Q&A

• What you want to study at graduate school?

I want to study physics at graduate school.
• Why you want to study only this degree?
Since high school, I've did particularly well in physics than other subjects. Initially it was
simply the joy of solving mechanics problems (I was rather good at formulating equations
and solving them) that pulled me towards this field. However this interest was cemented in
my undergraduate degree, where quantum mechanics was introduced as a generalization of
classical mechanics. I was completely blown away. Forgotten were the pulleys and
frictionless planks. It was fascinating to learn about the history of the quantum approach and
how it is a major tool for understanding our universe on the smallest scale. Furthermore, it
was even more exciting to discover that there existed connection between seemingly
unrelated topics: E.g. Special relativity and electrodynamics; astral compositions and
fermions etc. to name a few. Addressing physical situations with a mathematical approach
always seemed natural to me and studying physics as a graduate student allows me to
continue this.
• Why do you want to study at this particular college? What do you like in
us?
Main motivation: top ten university ranking; top tier facilities. A senior of mine is already a
graduate student here and I've only had good things to hear from him.
Aside from all that, I'm particularly interested in Prof. Boyd's work in light matter
interactions and Prof. Howell's work in foundations of quantum mechanics as my master's
thesis and a summer project were in the same topics.
• Why did you choose to study in this particular country? What do you like
about it?
US is a land of opportunity and come craving a chance have I arrived its shores. It is a
daunting prospect for someone such a myself who hasn't been in a foreign country upwards
of a week, to suddenly settle in one for a few years. I take solace in the fact that US, with its
multicultural landscape, would accept me for what I am and not alienate me. Not to mention
US with its large number of universities creates an ideal academic environment for my
growth as a scholar.
• How much and what kind of experience you have in your field?
I am currently in my final year of integrated bachelor and master's degree in Science,
majoring in Physics and minoring in Mathematics. For my final thesis, I am working on
light-matter interactions and modification of energy landscapes in chemical reactions. I'm
looking into the underlying physics behind molecular reactions inside an optical cavity and
how they differ from those in free space.
• Is your experience related to you choice of degree?
I would certainly say so. My goal is to further my