Graduate
Admissions FAQs
Graduate Programs Administrator:
Lisa Cacciabaudo Jefferson
362 | (617)495-4327 |
General Information
The Department of Physics at Harvard University welcomes
all applicants to its graduate degree program.
If you are interested in applying to our program,
please examine the physics
department's areas of research.
You may also find it useful to examine the corresponding
page for our School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS).
If you decide to apply to our graduate program, we urge
you to review the
GSAS
information page for prospective students, especially
the
detailed
application instructions and requirements, as well
as the
specific
requirements of the physics program of study.
You can find a full list of course offerings in the
physics department at here,
and course offerings from other departments here.
You may also find useful information at our department's web
site.
For specific questions for the physics department,
please contact us as gradinfo@physics.harvard.edu .
For more general inquiries about the admissions process
at Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS),
please visit the contact
page for the GSAS Office of Admissions.
Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Click on a question to show or hide the answer.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
SUBJECT AREAS
- Can
I apply both to physics and another program at
the same time?
Prospective students are indeed
permitted to apply simultaneously to two separate
programs at Harvard. For example, students are
free to apply both to the Department of Physics
and SEAS. (By contrast, students may not apply
to multiple departments within any single program,
so you cannot apply to two different departments
that are both contained within SEAS.)
From the official
application instructions:
"Consideration by More than One Program
— [...] The Graduate School does not recommend
submission of more than one application. However,
if you choose to submit multiple applications
(up to a limit of two), the applications may
not share any item. Each application must have
its own transcripts, recommendations, financial
data, test scores, [application fee], etc. All
supplemental materials must be scanned, uploaded,
and attached to your online application. It is
Graduate School policy that an individual may
submit only one application per program. It is
Graduate School policy that an individual may
submit no more than three applications during
the course of his or her academic career."
- Will
my application be harmed if I apply to two separate
programs?
Your application will not be
negatively affected.
- My
undergraduate background is in engineering, and
most of my technical courses are in applied math,
applied chemistry, and applied physics. Is Harvard’s
physics department the right program for me?
The physics department has had
many students with an undergraduate engineering
degree.
Given your undergraduate major in mechanical
engineering, and your previous courses in applied
math, applied chemistry, and applied physics,
you might also be interested in applying to one
of the programs in Harvard's School of Engineering
and Applied Sciences (SEAS) -- you may find it
useful to examine their areas of research at http://www.seas.harvard.edu/faculty-research/research.
- I’m
hoping to do observational astronomy/astrophysics
at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA). Should I
be applying to the department of physics?
Astrophysics is offered by both
the Department of Astronomy and of Physics. If
deemed appropriate, applications for Astrophysics
may be transferred by the Physics committee to
the Department of Astronomy for review.
If you're interested in doing observational astronomy/astrophysics
at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA), you might
consider applying to Harvard’s Department of
Astronomy instead of or in addition to the physics
department. For more information about the astronomy
department, please see http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/ast/.
- I’m
concerned about which department I should apply
to.
The Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences (GSAS) permits candidates to apply to
up to two programs at the same time, and up to
three over a student's entire career. Furthermore,
admissions committees sometimes share applications
when they believe certain candidates have interests
that suit other programs.
- I
know that applicants are allowed to apply to two
departments simultaneously. I don’t see an "add
second department" option -- do I need to open
a second application?
Students who are applying to
two programs must submit two applications.
ACCEPTANCE QUESTIONS
- Given
my academic background, what are my odds of acceptance?
The physics department's admissions
committee reviews each candidate's entire application,
including statement of purpose, transcript, experience,
GRE scores, and letters of recommendation --
the statement of purpose and letters of recommendation
being especially important. Beyond that, the
department cannot determine in advance the likelihood
of success in any particular case.
ENROLLMENT/FUNDING QUESTIONS
- Do
I need to submit financial information with my
application?
Financial information is not
required for applications to the physics department.
- How
much funding do physics graduate students receive?
All Harvard physics graduate
students are guaranteed funding, which fully
covers tuition and fees, the student's health
insurance (family members can join the student's
plan, but must fully pay their own share), and
an annual salary of approximately $25k, or $30k
if the student secures summer funding as well
or if the student wins an outside fellowship
(the NSF GRFP, for example).
- How
do graduate students without external fellowships
secure summer funding at Harvard’s physics program?
Students can obtain summer funding
by obtaining a research appointment (RA) with
a faculty member’s research group. Students who
are unable to obtain a summer RA can instead
secure funding by assistant-teaching summer classes,
or by working in the library or machine shop.
- Are
international PhD students guaranteed funding at
Harvard’s physics department?
Many international students
apply to and are accepted to our physics program;
in past years, up to 40% of our students have
been international. And all PhD students -- including
international students -- are guaranteed funding.
Please see our "Admissions
and Financial Aid" page (in particular,
the section under "Financial Aid")
for detailed information about our program's
funding structure for graduate students.
- Does
the physics department permit part-time enrollment?
