physics major essay

Major Essay

When declaring a major in Physics, students must submit an essay to their academic advisor for approval. This essay should be 250 - 500 words and should include:

A statement of your goals in pursuing a physics major;

Areas of physics that represent your greatest interests (e.g., astrophysics);

A brief description of other academic concentrations you are planning (e.g., a minor in mathematics) and how those areas complement your interests in physics;

A description of your plans after graduation.

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Why Physics?
Introduction

Why Study Physics?

Physics Careers
Physics at Cornell

There are hundreds of possible college majors and minors. So why should you study physics?

Physics is interesting.

Physics helps us to understand how the world around us works , from can openers, light bulbs and cell phones to muscles, lungs and brains; from paints, piccolos and pirouettes to cameras, cars and cathedrals; from earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes to quarks, DNA and black holes. From the prosaic . . . to the profound . . . to the poetic. . .

Physics helps us to organize the universe. It deals with fundamentals, and helps us to see the connections between seemly disparate phenomena.

Physics gives us powerful tools to help us to express our creativity , to see the world in new ways and then to change it.

Physics is useful.

Physics provides quantitative and analytic skills needed for analyzing data and solving problems in the sciences, engineering and medicine, as well as in economics, finance, management, law and public policy.

Physics is the basis for most modern technology , and for the tools and instruments used in scientific, engineering and medical research and development. Manufacturing is dominated by physics-based technology.

Physics helps you to help others. Doctors that don’t understand physics can be dangerous. Medicine without physics technology would be barbaric. Schools without qualified physics teachers cut their students off from a host of well-respected, well paying careers.

Students who study physics do better on SAT, MCAT and GRE tests. Physics majors do better on MCATs than bio or chem majors .

Majoring in physics provides excellent preparation for graduate study not just in physics, but in all engineering and information/computer science disciplines; in the life sciences including molecular biology, genetics and neurobiology; in earth, atmospheric and ocean science; in finance and economics; and in public policy and journalism.

Physics opens the door to many career options.

More options, in fact, than almost any other college subject. Conversely, not taking physics closes the door to more career options. You can't become an engineer or a doctor without physics; you’re far less likely to get a job in teaching; your video games will be boring and your animated movies won’t look realistic; and your policy judgments on global warming will be less compelling.

College and corporate recruiters recognize the value of physics training.

Although the number of job ads specifically asking for physicists is smaller than, e.g., for engineers, the job market for those with skills in physics is more diverse and is always strong .

Because physics encourages quantitative, analytical and “big picture” thinking, physicists are more likely to end up in top management and policy positions than other technical professionals. Of the three top science-related positions in the U.S. government, two - Energy Secretary and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy - are currently held by physicists.

Physics is challenging.

This is one aspect that scares off many students. But it is precisely one of the most important reasons why you should study physics!

All of us - including professional physicists - find college physics courses challenging, because they require us to master the many concepts and skills that make training in physics so valuable in such a wide range of careers.

This also means that physics is much harder to learn after college (on your own or on the job) than other subjects like history or psychology or computer programming. You’ll get the most bang for your college buck if you take physics and other hard-to-learn subjects in your undergraduate years. You don't need to earn As or even Bs. You just need to learn enough to have a basis for future learning and professional growth.

Learn more about Physics at Cornell .

Why Study Physics?

The goal of physics is to understand how things work from first principles. We offer physics courses that are matched to a range of goals that students may have in studying physics -- taking elective courses to broaden one's scientific literacy, satisfying requirements for a major in the sciences or engineering, or working towards a degree in physics or engineering physics. Courses in physics reveal the mathematical beauty of the universe at scales ranging from subatomic to cosmological. Studying physics strengthens quantitative reasoning and problem solving skills that are valuable in areas beyond physics.

Where do I start?

Students who have never studied physics before and would like a broad introduction should consider one of the introductory seminar courses in Physics or Applied Physics. Those interested in astronomy and astrophysics might enjoy PHYSICS 15, 16 or 17, which is intended for nontechnical majors.
Students considering a career in science or engineering should start with the PHYSICS 20 & 40 series or PHYSICS 61, 71, 81 .
The PHYSICS 20 series assumes no background in calculus, and is intended primarily for those who are majoring in the biological sciences. However, such students who have AP credit in calculus or physics should consider taking the PHYSICS 40 series, which will provide a depth and emphasis on problem solving that is of significant value in biological research, which today involves considerable physics-based technology.
For those intending to major in engineering or the physical sciences, or simply wishing a stronger background in physics, the department offers the PHYSICS 40 series and PHYSICS 61, 71, 81 . Either of these series will satisfy the entry-level physics requirements of any Stanford major. However, students majoring in Physics or Engineering Physics are required to take PHYSICS 61, 71, 81 -- possibly after completing PHYSICS 41 and 43.
PHYSICS 61, 71, 81 courses are intended for those who have already taken a physics course at the level of PHYSICS 41 and 43, or at least have a strong background in mechanics, some background in electricity and magnetism, and a strong background in calculus. To determine whether you are prepared for PHYSICS 61, take the the Physics Placement Diagnostic .
The PHYSICS 40 series begins with PHYSICS 41 (mechanics), which is offered as a 4-unit course in both Autumn and Winter quarters, and continues with PHYSICS 43 (electricity and magnetism) in both Winter and Spring quarters, and PHYSICS 45 (thermodynamics and optics) in Autumn quarter.
Beginning in academic year 2023/2024, a five-unit version of PHYSICS 41 is offered in the Winter quarter: PHYSICS 41E (Extended). This course is designed to enable students who have had little or no high school physics background to succeed in physics.
The PHYSICS 61, 71, 81 series begins in the Autumn quarter (only) with special relativity and a deeper dive into mechanics.
While most students are recommended to begin with mechanics in the PHYSICS 40 series (PHYSICS 41 or 41E), those who have had strong physics preparation in high school (such as a score of at least 4 on the Physics Advanced Placement C exam) may be ready to start with PHYSICS 45 in Autumn quarter (and then take PHYSICS 43 in the Winter quarter), or to start with PHYSICS 61 in the Autumn.
Students are individually advised on the best entry point into either the PHYSICS 40 series or PHYSICS 61, 71, 81 on the basis of their score on the Physics Placement Diagnostic , which is available online.

Sustainability

Physics & Astronomy

Why major in physics.

An essay by Patrick Madigan, Bates physics alum

I wanted to let you know how physics has helped me throughout my career. I’ve written below what is basically an historical account of what I’ve done since graduating and the items that I needed to become proficient in to be successful. In all of these subjects, I relied on the basics that I learned in physics to help me quickly understand and apply the knowledge to solve the problem. I hope this helps people who are considering majoring in physics.

I liked math in High School and took calculus as a senior but it was only when I took physics that math had real value to me. In physics class we put mathematics to work actually solving problems and with calculus the problems were much more real. I never understood math for math’s sake. I took a PG year at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey where I took the BC version of AP Calculus and AP Physics. I really enjoyed AP Physics at Lawrenceville because with calculus the problems became more interesting and the more difficult. I interviewed with George Ruff when I visited Bates and had a good feeling about the program. My family wanted me to major in Geo-physics since the family knew someone that had a very prestigious job with Exxon. I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do with a degree in physics but I didn’t have much interest in Geology.

My first job after graduation was at Hamilton Standard, a division of United Technologies which makes electronic engine and flight controls for military and commercial aircraft. I was hired to perform EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), Lightning and Nuclear Hardness testing at the system, subsystem and in some cases the electronic component level. I was chosen for the job because with my degree I understood the electromagnetic spectrum, how waves interact with different size apertures based on wavelength, how impedance is affected by frequency, and other general rules of E&M. We designed electronic engine controls which could withstand the plane being struck by lightning through a balance of countermeasures of shielding and peak voltage clamping at the inputs. A lightning strike is comprised of high and low frequency components that require very different solutions, something that Electrical Engineers didn’t have much appreciation for. The nuclear hardness testing consisted of bombarding electronic components with Gamma radiation or neutrons from the Sandia Pulse Reactor (SPUR) to determine survivability during a nuclear strike. The bulk of this work was done for the Stealth Bomber and similar aircraft.

After four years I left Hamilton and started a company that manufactures plastic packaging. In the early years the company primarily made aluminum molds so I learned how to design (CAD, Solid Modeling) and machine aluminum (CAM, CNC Machines). Along the way my background in mechanics and E&M helped me quickly understand electronic data communications, how cutting tool geometries work, radial cutting speeds, chip loads etc. The plastic forming process consists of heating sheet plastic material to the edge of liquid state, forming the material over the aluminum molds which are water cooled to remove the heat and therefore set the material in the formed shape. This required installing large compressed air systems and chilled water systems. Background knowledge in thermodynamics helped me better understand what was happening during the forming process because I understood heat flow, heat density, heat capacities of different materials etc. When purchasing some of the larger systems I was able to push for more efficient designs and create systems that had two uses. For example our compressed air system rejected enough thermal energy to heat the factory in the cooler months.

Along with installing manufacturing infrastructure I needed a system to keep track of manufactured items. For example, the system needed to keep track of an order for 10,000 items manufactured over several days by two people, each on a different shift, with a specific amount of material. How much total time did this take? How much Material? How much scrap was there? Did the job run at the estimated level? What was in inventory? What was on order? I found out years later that this is called an ERP system but 25 years ago I built an industry specific one out of need. My physics background allowed me to take a systematic approach to solve complex business issues.

A great book I read along the way was The Goal. It was written by Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt, a physicist and philosopher, and looks at business as a constraint problem making business seem more scientific ( http://www.goldratt.com ). The approach is similar to the Lean Manufacturing principles made famous by the Toyota Production System (TPS). Both of these approaches treat business as a system that first needs to be modeled and then can be improved by adjusting the model. I think anyone who majors in physics would be extremely comfortable with this approach. More and more businesses have realized that they need to approach their particular market this way if they are ever going to make progress in becoming “best in class”.

Finally, there are a lot of people in business that struggle with numbers. Certainly any physics graduate can easily handle the kind of numbers and structures found on a Profit and Loss Statement. With so much specialization these days, a typical physics student is the opposite with a background in how many things work.

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What You Need to Know About Becoming a Physics Major

Physics majors study matter and energy, and develop strong critical thinking skills along the way.

Becoming a Physics Major

Colleagues Writing Mathematical Formulas On Transparent Wipe Board

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Studying physics requires a strong background in mathematics.

A physics major studies questions about the universe while learning skills that prepare them for a variety of career paths. With technologies from X-rays to roller coasters involving physics, students can see the applications of their field in many parts of their lives. Physics students have the opportunity to confront complex topics and sharpen their problem-solving abilities.

What Is a Physics Major?

A physics major is a science degree path that helps explain how the world works and how the universe is structured. Majors study matter and energy and gain exposure to both classical and modern theories in the field. Students also spend time completing experiments in a lab setting. With the scale of topics relevant to physics ranging from subatomic particles to all of the visible universe, majors have plenty to explore and learn. Physics majors should also plan to learn about the connections between physics and other sciences, such as astronomy, chemistry and biology .

Common Coursework Physics Majors Can Expect

Physics majors usually start with an introductory course that covers topics such as Newton’s laws of motion, kinematics and rotational motion. Studying physics requires a strong background in mathematics, and students should expect to complete coursework in calculus and differential equations, for instance. Students may be able to take a placement test to determine where to start in their program.

Some schools offer degrees in applied physics that focus on parts of the field more directly applicable to jobs, rather than research. Some schools offer both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree options, with the former having fewer course requirements and more flexibility. Undergraduates can also pursue research at their college or university, working with faculty on projects related to electron diffraction, nanotechnology or dark matter, among other topics.

How to Know if This Major Is the Right Fit for You

Physics students should be curious about the mathematical intricacies that underlie the universe and be prepared to work on complex problems. If you are an adept mathematician who’s excited to develop strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, a physics major could be the right fit for you. Students interested in other sciences might enjoy physics for its links to fields including chemistry, seismology and oceanography. Prospective physics majors might also consider exploring coursework in engineering and computer science .

Pick the Perfect Major

Discover the perfect major for you based on your innate wiring. The Innate Assessment sets you up for success by pairing you with majors, colleges and careers that fit your unique skills and abilities.

What Can I Do With a Physics Major?

Physics majors are strong problem solvers who can apply their skills to a variety of fields. Some graduates go on to teach in middle and high schools, while others find jobs in engineering and computer science, for example. Most students who study physics as undergraduates do not pursue graduate school in physics or astronomy, according to the American Physical Society . There are opportunities for students interested in further study in the field, although admission can be competitive. Physics graduates can also pursue graduate study in engineering or enroll in law school or medical school, among other professional and higher education opportunities.

Schools Offering a Physics Major

Check out some schools below that offer physics majors and find the full list of schools here that you can filter and sort.

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A 200+ Word “Why Major” Essay Example and Analysis

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Hale Jaeger in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

250 word essay example, start with an anecdote, but avoid cliches, include smooth transitions and be specific, do your research and avoid overusing phrases, be concise and emphasize school fit.

In this article, we will focus on a prompt from Duke University that is specific to the Pratt School of Engineering.

If you are applying to the Pratt School of Engineering as a first year applicant, please discuss why you want to study engineering and why you would like to study at Duke. (250 words).

As opposed to a 100 word essay, 250 words gives you a little more space to write about your interests. Another thing to note about this prompt is that it is asking two questions: “why do you want to study at this school in particular?” and “why do you want to study engineering?”

The extra words give you enough room to talk about the type of engineering you’re interested in, Duke specific resources, and how you grew your interest in engineering over time. Here we will go through an example of a response to this prompt. Then for each paragraph, we’ll analyze what the essay does well and where it could be improved.

“One Christmas morning when I was nine, I opened a snap circuit set for my grandmother. Although I had always loved math and science. I didn’t realize my passion for engineering until I spent the rest of winter break creating different circuits to power various lights, alarms, and sensors. Even after I outgrew the toy, I kept the set in my bedroom at home and knew I wanted to study engineering.

Later in high school biology class, I learned that engineering didn’t only apply to circuits, but also to medical devices that could improve people’s quality of life. Biomedical engineering allows me to pursue my academic passions and help people at the same time. Just as biology and engineering interact in biomedical engineering, I am fascinated by interdisciplinary research in my chosen career path.

Duke offers unmatched resources, such as DuHatch and The Foundry, that will enrich my engineering education and help me practice creative problem-solving skills. The emphasis on entrepreneurship within these resources will also help me to make a helpful product. Duke’s Bass Connections program also interests me; I firmly believe that the most creative and necessary problem solving comes by bringing people together from different backgrounds.

Through this program, I can use my engineering education to solve complicated societal problems, such as creating sustainable surgical tools for low income countries. Along the way I can learn alongside experts in the field. Duke’s openness and collaborative culture span across its academic disciplines, making Duke the best place for me to grow both as an engineer and as a social advocate.”

This first paragraph does something excellent, which is it starts with an anecdote. In the introductory anecdote, the author mentions specific things like alarms, lights, and sensors, so the reader can really visualize what’s happening.

Another strength of this excerpt is that the anecdote moves through time very quickly. It starts with Christmas morning, progresses to the rest of winter break, and then finally ends by discussing after the author outgrew the toy. That temporal growth is good because it gets a reader in and out of the anecdote quickly while feeling nostalgic. It makes the reader feel connected to the writer.

One weakness of this paragraph, however, is that the last line is a little too much; it hits you over the head with “I want to study engineering.” Admissions officers know that one experience from when you were nine years old may be too much to ascribe your passion for engineering to, so this doesn’t feel believable. Instead, this instance can be framed as a spark that ignited your passion for engineering or made you interested in learning more about engineering.

“Later in high school biology class, I learned that engineering didn’t only apply to circuits, but also to medical devices that could improve people’s quality of life. Biomedical engineering allows me to pursue my academic passions and help people at the same time. Just as biology and engineering interact in biomedical engineering, I am fascinated by interdisciplinary research in my chosen career path.”

This paragraph does a really good job of transitioning from the anecdote to the writer’s specific and current interest in biomedical engineering. However, there are a few drawbacks from this excerpt.

One weakness from this paragraph is that helping people is a trope that is really overused when talking about an interest in health and healthcare. You can help people in a variety of careers, so it is a bit naive to say that the only way you can help others is by pursuing a particular path. Instead, you want to make the essay sound more genuine by displaying the heart of your passion. What particular types of medical devices and interdisciplinary research is the student interested in? Which intersection of fields is the most interesting to them and why? Giving more details or even specific adjectives here would help the essay sound more informed and robust.

Another aspect of this essay that could be improved is that the author mentions their ideal career path but doesn’t elaborate on this beyond biomedical engineering as a field of study. There are many different paths you can take after studying biomedical engineering. You could go into the research and development of products, or medicine, or the research behind patient-facing studies. What about your ideal career makes you excited to pursue that given field or major?

”Duke offers unmatched resources, such as DuHatch and The Foundry, that will enrich my engineering education and help me practice creative problem-solving skills. The emphasis on entrepreneurship within these resources will also help me to make a helpful product. Duke’s Bass Connections program also interests me; I firmly believe that the most creative and necessary problem solving comes by bringing people together from different backgrounds.”

This paragraph takes on the question in the second part of the prompt by explaining explicitly why they want to study biomedical engineering at Duke. One thing this essay does very well is that it brings up Duke specific resources and opportunities – DuHatch, The Foundry, and Bass Connections. They also mention the spirit of entrepreneurship that is ingrained in the teaching at Duke and how this is important to the design process in engineering. By connecting to Duke’s academic philosophy, this shows the admissions officers that this student not only did their research but also shares values with the school itself.

One of this paragraph’s weaknesses, however, is that the student mentions that “Duke offers unmatched resources, which is quite cliche and generic. Duke already knows that they are well regarded in the engineering field, so this is a waste of words in this essay.

Another aspect of the essay that could be improved here is the vague and undeveloped idea of creative problem solving skills that would be honed by attending Duke. The author uses the phrase “problem solving” a couple of times and wastes some space on two transition sentences. Overusing this phrase detracts from the power of the language and weakens the general cadence of your essay.

“Through this program, I can use my engineering education to solve complicated societal problems, such as creating sustainable surgical tools for low income countries. Along the way I can learn alongside experts in the field. Duke’s openness and collaborative culture span across its academic disciplines, making Duke the best place for me to grow both as an engineer and as a social advocate.”

This final paragraph is a strong conclusion because it is succinct and ties together all of the previous paragraphs. It makes the essay feel complete by the time the reader reaches the end. Combining engineering and social advocacy is also a great thought. It is in line with the rest of the essay and shows that this student is person-minded and not machine-minded. It demonstrates a dedication to community, which is something that Duke values as well.

However, if the author had incorporated these ideas of social advocacy earlier in the essay, this would have emphasized their fit with Duke and made the essay even stronger. Additionally, the specific idea of creating sustainable surgical tools for low income countries is very unique and would have been more powerful if it had been mentioned earlier; here it simply feels like an afterthought.

The conclusion also includes awkward wording in some of the phrases like “Duke’s openness and collaborative culture,” which could be reworded as “Duke’s open and collaborative culture.” By reducing some of the awkward phrasing, the author would have had some more space to play around with their specific interests in biomedical engineering and Duke’s programs.

Is Your “Why Major” Essay Strong Enough?

Essays account for around 25% of your admissions decision, as they’re your chance to humanize your application and set yourself apart from other applicants with strong profiles.

The “Why Major” essay is especially important, as it allows you to reflect on your unique interests and fit with the school. Your supplement needs to demonstrate your interest in the major and paint a picture of how you’ll contribute to their program.

To understand if your essay is strong enough, we recommend using our Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. This tool will make it easier to understand your essay’s strengths and weaknesses, and help you make your writing even more compelling.

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One of the most appealing features of Physics is the way that complex physical phenomena can be explained by simple and elegant theories. I enjoy the logical aspect of the subject and I find it very satisfying when all the separate pieces of a problem fall together to create one simple theory. My interest and aptitude for maths adds an extra dimension to Studying science, particularly Physics. I relish the challenge of a complicated problem both in physics and mathematics. I am also a keen practical physicist, during a degree I would like to keep in touch with the practical side of the subject.

My interest in science extends outside the classroom. I keep up to date with new developments and ideas by reading around my school subjects in books and also in journals such as "New Scientist" and "Scientific American". I have read books by Richard Feynman, Richard Dawkins and lan Stewart, I also particularly enjoyed John Archibald Wheeler's "A Journey into Gravity and Spacetime". These books challenge me in a way that is very different from the way in which I am required to think at school.

Over the summer holidays of 2001 I arranged three weeks of work experience in the Department of Materials Science at the University of Oxford. During this time I worked with three different research groups studying the atomic structure of surfaces, use of the 3D atom probe, and the structure of magnetic storage surfaces. The work on magnetic surfaces was particularly exciting because it was a new development that could have a significant impact. I also wrote some documents for them, such as a guide to help students find Materials Science resources on the Internet. The whole experience was very useful because I had to apply what I had leamt at school to unfamiliar areas, thus using my brain in an entirely new way.

I am a keen sportsman both in and out of school, having represented my school, and the Oxford Devils' under-17 team, at basketball. For the past three years I have played cricket for the school team, being captain for two years I have been in the Oxfordshire cricket squad for my age group since the age of thirteen and have been a senior player at Bicester and North Oxford-Cricket Club since 1998. Playing team sports has taught me a lot about the importance of team work and I believe I can apply this in a working environment. Recently, I discovered an enthusiasm for scuba diving, and have achieved my open water diving license.

During my time at university I aim to get a first class education that will stand me in good stead for entering the world of work; I also want to continue my education in an environment in which I can thrive mentally. In return, the university will get a student who is hard working, always willing to learn and will put something back into the community.

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There is no profile associated with this personal statement, as the writer has requested to remain anonymous.

Related Personal Statements

Wed, 29/09/2004 - 00:00

a marvellous personal

Thu, 01/09/2005 - 00:00

a marvellous personal statement... oxford style... yeah!

Very clear, very good.

Sat, 17/09/2005 - 00:00

Very clear, very good. Thank you to whoever submitted this, it has greatly helped me to structure my statement. :)

Thu, 03/11/2005 - 00:00

Well written, well done!

Thu, 22/12/2005 - 00:00

Thank you!!! :P

Thu, 16/03/2006 - 00:00

Sun, 09/07/2006 - 00:00

to be honest, your statement OWNS

Very good indeed. I was

Wed, 23/08/2006 - 00:00

Very good indeed. I was particularly interested by the last sentence - the remark regarding what the University would obtain by having you as a student. Nicely structured, and I love the way that the statement constantly relates back to the point of it. First paragraph is abit 'blah' for my liking though. Thanks.

Excellent personal statement.

Sun, 10/09/2006 - 00:00

Your enjoyment of the subject really comes through.

very well written but the

Tue, 19/09/2006 - 00:00

very well written but the final sentance made me wanna hurl

it always seems to pay to

Thu, 21/09/2006 - 00:00

it always seems to pay to mention anything to do with oxford or cambridge

Thu, 19/04/2007 - 12:00

Lolz at "Very hard working... and will put something back into the community!" I bet you've no interest in advancing the community with your life. Lolz people are just halirious..

I find the wording of the

Sat, 29/09/2007 - 21:24

I find the wording of the first paragraph is a bit over the top, and the 'putting some something back into the community' a bit pretentious. Apart from that it seems very good.

Thanks to whoever wrote this.

Sat, 03/11/2007 - 14:26

Thanks to whoever wrote this. It helped alot showing me how I should structure mine. ^_^

yeah i agree, it has helped

Tue, 06/11/2007 - 16:37

yeah i agree, it has helped me a whole lot!!!!!=^.^=

before i read this i had no idea what to write but this has given me plenty of ideas

thanks again =^.^=

This helped me a great deal

Sun, 13/01/2008 - 17:37

This helped me a great deal in what to write about.

Tue, 22/04/2008 - 22:06

Good Personal Statement given

Mon, 11/08/2008 - 09:21

Good Personal Statement given me a good idea of what i should write :), anyone else notice the spelling mistake ????

professional approach

Fri, 15/08/2008 - 11:36

Thu, 28/08/2008 - 00:34

It seems to me that you are applying to either Oxbridge, or Imperial.

That's the kind of class this statement is in. I envy you.

Somehow, this helped with mine, so thank you.

Probably outstanding

Sun, 07/09/2008 - 22:32

Yeah, like someone else said

Sun, 21/09/2008 - 14:28

Yeah, like someone else said the first para was a bit OTT. The language disrupted the flow a little. Awesome statement though ;) *steals ideas*

WOW! This owned me out the

Sun, 12/10/2008 - 20:22

WOW! This owned me out the water. Damn!

Thu, 23/10/2008 - 16:53

i basically used this to complete my entire statement. I am just that lazy.

You cant even call this a

Thu, 13/11/2008 - 10:27

You cant even call this a personal statement

Bloody hell

Tue, 18/11/2008 - 07:47

this is friggin gd u really helped me with mine thnx

hey do the univeristies keep

Mon, 24/11/2008 - 18:42

hey do the univeristies keep records of personal statements? XD

yeeeeeeeehhhhh, Oxford,

Thu, 27/08/2009 - 18:18

yeeeeeeeehhhhh, Oxford, woooooeeeee u can never have too much Oxford...sarcasm is such a useful tool.

Thu, 27/08/2009 - 18:26

Fri, 05/11/2010 - 10:22

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1.1 Physics: An Introduction

Learning objectives.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Explain the difference between a principle and a law.
Explain the difference between a model and a theory.

The physical universe is enormously complex in its detail. Every day, each of us observes a great variety of objects and phenomena. Over the centuries, the curiosity of the human race has led us collectively to explore and catalog a tremendous wealth of information. From the flight of birds to the colors of flowers, from lightning to gravity, from quarks to clusters of galaxies, from the flow of time to the mystery of the creation of the universe, we have asked questions and assembled huge arrays of facts. In the face of all these details, we have discovered that a surprisingly small and unified set of physical laws can explain what we observe. As humans, we make generalizations and seek order. We have found that nature is remarkably cooperative—it exhibits the underlying order and simplicity we so value.

It is the underlying order of nature that makes science in general, and physics in particular, so enjoyable to study. For example, what do a bag of chips and a car battery have in common? Both contain energy that can be converted to other forms. The law of conservation of energy (which says that energy can change form but is never lost) ties together such topics as food calories, batteries, heat, light, and watch springs. Understanding this law makes it easier to learn about the various forms energy takes and how they relate to one another. Apparently unrelated topics are connected through broadly applicable physical laws, permitting an understanding beyond just the memorization of lists of facts.

The unifying aspect of physical laws and the basic simplicity of nature form the underlying themes of this text. In learning to apply these laws, you will, of course, study the most important topics in physics. More importantly, you will gain analytical abilities that will enable you to apply these laws far beyond the scope of what can be included in a single book. These analytical skills will help you to excel academically, and they will also help you to think critically in any professional career you choose to pursue. This module discusses the realm of physics (to define what physics is), some applications of physics (to illustrate its relevance to other disciplines), and more precisely what constitutes a physical law (to illuminate the importance of experimentation to theory).

Science and the Realm of Physics

Science consists of the theories and laws that are the general truths of nature as well as the body of knowledge they encompass. Scientists are continually trying to expand this body of knowledge and to perfect the expression of the laws that describe it. Physics is concerned with describing the interactions of energy, matter, space, and time, and it is especially interested in what fundamental mechanisms underlie every phenomenon. The concern for describing the basic phenomena in nature essentially defines the realm of physics .

Physics aims to describe the function of everything around us, from the movement of tiny charged particles to the motion of people, cars, and spaceships. In fact, almost everything around you can be described quite accurately by the laws of physics. Consider a smart phone ( Figure 1.3 ). Physics describes how electricity interacts with the various circuits inside the device. This knowledge helps engineers select the appropriate materials and circuit layout when building the smart phone. Next, consider a GPS system. Physics describes the relationship between the speed of an object, the distance over which it travels, and the time it takes to travel that distance. GPS relies on precise calculations that account for variations in the Earth's landscapes, the exact distance between orbiting satellites, and even the effect of a complex occurrence of time dilation. Most of these calculations are founded on algorithms developed by Gladys West, a mathematician and computer scientist who programmed the first computers capable of highly accurate remote sensing and positioning. When you use a GPS device, it utilizes these algorithms to recognize where you are and how your position relates to other objects on Earth.

Applications of Physics

You need not be a scientist to use physics. On the contrary, knowledge of physics is useful in everyday situations as well as in nonscientific professions. It can help you understand how microwave ovens work, why metals should not be put into them, and why they might affect pacemakers. (See Figure 1.4 and Figure 1.5 .) Physics allows you to understand the hazards of radiation and rationally evaluate these hazards more easily. Physics also explains the reason why a black car radiator helps remove heat in a car engine, and it explains why a white roof helps keep the inside of a house cool. Similarly, the operation of a car’s ignition system as well as the transmission of electrical signals through our body’s nervous system are much easier to understand when you think about them in terms of basic physics.

