Life After a Physics BS

The Job Market

What skills do you have?

• quantitative and analytical skills
• problem solving skills
• knowledge of science and technology
• research experience
• ability to learn, esp. technical subjects

What kinds of jobs are there?

Data:
Big bucks for physicists
Where Physics Bachelors Work
What's a bachelor's degree worth?
Typical Starting Salaries
AIP: Physics Trends Flyers
AIP: Statistics
NSF: Science & Engineering Statistics
Bureau of Labor Statistics

How can I find appropriate jobs?

General Resources

AIP: Career Resources

Graduate School

What's involved?

Hard work!
typically 2 yr for MS, 2-4 yr more for PhD

gain deeper knowledge, more experience, more independence
opens doors to more jobs

How do you choose the right school for you?

• interests of the faculty
• reputation of the school
• productivity of the faculty
• chances of being admitted
• location

• prepare: get good grades, get research experience, study for the GRE
• do your homework to learn about various schools
• choose 5-10 (?) to apply to
• don't wait until the last minute

• ask questions (e.g. http://www.astro.indiana.edu/grad_questions.shtml)
• visit if possible

Graduate Programs in Physics & Astronomy (AIP)
GradSchoolShopper.com (AIP)
Cornell - timeline and FAQ
google "how to choose grad school" (e.g. GradSchoolTips.com)