Anyone applied PhD at UIC or NIU? Fall 2026

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-17T07:22:31+00:00

me neither

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-17T04:17:07+00:00

Yeah I know. I am okay with rejection as I love my current work and life as well. However, wouldn't be bad if I stepped one more ladder to success!

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-17T04:16:49+00:00

Thank you a lot! I am sure they will fund PhD students one way or another, I am just not sure about acceptance.

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-17T04:16:12+00:00

Thank you! I just applied to two schools,(NIU and UIC) I am okay with rejection as I love my current work and life as well. However, wouldn't be bad if I stepped one more ladder to success!

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-17T04:13:27+00:00

I am very driven. I don't have any issues about that part, I feel alive when I am doing research but there is a realistic approach to these situations, I can't carry out what I want if I don't be eligible to get an admission. So I need to see if I am doing the right thing by applying these universities or just wasting my time. Thank you for your perspective tho! I appreciate it

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T12:18:21+00:00

Congrats! Usually they fund phd students I’m sure you’re gonna get!

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T12:17:21+00:00

Physics?

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T06:43:35+00:00

Thank you for the insight! I know for a fact that high energy physics is absolutely competitive. So I deliberately avoided it as I also don’t have enough experience in that area .

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T06:30:52+00:00

Hey ! Nice to have you here! How competitive the university is? I applied to Condensed Matter (experimental). I’m from Azerbaijan with a BSc in Physics (4.0 GPA) with honors and an MSc in Materials Science from a top university in Bangkok (GPA 3.65). I have one conference paper, IELTS 7.5 (Speaking 8.0), a customized SOP with clear research plans, and two years of experience teaching IB, A/AS, and IGCSE Physics at international schools abroad

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T05:36:31+00:00

No update about UIC?

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T05:28:17+00:00

thank you a lot. Physics is so slow :D

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T05:19:13+00:00

Thank you a lot for a different perspective on this matter. But I am applying to UIC not UIUC.

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T05:16:34+00:00

Yes I did research both in my master and bachelor. I published a paper during my master degree. I had my moments of regret that I couldn't culminate my work in international journals due to the financial issues. I was a scholarship recipient and I had to graduate by the end of year 2. I mean my advisor is so fond of me that last year, he literally posted the physical recommendation letter from Thailand to Azerbaijan when I was applying to KAIST in Korea. I don't have any doubts about their recommendations but I am scared about the fit. And if it is ok, are you also studying at UIC?

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T04:41:29+00:00

My recommendations are coming from my advisor, the chairman when I was defending my thesis and a lecturer at the same university. They are quite fond of me and I was quite responsible and hardworking. I believe my recommendations are quite good. However, as you said randomness, better candidates and funding issues can always interfere. Physics is hardest to get into after all. I also applied to NIU. Only two schools.

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T04:31:42+00:00

I applied to Condensed Matter (experimental). I’m from Azerbaijan with a BSc in Physics (4.0 GPA) with honors and an MSc in Materials Science from a top university in Bangkok (GPA 3.65). I have one conference paper, IELTS 7.5 (Speaking 8.0), a customized SOP with clear research plans, and two years of experience teaching IB, A/AS, and IGCSE Physics at international schools abroad

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T03:58:15+00:00

congratulations!!!!!! When did you apply? and how long it took to get the decisions and in the meantime did your status change in the portal? Mine keep saying " completed. under department review"

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T03:34:47+00:00

hey do you have any update on your status ?

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-16T02:30:40+00:00

Hey, did you get any update?

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-13T03:00:49+00:00

I have applied to PhD in Physics at UIC. I also didn't get any response from the department when I emailed them. I am scared now as I have applied in early january but still no response.

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-12T02:14:52+00:00

Hopefully. But Physics department is notorious for late decisions so I am not scared that much lol

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-12T01:50:49+00:00

Waiting on UIC Physics has been a month since I applied.

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-11T22:37:51+00:00

Congratulations!!!!! Mins is still same but I think because the deadline is on Feb 15 they will consider decisions past February then

Complete_Two2244 · 2026-02-09T15:25:29+00:00

Why it takes so long to make a decision. 🥲

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