US Ph.D. FAQ

Obtaining a Ph.D. at a major US research university such as USC will provide you with a broad scientific expertise that prepares you very well to work in academia as a scholar, if you don't end up applying your skills in the industry. (For geophysics, you might work in the IT, oil, consulting, insurance, or financial industry.)

While you will be expected to conduct independent research in collaboration with your adviser, post-docs, and other students and faculty, you are formally a graduate student in a US Ph.D. program, and the application procedure reflects this. Even though you should contact and list by name the faculty member you wish to work with, your application has to be sent to the whole department. The application is to be submitted online, details are described here. Apply to our department before applying to the university.

We are always looking for motivated students from the Earth Sciences, physics, computer sciences, applied math, and related fields. I like to work with students who think independently and challenge and extend my expertise and interests. Please contact me directly if you have questions beyond what is briefly discussed on this page.

Frequently asked questions about getting a Ph.D. in the US

• Do you sponsor summer research interns?
  No, we cannot typically support international summer students, sorry. I won't be replying to your email concerning such appointments. However, please see information on SCEC undergraduate internships, and please do contact me if you are an USC undergraduate interested in thesis research.
• What should I do if I want you to be my superviser at USC Geodynamics?
  If you're not familiar with my work, the best approach would be to read a few of my recent papers to get an idea of my interests. Your research will note be limited to my areas of expertise but it might help if our interests are complementary or aligned. If I haven't met you in person, please send me a brief email to introduce yourself, and list my name on the USC application.
• How do I apply for your PhD program?
  The application procedure through our department and USC is online and found at our departmental application page. Apply to our department before applying to the university. Temporary exceptions with regard to specific application requirements and past-deadline submissions are possible, in exceptional cases, with the strong support of a faculty member.
• What are the entry degree requirements?
  A B.A. or B.S. (bachelor, Vordiplom may work) degree, or a M.Sc. (masters, Diplom). Typically equivalent to ~3 yrs of university education. The graduate course requirement at USC is flexible and will be adjusted to your previous studies.
• What additional exams do I have to take before applying?
  The most important one is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). This test is administered at testing centers internationally and online. The GRE helps us to document student skills across different countries and degree systems. You should aim for scores of > 700 for the quantitative, and > 500 for the verbal parts, respectively; higher if you're a native English speaker. GRE scores are, however, not our only criteria for grad admission, of course. Previous research experience and good recommendations from colleagues are as important, for example. It's a good idea to study a bit for the GRE. I suggest simply xeroxing old tests from a library which might have study guides for the GRE and practice ~5 old tests.

  The TOEFL (English language) test is so easy, on the other hand, that it's almost meaningless. We do care about your English language proficiency, however.

• Do I have to pay tuition?
  No, we will cover your tuition, pay you a salary, and help you with moving expenses. For certain fellowships, there is additional, personal research funding available, on top of our regular research support.
• When is the deadline to apply?
  Please check our departmental application pages, normally in late December for next Fall admission. With the support of a faculty member, exceptions can be made for in-term admission and also with regard to the application requirements.
• What's a US Ph.D. like?
  It depends what you make it. Typically, you'll take a year or so of graduate classes and do research the remainder of the 4-5 yrs total. My group, like others at USC, collaborates with researchers and/or conducts field world wide. You'll likely get to travel to other universities, and usually several international meetings per year.
  You might work on ~3 different research projects with an overarching theme, and are expected to develop your own research questions and strategies. You'll work with your adviser, other students, and other faculty if you like.
  
• How long will it take me?
  If you're fast and/or already have a M.Sc., 3-4 years, usually five. The US program is somewhat longer than in other countries, because of its broader scientific scope and the resulting course work and project requirements. Also see next question.
• Why does a PhD take five years?
  Because in the US system, the entry requirement is a batchelor degree, typically obtained after three years. Add 3+5 and you get eight years of university training before the PhD. This is the same as, say, 5+3 for a M.Sc. or Diplom and shorter PhD program in Europe.
• What are graduate classes like?
  Some are regular lecture-style classes with home work assignments, e.g. you might take fluid dynamics at the engineering department. Most are research seminar type classes, where your term project at the end of the class can ideally be turned into an actual scientific publication.
• How many graduate classes will I have to take?
  Depends on your prior education. Usually, students take classes during the first year, while working on research part time. The later years are research full time.
• How much will I get paid?
  The salary works out to be ~> $2000/month before taxes, depending on the scholarship and support (which will be detailed should you receive an offer from our department). We typically cover your travel to conferences, work equipment (computers etc.), may be able to pay you a relocation allowance, and depending on the fellowship, you may get additional research funds.
• How much do I have to work outside my research project?
  If you're accepted, we guarantee you funding for five years while you make good progress during the program. Typically students assist professors in teaching classes (teaching assistantships, TAs) for ~>1 year, and get paid out of research grants (research assistantships, RAs) or university or department fellowships for the remainder. The details will be specified in your offer letter.

• What project will I work on?
  We've got several funded projects in geodynamics and seismology, see my research pages for our past work. However, we encourage you to collaborate with other faculty, work on several projects, and you will have to design your own research plan, depending on your interests.
• Will I get a Masters (M.Sc.) degree?
  Normally, the terminal degree is a Ph.D. You will have to take an oral exam after two years, which is roughly a MSc equivalent, but only presents a way point en route to the Ph.D.
• What's USC like?
  USC is a large, private university with the main campus just south of downtown Los Angeles. USC was established in 1880 and has at present an enrollment of 16,500 undergraduates and 16,500 graduate and professional students, along with 3200 faculty and 8000 staff, making it the largest private employer in LA.
  USC Earth Sciences is a growing, top twenty department with particular strengths in geophysics and geobiology. Some highlights at USC include the Southern California Earthquake Center and the High Performance Computing Center.
  While the faculty and department you'll work in will be a better guide to see if this is the right match for you, it helps to know how the university is positioned. USC college was named College of the Year in 2000 and ranked 27th in the US in 2008 by US News and World report, and in 2006, the university was ranked 47 out of all of the world's universities, and 36th in the US. That's ahead of, for example, all German and Australian universities, none of which are in the top 50. Check the main USC web pages or the quick fact page.
• What about the other schools in LA?
  Students can cross-register for classes at UCLA and often sit-in Caltech classes, and we have active several collaborations in southern California. USC is the headquarter of the Southern California Earthquake Center, which is a collboratory for the multi-discplinary study of earthquakes. We are also affiliated with the Computational Infrastructure in Geodynamics in Pasadena and other national centers such as UNAVCO.
• What about life in LA?
  LA is the most diverse city in the US, and a lot of fun. LA is a big city, which means big city problems (e.g. traffic), but also tremendous big city offerings (great museums, music, theatre, universities, food, film). The weather is very pleasant year-round and you are within reach of spectacular mountain ranges, the ocean, and the magnificent desert parks.