What graduate schools are competitive for me?

[Catria]

Hi everyone. I am an University of Montreal joint physics-mathematics undergraduate student with a GPA that is either 3.7, 3.67 or 3.61 (depends on how you report and calculate it). I want to make a MSc despite lack of research experience as an undergrad. I have good recommendation letters in the works and it appears I have covered graduate-level coursework as an undergrad (ask me for the details).

My recommenders told me that my file would be competitive for Tufts and Brown at the MSc level, so I'll include them into my school list, despite them being really long shots IMO.

I want to do research in astrophysics (white dwarfs, neutron stars, exoplanets) or theoretical physics (particle physics, statistical mechanics) For American schools I wonder what kind of GRE scores would make me competitive.

Here's my school list:

Canadian schools:

University of Montreal
University of Toronto
McGill

American schools:

Brown
Boston University
Penn State University
Rutgers
Tufts

If you have other schools to suggest me, please state an academically accessible school with funding enough not to go deep into debt (TA and/or RA) because I think Canadian banks won't let me take out loans to study these subfields of physics at the graduate level in the US, since I'm confident that, if I got into any of the three Canadian schools I listed I will get enough funding if I can actually attend the school (i.e. finding a supervisor on time) not to incur debt at all.

However, for all schools listed (except maybe the Quebec ones) MSc applicants are automatically considered for PhD direct entry.

 

[TonyG]

Hello! It's great to hear that you are interested in pursuing a MSc in astrophysics or theoretical physics. It sounds like you have a strong academic background and good recommendations, which are important factors in the graduate school application process.

In terms of GRE scores, it's difficult to say exactly what would make you competitive as it can vary from school to school. However, a general rule of thumb is to aim for scores in the 90th percentile or above. This would demonstrate strong quantitative and analytical skills, which are important for success in these fields.

In addition to the schools you have listed, I would suggest looking into some other top universities in the US such as Harvard, MIT, Caltech, and Princeton. These schools have strong programs in astrophysics and theoretical physics and may be a good fit for your interests.

As for funding, it's great that you are considering the financial aspect of graduate school. I would recommend reaching out to the schools you are interested in to inquire about their funding opportunities for international students. Many universities offer assistantships and fellowships that can help cover tuition and living expenses.

Best of luck with your applications!