UCSD Overview of Physics GRE(1)

“Examinations sir, are pure humbug, from beginning to end! If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he is not a gentleman, whatever he knows is bad for him.” --Lord Fermor, in “A Picture of Dorian Gray” By Oscar Wilde

The Physics Major’s Users’ Guide to the GRE

The Physics Major’s Users’ Guide to the GRE

GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION

The Physics Major’s Users’ Guide to the GRE

Grim Reaper Experience

Outline • What is the GRE? • Who, What, Where, When, Why & How Much?

• Scores and what they mean • Preparation • Strategies for the Physics Subject Test

GRE: General Test • Analytical Writing: – Present your perspective on an issue (45 min) • Present your perspective on one of the topics below, using relevant reasons and/or examples to support your views “Both the development of technological tools and the uses to which humanity has put them have created modern civilizations where loneliness is ever increasing.”

GRE: General Test • Analytical Writing: – Analyze an argument (30 min) • Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument: “Forestville increased the speed limit for vehicles traveling on the region's highways by ten miles per hour. … If the citizens of Forestville want to reduce the number of automobile accidents on the region's highways, they should campaign to reduce Forestville's speed limit to what it was before the increase.

GRE: General Test • Verbal (30 questions, 30 minutes) • Quantitative (28 questions, 45 minutes) • A “pretest” and possibly a “research” section

GRE: Physics Subject Test • 100 multiple-choice questions, 170 minutes • Classical Mechanics: 20% – Newtonian Mechanics – Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics – Orbital and Harmonic Motion

GRE: Physics Subject Test • Electromagnetism: 18% – – – –

Electrostatics and Magnetotstatics Maxwell’s Equations AC/DC circuits Fields in matter

GRE: Physics Subject Test • Quantum Mechanics (12%) and Atomic Physics (10%) – – – –

The Schrodinger Equation Spin and Angular Momentum Bohr Model and Atomic Structure/Spectra Blackbody radiation

GRE: Physics Subject Test • Thermodynamics and Stat. Mech.: 10% – Undergraduate Thermodynamics – Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics Variables – Kinetic Theory and Ensembles

GRE: Physics Subject Test • • • •

Waves and Optics: 9% Special Relativity: 6% Laboratory Methods: 6% Other random physics stuff: 9%

Logistics • Who? – You and thousands of unfortunate souls across the country.

• Why me? – Graduate school admission, and fellowship applications

Logistics • When & Where? General Test:

Prometric Testing Center 6755 Mira Mesa Blvd, Sorrento Plaza, Suite 136 San Diego, California 92121

Logistics • When & Where? General Test:

San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive, Student Services Bldg. San Diego, California 92182

Logistics • When & Where? • Physics Subject Test: – UCSD, SDSU, USD Test Date

Registration Deadline

November 13, 2004

October 8, 2004

December 11, 2004

November 5, 2004

April 2, 2005

February 25, 2005

Logistics • How much (will it cost me)?

Item

Cost

General Test

$115

Physics Subject Test

$130

Additional Score Reports $15 each + $6 phone fee

Scoring Score

Percentile

Verbal

550 - 600

65 - 85

Quantitative

750 - 800

> 80

Physics

650 - 900

45 - 90

Scoring • Physics Subject Test Score

Percent correct

900

73

800

59

700

45

600

32

Preparation • Free downloadable software GRE POWERPREP • Summer class here at UCSD – – – –

12-15 hours planned for the summer 2 practice tests with feedback FREE! Contact David Norris if you are interested in the program, [email protected]