FAQ: Applying to the Physics Graduate Program

November 18, 2009

ANNUAL APPLICATION DEADLINE:
January 1, 2010 for Domestic STUDENTS,
December 1, 2009 for International STUDENTS.

What are the recommended academic qualifications for admission consideration into the graduate program?
Please review the Typical Undergraduate Preparation.

I do not have web access. Will you send me a paper application?
We no longer accept paper applications. Our entire process is now conducted online using Apply Yourself. If you are having difficulties, there is a Technical Support link on the applyyourself.com website.

Will the current economic conditions affect admission decisions? How many international students do you accept?
The current economic conditions will not affect admission decisions for Fall 2010. We do not accept a specific number of domestic and international students. Our goal is to attract the most qualified students to our program. We received 550 applications for Fall 2009. Our incoming class consisted of 27 students. Of these, 17 were domestic and 10 were international. We are anticipating similar numbers this year.

How do I know whether I will be considered a domestic or international student?
Domestic: US citizens, permanent residents (green card holders), or have refugee or asylum status.
International: Non-US citizens who have or will need to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa.

Please note: If you are an international student but have completed 1 or more years of study at a US college or university, you do not have to take the TOEFL.

I am an international student. My country only offers a 3 year bachelor’s degree. Is that equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in the US?
No. In this situation, the student needs to complete an additional year in a master’s program in the same country where they received their bachelor’s degree.

When do my transcripts, GRE and TOEFL scores need to arrive at CU-Boulder? What happens if they arrive before the deadline? What happens if they arrive after the deadline?
Your application must be submitted by the deadline: December 1, 2009 for international students and January 1, 2010 for domestic students. If your supporting materials (supplemental application, transcripts, GRE and TOEFL scores, and recommendation letters) arrive before the deadline, they will be filed and matched with your online application using name and birthdate. Your supporting materials may arrive after the deadline. However, your application will not be considered until all materials have been received by the Physics Department. Therefore it is to your advantage to send in all your materials as soon as possible. Transcripts should be sent directly from the issuing institution to the CU Physics Department. The address is at the end of this page. Request that GRE and TOEFL scores be sent directly to the university when you take the exam. The Program Assistant will update your ‘Apply Yourself’ application when the scores are received. The Supplemental Application may be either emailed, faxed, or sent to the department through the regular mail.

I submitted my electronic application through Apply Yourself. I sent my supporting materials to the department. How will I know that everything arrived and my application is complete?
Due to the large numbers of applications we receive, it is not possible to respond to individual requests for verification. However, when all your materials have been recorded in Apply Yourself, you will be able to see that noted on your application. In addition, the Graduate Program Assistant will notify you if any of your supporting documents are missing.

Are there “minimum scores” for my GPA, GREs, and TOEFLs? How are admission decisions made?
There are no specific minimum scores. Admission decisions are made by a committee. The committee considers all aspects of your application, i.e. GPA, standardized test scores, personal statement, and letters of recommendation to arrive at admission decisions.

Will you accept photocopies of my ETS (e.g., GRE or TOEFL) scores?
Originals are preferred but we will allow photocopies for the initial screening process. However, no one will be formally admitted into the program until we have received official score reports from ETS. International students who have completed 1 or more years at a US college or university do not have to submit TOEFL scores.

My university does not use the 4.0 scale that yours does. How should I make the conversion?
This is the conversion formula:
    [(Your GPA)/(Your scale)]*4.0

If your school’s scale is 5, then a GPA of 4.5 would convert to 3.6
    [(4.5/5)*4=3.6]
If your school’s scale is 3, then a GPA of 2.9 would convert to 3.87
    [(2.9/3)*4=3.87]

What should the personal statement contain?
Personal statements do not follow a specific format. But the following list provides some guidelines of what you should include:

Your previous research experience
Current research interests
Other experience that may be relevant to your experience in physics
Your career goals (why do you wish to study physics?)
An explanation of any low grades or time gaps in your education

Can a waiver of the application fee be requested?
The guidelines for requesting a fee waiver may be found in the following document: Fee Waiver Guidelines for Fall 2010. Please note, there are different guidelines for domestic and international applicants.

I am an international student. Do I need to fill out the Financial Form before I get accepted? Does this affect the admission decision?
Financial information is not required as part of the initial application. And this document is NOT a condition of admission. However, if you are admitted, filling it out now (if you need an F-1 or J-1 visa) will save you time in the long run. It takes time to round up the information and to process immigration paperwork.

I am a domestic (or international) student. Can I expect to receive financial aid? What are the requirements? When should I apply?
While there are no absolute guarantees, this is the situation as it has existed in the past. All admitted students, whether domestic or international, receive a full tuition waiver. Each student is still responsible for student fees. (The fee schedule may be found on the CU Bursar’s website) In addition, virtually all of our students are supported through a TA or RA-ship. Approximately 70% of health insurance is covered. You do not have to apply for financial aid from the department. It is automatically given to you as part of your admission package.

Will you admit students for the spring semester??
No

Department of Physics Mailing Address:
Graduate Program Assistant
Department of Physics
2000 Colorado Ave.
390 UCB
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0390