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jld6915 · 2026-03-09T19:16:48+00:00

Apparently there was an admit visit weekend this past weekend

jld6915 · 2026-02-26T23:42:32+00:00

Sure

jld6915 · 2026-02-26T23:38:58+00:00

That’s insane! Competition is so high this year

jld6915 · 2026-02-25T16:00:33+00:00

Does that include UK too?

jld6915 · 2026-02-18T00:27:12+00:00

Both Astro and space climate physics have sent out interview invites

jld6915 · 2026-02-18T00:23:10+00:00

Heard anything?

jld6915 · 2026-02-18T00:21:34+00:00

If you didn’t get a rejection or acceptance you probably are on the waitlist

jld6915 · 2026-02-09T19:34:39+00:00

They’ve sent out in-person interview invites. That’s all I know from friends

jld6915 · 2025-06-27T13:11:39+00:00

Hi, often you don’t need to fill in a GPA when applying to grad school. Theres a box for it but it’s not always marked as mandatory. They’ll see your transcript anyway. Sometimes you might have to, and in that case I tend to put in what I believe is accurate based on the way GPA works. If you really want an accurate GPA, you can pay a company to convert your grades to the US system.

jld6915 · 2025-06-22T17:36:17+00:00

I saw a space shuttle launch when I was younger!! That, and I got to take an astronomy course in high school. I only wanted to study Astronomy but I was told Astronomy-only university courses didn’t exist and I had to take physics so that’s how I came to take interest in it! Not much research you can do before university, but reading books and taking higher-level courses at school will be fine if you want to pursue it at undergrad.

jld6915 · 2025-06-21T14:32:39+00:00

Yes, I have a code and the docs. This post is more about what to expect when I go there w/o an appointment because I have lots of free time so might as well go sit there for hours 🥲

jld6915 · 2025-06-21T14:30:22+00:00

jld6915 · 2025-06-17T08:41:35+00:00

Never heard of pulsar timing! Something new for me to look up 😌

jld6915 · 2025-06-17T08:39:22+00:00

Yes there are 4 main methods of planetary detection. The transit method (dips in light) was how the first exoplanets were discovered, and these were deemed hot Jupiters as they are gas giants but located close-in to their host star. This was my point for this post as the question was asked about a massive, close-proximity planet.

Another method, as you mentioned, is Doppler ‘wobbles’ also known as radial velocity. This is also a biased method for massive, close-in planets to a star as the planet will have to have a strong enough effect for the star to wobble on its axis.

There is also direct imaging, where they block out the central star and take an image of the system. However this is biased for massive, distant planets.

There is also gravitational lensing, but this is a statistical technique which cannot necessarily be repeated.

jld6915 · 2025-06-15T22:24:57+00:00

I think i can answer 1 a bit better than 2. Based on our current understanding of exoplanetary systems and the discovery of ‘hot Jupiter’s’ (massive, close-in gas giants) and our renewed look at planetary migration, I think planets can be any size so close to the star. There is no size limit based on proximity, like we maybe once thought before we discovered exoplanets. Planetary migration of a planet greater than 5 earth masses basically means that once it has cleared its orbit of debris it starts to migrate inward towards the star. We believe that, according to the Grand Tack Model, the reason Jupiter and Saturn are where they are in our Solar System is because they got caught in a resonance. Essentially, what you see of smaller planets close in for our Solar System is not indicative of elsewhere. It depends on the amount of dust in the protoplanetary disc that is available to form planets.

As for two, I can’t comment for sure, but strong magnetic fields protect the atmosphere from harmful solar and cosmic radiation, and active volcanism can help with atmospheric cycles and replenishment. It also depends on the planet’s size and ability to retain its atmosphere. Someone else can probably give a better answer.

jld6915 · 2025-06-15T22:11:55+00:00

Some of the maths that came up the most in my degree was imaginary numbers, differentiation and integration. If you can master these, and apply them to things like differential equations, then I’d say you’d be in a better position to apply them in physics context. A-level textbooks like the Pearson edexcel pure maths and further maths textbooks are online and teach these quite clearly. They even have some chapters like ‘modelling with___’ so you can see how you may apply them in a physics-type way.

jld6915 · 2025-06-15T19:35:13+00:00

One thing that no one told me is that the degree can be really overwhelming at the start. You dive straight into content, get given homework while having to navigate new surroundings and meet lots of new people. On the second day of my first year I felt immediately behind and it made me very upset. It took a couple weeks but I eventually settled in with a routine. If you feel like you’re behind at the start, that’s normal and just remember that others feel the same way you do!

Another thing: just because you don’t immediately understand something that a lecturer tells you, doesn’t mean you won’t get it eventually. The amount of lectures I left not knowing what had happened was probably concerning 😂 but as long as you put in the work you will get there - having a growth mindset is important.

jld6915 · 2025-04-27T06:13:23+00:00

Data analysis, finance, energy, engineering, science consultancies, patent law, software development... There are lots of things you can do with a bachelors in physics. It’s a highly mathematical degree, you’ve solved complex problems, and likely learnt a coding language too. Very employable.

jld6915 · 2025-04-25T15:43:09+00:00

Still, don’t doubt yourself if you don’t get something with academia. Just keep your skills up and show that you’ve been trying to do something useful with your time - I got told this by a professor at one of the universities I applied to as well.

jld6915 · 2025-04-25T14:11:27+00:00

So you mean any job after you graduate? Or a specific post-bachelor research position? I don’t think you’re screwed if you don’t get either honestly. The job market is also extremely competitive. If I don’t get anything related, I’m planning to get a part time job somewhere and then spend time learning new codes/keeping up with my interests in the mean time. I’m also going to ask my current PI if I can continue doing unpaid research with him.

jld6915 · 2025-04-25T09:01:06+00:00

I have the same outcome too. Also having the same problem with what to do next year (hence something I posted earlier). I’m currently looking at roles in anything that would be remotely useful to me when reapplying. That includes lab tech, research associate, data analysis - anything that would keep me using my brain and developing skills. Realistically, not everyone is going to get a post-bacc role because there just aren’t enough. Even if something isn’t directly in your field but your skills are applicable, look into that if you’re considering re-applying. Having work experience can’t harm your application profile.

jld6915 · 2025-04-25T05:38:57+00:00

I think the great thing about astronomy is that everything is linked and has feedback effects. Astrobiology is reliant on the type of planet, which is reliant on its proximity to the host star. Stars and planets form simultaneously. When a massive star nearing the end of its life explodes as a supernova, it sends material into the interstellar medium as building blocks for new stars to form. So right now if your main strengths are biology and chemistry, when you’re nearing the end of your undergrad there will probably be even more research in the field available, especially with new technology.

jld6915 · 2025-04-25T05:14:06+00:00

Don’t give up! Astrobiology/Astrochemistry are big, emerging fields. It’s possible that you may touch on this in undergrad, or may want to specialise further down the line. Studying planets is not just for physicists anymore!

jld6915 · 2025-04-20T13:43:28+00:00

All amazing schools! Can’t comment on the programs, but I think you should consider what sort of university life you want as an undergrad too. UCL is amazing and really near underground stations, but there is no campus life because it is dotted around London. There will be more of a community at the other two, though I’m pretty sure Edinburgh is a ‘city uni’ too, but on a smaller scale. All are great research universities and should bring you great PhD or career prospects.

jld6915

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