Careers in Physics

Graduate School

Roughly 45% of graduates of the Physics and Engineering Physics programs go to graduate school to pursue a Master's degree or Ph.D. in Physics, Math, Engineering, or Astronomy.  Information pertaining to the Physics GRE can be found on the Physics GRE Prep webpage. Recent graduates have been accepted to graduate school at the following universities:

• Cornell University
• Harvard University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Princeton University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Stanford University
• Texas A&M University
• University of California - Los Angeles
• University of California - Riverside
• University of California - Santa Barbara
• University of Arizona
• University of Cambridge
• University of Chicago
• University of Hawaii
• University of Maryland
• University of Oxford
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Rochester
• Yale University

How to Ask for a Reference

At some point in your college career, you will most likely need to use someone as a reference.  Before you begin the process of seeking references, read over the information below so you know how to get started.  And best of luck with your scholarship, internship, or whatever you're applying to!

1. Whoever you use as a reference should be someone you know in a professional setting who can write in detail about your strengths, personality, and accomplishments. This allows committees to learn more about you beyond what they can see by looking at your transcript.
2. Ideally, your reference (or letter writer) will be a professor who's taught one of your courses, a faculty or staff member supervising your research, a manager or boss of a job you've had, a supervisor of an internship or co-op you've completed, or a faculty or staff member who supervised a student organization in which you were actively involved.
3. Your reference should know you well enough to be able to:
   • Use adjectives like hard-working, reliable, dedicated, independent, enthusiastic, etc. to describe you.
   • Write about your ability to work independently as well as in a team (if applicable)
   • List specific, positive examples of your achievements (ie: "Sarah's group was falling behind, so she made an organized calendar, asked everyone to stick to it, and the group ended up having the best project out of the entire class.  This shows that Sarah is organized, dedicated, and is a team leader").
   • It's helpful (but not necessary) if your reference knows you well enough to be able to talk about your career and academic goals. 
4. Tips to keep in mind:
   • Make sure you ask permission to use someone as a reference. Students are not entitled to simply use anyone they want as a reference. A good place to start is "I am in need of a letter of recommendation for (fill in the blank).  Would you feel comfortable giving me a recommendation? If so, I will provide you with additional information".
   • Provide all necessary information, including the name of the program you're applying to, the deadline, and any necessary forms your reference needs to complete. If your reference needs to mail a letter, be sure to provide a stamped envelope. It can be helpful if you could provide a resume to your reference so they have all the information they need to write a strong letter for you. In other words, make it as easy for your reference as possible.
   • Ask sooner rather than later.  It's polite to allow your reference at least 4 weeks to write your letter or complete an online form before the deadline. 
   • Letters of recommendation are not for your eyes.  Your letter writer will send the letter directly to the committee.
   • Provide gentle reminders.  Check in with your reference a week before the deadline. Try not to appear pushy or demanding.
   • Say "thank you".  Strong letters of recommendation can take a long time to write, so make sure your reference knows you appreciate the time that he or she put in to helping you. Also, once you hear about your application, let your reference know how it went!