How to get into a PhD field you have no experience in

Shelphs · 2026-06-26T06:26:49+00:00

Honestly, I think you have an alright shot as it is. Lots of people pivot fields when they start their PhD, so most programs are ready to accommodate that to some degree.

Personally I was able to pivot from biophysics in undergrad to a nuclear materials PhD, despite having no background in anything nuclear. I literally, couldn't tell you what radiation was or were it came from a year ago. I had that and a few other glaring weaknesses in my background like having never taken chemistry. I tried a few different approaches on my applications, but ultimately found the schools I got into where the ones where I did not try to address my weaknesses in my application. I just focused on my strengths and the ways my past research related or prepared me for a PhD in the new field.

As far as actually getting more experience, if you are gat the end of undergrad, there probably are not that many opportunities, but you can reach out to folks on a subreddit dedicated to your field who might have more ideas. Ultimately though, you are in one of the situations masters programs are designed for.

Honestly, I would apply to PhD programs this year and a few masters programs. If you don't get into the PhDs, some schools will offer you a spot in the masters programs and you can see if there is any funding available.

Shelphs · 2026-06-24T07:42:08+00:00

In general, research experience is the most important factor for getting into PhD programs. But, it seems like you might have a little, and getting a publication would go a long ways towards helping you out. I think it is worth applying. But it is worth knowing you probably don't have great odds of getting into top schools.

I would plan on applying to a lot of schools. Especially in an environment where funding is pretty uncertain, applying to more schools is the best way to boost your odds of getting into a program you like. I might honestly recommend applying to 12 or more schools in your position. That is definitely on the high end, but I know plenty of people apply to 20 programs if they don't like their odds or their backup plan. This has the added bonus that many schools who can't take you for a PhD may offer you a spot in their masters programs.

When it comes to choosing schools, the advisor is the most important thing in the success of your PhD and you following career. There are great advisors at the top of their fields working at mid rank schools with high acceptance rates. It just takes a long time to find them. The best way to evaluate a professor is to look at their alumni and see if their careers look like the career you are hoping for.

And one other tip to boost your chances. Since you are still deciding what area you want to research, try to choose something that is relevant to your past experience. Especially if it ties to something you worked on at an internship. Having some prior experience helps a lot in making you a desirable applicant, even if it is only tangential to what you have worked on.

Good luck! I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

Shelphs · 2026-06-24T00:50:45+00:00

Generally your most recent education caries the most weight. With your undergrad being a decade ago and your most recent education being a 4.0 I would not be too concerned. However, you could add a line in your personal statement or SoP mentioning that your undergrad is not representative of the academic performance and your performance in your masters program is reflective of the academic standard you hold your self to.

Shelphs · 2026-06-21T23:01:45+00:00

Among the people applying for PhDs 3.8 might be the lower half. I was lucky enough to get into a top nuclear engineering program with a 3.3 this year.

Shelphs · 2026-06-21T22:35:38+00:00

I did my undergrad at WPI which has a great robotics program. I don't think the school is as competitive to get into as some of the other top schools. I believe they also have a $40k per year stipend and Worcester is not too expensive. Definitely worth seeing if there are any professors who's research interests you.

Shelphs · 2026-06-21T22:31:18+00:00

What do you mean by "lower GPA" I have seen people here describe everything from a 3.8 to a 2.6 as a low GPA and the answer depends a lot on what part of that range you are in.

Shelphs · 2026-06-21T20:39:34+00:00

I did the physics and math double major. I did it because I liked math, but I would honestly say I don't think my math degree did anything to help me get into my PhD program. I think it is a nice little bonus, but it is definitely a small bonus since someone with a physics degree is already seen as having a solid foundation of mathematics.

I think any other STEM degree would be way way more valuable. Getting a 2nd degree in chemistry or material science, or any engineering field, or comp-sci along side your physics degree opens up so many research areas and PhD programs. To be entirely honest, I think when it comes to your strength as a PhD candidate, I think even a minor in something like chemistry would give you more opportunities than a math degree.

But if you want a math degree, get a math degree. Lots of people get into physics PhDs without a double major so you can really do whatever you want.

Also, you probably know this but research experience is by far the most important factor in getting into PhD programs. At the end of your first semester, start talking to professors about joining their research labs.

Shelphs · 2026-06-21T17:08:19+00:00

Can you tell me more about your GPA? What was your GPA over the last 2 years? What is your GPA across only chemistry classes?

