- #1
Simfish
Gold Member
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What courses count as "upper-division physics?" (also, which GPAs to list)
Okay, here is my department's course catalog:
http://www.washington.edu/students/crscat/phys.html
Anyways, does a "Elementary Mathematical Physics" course count as upper-division physics course? What about a "modern physics" course or a "thermal physics" course?
My physics GPA has a very sharp discontinuity between my freshman physics grades and my upper-division physics grades. My freshman physics grades were horrid (I was an immature 16-year old without prior physics background) and were all 3.1 or below, but I have since solidified myself on the fundamentals (as I shall prove on the Physics GRE). Unfortunately, my horrid freshman physics grades also carried over to both thermal and modern physics (since i also took those freshman year).
But after those courses, my physics GPA is in the 3.5-3.6 range. And my average GPA in astronomy courses is around 3.75.
So how should I list my physics grades on my personal statement? (I'm applying to astrophysics grad schools). My overall GPA is around 3.15 (horrid adolescent immaturity), but my GPA for my last two years will be around 3.6.
Okay, here is my department's course catalog:
http://www.washington.edu/students/crscat/phys.html
Anyways, does a "Elementary Mathematical Physics" course count as upper-division physics course? What about a "modern physics" course or a "thermal physics" course?
My physics GPA has a very sharp discontinuity between my freshman physics grades and my upper-division physics grades. My freshman physics grades were horrid (I was an immature 16-year old without prior physics background) and were all 3.1 or below, but I have since solidified myself on the fundamentals (as I shall prove on the Physics GRE). Unfortunately, my horrid freshman physics grades also carried over to both thermal and modern physics (since i also took those freshman year).
But after those courses, my physics GPA is in the 3.5-3.6 range. And my average GPA in astronomy courses is around 3.75.
So how should I list my physics grades on my personal statement? (I'm applying to astrophysics grad schools). My overall GPA is around 3.15 (horrid adolescent immaturity), but my GPA for my last two years will be around 3.6.
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