Physics is the foundation of many important disciplines and contributes directly to others. Chemistry, for example—since it deals with the interactions of atoms and molecules—is rooted in atomic and molecular physics. Most branches of engineering are applied physics. In architecture, physics is at the heart of structural stability, and is involved in the acoustics, heating, lighting, and cooling of buildings. Parts of geology rely heavily on physics, such as radioactive dating of rocks, earthquake analysis, and heat transfer in the Earth. Some disciplines, such as biophysics and geophysics, are hybrids of physics and other disciplines.

Physics has many applications in the biological sciences. On the microscopic level, it helps describe the properties of cell walls and cell membranes ( Figure 1.6 and Figure 1.7 ). On the macroscopic level, it can explain the heat, work, and power associated with the human body. Physics is involved in medical diagnostics, such as x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasonic blood flow measurements. Medical therapy sometimes directly involves physics; for example, cancer radiotherapy uses ionizing radiation. Physics can also explain sensory phenomena, such as how musical instruments make sound, how the eye detects color, and how lasers can transmit information.

It is not necessary to formally study all applications of physics. What is most useful is knowledge of the basic laws of physics and a skill in the analytical methods for applying them. The study of physics also can improve your problem-solving skills. Furthermore, physics has retained the most basic aspects of science, so it is used by all of the sciences, and the study of physics makes other sciences easier to understand.

Models, Theories, and Laws; The Role of Experimentation

The laws of nature are concise descriptions of the universe around us; they are human statements of the underlying laws or rules that all natural processes follow. Such laws are intrinsic to the universe; humans did not create them and so cannot change them. We can only discover and understand them. Their discovery is a very human endeavor, with all the elements of mystery, imagination, struggle, triumph, and disappointment inherent in any creative effort. (See Figure 1.8 and Figure 1.9 .) The cornerstone of discovering natural laws is observation; science must describe the universe as it is, not as we may imagine it to be.

We all are curious to some extent. We look around, make generalizations, and try to understand what we see—for example, we look up and wonder whether one type of cloud signals an oncoming storm. As we become serious about exploring nature, we become more organized and formal in collecting and analyzing data. We attempt greater precision, perform controlled experiments (if we can), and write down ideas about how the data may be organized and unified. We then formulate models, theories, and laws based on the data we have collected and analyzed to generalize and communicate the results of these experiments.

A model is a representation of something that is often too difficult (or impossible) to display directly. While a model is justified with experimental proof, it is only accurate under limited situations. An example is the planetary model of the atom in which electrons are pictured as orbiting the nucleus, analogous to the way planets orbit the Sun. (See Figure 1.10 .) We cannot observe electron orbits directly, but the mental image helps explain the observations we can make, such as the emission of light from hot gases (atomic spectra). Physicists use models for a variety of purposes. For example, models can help physicists analyze a scenario and perform a calculation, or they can be used to represent a situation in the form of a computer simulation. A theory is an explanation for patterns in nature that is supported by scientific evidence and verified multiple times by various groups of researchers. Some theories include models to help visualize phenomena, whereas others do not. Newton’s theory of gravity, for example, does not require a model or mental image, because we can observe the objects directly with our own senses. The kinetic theory of gases, on the other hand, is a model in which a gas is viewed as being composed of atoms and molecules. Atoms and molecules are too small to be observed directly with our senses—thus, we picture them mentally to understand what our instruments tell us about the behavior of gases.

A law uses concise language to describe a generalized pattern in nature that is supported by scientific evidence and repeated experiments. Often, a law can be expressed in the form of a single mathematical equation. Laws and theories are similar in that they are both scientific statements that result from a tested hypothesis and are supported by scientific evidence. However, the designation law is reserved for a concise and very general statement that describes phenomena in nature, such as the law that energy is conserved during any process, or Newton’s second law of motion, which relates force, mass, and acceleration by the simple equation F = m a F = m a . A theory, in contrast, is a less concise statement of observed phenomena. For example, the Theory of Evolution and the Theory of Relativity cannot be expressed concisely enough to be considered a law. The biggest difference between a law and a theory is that a theory is much more complex and dynamic. A law describes a single action, whereas a theory explains an entire group of related phenomena. And, whereas a law is a postulate that forms the foundation of the scientific method, a theory is the end result of that process.

Less broadly applicable statements are usually called principles (such as Pascal’s principle, which is applicable only in fluids), but the distinction between laws and principles often is not carefully made.

Models, Theories, and Laws

Models, theories, and laws are used to help scientists analyze the data they have already collected. However, often after a model, theory, or law has been developed, it points scientists toward new discoveries they would not otherwise have made.

The models, theories, and laws we devise sometimes imply the existence of objects or phenomena as yet unobserved. These predictions are remarkable triumphs and tributes to the power of science. It is the underlying order in the universe that enables scientists to make such spectacular predictions. However, if experiment does not verify our predictions, then the theory or law is wrong, no matter how elegant or convenient it is. Laws can never be known with absolute certainty because it is impossible to perform every imaginable experiment in order to confirm a law in every possible scenario. Physicists operate under the assumption that all scientific laws and theories are valid until a counterexample is observed. If a good-quality, verifiable experiment contradicts a well-established law, then the law must be modified or overthrown completely.

The study of science in general and physics in particular is an adventure much like the exploration of uncharted ocean. Discoveries are made; models, theories, and laws are formulated; and the beauty of the physical universe is made more sublime for the insights gained.

The Scientific Method

Ibn al-Haytham (sometimes referred to as Alhazen), a 10th-11th century scientist working in Cairo, significantly advanced the understanding of optics and vision. But his contributions go much further. In demonstrating that previous approaches were incorrect, he emphasized that scientists must be ready to reject existing knowledge and become "the enemy" of everything they read; he expressed that scientists must trust only objective evidence. Al-Haytham emphasized repeated experimentation and validation, and acknowledged that senses and predisposition could lead to poor conclusions. His work was a precursor to the scientific method that we use today.

As scientists inquire and gather information about the world, they follow a process called the scientific method . This process typically begins with an observation and question that the scientist will research. Next, the scientist typically performs some research about the topic and then devises a hypothesis. Then, the scientist will test the hypothesis by performing an experiment. Finally, the scientist analyzes the results of the experiment and draws a conclusion. Note that the scientific method can be applied to many situations that are not limited to science, and this method can be modified to suit the situation.

Consider an example. Let us say that you try to turn on your car, but it will not start. You undoubtedly wonder: Why will the car not start? You can follow a scientific method to answer this question. First off, you may perform some research to determine a variety of reasons why the car will not start. Next, you will state a hypothesis. For example, you may believe that the car is not starting because it has no engine oil. To test this, you open the hood of the car and examine the oil level. You observe that the oil is at an acceptable level, and you thus conclude that the oil level is not contributing to your car issue. To troubleshoot the issue further, you may devise a new hypothesis to test and then repeat the process again.

The Evolution of Natural Philosophy into Modern Physics

Physics was not always a separate and distinct discipline. It remains connected to other sciences to this day. The word physics comes from Greek, meaning nature. The study of nature came to be called “natural philosophy.” From ancient times through the Renaissance, natural philosophy encompassed many fields, including astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and medicine. Over the last few centuries, the growth of knowledge has resulted in ever-increasing specialization and branching of natural philosophy into separate fields, with physics retaining the most basic facets. (See Figure 1.11 , Figure 1.12 , and Figure 1.13 .) Physics as it developed from the Renaissance to the end of the 19th century is called classical physics . It was transformed into modern physics by revolutionary discoveries made starting at the beginning of the 20th century.

Classical physics is not an exact description of the universe, but it is an excellent approximation under the following conditions: Matter must be moving at speeds less than about 1% of the speed of light, the objects dealt with must be large enough to be seen with a microscope, and only weak gravitational fields, such as the field generated by the Earth, can be involved. Because humans live under such circumstances, classical physics seems intuitively reasonable, while many aspects of modern physics seem bizarre. This is why models are so useful in modern physics—they let us conceptualize phenomena we do not ordinarily experience. We can relate to models in human terms and visualize what happens when objects move at high speeds or imagine what objects too small to observe with our senses might be like. For example, we can understand an atom’s properties because we can picture it in our minds, although we have never seen an atom with our eyes. New tools, of course, allow us to better picture phenomena we cannot see. In fact, new instrumentation has allowed us in recent years to actually “picture” the atom.

Limits on the Laws of Classical Physics

For the laws of classical physics to apply, the following criteria must be met: Matter must be moving at speeds less than about 1% of the speed of light, the objects dealt with must be large enough to be seen with a microscope, and only weak gravitational fields (such as the field generated by the Earth) can be involved.

Some of the most spectacular advances in science have been made in modern physics. Many of the laws of classical physics have been modified or rejected, and revolutionary changes in technology, society, and our view of the universe have resulted. Like science fiction, modern physics is filled with fascinating objects beyond our normal experiences, but it has the advantage over science fiction of being very real. Why, then, is the majority of this text devoted to topics of classical physics? There are two main reasons: Classical physics gives an extremely accurate description of the universe under a wide range of everyday circumstances, and knowledge of classical physics is necessary to understand modern physics.

Modern physics itself consists of the two revolutionary theories, relativity and quantum mechanics. These theories deal with the very fast and the very small, respectively. Relativity must be used whenever an object is traveling at greater than about 1% of the speed of light or experiences a strong gravitational field such as that near the Sun. Quantum mechanics must be used for objects smaller than can be seen with a microscope. The combination of these two theories is relativistic quantum mechanics, and it describes the behavior of small objects traveling at high speeds or experiencing a strong gravitational field. Relativistic quantum mechanics is the best universally applicable theory we have. Because of its mathematical complexity, it is used only when necessary, and the other theories are used whenever they will produce sufficiently accurate results. We will find, however, that we can do a great deal of modern physics with the algebra and trigonometry used in this text.

Check Your Understanding

A friend tells you they have learned about a new law of nature. What can you know about the information even before your friend describes the law? How would the information be different if your friend told you they had learned about a scientific theory rather than a law?

Without knowing the details of the law, you can still infer that the information your friend has learned conforms to the requirements of all laws of nature: it will be a concise description of the universe around us; a statement of the underlying rules that all natural processes follow. If the information had been a theory, you would be able to infer that the information will be a large-scale, broadly applicable generalization.

PhET Explorations

Equation grapher.

Learn about graphing polynomials. The shape of the curve changes as the constants are adjusted. View the curves for the individual terms (e.g. y = bx y = bx ) to see how they add to generate the polynomial curve.

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Arts & Sciences
Graduate Studies in A&S

Your Personal Statement for Graduate School

Starting from scratch.

The personal statement is your opportunity to speak directly to the admissions committee about why they should accept you. This means you need to brag. Not be humble, not humblebrag, but brag. Tell everybody why you are great and why you’ll make a fantastic physicist (just, try not to come off as a jerk).

There are three main points you need to hit in your essay:

Your experience in physics. Direct discussion of your background in physics and your qualifications for graduate studies should comprise the bulk of your essay. What research did you do, and did you discover anything? Did you take inspiring coursework or go to a cool seminar? What do you want to do in graduate school? There’s a ton to discuss.
Your personal characteristics. What makes you stand out? You’ve probably done a lot in college that’s not physics research or coursework. You need to mention the most impressive or meaningful of these commitments and accomplishments, and you need to demonstrate how they will eventually make you a better physicist. Are you a leader? A fundraiser? A teacher? A competitive mathematician? A team player? An activist for social change? All of these not-physics experiences may translate over to skills that will help you as a physics professor or researcher someday, and you can point this out!
Context for your accomplishments. Is there anything else about your personal history or college experience that an admissions committee needs to know? The application form itself may only have space for you to list raw scores and awards, but graduate schools evaluate applications holistically. Thus they ask for the essay so you have a chance to tell your story and bring forth any personal details (including obstacles you overcame) to help the committee understand how great you truly are. Your application readers want to help you, and they’re giving you the chance to show how hard you’ve worked and how far you’ve come. But it’s up to you to connect the dots.

This type of essay is a lot more serious and a lot less creative than a college essay, a law school essay, or an essay for admission to a humanities PhD program. You’re basically trying to list a lot of facts about yourself in as small a space as possible. This is the place to tell everyone why you’re great. Do not hold back on pertinent information.

The following is going to be a general guide about how to write a first draft of your main graduate school essay. By no means think this is the only way to do it — there are plenty of possibilities for essay-writing! However, see this as a good way to get started or brainstorm.

If you’re completely stuck, a good way to start writing your essay is to compose each of the five main components separately.

Your research experience
Your outside activities or work experience
Personal circumstances
A story about you that can serve as a hook
Your future goals + why you chose to apply to each school

At the end, we’ll piece these five different disjoint pieces together into one coherent essay.

1. Your research experience (and scientific industry employment)

This is the most important part of your essay, so it’s the place that we’ll start. We’ll pretend we’re structuring each research experience as its own paragraph (you can go longer or shorter, depending on how much time you spent in each lab or how much progress you made). Let’s see how it might work:

.Simple overview of research: what you worked on, the name of your primary supervisor (professor or boss), and the location (university + department or company + division). The first time you mention a professor, you call them by their first and last name: “I worked for Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown in Hill Valley.” All subsequent times, you address them by their title and last name: “Dr. Brown and I worked on time travel.”
“My research group was trying to build a time machine. My specific project was to improve the flux capacitor needed to make the machine work. I was able to make the capacitor exceed the 1.21 gigawatts needed for it to work. In addition, I helped do minor mechanical repairs on the DeLorean in which we built it.”
“When I came back, I decided to take two additional graduate-level courses on time travel, and I found a similar internship the following summer.”

Then you just jam it all together into a semi-coherent paragraph:

In 1985, I worked for Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown in Hill Valley. Dr. Brown’s research group was trying to build a time machine. My specific project was to improve the flux capacitor needed to make the machine work. I was able to make the capacitor exceed the 1.21 gigawatts needed for it to work. In addition, I helped do minor mechanical repairs on the DeLorean in which we built it. When I came back, I decided to take two additional graduate-level courses on time travel, and I found a similar internship the following summer .

You’re not a character from Back to the Future , and it’s not beautiful prose, but you have to start somewhere. It’s more important to get all the facts you need down on the page before you work too hard on editing. Save that for after you have a well-structured and mostly-written essay.