The department does not permit
part-time enrollment. Full-time enrollment is
considered to be 40 hours per week, although
in practice most graduate students often work
much longer hours -- the work consists mainly
of research, but certain semesters also include
assistant-teaching.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
- What
courses are required for candidacy to the program?
There are no specific, mandatory
course requirements for candidacy. However, prospective
students should be well-versed in intermediate
physics and mathematics. Typically, applicants
will have devoted between 50 and 60 credit hours
-- approximately half of their undergraduate
work -- to physics, mathematics, and chemistry.
It is desirable for every applicant to have completed
at least one year of introductory quantum mechanics
classes.
- My
undergraduate major is in a subject different from
physics, and I did not take key physics classes
like statistical physics and quantum mechanics,
but I have strengths in other areas, such as high
GRE scores. Am I precluded from applying?
Everyone is entitled to apply
to the physics program. Weaker course background
can sometimes be balanced out by stronger areas
on a prospective student's application for admission,
such as GRE scores, but the department cannot
determine in advance the likelihood of success
in any particular case.
- Can
I still apply for the PhD program if I plan on
graduating from my undergraduate institution during
the summer before the first fall semester?
The Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences (GSAS) requires only that incoming students
have graduated by their intended date of matriculation,
so graduating during the summer before the first
fall semester is generally acceptable.
- What
are the course requirements for obtaining a PhD?
ACADEMIC RECORD and TRANSCRIPT QUESTIONS
- The
application asks for a list of relevant courses
taken at my undergraduate institution. Do I still
have to complete that part of the application if
the courses are already listed on my uploaded official
transcript?
or:
I attended
a university in another country, and the course names
and textbook names are all in a foreign language.
Do I still need to fill out the list of undergraduate
courses on the application form?
To ensure that your application
is processed correctly and considered by the
admissions committee, please fill out all forms
completely, even if you believe some of the information
is already on your academic transcript or are
uncertain that the information will be useful
and necessary.
- The
physics department specifically requires that candidates
submit additional documentation of their most advanced
courses and textbooks used. Where do I submit that
list?
In addition to filling out the
course abstract in the main application (pages
4 and 5), you should submit your list of advanced
courses and textbooks used in the Additional
Academic Information section (page 15) of the
online application.
- The
application instructions ask students applying
to the physics program to list the four most advanced
physics/astronomy courses and the two most advanced
math courses they have taken so far. May I list
more than six total courses?
Yes -- applicants are permitted
to list additional advanced courses in relevant
subjects if they wish.
- As
an undergraduate, I’ve taken several advanced theoretical
courses that can’t easily be classified as either
pure physics or pure math. In my list of advanced
courses, should I classify these courses as physics
or math?
In filling out your list of
advanced coursework, the admissions committee
asks that you please use your best judgment in
deciding how to classify your courses.
- Do
I need my undergraduate institution to mail in
my transcripts for me, or can I mail them myself?
Candidates do not need to ask
their undergraduate institutions to mail in student
transcripts. The Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences (GSAS) requires that students submit
transcripts both by uploading them to the online
application form and by mailing original hard-copies
to:
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Harvard University
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 9129
Cambridge, MA 02238-9129
Courier or express mail service should be addressed
to:
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Harvard University
Office of Admissions
Holyoke Center, 3rd Floor
1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
- If
I spent a semester at another university under
a study-abroad program, but all my grades are reported
on my home institution’s transcript, do I need
to send a redundant transcript from the study-abroad
institution?
As long as grades for all your
courses are reported on your home institution's
transcript, there is no need to submit a redundant
transcript from your study-abroad institution.
- I
spent a few semesters at one undergraduate institution
before transferring to another. Do I need to provide
transcripts from both institutions?
The department requires that
transfer students submit official transcripts
from all undergraduate institutions that they
have attended -- every undergraduate class taken
by a student at any institution should appear
on an official transcript.
- I
am attending a one-year graduate program, and I
do not yet have official grades or a transcript
that I can include with my undergraduate transcript.
Can I submit the graduate program’s transcript
after the official application deadline?
If your current institution does
not yet have a transcript or official grades
available for you, then the Harvard physics department
will accept your application without that information.
You can mention your graduate work in your statement
of purpose, and, if you'd like, mail a hard-copy
of your transcript to GSAS admissions once it
becomes available -- the mailing address is the
same as for your undergraduate transcript.
- My
university does not have an official policy of
providing GPAs. Should I leave the GPA field blank
on the application?
Please compute a GPA as best
you can from your course grades, and enter it
into the application form.
- I
am an international student, and my undergraduate
institution uses a numerical grading system different
from the standard American system. Should I enter
my numerical grade values in the application form?
Should I calculate a GPA?
The members of our admissions
committee have a good understanding of a wide
variety of international grading systems, so
there's no need to convert your grades. Please
just use the numerical values you have, and compute
a GPA from them as best you can.
- My
transcript is in another language. Do I still need
to submit it?
The departments requires all
students to submit a transcript or equivalent
official academic record with a student’s undergraduate
grades. If the transcript is in another language,
then the candidate should also submit a certified
translation.
- My
university does not provide transcripts, but does
provide an official form with a list of my courses
and grades. What should I upload in place of a
transcript?
