25 Feb 2022

Stanford University

Physics, PhD (F22)

Accepted via E-mail on 25 Feb 2022

Note

hep-th (quantum gravity / cosmology). To be honest, I am thankful that I have been admitted to HPMS but I am feeling a bit lost as to whether to pursue hep-th or a PhD at all (I am considering jobs unrelated to physics). I have had professors explicitly discouraging me from pursuing quantum gravity and have met jaded PhD graduates of the most famous hep-th professors (when I was interning in the industry). My own experiences in hep-th have been intellectually fulfilling but it is sometimes difficult to tell if my work is related to the real world---the essence of physics seems to be missing. I have started looking at CMT (especially topological materials) but it still seems to have limited applicability in practice. To the applicants out there, how did you know you wanted to pursue a PhD and what are your post-PhD plans? For the hep-th applicants out there, why do you want to do hep-th?

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