2. (A) Your primary extracurricular activities or (B) your primary life experiences

(A) Tell the committee about any other major honors or experiences you’ve had in physics. Also write a paragraph or two about your interests outside of physics class and science research. Use this space to highlight the really impressive features of your activities:

a second major or minor
leadership positions in clubs, student representative to department/university committees, elected position in student government
science clubs: Society of Physics Students, Math Club, engineering organizations, societies for students underrepresented in the sciences, etc.
teaching activities: TA positions, tutoring, volunteer teaching commitments in any field of study, coaching a team, etc.
other regular volunteering activities
science advocacy and activism: political issues (government funding, global warming, nuclear policy, etc), improving diversity and inclusion in the sciences, science outreach on campus or in the local community
a significant time commitment: varsity sports, heavy school-year employment, etc.
other relevant skills: writing/publishing experience, public speaking, proficiency in other languages
major fellowships, scholarships, honors, prizes, or awards you’ve won and if needed, an explanation of their significance/meaning
attendance of physics conferences, symposia, summer schools, etc. that you haven’t already been able to mention in conjunction with the description of your research

If you have done many extracurricular activities, focus your 1-2 paragraphs on leadership positions, teaching, and service, particularly in the sciences.

(B) If you came to college a few years after you left high school, or if you are coming to graduate school a few years after you left college, then you need to write a few paragraphs discussing those life experiences. What did you do during that time? What experiences led you to choose physics graduate school as your next step? If you applied earlier but your application was rejected, how have you become more qualified since the last time you applied? You can feel free to ignore some of the advice we give later about how much of the essay you should focus on discussing physics experiences — structure the essay however you need to, to get the pertinent information across. Also, use Google extensively to find advice from other people who were in a situation similar to yours.

3. Personal circumstances

Now, look back at the various disjoint pieces of your essay that you need to fit together. What else might be relevant about you that you haven’t been able to mention yet?

Are there any major shortcomings in your application package? You need to address these, but do so INDIRECTLY. If you point your own flaws out to the committee directly, you are setting yourself up for failure. However, it is possible to leave pointed explanations for them in plain sight in your essay. For example, if you have a GPA that might seem low by normal graduate school standards, you could explain the significant amount of time you devoted to other major activities or a job, or describe any obstacles you have had to overcome (with the implication that you did so while still maintaining a GPA and completing your degree).

Even if your raw scores are perfect and your research excellent, you need to make your application stand out by letting the reader know who you are as a person. More specifically, you need to give some indication of how you will contribute to the diversity in background, experience, perspective, talents, and interests of students in the program.

To quote a CommonApp essay prompt, “Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”
What makes you you ? What makes you interesting/fun/cool? What makes you stand out that won’t already be visible from your transcripts, recommendation letters, and application forms? How might you contribute to the diversity in background, experience, perspective, talents, and interests of students in a graduate program?
How did you end up in physics? Why do you want to pursue physics? Is there some event, course, experience, or activity that was particularly meaningful for your life or that guided you into this path?
Was there an extenuating circumstance that affected your performance in college? Think carefully about how and where you will discuss it. For example, you could frame it in a positive light so that you come off as resilient. An example might be “Despite [this factor], I was still able to [accomplish that].” You can also ask a trusted professor to mention it in their reference letter.

4. The hook

The final major piece of writing we’re going to do is a hook to open your essay. Do you have some anecdote, story, or achievement that will really grab the reader’s attention right away? They’re reading through nearly a thousand applications in hopes of narrowing down the pile to under a hundred, so what will make you be among those who stand out? Think about this as you assemble the rest of your essay.

5. Your future goals and why you’re interested in each graduate school

For every school you’re applying to, you need to write 1-2 paragraphs (~10% of the essay) about why you’re applying to that school.

Now this can be tricky. You need to gather some information via the Google about each individual school beforehand:

What would you be interested in researching at that school? Are there particular professors who stand out?
Does the school prefer if you have a fairly defined idea of the 2-3 people you’d want to work for ahead of time, or do they favor applicants who aren’t certain yet?
Does the school evaluate all applications at the same time, or do they send your application to separate committees for the research subfield(s) you indicate on the application form?
Why are you going to graduate school and/or what do you want to do afterwards? How will your five to seven year experience doing a PhD at a certain place prepare you for that path?

Even if you definitely know what you want to do or even if you’re completely sure you need to explore a few areas of physics, you need to write this section of your essay to cater towards each school. This involves a few hours of research on each school’s website, looking up the research fields in which the department focuses and learning about the specialization of each professor.

Here’s a good way of compiling your first draft of this section:

I [am interested in/want to] work on [one or two research fields you might be interested in]. Specific professors whom I would want to work for are [three to four professors].
My life experiences that led me to pick these choices are [something].
I am especially excited about [university name]’s [resource/opportunity] in [something to do with physics].

6. Compiling your final essay

By now, you should have written (most of) the disjoint individual pieces of the puzzle. You might be under the expected word count, you might be over the expected word count, or you might be right on track. You can forget about all that for now — it’s more important to get something together, and we’ll fix all those details later.

Because you’re probably submitting about a dozen distinct essays, let’s ignore the “Future plans” piece of the essay and try to just get one main body of the essay put together with the other paragraphs. For each school, you’ll tack the “future plans” part of the essay either onto the end of the essay or in some spot you’ve chosen in the middle that helps everything flow. For now, ignore word count and just get words on the page. You can go back through and slice out sections of the main essay to meet smaller word counts for certain schools.

Look at the pieces of your life. How do they logically fit together? Is your story best told chronologically, with one research experience or activity falling logically after the other? Or is there something that makes you so unique and special that it belongs right at the very beginning of the essay? Sort the pieces so that they assemble in a good order.

Next, we need to check on the size of these pieces. At the very least, discussion of research activities/STEM work experience and your future goals in research should make up 75-80% of your essay. If you wrote many long, elaborate paragraphs about your time in your fraternity or on the women’s tennis team, now is the time to scale that back to only a sentence. Remember that the admissions committees truly only care about your potential to succeed in the future as a physicist. If you couldn’t give a clear explanation to your major advisor about how a tangential experience shows your potential to succeed in physics, you shouldn’t include it. (Note that “I got straight A’s in graduate courses while also involved in [major time commitment]” is an acceptable reason to include something and is beneficial to state.)

Did you talk about anything that happened in your childhood? (“I was interested in physics since in the womb”) Get rid of it. The only things that happened before college that are appropriate to mention are: (1) some significant aspect of your personal background that your application would be incomplete without, or (2) major college-level achievements: research leading to a publication, getting a medal in the International Physics/Math Olympiad, or dual-enrollment programs. However, mention items from (2) sparingly. You want to show that you’ve made major strides in the past four years; do not focus on your glory days in the past.

Do your paragraphs transition neatly from one to the next, or does your essay still feel off-kilter? A simple one sentence transition between paragraphs – either at the end of one or at the start of the next – can do wonders for your essay. Make sure it would make sense to someone who doesn’t know your background as well as you. Use the transition sentences to make your essay more interesting. Tell a story.

Congratulations. Now you have your first real draft of facts. Before you joyously run to your computer to submit your graduate application or run to your professor to give it a look over, go to one of your friends first.

The biggest danger with a graduate admissions essay is that you come off as really self-centered or boring. Nobody wants to read a thousand essays that merely list every single fact about a person’s life; they want to read a story. We helped you put together the bare bones of a graduate admissions essay, but did you tell a story? Did your personality shine through?

It’s a lot easier to go back and do an overhaul of an essay if you have something down on the piece of paper. Your friends might be able to help point out places that you can make your essay flow better or seem more interesting. They can tell you where to add more pizzazz in an otherwise boring research statement (“I worked on computational models of astrophysics during the month of July.” versus “I was so stoked when I found out I’d be modeling exploding stars that summer! That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a physicist.”). Take a day off, walk around, and then go back to your draft ready to show the world how excited you are to be a physicist and what an exciting physicist you are.

Our next section gives general tips for editing your personal statement, no matter whether you took our advice on how to start writing. Go through these steps very carefully to make sure you have an essay you’re proud of to send off to the admissions committee.

By the end of this process, you should have an impressive, interesting, factual draft of your qualifications that you’re ready to show a couple of trusted professors. You’ve worked super hard, and you’ve done a good job, we’re sure. However, professors are always critical, so don’t be upset if they tell you quite a few things to change. A young student reads an essay a lot differently than the older professors who are on the admissions committee, so it’s really important to get their perspective. Listen to what they say and truly consider making those changes. Edit once more, and repeat as many times as you need to.

At some point, you’ll finally be done with this long, difficult process and can proudly press “submit!”

General Tips for Editing

First things first: a step-by-step method for proofing your essay:.

Here’s what to do step-by-step once you’ve followed our advice and have created a full first draft .

Read your essay aloud to yourself. Is it interesting? Would everything make sense to someone who doesn’t know you? Probably not… See our advice below for making your draft better . You’ll probably need to repeat step 1 many times before you get to something you think has pretty good content and is pretty interesting.
Check your grammar, spelling, and style. We have a guide to doing that at the very bottom of this page. Also, pay attention to your word processor: if there are any bright red or bright green underlines, that should be your first warning sign!
Have a trusted friend (or two) in the sciences read the essay for style and voice. Do you have a good opening hook? Are there any passages that make you come off as arrogant, whining, or annoying? (You absolutely have to brag about yourself, but don’t say it in a way that makes you come off as a jerk — scroll down for advice on that.) Have them proof your rewrite for any final errors.
Once you’ve gone through steps 1-3 and are completely certain that this is a nearly-perfect draft, have a PHYSICS PROFESSOR or two read your nearly-final essay. (D on’t send them an incomplete draft; they’ll get peeved. They’ll probably also only look over it once, so use your one shot wisely. They have a lot of students, you know. ) A graduate admissions essay is very different from a college essay. The physicists reading your application aren’t looking for the student with the most well-rounded course choices, the head of the most clubs, or the person who can write the most creative statement. They’re looking for evidence of the specific attributes that show you have the capability of being a future physicist. This is why you need to ask a professor in the field of physics . Not just a biology professor, not just a physicist in industry; make sure you ask a physics professor . Have we made this clear?
Listen to what you’re proofreaders say and amend your essay, but you don’t have to follow every last bit of advice. If your gut tells you to ignore one or two of their suggested changes, that’s okay. That is, it’s fine to make sure your essay sounds like you and says everything you want it to say.
Rinse and repeat. (redo steps 2-5)
At some point, you’ll either get right up close to the deadline or have a draft you think is final. READ IT ALOUD before you press submit.

General Content Advice

You’re applying to a physics program!

Don’t forget this! The people reading your application care most about your background in, preparation for, and involvement in activities related to physics research. You should be spending almost all of your essay demonstrating your interests and ability to do physics.

It’s okay to mention substantial time commitments and achievements outside physics; however, pay attention to how you do so. Your capacity and potential to perform scientific research are what you are mainly being judged on, so description of physics-related research, coursework, and goals should make up most of your main essay (you should aim for 75%+). If an application allows you to write separate research and personal statements, then the former statement needs to be 100% focused on physics, and the latter should frame your physics experiences/goals within the context of your personal life.

Absolutely mention teaching and outreach experiences if you have any. Grad schools really do care about these! It’s great too if some of your teaching experience is in a STEM field.
Also, don’t be shy about mentioning participation in activism , particularly related to diversity and inclusion in STEM or higher education. These are generally not seen as minuses on a physics application, and there are fellowships/ programs related to diversity at some graduate schools.
Mention of activities tangential/irrelevant to the sciences should only make up a small portion of your essay, and you should mainly highlight your biggest achievements/time commitments. For example, you shouldn’t make a long list of every one of the dozen intramural sports teams you participated on in college. However, it would be great to mention that you captained the club soccer team or that your volleyball team won a local championship.
You need to make sure it doesn’t seem like you would prefer to pursue one of these activities as a full-time career instead of physics research. Remember, you’re applying to a physics program! (Perhaps you could frame non-physics activities as demonstrating good aspects of your character: you’re hardworking, a leader, work well on a team, can balance multiple commitments, etc.)

Your essay isn’t meant to be a restatement of your CV.

The essay illuminates the how and why of what’s on your CV, and connects the dots between experiences.

You need to describe your research experiences in depth. What did each of the labs you worked in generally do, and what were your specific contributions? What did you learn about physics in each lab or what new physics did you observe/discover/create? What skills did you develop that will be useful in graduate studies? What did you learn about your own interests and talents in each lab? Did you write any reports or publish any papers? Did you present the work anywhere? Were you listed as an author on someone else’s presentation? Do you have any papers in preparation for publication, or do you plan to in the near future?
Second of all, the essay should connect the dots. How did you choose to do what you did in college? How did you choose the research experiences in which you participated? What do you want to do in your graduate studies and further in the future? Why?

Make sure you’ve included information specific to the graduate school you’re writing about.

Why are you applying to this specific program? What general research area are you leaning towards, and are there any specific professors you would be interested in? This isn’t a binding commitment. But don’t make yourself seem too narrow: if you say you only would want to go to a certain school if you could work for one or two people, that will severely hurt your chances of getting in.

Have you addressed your shortcomings adequately?

Are there any major shortcomings in your application package? You need to address these, but do so INDIRECTLY. If you point your own flaws out to the committee directly, you are setting yourself up for failure. However, it is possible to leave pointed explanations for them in plain sight in your essay. For example, if you have a GPA that might seem low by normal graduate school standards, you could explain the significant amount of time you devoted to other major activities (with the implication that you did so while still maintaining a respectable GPA and completing your degree)…

Have you fully explained your personal background?

…but even if your raw scores are perfect and your research excellent, you need to make your application stand out by letting the reader know who you are as a person. More specifically, you need to give some indication of how you will contribute to the diversity in background, experience, perspective, talents, and interests of students in the program.

Your essay should contain the highlights of your college career: your experiences, your activities, your awards. But an essay shouldn’t be just a two-page-long list: a good essay conveys a sense of who you are as a person, your personality, and why you are unique or a unique fit for the program.

The application essay is your chance to explain any aspect of your background that is not reflected elsewhere, but that your application would be incomplete without. This is up to you: only you can fully explain your own story.

Along the same line, graduate school admissions committees don’t just admit the set of 22-year-olds who attended the top high schools, then the top-ranked colleges, where they got the top GPA in the toughest classes and were SPS president. Admissions committees consider all criteria in light of where each individual student started out and any circumstances he/she faced along the way.

