do you meet?
  • Also: talk to current students without the advisor in the room

(Yale University Department of Physics, n.d.; California Institute of Technology Department of Physics, n.d.)

Part III: What’s in an application

Written by you

  • Statement of purpose
  • Personal statement (some programs)
  • CV

From others

  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts

Sometimes

  • GRE / Physics GRE (increasingly optional)
  • English proficiency (international applicants)

Next week: how to write each piece.

(Conrad and Wright 2023; American Association of Physics Teachers, n.d.-b)

Application timeline

When What
Sept.–Oct. Build your list; GRFP; ask letter writers (≥ 4 weeks ahead)
Oct.–Nov. Contact faculty; last fall Physics GRE window is Oct. 19–Nov. 1
Dec. 1–Jan. 15 Most deadlines
Jan.–Mar. Interviews, offers, and visit weekends
Apr. 15 Decision date for funded offers

No program can make you accept a funded offer before April 15. Use the time to visit and compare.

(ETS, n.d.; Council of Graduate Schools 2026)

What it costs, and how many to apply to

Fees (domestic / international)

  • Georgia Tech: $95 / $105
  • UC Berkeley: $135 / $155
  • Ten programs: about $1,000
  • Waivers: McNair, Pell, first-gen, NSF REU, GRFP, veterans; or ask the graduate coordinator

How many

  • 6–12 is common
  • A tiered list of about 10:
    • 2–3 reach
    • 4–5 good matches
    • 2–3 likely admits

Apply only where you would actually go.

(Georgia Institute of Technology School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, n.d.; University of California, Berkeley Graduate Division, n.d.; Georgia Institute of Technology Graduate Education, n.d.; Conrad and Wright 2023; American Association of Physics Teachers, n.d.-a)

References

American Association of Physics Teachers. n.d.-a. “Choice of Graduate School.” Accessed October 16, 2026. https://aapt.org/Resources/schchoice.cfm.
American Association of Physics Teachers. n.d.-b. “Statement on Use of GRE for Admission to Graduate Physics Programs.” Accessed October 16, 2026. https://www.aapt.org/Resources/policy/upload/Statement_on_Use_of_GRE_for_Admission_to_Graduate_Physics_Programs.pdf.
California Institute of Technology Department of Physics. n.d. “Guide for First Year Physics Grads.” Accessed October 16, 2026. https://physics.caltech.edu/academics/graduate-studies/guide-for-first-year-physics-grads.
Cham, Jorge. 2010. “How Grad School Is Just Like Kindergarten.” https://phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1286.
Conrad, Brad R., and Matthew J. Wright. 2023. “Make Your Applications Count.” The SPS Observer, September. https://students.aip.org/observer/make-your-applications-count.
Council of Graduate Schools. 2026. “April 15 Resolution.” https://cgsnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/April-15-Text-of-Resolution.pdf.
ETS. n.d. “GRE Subject Tests: Test Dates.” Accessed October 16, 2026. https://www.ets.org/gre/test-takers/subject-tests/schedule.html.
Georgia Institute of Technology. n.d. “BS/MS Options.” Accessed October 16, 2026. https://catalog.gatech.edu/academics/undergraduate/bs-ms-degree-programs.
Georgia Institute of Technology Graduate Education. n.d. “Application Fee Waivers.” Accessed October 16, 2026. https://grad.gatech.edu/admissions/application-fee-waivers.
Georgia Institute of Technology School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. n.d. “Graduate Admission.” Accessed October 16, 2026. https://www.chemistry.gatech.edu/node/2778.
Georgia Institute of Technology School of Physics. n.d. “BS/MS in Physics.” Accessed October 16, 2026. https://physics.gatech.edu/node/8052.
Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business. 2025. “Bridging the Gap: BS to MS Pathway.” https://scheller.gatech.edu/news/2025/bridging-the-gap-bs-to-ms-pathway.html.
Korteweg-de Vries Institute for Mathematics, University of Amsterdam. n.d. “PhD Students Employed by KdVI.” Accessed October 16, 2026. https://kdvi.uva.nl/research/phd-programme/phd-student-as-an-employee/phd-student-as-an-employee.html.
Mulvey, Patrick J., Trevor Owens, and Starr Nicholson. 2026. Federal Funding and Visa Uncertainty Shape Fall 2026 Graduate Admissions in Physics and Astronomy. American Institute of Physics. https://doi.org/10.1063/sr.234de1fedd.
Mulvey, Patrick, and Starr Nicholson. 2026. Roster of Physics Departments with Enrollment and Degree Data, 2025. American Institute of Physics. https://doi.org/10.1063/sr.99ee87abbe.
Mulvey, Patrick, Anne Marie Porter, and Starr Nicholson. 2019. First-Year Graduate Students in Physics and Astronomy: Characteristics and Background. American Institute of Physics Statistical Research Center. https://www.aip.org/statistics/first-year-graduate-students-in-physics-and-astronomy-characteristics-and-background.
Research in Germany. n.d. “FAQ: Doing a PhD in Germany.” Accessed October 16, 2026. https://www.research-in-germany.org/our-service/faq.html.
UK Research and Innovation. 2021. “Changes to EU and International Eligibility for UKRI Funded Studentships.” https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/UKRI-030221-Guidance-International-Eligibility-Implementation-training-grant-holders-V2.pdf.
University of California, Berkeley Graduate Division. n.d. “Admissions FAQs.” Accessed October 16, 2026. https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/faq/.
Yale University Department of Physics. n.d. “Choosing an Advisor.” Accessed October 17, 2026. https://physics.yale.edu/graduate-program/physics-graduate-student-handbook-html.