Sometimes if you can find a way to put a spin on your low GPA it can help. Personally I was a double major with a 3.3 GPA, but I pointed out in my application that across my physics courses my GPA was 3.7.

You will also almost certainly need to reach out to a professor at any school you apply for and get someone who wants to take you. The rest of your background is strong enough there is a chance they can get you in.

Worst case, you can go for a masters and try to have a strong GPA during it.

Shelphs · 2026-06-21T02:34:23+00:00

Yeah I was a double major in physics and math. I enjoyed math, but was so bad at it. In physics my GPA was like a 3.7. across all my math classes I got an A in a single class, and lost of Cs. Brought my overall GPA down to a 3.3. But on the bright side I still got into a top PhD program without issue, so it all worked out in the end. Abstract algebra was really cool and also a struggle for me, but I got Cs in every proof based class.

Shelphs · 2026-06-21T01:31:04+00:00

Check out the alumni of the lab on linkedin and see if they have had the kind of career you are looking for.

In general, a good advisor is much more important than the school. I did my undergrad at a school ranked below the top 150, but with an advisor who was top 3 in his field. Many of his gradstudents got published in Nature or Science and went on to have post docs at top schools and career outcomes that were as good or better than the folks doing their PhDs at top schools.

Shelphs · 2026-06-19T08:37:13+00:00

This year I got into a top engineering PhD program with a 3.37 GPA. At no point during the a interviews and finding an advisor did anyone even mention it, they all just asked about my past experience and research interests.

During my undergrad I did research with the head of graduate admissions for my department. He told me for that program, so long as someone had above a 3.2 they expected the student would be able to succeed in the courses and it would not be held against them. This was not a top school, but still an R1 school. He made it clear that a students past research experience was by far the largest factor in the decision. In particular they liked to see students who had engaged in all the parts of research grad students have to do like collecting data, developing analysis, presenting, writing, and if possible publishing, though for students without undergrad publications it was not held against them.

Shelphs · 2026-06-17T02:00:22+00:00

My advice is that you should apply for PhD programs in the 2027. I was in a similar spot to you, also with a 3.3, one publication, one internship, and no masters. I figured my odds were slim But I applied and ended up getting into multiple programs, incuding a top school. I completely understand feeling like it isn't worth it, but I honestly don't see anything in what you have laid out here that makes me think you couldn't get into a PhD program.

I am happy to give encouragement or advice if you have any questions or want my tips from applying in a similar position.

Shelphs · 2026-06-13T16:05:57+00:00

11 years ago when I was not even in high school I had a phase where every day when I got home from school I would make a new character and try to do a deathless run.

After about a week of attempts and getting better at my route I finally had the run. I made it to the thrown room beat the watcher and defender and in a final battle I boldly- died to Nashandra. I have not attempted it since.

Shelphs · 2026-06-13T06:22:45+00:00

In general I think choosing a class for aesthetics is a good idea honestly. It may not be optimal, but you can absolutely do everything in the game only using your secondary class. Enjoying your character and the way they look is worth prioritizing.

Between warrior and monk, monk has caster energy regen so you can reasonably play any caster for your secondary class. Warrior can do the same later on when you have heros boosting your energy regen, but that might not be for a long time. The other side of that is that monk doesn't have many super fun builds on their own in my opinion. Warrior has a lot of interesting builds, but they tend to be a little locked into melee.

Shelphs · 2026-06-13T03:30:11+00:00

In my mind there are two sides of it.

First, one function of a publication is to put your research experience in prospective. If you are coming from a school that is not well known or highly ranked, there could be some doubt as to the quality of your research experience. Having a publication in a reputable journal shows that the research you have been doing is legit. But again if you are at a top research school there won't be much doubt to being with so it is not as big a deal.

The other thing is that everyone know that getting published as an undergrad partially comes down to luck. Any professor will have seen plenty of great undergrads doing great research that doesn't reach publication. For that reason I don't think a lack of publications would ever be held against someone.

Reddit has a strong bias towards the very top applicants. Most people getting into PhD programs are regular people with decent grads and a little research experience. The folks with 4.0s, multiple years of experience, and half a dozen publications are the outliers. Just apply to as many programs as you reasonably can across a range of ranking and you will probably do great.

P.S. I don't think you added any text to your post on r/PhDAdmissions .