Students who followed nontraditional paths, came from disadvantaged backgrounds, or faced other extenuating circumstances during college might wish to either mention these in their essay or ask a trusted advisor to write about it in their letter. Some topics you may wish to address are:

Factors from before WashU. Normally, you’re supposed to mention your pre-college experiences only sparingly (or not at all) in an admissions essay. However, there are circumstances in which it may be beneficial. Do you come from an under-resourced background, and you started out college in pre-calculus, which set back your study of physics to sophomore year? Were you hyper-accelerated in math or science, which makes your transcript look very strange and uneven? Did you transfer from a community college? From another college? Does a high school research experience relate to your future interests? Are you graduating early, and why? Anything else? If it’s important, mention it and explain how it affected you!
You’re not 22! Did you take a few gap years to find yourself, work off loans, get married and have kids, or serve in the military? Are you super young? What exactly is your background? What would you want the committee to know to help them evaluate if you’re a good candidate for graduate school? What life experiences have you had that made you want to go to – and that will help you succeed in – graduate school? It would be abnormal if everyone entering a PhD program were 22! If you came from a nontraditional background, explain it, and don’t take our advice too seriously. A different essay style/structure may be more suitable.
Personal circumstances. A parent lost their job mid-college, which impacted your enrollment. You or a family member faced a major health problem. Your hometown suffered a natural disaster. You worked a full-time job while still in school. Another major event in your life. Tips we’ve seen online? You only need to mention the pertinent details, don’t make it the focus of your essay, and be positive — phrase it as what you were able to accomplish in light of a circumstance (instead of describing it in a way that might come off as a complaint). Another option is to ask a close professor to mention the situation in their reference letter instead.
You made a mistake. You had trouble adjusting your freshman year of college, but things went up from there. You made bad choices on what to spend your time on a couple semesters. You faced university disciplinary action or committed a non-traffic crime. Talk to your four-year advisor, major advisor, or a trusted professor about what appears on your record, what you have to report on your application, and how to mitigate its negative effects on your future to the greatest extent possible through your personal statement and other minor essays on the application. Always be honest, but always be positive: show how you’ve moved forward and grown since then.
Anything else. The list above was by no means comprehensive! If there is something an admissions committee needs to know in order to understand how great of a fit you are for their program, then mention it. If you have any questions about your essay and it’s contents, please ask a trusted professor.

Make your essay interesting!

The science graduate school application essay may not seem nearly as freeform or fun as your undergraduate CommonApp essay, the paper your roommate’s submitting to an MFA program, or a law school essay. However, the physics professors spending hours reading literally hundreds of essays will appreciate if you make yours more interesting than a list of your achievements. Make your essay stand out as one they’ll remember.

Showcase your personality. Once you’ve gotten all the necessary facts together in your essay in some sort of coherent order, it’s time to make sure the essay is actually interesting to read. Read it aloud, and have a friend read it aloud. Does the essay convey who you really are, or does it sound like you’re reading some really dry, boring report? Most likely it’s the latter at this point.

Pull out another piece of paper or a new window on your computer screen, and start writing a new version of each paragraph that sounds a bit more interesting, enthusiastic about physics, and fun. It’ll take time, but you can do this without going over the word count. See how different these two sentences sound, even though they’re about the same length and convey the same content:

Boring phrasing: In my sophomore spring, I worked in the theoretical kinematics laboratory of Sir Isaac Newton at Cambridge. We studied the manner in which balls roll down hills.
Better phrasing: Sophomore spring, I enjoyed the opportunity to study the fascinating theoretical nature of how balls roll down hills with Sir Isaac Newton at Cambridge.

Both students convey the necessary facts the graduate committees are looking for: (1) the student worked abroad in a famous person’s lab, (2) the student did theoretical research, and (3) the specific project regarded how balls roll down hills. The first example sounds like a true but boring listing of facts. The second example not only tells what the student did, but also shows the student’s appreciation for the opportunity, as well as that the enthusiastic student found that they enjoyed work of a theoretical nature in this specific subject area. Instead of directly writing “I love and care about physics,” show it through the way you phrase your essay.

Don’t come off as unlikable

By now, you have probably been advised a thousand times about what not to write in an application like this one – insults, complaints, or bigoted remarks; opinions on polarized topics distant from physics; any trouble you got into in college that you wouldn’t want your parents to know about; etc.

But sometimes we still say things in personal statements that are meant with entirely good intentions but that other people read the completely wrong way. Your friends and professors should be able to pick some of these out in your essay, but here’s a simple guide to help yourself too.

(1) Don’t name-drop unless it has to do directly with your accomplishments in physics. Look out for areas of your personal statement that may turn off a reader because you come off as arrogant, spoiled, or out of touch with reality. Also remember that life is not a complete meritocracy. It is much easier to get ahead if you have lots of connections that help you along the way — but despite this, you should not overtly use your personal statement to pull connections that are not directly physics-related.

Here are some exaggerated examples:

Bad: The summer after junior year, my best friend’s father, Albert Einstein, hooked me up with an internship at Princeton with Eugene Wigner. Better: The summer after junior year, I took a research internship at Princeton with Eugene Wigner. You don’t have to tell someone you got the internship because you happened to have a great connection (nobody will care that you’re friends with a famous person). It’s better to just say that you did the internship. They will, however, care about the name of the famous person you worked for.

Bad: I did not do as well on the GRE as I hoped because I crashed my Lamborghini on the way to the test. Better: I did not do as well on the GRE as I hoped because I got into a car accident on the way to the test. It might be easier to have a friend read for subtle (or not-so-subtle) phrasing and word choices that might read the wrong way to a reader. Here, the mention of the luxury car brand makes it look like the student is trying to show off (and probably doesn’t realize that the car costs more than they’ll earn from graduate school all five years total).

Bad: Your university’s biggest donor is a family friend, and five generations of my family have attended your physics graduate program. Better: When I visited my physics PhD brother at your campus, I enjoyed seeing X, Y, and Z facilities, which I think will be greatly beneficial to my physics education. Also good: I spent a summer in the laboratory of Professor — at your university, and I would love to continue working for her in graduate school. If you have a connection to the university, don’t just state it. Find a way to phrase it to make you seem more like a better fit for their graduate program.

(2) Please remember that the admissions committee does not owe you anything for any reason. So, please don’t claim that you deserve admission, honor and recognition, or anything else from them. Do not even make the mistake of phrasing something badly so that it seems like you think that way. It will only make them dislike your application.

Bad: Given the fact that I won a Fields Medal, a Wolf Prize in Physics, and the Nobel Peace Prize, I am clearly the best applicant out there. Better: Some of the highlights of my college experience include a Fields Medal, the Nobel Peace Prize, and a Wolf Prize in Physics.

Bad: I worked so hard in college that I clearly deserve the opportunity to attend your university. Better: I found the time and effort I put into physics very worthwhile and fun, and I hope to keep working in this field in the future.

Bad: I am a great fit for your program. Better: Your program would be a great fit for me.

(3) You got where you are because of hard work, not just raw intelligence. Or at least, frame it this way. Nobody wants to hear how naturally intelligent you think you are — instead, your personal statement should demonstrate the achievements that your intelligence has earned you. Leave it to your reference writers to provide an external evaluation of your mental capabilities. Just trust us on this one. Using the same reasoning, don’t tell everyone about qualities of your character. Show them. Graduate admissions committees are smart. They can infer these things.

Bad: Because of my natural intelligence and talent for physics, I won the “Best Physicist” prize. Better: Because of my research efforts, I won the “Best Physicist” prize.

Bad: I am a super nice person because I help people with physics all the time with volunteer stuff. Better: Every weekend for two hours, I enjoy showing small children the wonders of physics at the Volunteer Science Thing.

Bad: I am super smart because I have published three papers. Better: I have published three papers.

(4) Claim credit for your accomplishments, but give credit to others too where it’s due. We’re sure you did a ton of hard work in college, and that’s great. However, you need to recognize that it wasn’t just you. Your research advisers, graduate student mentors, classroom professors, and many others helped you get where you are today. Acknowledge your own successes, but give credit where it is due.

Bad: Last summer I built the first-ever time travel machine. Better: Last summer I worked at a secret government agency with a team of twenty scientists under the guidance of Aristotle to build the 21st century’s first-ever time machine.

Bad: I wrote and published a particle physics paper myself, even though there are three authors. Better: Professor — guided me through the process of writing and publishing my first-author particle physics paper.

(5) Don’t be overly negative or critical of any of your physics experiences. That is, be yourself, and don’t give opinions that are completely untrue. If you didn’t like doing theory research, then you don’t have to say you did. But it’s not a good idea to express extreme distaste for any area of physics in your essay — try to find something good about every experience and phrase it in a positive light. Here’s an example of a fib, the way you might be tempted to fix it, and an even better way of doing so:

Your original attempt to seem happy: I worked on computational and analytical aspects of string theory at the Institute of Advanced Study. It was one of the most fascinating experiences of my life and I could see myself doing the exact same thing in graduate school at your great string theory program. I like experimental work too.
The way you actually feel about things: I worked on a project about string theory at the Institute for Advanced Study. My research advisor had me split my time between computational work and pen-and-paper problems. I absolutely hated doing pen-and-paper math. It sucked!
A more positive way of phrasing the truth: I loved the computational aspects of my string theory work at the Institute for Advanced Study. However, the next summer, I discovered that I more enjoyed applying my computational skills in a laboratory setting.

The mechanics of your writing: sentence and word choices

You can make a drastic difference in the quality of your essay just by checking on a few more mechanical aspects of your writing: sentence structures, phrasing, and even grammar. As you work on your drafts, continually try to improve these things. Here are a few of the many aspects to which you might want to pay attention…

Are all of your sentences good sentences? Are all of your sentences complete? Do any of the sentences run on? Do all the sentences logically follow one another? Does your story make basic sense? Make sure that nothing you wrote sounds or seems awkward!

Make sure your sentence structures aren’t repetitive. It’s very easy to get caught into the habit of writing, “I did this. I did that. I did the other thing.” Your essay is going to use the first-person pronouns “I” and “we” more than you’re probably used to, but that’s okay and not self-centered. You are writing about yourself, you know! However, there are ways to do it that seem less obnoxious or monotonous. Let’s look at a few examples of how we can rephrase or rearrange sentences so that we don’t get stuck in the same patterns too often.

I did research about nuclear reactors under the supervision of Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago last summer.
This past summer, I researched nuclear reactors with Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago.
Enrico Fermi taught me about building nuclear reactors last summer at the University of Chicago.
Nuclear reactors captivated me during my summer internship with Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago.
My first exposure to nuclear reactors was last summer, when I worked for Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago.
At the University of Chicago, I studied nuclear reactors with Enrico Fermi.
When I was at the University of Chicago last summer, I studied nuclear reactors with Enrico Fermi.
I want to study theoretical physics in graduate school.
At graduate school, I want to study theoretical physics.
My preferred area of graduate research would be theoretical physics.
My graduate research interests are in theoretical physics.
The theoretical physics research opportunities at [insert university here] excite me.
Theoretical research most attracts my interests for graduate studies.

As you can see, there are seemingly endless choices for rearranging the words in your sentences or finding ways you can rewrite them that carry across the same (or more!) information.

Make sure your word choices aren’t boring or repetitive. You might find yourself using only commonplace adjectives over and over again (good, bad, happy, sad, etc.). Or perhaps you do the opposite — you have a plethora of repetitions of the same unusual adjective (like plethora) used multiple times in the same paragraph, one after the other.

Pull out a thesaurus and find some good synonyms! Or better yet, be more accurate about what you want to say. For example, consider word replacements in the overused phrases:

Professor Bender’s least favorite word: interesting. As in, “That research is/was/seems interesting .”

intriguing, fascinating, inspiring, delightful
appealing, enticing, exciting, fun
novel, cutting-edge, exhilarating
challenging, thought-provoking, stimulating

The verb around which your essay is centered: research. “With Arthur Holly Compton, I researched …”

worked on, studied, learned
examined, analyzed, investigated, probed, observed, experimented, tested
found [a result], discovered, came up with [an idea], unraveled, explained
calculated, computed, solved, answered, evaluated
formulated, designed, fabricated, planned, developed, created, invented, built, prepared

Be clear and concise. Most graduate schools only give you two pages to tell your story, even if you think it would be easier to hand in a novel. If you find yourself sitting at your computer with an incredibly long draft, you’re going to need to take out some material.

Start with irrelevant details: you don’t need to tell us that last spring, you worked on a laptop with exactly 16 gigabytes of RAM, 2 terabytes of storage, manufactured by a small company from your homestate, that has exactly 6 bumper stickers decorating its case. Get rid of that paragraph!

Next, look at your research and activity descriptions. Only include the most relevant information. If you got second place in an international physics competition and fourth place in the local math contest, you can remove the latter from the main body of your essay. If you worked on four projects with your biophysics group, two of which led to a paper and two of which mainly consisted of cleaning your mentor’s Petri dishes, then it should be obvious which should deserve most (or all) of your essay’s attention. Don’t be afraid to be vicious with your red pen.

Once you’ve gotten rid of things that are very obviously unnecessary and have cut your essay down to a couple of paragraphs above the required word count, it’s time to start modifying the lengths of your sentences and paragraphs themselves. While it may seem like you’ve done everything right, and that every single thing in your essay is utterly necessary, think again! Remember the paragraph in which we discussed the many ways in which you could rewrite a sentence? (scroll up…) Time to use that same strategy to shorten sentences or combine two short sentences into one long, complex one. Also, if you’re trying to make your essay meet a page count, make sure that none of your paragraphs end with a single word on a line — try to fill up each line with as many characters as possible by changing word choices or phrasing. The best way to do this is to look at some examples.

Example 1 – using abbreviations

Old essay. I worked in the Compton Group at Washington University my freshman summer…The next summer, I went to Fermilab to work on particle physics…In junior year, I worked in an optics laboratory at Washington University…As a senior, I worked on biophysics at Washington University.
New essay. I worked in the Compton Group at Washington University (WU) my freshman summer…The next summer, I went to Fermilab to work on particle physics…In junior year, I worked in a WU optics lab..As a senior, I worked on biophysics at WU.

Example 2 – combining sentences

Old. At graduate school, I would like to study particle physics. I am deeply interested in this topic because of my experience working in Professor Compton’s research group.
New. My past work with Professor Compton has motivated me to study particle physics in graduate school.

Example 3 – choosing shorter words or phrases, even if you think they sound less fancy (scientists prefer clarity and conciseness over clunky phrasing)

Old. My research provides incontrovertible evidence for this.
New. My research proves this.
New. My research demonstrates this.

Example 4 – condensing information that can be grouped together

Old. Team experiences comprised a large and enjoyable part of my college years, both in the laboratory and outside. My junior year, our math team was in the top ten in the Putnam competition. My senior year, my physics team got a gold medal in the University Physics Competition. I am also on the varsity underwater basket weaving team, which won the University Athletic Association title.
New. During college I enjoyed working with teams both in and out of the lab. Some of my notable team achievements include a top-ten finish in the Putnam math contest, a gold medal in the University Physics Competition, and winning the division title in underwater basket weaving.

