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?

•  AIP: Physics Is For You: the wheel (of fortune?)

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!INSERT WHEEL PICTURE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Science Buddies
• What do Physicists Do?
  

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?

• AIP: Who's Hiring Physics Bachelors (by state)
• Physics Today jobs
• APS Career Center
  
  

General Resources

•  SPS: Careers Using Physics
• AIP: Career Guidance
•  APS: Careers in Physics
•  Institute of Physics: Careers
  
• Sloan Career Cornerstone Center
•  AAS Career Services
•  Sonoma State University
  

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?

Consider:

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

Advice:

• 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

To help make the final choice:

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

General Resources:

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