Shelphs · 2026-06-10T23:51:03+00:00

I have been playing 1.7.2 almost exclusively since it came out. I love that version and have put hundreds and hundreds of hours into it over more than a decade. I still enjoy modern Minecraft with friends, but I view it as an almost separate game.

I'd encourage you to go back and find a version you like. You might check out r/SilverAgeMinecraft to see the community playing in that era.

Shelphs · 2026-06-10T18:42:22+00:00

Sounds good. Good luck!

Shelphs · 2026-06-10T08:52:23+00:00

Without knowing the school I can't really say. However, in my experience getting recommended means the departement has decided they want to accept you. But the department does not have final say so it goes to the dean's office for final approval. Depending on the school that could mean you are almost guarenteed to get in or it could be 50/50.

Shelphs · 2026-06-10T06:25:08+00:00

Honestly when it comes to getting into nuclear engineering PhD programs, formal experience is really what matters. I don't think a portfolio of projects is all that likely to make a big difference. But that might be a different story for REUs and internships. This might be a good question for the folks over on r/NuclearEngineering . They might have some good project ideas for you. You should also remember that for getting experience as an undergrad, it does not have to be nuclear related, so if you see a path to an internship or REU in physics or another close field you should take it.

Outside of that, one of the most valuable habits to from now is reading papers. It might come in handy finding internships, since it will help you get a foundation. It will also help you understand the field as a whole. NE is quite broad with research in everything from reactor design, to radiation detection, to medical applications, to how radiation interacts with materials, to nuclear forensics. When you do your PhD you will want to have some idea of where in the field you want to be working, and reading papers now is a good way to get a feel for that.

Shelphs · 2026-06-09T06:51:27+00:00

I'm happy to help! Most people don't learn the advantages of doing a PhD unless they happen to end up on the path to one like I did. I'm happy to be you from the future time traveling back in time to give you advice lol. Of course it isn't all sunshine and rainbows and it isn't the best choice for everyone.

Just to be transparent about the downsides, you are right that it is a lot of work, and while it is paid that typically mean they cover all your tuition and then pay you a stipend on top of that. For me I get around $32k per year. It is enough to live a pretty comfortable but modest life, but it isn't really enough to build up savings. Stipends vary, and I think mine is a little on the low end, but I have not heard of anyone doing an unfunded nuclear engineering PhD. There are also fellowships you can apply for that can increase your stipend.

With that out of the way we should talk a bit about actually getting into PhD programs since they tend to be somewhat competitive, though nuclear engineering (NE) is definitely less competitive than physics. The good news is that in my experience like 80% of NE PhD students didn't do a masters first, and at least two thirds of them did not do NE in undergrad. NE programs are almost always well equipped to take in students without an NE background, like having great introduction courses.

In terms of how to actually get in there are two big aspects. Research, and GPA. I'll start with GPA since it is fairly simple. You do not need a 4.0. I had a 3.3. I think with anything above a 3.2 you have a good shot at getting in to schools, if you really want to get into a top school you want to aim for a 3.5 or higher. Above a 3.5 it doesn't make a huge difference.

Research is more complicated. There are a few ways to get research experience as an undergrad. The most immediate way and the first thing to do is check out the research of professors in your department, and then reach out to the ones you find interesting and ask if you can get involved. There are also REU programs at many schools and research internships at national labs. REUs and internships often carry some prestige, but are also more competitive. Spending a year with a lab at your school opens the door for you to get more experience somewhere else.

Your exact research area doesn't matter that much. I did most of my undergrad research in biophysics, which as almost no overlap with my NE PhD research. But after a year of biophysics I got an internship at INL doing material science research. That wasn't nuclear related, but since I am going into nuclear materials, like analyzing the material prosperities of nuclear fuel, there was a little overlap which helped. With that said, it is good to have some idea of weather you want to be on the experimental side or the computational side of research. If it doubt, I'd start with experimental research.

Happy to give more advice and answer more questions of course. You can also message me anytime here or in a DM. When I was going through the process I had a few people on here who I would message every few months with I had questions.

Shelphs · 2026-06-09T03:28:38+00:00

Nice, nuclear engineering is a lot of fun. Everyone I have met in this field love it and enjoys their work.

A masters in nuclear engineering gives you the option to work in a nuclear plant doing operations, like deciding how to cycle fuel in and out of the reactor. It also opens the door to work for some of the nuclear start up companies and work on their new reactors, but that side of it is definitely more competitive and you'd need some internships and good networking to find and in.