There are many other creative ways you can cut down on space in your essay. It may be difficult and time-consuming to cut down your composition to an appropriate length, so be sure to budget enough days before your essays are due!

Look out for silly mistakes! Make sure you didn’t type something careless like “form” instead of “from.” Double-check that you didn’t confuse your/you’re or there/their/they’re. Are all your commas in the right places? Carefully and slowly read through your essay. If you accidentally had one mistake when you submitted, it probably won’t be a big deal. But if you have multiple careless errors in your essay, the admissions committees might get the wrong impression that you didn’t care enough to write your essay properly.

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Collection 04 March 2020

Top 100 in Physics

This collection highlights our most downloaded* physics papers published in 2019. Featuring authors from around the world, these papers feature valuable research from an international community.

* Data obtained from SN Insights which is based on Digital Science’s Dimensions.

Arrow of time and its reversal on the IBM quantum computer

G. B. Lesovik
I. A. Sadovskyy
V. M. Vinokur

Room-temperature Operation of Low-voltage, Non-volatile, Compound-semiconductor Memory Cells

Ofogh Tizno
Andrew R. J. Marshall
Manus Hayne

Emergent dynamics of neuromorphic nanowire networks

Adrian Diaz-Alvarez
Rintaro Higuchi
Tomonobu Nakayama

Machine-learning guided discovery of a new thermoelectric material

Yuma Iwasaki
Ichiro Takeuchi
Shinichi Yorozu

Beyond 30% Conversion Efficiency in Silicon Solar Cells: A Numerical Demonstration

Sayak Bhattacharya
Sajeev John

QAOA for Max-Cut requires hundreds of qubits for quantum speed-up

G. G. Guerreschi
A. Y. Matsuura

How Quantum Mechanics can consistently describe the use of itself

Dustin Lazarovici
Mario Hubert

Finding Hadamard Matrices by a Quantum Annealing Machine

Andriyan Bayu Suksmono
Yuichiro Minato

Enhanced Grüneisen Parameter in Supercooled Water

Gabriel O. Gomes
H. Eugene Stanley
Mariano de Souza

Laser-wakefield accelerators for high-resolution X-ray imaging of complex microstructures

A. E. Hussein
N. Senabulya
A. G. R. Thomas

QuEST and High Performance Simulation of Quantum Computers

Tyson Jones
Simon C. Benjamin

Improving solutions by embedding larger subproblems in a D-Wave quantum annealer

Shuntaro Okada
Masayuki Ohzeki
Shinichiro Taguchi

Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Lanthanum and Strontium Doped Bismuth Ferrite: A First-Principles Study

Ayana Ghosh
Dennis P. Trujillo
Jian-Xin Zhu

Quantum annealing for systems of polynomial equations

Chia Cheng Chang
Arjun Gambhir
Shigetoshi Sota

High-temperature operation of a silicon qubit

Takahiro Mori
Satoshi Moriyama

Pore-scale characteristics of multiphase flow in heterogeneous porous media using the lattice Boltzmann method

Sahar Bakhshian
Seyyed A. Hosseini
Nima Shokri

Linear and circular-polarization conversion in X-band using anisotropic metasurface

M. Ismail Khan
Zobaria Khalid
Farooq A. Tahir

Observation of Skyrmions at Room Temperature in Co 2 FeAl Heusler Alloy Ultrathin Film Heterostructures

Sajid Husain
Naveen Sisodia
Sujeet Chaudhary

Successively accelerated ionic wind with integrated dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma actuator for low-voltage operation

Shintaro Sato
Haruki Furukawa
Naofumi Ohnishi

Bulk and surface recombination properties in thin film semiconductors with different surface treatments from time-resolved photoluminescence measurements

Thomas P. Weiss
Benjamin Bissig
Ayodhya N. Tiwari

Probability estimation of a Carrington-like geomagnetic storm

David Moriña
Isabel Serra
Álvaro Corral

Triggering The Birth of New Cycle’s Sunspots by Solar Tsunami

Mausumi Dikpati
Scott W. McIntosh
Abhishek Srivastava

Performance comparison of III–V//Si and III–V//InGaAs multi-junction solar cells fabricated by the combination of mechanical stacking and wire bonding

Yu-Cheng Kao
Hao-Ming Chou
Ray-Hua Horng

Electron-Phonon Coupling as the Source of 1/f Noise in Carbon Soot

Evidence for Crystalline Structure in Dynamically-Compressed Polyethylene up to 200 GPa

N. J. Hartley

Engineering preferentially-aligned nitrogen-vacancy centre ensembles in CVD grown diamond

Christian Osterkamp
Martin Mangold
Fedor Jelezko

The Young-Feynman controlled double-slit electron interference experiment

Amir H. Tavabi
Chris B. Boothroyd
Giulio Pozzi

Control of Multiferroic properties in BiFeO 3 nanoparticles

Diego Carranza-Celis
Alexander Cardona-Rodríguez
Juan Gabriel Ramírez

Visualization of unstained DNA nanostructures with advanced in-focus phase contrast TEM techniques

Yoones Kabiri
Raimond B. G. Ravelli
Henny Zandbergen

Analog Coupled Oscillator Based Weighted Ising Machine

Jeffrey Chou
Suraj Bramhavar
William Herzog

Revisiting the optical bandgap of semiconductors and the proposal of a unified methodology to its determination

A. R. Zanatta

Field-free Magnetization Switching by Utilizing the Spin Hall Effect and Interlayer Exchange Coupling of Iridium

Jian-Gang (Jimmy) Zhu

Growth of vanadium dioxide thin films on hexagonal boron nitride flakes as transferrable substrates

Shingo Genchi
Mahito Yamamoto
Hidekazu Tanaka

On Behind the Physics of the Thermoelectricity of Topological Insulators

Daniel Baldomir
Daniel Faílde

Zero-reflection acoustic metamaterial with a negative refractive index

Choon Mahn Park
Sang Hun Lee

Switchable multifunctional terahertz metasurfaces employing vanadium dioxide

Shiwei Tang

Entanglement in a 20-Qubit Superconducting Quantum Computer

Gary J. Mooney
Charles D. Hill
Lloyd C. L. Hollenberg

Strong magnetoelectric coupling in mixed ferrimagnetic-multiferroic phases of a double perovskite

Training Optimization for Gate-Model Quantum Neural Networks

Laszlo Gyongyosi
Sandor Imre

High-throughput physical vapour deposition flexible thermoelectric generators

Katrina A. Morgan
Daniel W. Hewak

The Effect of Surface Roughness on the Contact Line and Splashing Dynamics of Impacting Droplets

Miguel A. Quetzeri-Santiago
Alfonso A. Castrejón-Pita
J. Rafael Castrejón-Pita

Measurement-Device-Independent Twin-Field Quantum Key Distribution

Hua-Lei Yin

Inkjet Printing of Super Yellow: Ink Formulation, Film Optimization, OLEDs Fabrication, and Transient Electroluminescence

Marek Zdzislaw Szymański
Jacek Ulański

Low-frequency perfect sound absorption achieved by a modulus-near-zero metamaterial

Houyou Long
Xiaojun Liu

Blueprint for nanoscale NMR

Ilai Schwartz
Joachim Rosskopf
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Origin of ferromagnetism in Cu-doped ZnO

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Frequency and Phase Characteristics of Candle Flame Oscillation

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Carrier Transport and Recombination Mechanism in Blue Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diode with Hosts Consisting of Cabazole- and Triazole-Moiety

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p -wave superconductivity in iron-based superconductors

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Essays in Physics: Thirty-two thoughtful essays on topics in undergraduate-level physics

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“Essays in Physics” gives accounts of 32 chosen topics. The level is that of a 3–4-year university course in Physics. The topics discussed are diverse but “mainstream”. Each essay aims to say something fresh that complements what the reader will find elsewhere. Just what “fresh” means inevitably depends somewhat on the subject matter. Some chapters give a “different” slant on a familiar idea (e.g. electromagnetic energy, Lorentz transformation, photon emission). Some contain an analysis not available elsewhere (diffraction, feedback stability). Some correct material that is commonplace in many textbooks (much atomic physics). Some add insightful discussion to standard material (free energy, Brillouin zones). One in particular refines technique (perturbation theory). One brings order to confusion (- m d B ). The aim in all cases is to encourage a fuller, and correct, understanding, and an enhanced intellectual acuity (critical faculty). With a subject as mature as physics, it is bold to claim originality. However I will dare to make that claim, in particular for Chapters 10, 22 and 30, but also for parts of most other chapters.

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Why Major Essay Examples

At many schools, the why major essay forms a crucial part of the college application process. In addition to your Common App essay , many schools require supplemental essays. One of the most popular supplemental essay prompts is the why major essay.

The why major essay allows colleges to learn more about you and your interests. This guide will give you some why major essay examples from popular colleges. It will also offer some tips on how to write a why major essay.

This guide includes why major essay examples from the following colleges: The University of Texas at Austin , The University of Southern California , Cornell , Georgia Tech , and Pomona College . These college essay examples can act as a great source of inspiration for your why major essay. By looking at these college essays that worked, you can learn more about how to approach various supplemental essay prompts.

What are examples of why major essay prompts?

The why major essay examples in this guide have varying prompts. Here are the why major essay prompts from our college essay examples:

“Why major” essay requirements

As you can see, most why major essay examples will have between 250-300 words. However, some college essay examples will have more. Additionally, some why major essay examples will focus on college-specific information. In general, these essays ask why you’ve picked your intended major , so try to be as specific as possible. These why major essay examples are a great place to start if you need help with your why major essay.

The college essay examples in this guide also reflect the level of research needed for a why major essay. As you research colleges, look for a class you want to take or a research opportunity that interests you. Then, be sure to include that in your why major essay for that school. If a prompt mentions the college’s name or asks why you’re interested in their school, focus on school specifics. The college essay examples we’ve included in this guide can help you jumpstart the writing process.

Who has a why major essay?

Many schools have a why major essay, as these essays help colleges understand you and your academic passions. The why major essay examples in this guide come from UT Austin, USC, Cornell, Georgia Tech, and Pomona College.

In addition to these schools, many other colleges also have a why major essay. Some of these include Yale University , University of Pennsylvania , Emory University , University of Michigan , and Rice University.

Beyond the why major essay, many colleges will also have a why this college essay. This essay asks why you’re interested in that specific college. Some schools may combine the why this college essay and the why major essay. It can be helpful to compare colleges to help you decide which schools you prefer. In these essays, try to mention specific courses and professors. Some of the why major essay examples in this guide also function as why this college essay samples. You can find more college essay examples here.

Choosing your major

It’s okay if you don’t have a designated major in mind yet. While many schools will allow you to apply as an undecided student, some schools will require you to pick a major as part of your application. However, this choice often is not binding.

Reading why major essay examples can help as you choose your major and prepare to apply. If you’re not sure about your major, you can read our guide on How to Choose a Major.

In our why major essay examples, you’ll see how your personal interests and passions can help you choose a major. Our why major essay examples demonstrate how helpful it can be for colleges to know why you’re interested in your intended major. Where do you see yourself working? What’s your favorite subject in school? Thinking through these kinds of questions (and reading college essay examples) can help you navigate the different majors available.

Why This Major Essay Example

We’ve included five different why major essay examples below. Pay attention to how these why this major essay examples include specifics about each college. These why major college essay examples can help you understand what colleges look for in a Why Major essay. Overall, by reading college essays that worked, you can learn more about how to brainstorm and structure your own essays.

Now, let’s look at some why major college essay examples.

UT Austin Essay Examples

Please describe your interest in your intended major and how your interest in the field developed. (250 Words)

Ut austin essay example.

Some of you may wonder ‘When will I ever use derivatives in real life?’ Welcome to when.” My physics teacher, Mr. Welsh, described engineering as the “when” math and physics were applied to real problems. That is what is so attractive about engineering; it gives me the ability to apply intriguing concepts to fascinating projects. I love how engineering combines creative freedom with mathematical certainty to create projects that can impact and change the world.

During the Chain Reaction Contraption competition, a local competition, my team and I created a Rube Goldberg machine to complete a certain task. I found a love for the hands-on, creative portion of mechanical engineering and design. Other engineering activities also provided important experiences that contributed to my desire to pursue engineering. In my engineering design class, I enjoyed using computer programs like Solidworks and AutoCAD to create designs and visualizations of ideas. In FTC Robotics, I discovered that in addition to building the robot, I also loved the programming aspect behind mechanical design.

Reflecting on these experiences with engineering, particularly mechanical engineering, I am certain that engineering is the best path for me. I hope to apply my Mechanical Engineering degree to the Aerospace field. My dad is a pilot, so I have grown up hearing about and being around airplanes. As a child, I watched war plane documentaries with my dad and have had a passion for Aeronautics since then.

Why this essay worked

This why this major essay example works because it utilizes a personal story. By using a specific experience, this essay reflects on why this student is interested in mechanical engineering. Starting with a personal anecdote is a great way to introduce your essay. By including any experience you have with a club or extracurricular, you can help the reader understand your experience within the field.

Reading UT Austin essay examples can help you start writing your why major essay. Read through the UT Austin Degree Programs and pick the major that best aligns with your interests. Try to think about what experiences, both inside and outside of school, have piqued your interest—this can be a great way to start your why major essay. Use the UT Austin essay examples to help guide your writing process. As you draft, these why major essay examples can be a great source of inspiration.

USC Why Major Essay

Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first-and second-choice major selections. (300 Words)

The perks of being an English major is that you have a lot of opportunities, which I fully plan on partaking in during my time at USC. First and foremost, I hope to form close connections with my professors and to take advantage of the world-class education I’d be receiving. There is also a study abroad program specifically entwined with English that I hope to be able to participate in during my time at USC. I intend to participate and eventually help with the events that USC’s English department puts on as well.

As a sophomore, I hope to be a research assistant to a professor, hopefully someone who specializes in Romanticism or the niche field of ‘Law and Literature.’ I plan on starting research to write my own thesis during my junior year and hope to publish by my senior year. I plan on being a research assistant first because it would give me insight on the mechanics of research in the humanities and would help me formulate some ideas for my thesis early on. Since I am on the pre-law track, I hope to take advantage of USC’s resources by starting an internship.

While I have yet to declare a minor, I would like to capitalize on my love for languages by minoring in a language, and since Los Angeles and the campus of USC itself is a multicultural hub, I could immerse myself into the cultural aspects that come with learning a “new tongue.”

Why this essay worked

This why this major essay example works because it focuses primarily on how this student will utilize the resources at USC to pursue their intended major. In this, the essay fully answers the prompt set by the USC Admissions Office.

