| Physics theory is a lot like math. High grades and GREs are almost required and the top programs are absurdly competitive. For experimental physics, chemistry, biology, or geology though, the effort to turn an A- into an A would probably be much better spent doing research during the term and getting something published. Engineering PhD programs are probably similar since they focus on research, but I have no clue how engineering masters programs work.
Whether a B+ in Ph 125 is "good" or "bad" depends so much on when it was taken. Often, a B+ is around average or only a little above average. Last term, the 125 grades for juniors went something like this: A: 5, B: 11, C: 17, F: 3. That's pretty harsh, especially when you consider the physics ability of the people in that class. Nearly everyone in that class is going to be applying to physics grad school, and those Cs are going to hurt a little regardless of subfield. A B+ last term would be pretty impressive. |