The admissions committee recognizes
that some institutions do not produce transcripts,
but instead provide other official records of
undergraduate work and grades received. In that
case, please submit those official records in
place of a transcript.
- My
university does not produce official paper transcripts
-- my university asks students to provide their
academic records department with an email address
for sending out a secure link. Can applicants to
Harvard’s physics program use this system rather
than uploading and mailing an official transcript?
Unfortunately, the Graduate School
of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) does not accept transcripts
electronically except through their official
online application. Please ask your university
to send you the transcript, and then upload it
manually through the GSAS online application.
GSAS also requires a hard-copy of your transcript
-- please print out your electronic copy and
mail it along with a written explanation detailing
the reason you could not provide an original.
- If
my hard-copy transcript gets lost in the mail,
will my application be considered incomplete if
I am unable to send a replacement before the deadline?
Would my application be immediately dismissed?
No application is ever dismissed
due to an inadvertent technicality. In the event
that the hard-copy transcript is lost in the
mail, the admissions committee will notify the
student to send the hard-copy again, and use
the uploaded copy in the meantime.
- I
submitted my online application without attaching
the required list of my six most advanced physics
and math courses. How can I get the information
to the admissions committee?
Please include a hard-copy of
the list of advanced courses when you mail your
original transcript to the Graduate School of
Arts and Sciences (GSAS) admissions office.
GRE SCORES
- What
is the official code for reporting GRE scores?
When requesting official score
reports, please indicate the receiving institution
as Harvard University Graduate School of Arts
and Sciences, Code 3451.
- Hardships
make it difficult for me to take the GRE. Can I
request a waiver?
Harvard's Graduate School of
Arts and Sciences (GSAS) grants exemptions on
GRE exams only in very special circumstances.
To make an inquiry, please visit the contact
page for GSAS
Office of Admissions.
- I
have taken the GREs, but my scores have expired.
Do I need to retake the tests?
The Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences (GSAS) officially requires non-expired
GRE scores as part of a complete application.
Full exemptions are granted only under extreme
circumstances -- to make an inquiry, please visit
the contact page for the GSAS
Office of Admissions.
- I
am unable to take the GREs early enough for my
scores to arrive by the official Dec. 14 application
deadline. Will my application still be considered?
The Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences (GSAS) officially requires GRE scores
as part of a complete application. However, the
physics department is willing to receive scores
late if a candidate cannot ensure that the scores
will arrive by the Dec. 14 deadline. In the meantime,
please indicate the dates that you took the GRE
tests on the application form and fill in all
the scores you have now, leaving the remaining
fields blank.
- I
have taken the Physics GRE multiple times. Which
score will be reviewed, the most recent one or
the best one?
You can fill in whichever set
of scores you'd prefer on the online application
-- the Educational Testing Service will send
the admissions committee the scores from all
your tests as well.
- Is
there a lowest limit on acceptable GRE scores?
There are no minimum or lowest-limit
scores on the GRE -- lower GRE scores can be
balanced out by stronger areas on a prospective
student's application for admission. No applications
are ever dismissed out of hand, and certainly
not based on a single component.
TOEFL QUESTIONS
- What
is the official code for reporting TOEFL scores?
When requesting official score
reports, please indicate the receiving institution
as Harvard University Graduate School of Arts
and Sciences, Code 3451.
- Do
I have to take (or retake) the TOEFL? My circumstances
make it inconvenient or difficult to do so, and
my English is pretty good.
The department apologizes for
any inconvenience, but Harvard's Graduate School
of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) requires TOEFL scores
for all applicants who have not received a BA
from an English-speaking undergraduate institution,
with exemptions granted only in extreme circumstances
-- if you believe that your case may qualify,
please visit the contact page for the GSAS
Office of Admissions.
- My
undergraduate university was not primarily English-speaking,
but I later attended a master’s program at an English-speaking
university. Do I still need to submit TOEFL scores?
Harvard's Graduate School of
Arts and Sciences (GSAS) requires TOEFL scores
for all applicants who have not received a BA
from an English-speaking undergraduate institution,
with exemptions granted only in extreme circumstances
-- if you believe that your case may qualify,
please visit the contact page for the GSAS
Office of Admissions.
- My
undergraduate institution is in a non-English-speaking
country, but English was the only language of instruction.
Do I need to submit TOEFL scores, and, if not,
how do I prove that I did my undergraduate work
in English?
The members of the physics department's
admissions committee are familiar with most undergraduate
institutions around the world, so there's no
need to provide specific proof on your application
that your institution is English-speaking --
please just check the appropriate box on the
online application form. Later on, if any concerns
arise during the course of your application process,
you will be contacted with further instructions.
- I
have a professor of English Literature who is willing
to write me a certificate regarding my English
skills -- do I still need to take the TOEFL?
The Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences (GSAS) requires TOEFL scores of all
non-native-English students who have not attended
an English-speaking undergraduate institution.
GSAS does not accept alternative forms of verification,
such as a letter from a faculty member at a student’s
undergraduate institution.
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