This USC Why Major essay mentions the specific study abroad program and the research opportunities available. In doing so, it shows how familiar this student is with the English program at USC. This USC essay also helps demonstrate the student’s excitement for the opportunities available at USC. Detailing a rough plan for each year in college is a great way to show the USC Admissions Office what you know about their school’s programs.

This USC Why Major essay is a great example of combining a Why This Major essay example and a Why This College essay sample. Compared to the other Why Major essay examples you may read (including the one above), this USC essay is specific. Other Why Major college essay examples may be used for more than one school—often, you’ll include similar information in your supplemental essays for different schools. However, the USC Why Major essay can only be used for USC. The USC Admissions wants you to detail exactly what about USC you find appealing, and this USC essay does this very well.

Cornell Arts and Sciences supplement essay example

Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person … any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our College. (650 Words)

Cornell arts and sciences supplement essay example.

When 6:35 AM alarm rings, I find myself considering the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility–if I hit the snooze button, will my eight minutes of fragmented slumber garner more utility than a fresh-brewed cup of coffee? The trend continues throughout the day: with the release of the newest Yeezys, I contemplate bounded rationality. Though the sneakers scarcely justify the price tag of $550, the rapidly-depleting supply almost overwhelms my rational decision-making capabilities: textbook behavioral economics. As soon as I realized that my daily decisions could be explained by economics, I was determined to learn more.

To many, the subject conjures images of stockbrokers painstakingly laboring over Excel spreadsheets; it’s easy to forget it governs our everyday lives. Half a century ago, the creation of the unassuming mortgage-backed security set the stage for the global 2008 Recession. Simultaneously, the power of economics can be awe-inspiring: Muhammad Yunus’ work with microfinance pioneered new ways to address global poverty. Studying AP Economics, participating in countless rounds of debate both in and outside the United States, self-studying courses like Professor Chetty’s Using Big Data to Solve Economic and Social Problems, and managing the budget of our schools debate team taught me that market principles govern our world; through my education, I hope to learn how to harness them for good.

After a summer working for Congressman DeSaulnier, I realized that economics and politics are intertwined. One of my most memorable projects was preparing a brief on H.R. 4674 (the College Affordability Act)–for two weeks, I scrutinized the social, political, and economic effects of the legislation, and concluded with a half-hour presentation on my findings to the Congressman. In the process, I realized that even seemingly minor pieces of legislation affect all of society; by helping disenfranchised communities gain access to education, the bill addresses cyclical poverty at the root. When the Congressman announced he would become a co-author, it was a personal victory–it cemented my desire to intertwine my passion in economics with our political process, and learn how to craft innovative legislation designed to benefit millions.

The College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell is the ideal environment for me to pursue those passions. As an aspiring Economics major, I’m incredibly excited to learn from world-renowned economists like Professor Basu. Beyond fascinating courses like Game Theory and Strategic Economics, which synthesize economics, business, politics, and diplomacy, it would be a privilege just to attend his office hours and learn from his experience as former Chief Economist at the World Bank and President of the International Economic Association. In addition to my classes, I’d love to get involved in the Hatsfield Undergraduate Research program and further my understanding of how economics can be applied. Papers like Professor Battaglini’s “The Political Economy of Weak Treaties” are fascinating to read, and it would be a phenomenal experience to receive mentorship from veterans in the field while aiding them in their work.

I’d also love to minor in Public Policy, which seems almost tailor-made for my own career goals; the synthesis of an unparalleled education in the fundamentals of economics with courses designed to help students craft tangible policy would literally be a dream come true. Programs like Cornell in Washington promise the opportunity to get hands-on experience from Capitol Hill itself. I’d be more than happy to use my education in a Congressional Committee and get an insider perspective on the steps that go into developing, amending, and passing legislation.

The College of Arts and Sciences combines that with a robust undergraduate community, which offers unique opportunities to collaborate with a large student body and start developing a professional network–whether I’m catching a game of ice hockey or participating in Dragon Day, I know there’ll never be a dull moment. All in all, Cornell promises four truly life-changing years–I can’t wait to become a member of the Big Red community.

Reading through Cornell Arts and Sciences supplement essay examples, like the one above, can serve as an excellent case of how to combine a Why Major essay and a Why This College essay.

Out of all the college essay examples we’ve included here, the Cornell Arts and Sciences supplement essay examples contain the most detail. This why this major essay example showcases how important it is to have exact details available about the college or program you are applying to. This student highlights several different professors at Cornell, as well as their specific work and research. The Cornell Admissions Office appreciates the time and effort put into these essays, so it’s crucial to do your research!

This why this major essay example also uses the longer word count well. In particular, it offers personal anecdotes while showcasing the writer’s knowledge of economics. The reader gets to know the student better, and the Cornell Admissions team can see that the writer is serious about studying at Cornell.

As you can see in these why major essay examples, the more specific details you can include about the college, the better. Reading multiple Cornell supplemental essay examples can help you explore the different programs students look forward to joining. Be sure to explore the Cornell Admissions website to review their offered fields of study . If you’re undecided on a major, you can read through our guide on Cornell Majors here for some inspiration. You can also read more Cornell supplemental essay examples here .

Georgia Tech Essay Examples

Next, let’s look at some essay examples from Georgia Tech. Here’s the prompt:

Why do you want to study your chosen major at Georgia Tech, and what opportunities at Georgia Tech will prepare you in that field after graduation? (300 Words)

Georgia tech essay example.

March 29, 2019. 11 AM EST. GT Shadow Day. I remember it all so clearly: Descending the red-brick steps of the Old Civil Engineering Building. My friend and I, chatting up a storm, our minds blown by our newfound perspectives.

We had just walked out of ECON-4060: Money & Capital Markets, taught by Dr. Belton. To say that it changed my life would be no exaggeration; within an hour, Dr. Belton had upended my perception of society and defined my future aspirations.

We had been asked to consider a popular commodity, diamonds. Hardly rare, fast-decaying, and intrinsically worthless. So why do we buy them? Dr. Belton had then illuminated the factors in our economic behavior that cause us to gift a ring in marriage rather than something with real value, say a treasury bond. These realizations were enough to rock me back on my heels, for I had never before noticed the large degree to which our everyday economic decision-making is irrational.

Craving more than that one splendid hour, I knew where and what I wanted to study for the next four years. I saw myself strolling through Bobby Dodd Way, bumping into old friends as I made my way to Midtown Atlanta. Then, I imagined myself exploring the realm of economics, probing questions ranging from price formation to income disparity. I saw myself at a place that felt familiar enough to call “home,” learning in a way that felt genuine enough to call “discovery.”

Educating myself on the mechanics of economics is just a glimpse of my great desires. Through the senior research project, I seek the one-on-one guidance of faculty in yielding a publishable journal paper. Someday, with the support of the program’s alumni network, I plan to pursue career and internship opportunities in the great company headquarters of Atlanta.

Like many of the why major essay examples we’ve highlighted, this why major essay starts with a personal anecdote. Our Georgia Tech essay examples can be used as a why this college essay sample as well.

The student’s personal story is tied to Georgia Tech. This makes it a great addition to a Georgia Tech application. Our Georgia Tech essay examples also drive home the importance of bringing specific details about a college into your why major essay. The Georgia Tech supplemental essays examples can help spark your inspiration on what details to include. This why this major essay example does a great job of building on a personal experience with Georgia Tech. It also highlights what prompted the student’s interest in economics.

Learning from Georgia Tech essay examples

Reading through Georgia Tech supplemental essays examples like the one above can teach you a lot. As you approach your essays, make sure you showcase how important it can be to reference specific classes or professors offered by a college. Use Georgia Tech essay examples to get some inspiration for your research and writing.

If you are interested in submitting a Georgia Tech application, be sure to familiarize yourself with the offered majors. These can be found here . The Georgia Tech supplemental essay examples can be a great research tool as well if you are unsure about picking a major.

For more help on a Georgia Tech application, be sure to read through our guide on Georgia Tech Admissions as well. Reading through more Georgia Tech essay examples can help if you’re feeling stuck on your why major essay—it can be helpful to target your search for the major you’re interested in. The Georgia Tech supplemental essays examples illustrate the importance of building connections between your interests and what each college offers.

Pomona College Essay Examples

What gets you excited about your academic interest selection(s) above? (300 Words)

Pomona college essay example.

I’m a cis-gender gay man. I came out to my family during my sophomore year and to my entire school in an assembly my junior year.

My queer identity has inspired my involvement at Tony’s Place, my research on LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness, and my involvement in changing my school’s LGBTQ+ policies. Being gay has become a primary lens through which I view the world.

The Gender & Women’s Studies Program would provide me with a critical lens to further understand my own experiences and ways I can become a better activist.

The LGBTQ+ community is distinct from other marginalized groups because it is an umbrella of different experiences, and it takes a high level of literacy to understand these differences. The Gender & Women’s Studies Program’s emphasis on including diverse perspectives in the curriculum is crucial in my understanding of other perspectives and ways I can support others.

For my Modern Middle East final, I wrote a forty-five page paper on LGBTQ+ movements in Middle Eastern countries. Writing this paper made me think about LGBTQ+ rights from an international perspective. Pomona’s Decolonizing Gender and Sexuality in Asian/America can advance my understanding of the cultural implications of Western colonization. In doing so, I’ll discover ways the United States can assist an LGBTQ+ social movement in other nations without imposing an imperialist definition of pride.

While researching alongside a University of Houston professor, I had to consider the relationship between disabilities and LGBTQ+ homeless youth’s mental health outcomes. Taking The Disability Studies: Foundations, Intersections, & Future class will help me better empathize with the different communities represented in my future research endeavors.

By linking queer theory to disciplines such as economics, media studies, and politics, The Gender & Women’s Studies Program will prepare me for a lifetime of activism.

This why this major essay example does a great job of connecting this student’s personal identity and experiences to their intended major. This Pomona essay gives the reader insight into who the student is. It also highlights how their identity has informed their academic passions.

Out of all the Pomona majors, this student describes a specific program that spoke to their long-term goals. Reading through the Pomona College essay examples can help you structure your Pomona essay. This why this major essay example also has a great structure. It opens with a personal anecdote and segues into specific details about Pomona naturally. As such, this why this major essay example feels cohesive and clear.

When reading through college essay examples, pay attention to how closely they follow the exact prompt directions. The Pomona College essay examples highlight how important it is to answer the prompt. Your Pomona essay should explain why your intended major excites you. Make sure you read through the offered Pomona majors, found here. The Pomona College essay examples can also help you narrow down your options from the many Pomona majors offered. The reader can feel how excited this student is to pursue their major at Pomona, making it a great why this college essay sample as well!

How to write a Why Major Essay

After reading through the why major college essay examples, you may still feel stuck on how to write a why major essay. The first step to writing a why major essay is to pick your major.

While this may seem obvious, this can be a difficult step for a lot of students. There are many great guides on picking a college major, including our own guide . There are also guides from U.S. News , Research.com , and Coursera . Additionally, you can review the data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics on the most popular college majors. Reading about different majors (and reading different why did you choose this major essay examples) can help you decide which path of study is best for you.

You can also read a number of college essays that worked from Johns Hopkins University here . These can help you explore different areas of study and see how other students have described their experiences. Additionally, you can read our guides on college search , building a college list , and how to compare colleges .

Beginning your writing process

Once you know what major to pick, the fun part starts. Read some why did you choose this major essay examples and think of your own experience. Was there a class you took that sparked your interest or a club that inspired a new academic passion? What subjects or topics within this major speaks to you the most? Start reading why major essay examples for your intended major—they may help you focus your interest.

Let’s think through how a student may tackle a why major essay. Imagine a student named Isla who plans to study biology in college. When sitting down to write her why major essay, she might research each school’s biology programs in depth. Then, she might pick one or two classes for each school and look up what research projects the professors design.

She’ll also think about why she wants to study biology. She can still remember how captivated she was during her biology classes and how excited she was to learn more—this can be a great start to her essay. Isla can build her why major essay around her personal interests and the research she’s done. The Why Major essay gives Isla a great opportunity to explain her passions and to show schools she is serious about her goals.

Why engineering essay

If you’re interested in applying to engineering programs, your why engineering essay should detail what subjects within engineering you find compelling. Some schools will have you write a why engineering essay as part of their application process. Some of these include Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering and the California Institute of Technology .

When writing your why engineering essay, it can be helpful to include the specific field you’re interested in, such as mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, or computer engineering. Research the programs you’re applying to. Then, try to include any recent projects or news in your why engineering essay. Overall, a why engineering essay should explain your interest, include relevant information about each school and showcase your knowledge in engineering.

In addition to the UT Austin why this major essay example included in this guide, research other college essays that worked specifically to engineering. Reading why major essay examples for engineering programs can teach you more about the programs that interest you. If you’re feeling stuck, read more why did you choose this major essay examples for some inspiration!

Why business major essay

As the most popular major for undergraduate students, writing a why business major essay can be intimidating. Since business is such a popular major, many why major essay examples will focus on business. Some schools will have you write a specific why business major essay. For example, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan Ross School of Business require them. You can also refer to the Cornell why this major essay example included in this guide.

Try to include specific details about your experiences to ground your why business major essay. Think about your future career goals—do you have a dream company you’d like to work for? Look into each business program as well. Do they have any exciting internship programs, or connections with local businesses? Breaking down your goals and detailing what makes you excited about the specific program can help you write your why business major essay.

Reading college essay examples specific to business programs can help as well. You may find more essays geared towards graduate degrees, but researching why did you choose this major essay examples for business can help target your search. Reading why major essay examples for business programs can also help you see what specific schools look for.

Why nursing essay

Nursing is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States. Writing a why nursing essay can be a core component of applying to nursing programs. This includes applying to programs at the University of Virginia and the University of California, Los Angeles . So, reading a why this major essay example for nursing can help jumpstart your writing process.

Your why nursing essay should explain your passion for the field. In your why nursing essay, be sure to include any personal stories you may have regarding nursing and the health field. Many why major essay examples for nursing include personal stories to help explain the student’s interest in healthcare.

Your why nursing essay should also be as specific as possible. Is there a specialization you’re interested in? Be sure to reflect on caretaking and share any personal experience you may have. These can elevate your why nursing essay. Additionally, if you’ve volunteered in a healthcare facility or have any experience with the profession, include these details in your essay. Overall, your why nursing essay should explain to the reader why you’re passionate about such an important field. It should also outline your future career goals within healthcare.

