For those planning to attend graduate school, it is important to find the right program at the right university. There are many websites one can use to find schools, with searches by program, area, and even ranking in the country. Additionally, both the internet as well as book stores feature guides to finding the best grad school, along with tips on how to conduct one's search and submit an application. Blow are a few useful links to explore.
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is the standard test by which college students are assessed for graduate school. There is a general exam, as well as many subject tests for students with a specialized interest.
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) website is a great place to start planning for the GRE, including scheduling for the test.
Resources for preparing for the GRE include Princeton Review and Kaplan, which not only publish annual study guides but provide prep classes as well as online support and practice testing.
Other websites with study material include:
Additionally, students planning to specifically earn their PhD in physics should also prepare for the Physics GRE subject test. Unlike the standard GRE, this test focuses solely on physics material, but from all subject levels, from basic math to quantum mechanics. There are numerous resources for this exam, including practice tests and books and online forums.
The personal statement is one of, if not the most important parts of applying to grad school. It's a chance to individualize yourself from your test scores and GPA by explaining who you are, what you are interested in studying, and why you want to go to grad school or pursue a professional career.
Your statement is also an opportunity to share your interests, skills, or hobbies. Sports and clubs, notable trips you've taken, languages you can speak, or personal anecdotes are all acceptable to include. However, it is important that each of these aspects adds up to a larger picture about how you enrich your chosen school, and how you will contribute to your area of study.
The following links are just a few examples of valuable sources for preparing your statement:
