SPS has a trove of resources for people considering graduate school in physics or a related field! Here are teasers for some of our favorites. To find the full versions of these articles and many more, check out the Fall 2023 issue of the SPS Observer online at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/issues/fall-2023.

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So You Want to Go to Graduate School

by M. J. Wright, Associate Physics Professor and Chair, Adelphi University

Graduate school can be one of the most rewarding and exciting opportunities in your life. It can be transformative.

The training that you receive in the process of obtaining a PhD puts you at the forefront of human knowledge and technology while simultaneously exposing you to the deeper workings of the universe. You’ll develop confidence and the ability to solve nearly impossible problems...

Continue reading at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/so-you-want-go-graduate-school for advice on jumping on the grad school path, finding programs for you, and crafting successful applications.

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Graduate Programs 101

Physics and astronomy majors are qualified for many educational pathways 

by Ben Perez, Contributing Writer

There is no one-size-fits-all grad program, even in a field like astronomy or physics. Most programs are classified by the highest degree they offer, master’s degree or PhD, but there are variations even within those categories. And having a physics or astronomy major doesn’t mean you’re limited to physics and astronomy grad programs. You’re qualified for many physics-adjacent grad programs and professional degree programs too...

Continue reading at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/graduate-programs-101 to learn about master's, PhD, and professional degree programs often pursued by physics and astronomy undergraduates.

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Finding Great Grad Programs for You

by Brad R. Conrad, Past Director of SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma

The most important thing to know about searching for a grad program is that there isn’t just one “right” program for you—there are likely many places where you could thrive and excel. The key is to identify what is best for you and your goals...

What programs will fit you best? Continue reading at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/finding-great-grad-programs-you for questions to consider before you start applying.

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Who Pays for PhD Programs?

by Kendra Redmond, Editor

In physics and astronomy PhD programs, the department typically covers tuition and related expenses for its graduate students, or the university waives these expenses. Most students never see a bill—or if they do, it has a zero balance.

To cover the cost of living, graduate students typically earn a stipend—a fixed amount paid as a salary. The typical stipend is less than what you might earn in the workforce, but it offers some breathing room along the way to a PhD...

Continue reading at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/who-pays-grad-school to learn about teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. 

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Selecting the Right PhD Advisor for You

by Molly McDonough, Graduate Student, Penn State University

Deciding to pursue a PhD is a big deal—you’re committing to one place for the next five to seven years of your life.

Even more important than deciding where to attend is deciding who will be your thesis advisor, the principal investigator (PI). This may be the only time in your career that you get to choose your boss, and since it’s a long-term commitment and your advisor will have a direct impact on when you graduate and your career path, you definitely want someone who’s a good fit for you.

I’ve learned from personal experience that taking these steps can help you identify a good match...

Continue reading at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/selecting-right-phd-advisor-you to check out the steps!

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Make Your Applications Count

by Brad R. Conrad, Past Director of SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma, and M. J. Wright, Associate Physics Professor and Chair, Adelphi University

When admissions committees review your grad school applications, they’ll consider many factors: your letters of recommendation, personal statement, academic record, research experience, accomplishments, desired research area, and personal characteristics. Together they’ll decide, based on that picture, whether you’re likely to be a good fit and succeed in their program. We’ve helped many students get into research-based physics and astronomy graduate programs in the United States and Canada—here’s what we’ve learned along the way...

Continue reading at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/make-your-applications-count to learn essential tips like why you should personalize your application for each program.

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Hear from the Experts

Check out this series of Q&As to learn more about what grad programs want to see in applicants.

How to Write an Effective Personal Statement

“We’re interested not just in your research title or who you worked for, but how you talk about your research. What were the big picture goals? What did the research group hope to learn about nature? What did you work on? Be very specific about your particular tasks, for example, ‘I tested hundreds of readout boards,’ or, ‘I wrote a LabVIEW program that provided data on new samples.’”

Read the Q&A with Ritchie Patterson, a professor in the Department of Physics at Cornell University, at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/how-write-effective-statement-purpose. Patterson has been the director of graduate studies, chaired the Graduate Admissions Committee, and advised students at and beyond Cornell on applying to graduate school.

How to Build a Strong CV and Résumé

“A résumé is typically short, a couple of pages at most, and highlights your experiences, accomplishments, and skills relevant to the job or program you’re applying to. I think of a CV as an uber-résumé that contains every accomplishment and highlight of your career.”

Read the Q&A with Michael “Bodhi” Rogers, chair of the Department of Physics at the University of Colorado Denver, at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/how-build-strong-cv-and-résumé. Rogers created and teaches a series of one-credit professional development seminars for physics majors.

How to Create a Compelling Highlight Reel (aka Résumé)

“People are drawn in by a résumé (or not) in 10 to 15 seconds, so grab their attention. Instead of a template, use tools like bold text, bullet points, action verbs, and key words to keep the reader’s eyes moving and direct them to key information.”

Read the Q&A with Lindsay Buettner, a certified professional résumé writer who frequently teaches science students how to write résumés, at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/how-create-compelling-highlight-reel-aka-résumé. Buettner leads the university student programs at Argonne National Laboratory. 

How to Get Great Letters of Recommendation

“Send each recommender your CV, personal statement, and a page highlighting your relationship. For a research advisor, this might include when you did research together, the project, your contributions, the equipment you used, and related presentations or papers.”

Read the Q&A with Osase Omoruyi, a graduate student in the Department of Astronomy at Harvard University, at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/how-get-great-letters-recommendation. Since 2020 Omoruyi has led workshops for the Women+ of Color Project on getting great letters of recommendation for grad school.

What Grad Programs Look For 

“It’s a mistake not to include [in your personal statement] the areas of physics you’re interested in, and it’s even better to mention specific professors you would like to do research with.”

–Abdelkader Kara, professor and graduate program director, Department of Physics at the University of Central Florida (UCF)

“We’re interested in predicting how well an applicant will do when they get to our department, given our resources. To gauge that, we try to determine what the student achieved as an undergraduate given the resources they had.”

–Puragra (Raja) GuhaThakurta, professor and past chair of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz

“The main missed opportunity is in the letters of recommendation. Sometimes letters can be insightful and helpful, but sometimes not. We use the letters to judge a student’s interest, experience, and nonacademic qualities, like motivation and collegiality.”

–Diyar Talbayev, professor and graduate physics advisor, Department of Physics and Engineering Physics at Tulane University

Read the full Q&As at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/what-grad-programs-look to find out what matters most to graduate school admissions committees. 

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More Resources

GradSchoolShopper.com

GradSchoolShopper has a great resource section! Go to gradschoolshopper.com/grad-school-resources.html. 

GradSchoolShopper's Guide to Grad School in Physics, Astronomy, and Related Fields

Follow the links to the 2021 and 2022 issues at gradschoolshopper.com/gradschoolshopper-magazine.html.

Three Tips for Staying Grounded in Grad School

Read the stories of three people who almost left grad school, what made the difference, and their advice for you at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/three-tips-staying-grounded-grad-school. 

You’re Not Limited to Physics and Astronomy

Check out the long list of fields physics and astronomy undergraduates pursue in grad school at spsnational.org/the-sps-observer/fall/2023/you're-not-limited-physics-and-astronomy.

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