Other CollegeAdvisor Resources on College Majors

If you’re still feeling stuck on picking a major for your why major essay, CollegeAdvisor is here to help. In addition to these why major essay examples, you can review our guide on college majors here . This guide includes college-specific resources, but we also have a guide on listing a college major . Beyond that, we have guides for business majors and computer science majors. Additionally, we have guides on college enrollment , study abroad , and test scores .

Reading these different guides, alongside these why major essay examples, can help you navigate the wide array of majors. Once you find a major you’re interested in, reading why major essay examples for your specific major can help you start writing your why major essay.

Why This Major Essay Examples – Final Thoughts

Applying to college may feel overwhelming, but researching schools and majors is a crucial first step. Reading college essays that worked can help you understand what goes into a great why major essay.

Even if you’re not sure about your intended major, reading through why did you choose this major essay examples can help in the decision-making process. Arming yourself with information about each program will help, too. Reading why major college essay examples can provide specific inspiration for the programs you’re interested in. Focus on what excites you about each school’s program, and you’ll have a great starting point for your why major essay!

This essay guide was written by senior advisor, Jess Klein . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile. We will help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Transfer Students

Welcome to Physics at Berkeley !

As an incoming transfer student there are many things to consider and we are here to help. As you think about declaring a major in Physics, we have put together the following information to get you started. As your undergraduate major advisors, we are available to connect with you by email or appointment. Please see the information below, and contact us with any additional questions or concerns you have. We look forward to working with you!

Kathleen Cooney, Physics [email protected]

The Physics Major

The program is designed to give students a solid foundation in physics and to prepare them for work in the field, an adjacent field (such as engineering, finance, data science, or teaching) or a physics graduate program. There are many resources within the department to help as you decide what you will pursue after graduation. We offer workshops for career exploration and help with resume-building and networking. We also host discussion panels with graduate students and study sessions to help students prepare for the Physics GRE. Don't worry if you've not yet decided what avenue you'll pursue post-baccalaureate . Often the experiences you have here at Berkeley will help guide you towards your future endeavors.

Prerequisite Courses for the Major in Physics

Math 1A, Math 1B, Math 53, Math 54*, Physics 7A, Physics 7B and Physics 7C or their equivalents
For information on California community college equivalent courses, please visit Assist.org **

* Students who do not complete a Math 54 equivalent before transferring are required to complete Phys 89:"Introduction to Mathematical Physics" at Berkeley. **Please note: Community colleges may cover the topics in Berkeley's Physics 7ABC series in a different order. Students who transfer before completing courses equivalent to the entire 7ABC series may need to enroll in Berkeley's Physics 49 to complete missing topics such as wave motion (7A) or heat (7B). Additionally, students who complete the Physics 7ABC-equivalent courses at multiple institutions may also need to enroll in Physics 49 to complete missed topics. If you did not complete all of your prerequisite Physics major courses at a California Community College, please contact your Physics Academic Advisor via email to discuss next steps.

Steps to Declaring the Major for Transfers Students

Once you enter UC Berkeley, you will need to formally declare your major. Please see the steps for declaring your major below:

Make sure you’ve completed the prerequisite classes shown above.

Complete the Major Declaration Google Form . If your transfer courses have not yet been evaluated by L&S and shown on your CalCentral Transfer Credit Report, please make sure to include an unofficial transfer transcript when you submit this form.

We will get back to you within a couple of weeks with any questions or next steps.

Physics Courses Available to New Transfer Students in Berkeley's Summer Session

Physics 89 - Introduction to Mathematical Physics Consider taking Physics 89 during the summer before you start at Berkeley or in your first full semester on campus if you feel you could use a refresher on these topics. This course will also expose you to topics that are often not covered at other institutions. Physics 89 is not required for incoming transfer students if you have already met the Math 54 equivalent before transferring. If you have this requirement met, but still want to take the course, you may take Phys 89 pass/no pass.

Physics 137A - Quantum Mechanics Please note: you must have completed all the prerequisites to the major before enrolling in any upper division courses.

Recommended Major Classes for Your First Semester

We recommend taking between 13 - 15 units in the first semester We suggest two upper-division Physics requirements per semester (resulting in 7-8 units). The College of Letters & Science requires students to carry a minimum of 13 units per semester for full-time student status, so the remaining 5-6 units are achieved through classes outside of Physics, such as DeCals or research units. More challenging workloads can always be considered in future semesters. Click here for course descriptions For first-semester incoming transfer students, we recommend:

Physics 137A

Physics 110A

Physics 153* Transfer Course for Physical Science Majors (strongly recommended)

In addition to these courses, you can consider taking one or both of the following courses bolster your math and/or Python knowledge:

Physics 89 (may be taken P/NP)*

Physics 77 or Data 8 (courses in Python - recommended if you don't have programming experience)

We recommend taking Physics 198BC* - Berkeley Connect in your second semester on campus, if you are seeking additional mentorship and support following the Physics 153 course in the fall.

* These are 1-unit, pass/no pass courses

A Note About Undergraduate Research

We encourage all of our students to find a research position at some point during their undergraduate career. If graduate school is part of your plan, we encourage you to try to find a research position early on during your Berkeley experience. At the start of every semester, we have a research fair for Physics students. We encourage you to attend and to look for research experiences in your first semester.

If you are seeking a summer position, either before your first year, or following your first year on campus, here here are a few resources to use when looking for research:

National Science Foundation (NSF)
Pathwaystoscience.org
UC Berkeley's TTE: Transfer to Excellence Summer Research Program
US Dept of Energy's Community College Internship (CCI) Program
Space Science Lab - ASSURE Program

Considering a Double Major

While it is possible for transfer students to double major, you will need to have all (or the vast majority) of your prerequisites for your second major completed before you arrive on campus. Students who declare a double major automatically get an additional semester to complete their coursework. However, given the rigors involved in completing a double major it is strongly recommended that you think critically about your course load and academic plan. Please reach out to your Physics undergraduate major advisor if you have questions or need advice.

Special Advice for Incoming Spring Students

Students admitted for the Spring semester can take courses in the fall preceding registration at Berkeley only as described in their "Conditions of Admission" (see your admissions letter). If applicable, Spring transfer students should finish all prerequisites, any remaining breadth requirements, and possibly AC course matches (see Assist.org).

The Berkeley Transfer Center , Re-entry Center & Student Parent Center are all additional resources available to you and we hope that you'll take advantage of their services. Adjusting to campus life can be daunting, both socially and academically, but the tools for success are readily available. Please use them and reach out to your advisor with any questions.

Useful Links

Transfer Student Center Assist Resources for Finding Research Society of Physics Students Society of Women in the Physical Sciences Physics Berkeley Connect UC Berkeley Hispanic Engineers and Scientists Space Exploration Society at Berkeley Physics Undergraduate Degree Program

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Physics Extended Essay: The Complete Guide for IB Students
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COMMENTS

Physics Personal Statement Examples
Physics Personal Statement Example 15. I have always been intrigued by the world of physics. From everyday experiences to the most extreme boundaries of today's knowledge, I have always voraciously searched for answers to my questions. As I grew up, the elegance of mathematical demonstrations and of physical theorems fascinated me, and I have ...
Major Essay
When declaring a major in Physics, students must submit an essay to their academic advisor for approval. This essay should be 250 - 500 words and should include: A statement of your goals in pursuing a physics major; Areas of physics that represent your greatest interests (e.g., astrophysics); A brief description of other academic concentrations you are planning (e.g., a minor in mathematics ...
Why Study Physics?
There are hundreds of possible college majors and minors. So why should you study physics? Physics is interesting. Physics helps us to understand how the world around us works, from can openers, light bulbs and cell phones to muscles, lungs and brains; from paints, piccolos and pirouettes to cameras, cars and cathedrals; from earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes to quarks, DNA and black holes.
Why Study Physics?
The goal of physics is to understand how things work from first principles. We offer physics courses that are matched to a range of goals that students may have in studying physics -- taking elective courses to broaden one's scientific literacy, satisfying requirements for a major in the sciences or engineering, or working towards a degree in physics or engineering physics.
Why Major in Physics?
Why Major in Physics? An essay by Patrick Madigan, Bates physics alum. I wanted to let you know how physics has helped me throughout my career. I've written below what is basically an historical account of what I've done since graduating and the items that I needed to become proficient in to be successful. In all of these subjects, I relied ...
Physics
Physics, science that deals with the structure of matter and the interactions between the fundamental constituents of the observable universe. ... (Read Einstein's 1926 Britannica essay on space-time.) Physics is the basic physical science. ... superconductivity, neutron stars, and other major phenomena, and relativistic mechanics, important ...
How to Write the "Why this Major" College Essay + Examples
Similarly, Purdue asks applicants to write 250 words in response to the below statement: Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. Carnegie Mellon, another top college, requires students to discuss the evolution of their proposed field of study, in 300 words or less: Most students choose their intended major or area ...
The Do's and Don'ts of the "Why Major" Essay
Essays account for around 25% of your admissions decision, as they're your chance to humanize your application and set yourself apart from other applicants with strong profiles. The "Why Major" essay is especially important, as it allows you to reflect on your unique interests and fit with the school.
Free Physics Essay Examples & Topic Ideas
Check our 100% free physics essay, research paper examples. Find inspiration and ideas Best topics Daily updates. Stuck with your physics paper? Check our 100% free physics essay, research paper examples. ... One of the major contributions of the article is a discussion on the various contradictions that the law of conservation of energy has.
What You Need to Know About Becoming a Physics Major
A physics major is a science degree path that helps explain how the world works and how the universe is structured. Majors study matter and energy and gain exposure to both classical and modern ...
A 200+ Word "Why Major" Essay Example and Analysis
The "Why Major" essay is especially important, as it allows you to reflect on your unique interests and fit with the school. Your supplement needs to demonstrate your interest in the major and paint a picture of how you'll contribute to their program. To understand if your essay is strong enough, we recommend using our Peer Essay Review ...
Physics Personal Statement Example 1
Physics Personal Statement Example 1. One of the most appealing features of Physics is the way that complex physical phenomena can be explained by simple and elegant theories. I enjoy the logical aspect of the subject and I find it very satisfying when all the separate pieces of a problem fall together to create one simple theory.
1.1 Physics: An Introduction
The study of physics also can improve your problem-solving skills. Furthermore, physics has retained the most basic aspects of science, so it is used by all of the sciences, and the study of physics makes other sciences easier to understand. Figure 1.4 The laws of physics help us understand how common appliances work.
Personal Statement for Grad School
Starting From Scratch. The personal statement is your opportunity to speak directly to the admissions committee about why they should accept you. This means you need to brag. Not be humble, not humblebrag, but brag. Tell everybody why you are great and why you'll make a fantastic physicist (just, try not to come off as a jerk).
Top 100 in Physics
Top 100 in Physics. This collection highlights our most downloaded* physics papers published in 2019. Featuring authors from around the world, these papers feature valuable research from an ...
How to Write the "Why this Major" College Essay
If you're writing a medium-length (e.g., 250-300 word) essay, try one scene per short paragraph. Step #3: Decide if you want to include a specific thesis that explicitly states your central argument—in this case what you want to study and why. This thesis can come at the beginning, middle, or end of your essay.
The Complete Guide on How to Write a Physics Essay
The following tips should be considered prior to writing the physics essay: The physics concepts require precision and may be complicated to grasp without proper explanation. Therefore, the essay should, by all means, have a clear structure and flow well. It is also necessary to avoid wordiness and long sentences.
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WowEssays.com paper writer service proudly presents to you an open-access database of Physics College Essays intended to help struggling students tackle their writing challenges. In a practical sense, each Physics College Essay sample presented here may be a guide that walks you through the crucial stages of the writing process and showcases how to develop an academic work that hits the mark.
Essays in Physics: Thirty-two thoughtful essays on topics in
"Essays in Physics" gives accounts of 32 chosen topics. The level is that of a 3-4-year university course in Physics. The topics discussed are diverse but "mainstream". Each essay aims to say something fresh that complements what the reader will find elsewhere. Just what "fresh" means inevitably depends somewhat on the subject matter.
Why Major Essay |Why This Major Essay Example
The why major essay examples in this guide come from UT Austin, USC, Cornell, Georgia Tech, and Pomona College. In addition to these schools, many other colleges also have a why major essay. Some of these include Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, Emory University, University of Michigan, and Rice University.
Why Physics Is A Good Major
Looking for why physics is a good major? Physics students are sought after because of their broad set of skills and deep knowledge. We like to think of physics as a problem solving "multitool".Physics graduates are sought by government and industry employers for jobs in: telecommunications, electronics, computing, quality control testing, banking, insurance, teaching, management, technical ...
Transfer Students
Welcome to Physics at Berkeley! As an incoming transfer student there are many things to consider and we are here to help. As you think about declaring a major in Physics, we have put together the following information to get you started. As your undergraduate major advisors, we are available to connect with you by email or appointment. Please see the information below, and
60 Scholarships for Physics Majors
Submission of an essay and letters of recommendation also may be required. In some cases, financial need or minority status may be a factor. If you're interested in learning more about scholarships for physics majors, continue reading below. Showing 1-20 of 60 scholarships. View Details. ScholarshipPoints.com $10,000 Scholarship Edvisors key ...

Major Essay

Why Study Physics?

Why Study Physics?

Where do I start?

Physics & Astronomy

Future Students

What You Need to Know About Becoming a Physics Major

What Is a Physics Major?

Common Coursework Physics Majors Can Expect

How to Know if This Major Is the Right Fit for You

What Can I Do With a Physics Major?

Schools Offering a Physics Major

College Admissions: Get a Step Ahead!

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1.1 Physics: An Introduction

Science and the Realm of Physics

Applications of Physics

Models, Theories, and Laws; The Role of Experimentation

Models, Theories, and Laws

The Scientific Method

The Evolution of Natural Philosophy into Modern Physics

Limits on the Laws of Classical Physics

Check Your Understanding

PhET Explorations

Your Personal Statement for Graduate School

General Tips for Editing

General Content Advice

Make sure you’ve included information specific to the graduate school you’re writing about.

Have you addressed your shortcomings adequately?

Have you fully explained your personal background?

Make your essay interesting!

Don’t come off as unlikable

The mechanics of your writing: sentence and word choices

Top 100 in Physics

Arrow of time and its reversal on the IBM quantum computer

Room-temperature Operation of Low-voltage, Non-volatile, Compound-semiconductor Memory Cells

Emergent dynamics of neuromorphic nanowire networks

Machine-learning guided discovery of a new thermoelectric material

Beyond 30% Conversion Efficiency in Silicon Solar Cells: A Numerical Demonstration

QAOA for Max-Cut requires hundreds of qubits for quantum speed-up

How Quantum Mechanics can consistently describe the use of itself