Albany here we come!

I don't know what building this is, but it looks cool.

College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering

(This is just one building. You can't fit the whole complex in one picture!)

I just received an acceptance letter from the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) at the State University of New York at Albany! Located in New York's capitol, the CNSE is ranked #1 in the world for nanotechnology. Classes begin at the end of August, just two weeks after I graduate with my B.S. in Physics. After completing the program, which takes an average of five years, I will have a Ph.D. in Nanoscale Science. The college will be paying for my tuition and I will also be receiving an annual research assistantship! How cool is that? Now we just have to figure out how we are going to move all of our stuff there and where we will live!

The funniest thing about all of this is that I wasn't even planning on applying to graduate school until the end of this year, since most of the deadlines for physics programs are in December and January. However, my research partner, Hiram, told me I should try to find some programs that have later deadlines and apply, just to see what happens. As I started doing some research on graduate schools, I was focusing only on physics programs and I couldn't find anything I liked. Then, I decided to narrow my search a bit and look specifically for nanotechnology schools. That's when I found the Small Times rankings. (Small Times is a nanotechnology trade magazine that is very well known in the feild). When I saw that SUNY Albany, a school I had never heard of, was ranked #1 in nanotechnology for the second year in a row, I was very intrigued. After a few minutes of browising their website, I was hooked. While most people apply to as many as ten graduate programs at a time (which can cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars), I applied only to one - and got in!

I think the thing that really helped my application was our trip out to Albany. Actually going out and meeting with professors is the best way to get to know the school. It's also the best way for them to get to know you, which can make all the difference.

I can't wait to get started!