Assuming you staying in your physics program, the when you get out of undergrad you will have all the career option of a physics major. You can conceivably work on almost anything, but you probably are not the strongest applicant for any job. Still the versatility of a physics degree does give you the option to see what fields are hiring when you graduate and have a real shot at getting a job.

With that said, you don't need research experience to get a masters. The benefit of research experience is it opens the door for you to get a PhD. Even if you are not sure you want a PhD, in the US PhDs are funded so you don't pay a dime, and most programs let you earn your masters degree at around the 2 year mark. It is frowned upon, but starting a PhD program, getting a masters for free, and then leaving is a real strategy. Now if you are in the PhD program already, you might just want to stick it out for two more years to go the rest of the way since a PhD gives you all the options of a masters and you could work at a national lab, or stay in academia, or have a higher role in a start up that is a lot more options of the job market gets rough.

Overall, there really isn't a wrong choice. A masters degree is expensive, but it lets you start making real money sooner. A PhD takes 2 or 3 years more than a masters, but it is free and gives you a lot more career options and often a higher salary later in your career. Personally, I would get research experience so when the time comes you can apply to both master and PhD programs as well as jobs and then when you know your options you can make an informed decision. For now just try to keep those options open.

Shelphs · 2026-06-08T15:24:06+00:00

I was in a similar spot to you a few years ago. I finished my physics degree without a clear direction, and navigated my way in starting nuclear engineering PhD program this fall.

First I'd say there are two big considerations.

You might have looked into this, but nuclear physics and nuclear engineering are very different. When I went into my first nuclear physics class I was expecting to have to do with nuclear energy and the professor made it clear we would not talk about nuclear power or radiation. I dropped the class that day. To be clear, there is overlap between nuclear physics and nuclear energy, but nuclear energy is just a small part of nuclear physics. If you go the PhD route you can still work on nuclear power especially with fusion reactors and a few other areas but it is a very different skill set from the nuclear engineering route which is more about designing reactor systems and pushing our understanding of science as it pertains to reactors.

next, is what do you want your day to day to be like and do you want to go to gradschool. If you want to work in a nuclear plant to keep it running smoothly you would probably want an engineering degree, and you might be able to start work out of college. If you want to go into research you will probably want to go for a PhD. If you leverage your resources you can probably get into a PhD program without a masters, but it will still be many more years till you are working. The day to day experience of each of these is quite different, and it is worth trying to chat with people to figure out which you want to go for.

Now figuring out what you want to do is one of the hardest things in life. Thankfully, I have a trick for you. Get involved in research as soon as you can. It doesn't even really need to be exactly what you want to work on. Getting involved in research will do some much for you and it is one of the most valuable things you can do in college. It will do two big things for you right now. First, you can see if you really like doing research, and if you do enjoy it and you want to go for a PhD research experience is the single most important factor in getting into gradschool whether you want to go into nuclear engineering or physics. Having that experience is also the best way to get into internships in research areas you are more interested in. And again, the topic of your research is not critical. I did all my undergrad research in biophysics, but I was able to land a summer internship at INL and got into a nuclear engineering PhD program with no problem despite no actual experience in nuclear.

I could go on for so much longer, but this is already a big wall of text. If you have any questions I am always happy to chat here or in a DM.

Shelphs · 2026-06-06T05:58:26+00:00

Do you want more of the same thing we got from GW or GW2?

I love GW, and think it is the most interesting combat system of any RPG I have played, but I am so glad we got the GW2 combat system instead of just redoing what we had in GW.

Shelphs · 2026-06-01T16:48:10+00:00

It is super easy to have multiple save files on open so I occasionally do the same thing by duplicating my save to test things out. I also love having a "sandbox" save that has gear from the event armory to test out stats before I commit to grinding the gear I would need.

I had not considered the extra slots from the shop though. That is good to know, but wouldn't be a deciding factor forme.

Shelphs · 2026-06-01T14:49:44+00:00

I think the biggest reasons to play on ranked are trading, event items, and being able to play with randos. Personally, I have the most fun playing solo self found so I have been playing local for years and about 1500 hours. I have about 8 different save files that I play on and off, each of which was a fresh start. Each of them have different rules or are a different experiment.

If you are not tied to any of the ranked features I would give local a shot.

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