2 answers
Ryan
Student
Bolingbrook, Illinois
1
Question
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what does a day in the like of a graduate physics student look like?
I am curious what a future of looking for graduate school is like.
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2 answers
Andrew Au
Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Retired
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Andrew’s Answer
I have a bachelor's degree in physics, a master's degree in physics, and a Ph.D. in physics. is in geophysics.
When you are an undergraduate in physics, you must fulfill many other course requirements such as arts and humanities to earn your bachelor’s degree. In graduate school, graduate level physics courses would probably be your focus. You may have the opportunity to engage in research activities with your professor(s).
Otherwise, the day of a graduate physics student is no different from a day of another other person.
Reply to Ryan:
After the graduate school, I landed on a one-year postdoctoral fellowship with the Carnegie Institute for Science. I then worked as a consulting scientist for NASA for two decades and went back to academia as a professor of mathematics for another two decades.
When you are an undergraduate in physics, you must fulfill many other course requirements such as arts and humanities to earn your bachelor’s degree. In graduate school, graduate level physics courses would probably be your focus. You may have the opportunity to engage in research activities with your professor(s).
Otherwise, the day of a graduate physics student is no different from a day of another other person.
Reply to Ryan:
After the graduate school, I landed on a one-year postdoctoral fellowship with the Carnegie Institute for Science. I then worked as a consulting scientist for NASA for two decades and went back to academia as a professor of mathematics for another two decades.
Thank you for your response! It's amazing to hear from a professional in a field I want to pursue a career in. How has your journey in physics evolved?
Ryan
Savannah Koch
Financial Customer Service Rep
1
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Cincinnati, Ohio
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Savannah’s Answer
I have a bachelor's in astrophysics, and a master's in physics. I attended an R1 research institution in the U.S.
Graduate programs in physics will vary in their specific requirements, but most follow a common structure (at least in the U.S.). Your day-to-day will change as you advance through the program to become more self-structured, but overall you can expect to be busy and will need to have good time management skills.
In the first 1-2 years you will be taking 2-4 classes per semester, usually including one or more seminar classes. This will echo your undergraduate experience, in that you may only be in class for 3-4 hours per day, but with more complex problem sets and exams which require 4-6 hours per day of study outside of class. You may also be required to perform teaching assistant duties, to the tune of 15-20 hours per week of work. In the summers, you are likely expected to continue your TA duties while preparing for some form of qualifying exam or meeting with potential thesis advisors. If you're taking full advantage of the opportunity, you will be busy for 12-16 hours per day doing grad school-related things. Then you still need to eat, sleep, bathe, and (hopefully) exercise. Hobbies and interests frequently take a back seat for a period of time as you get through this part, but departments/peers may organize social activities weekly.
After roughly the second year, your time becomes more self-structured as you transition out of classes and into training as an independent researcher. Depending upon how you are funded, you may still have teaching assistant duties taking up to 20 hours of your time weekly. You can anticipate weekly seminars and research group meetings to take up 2-6 hours per week, and the rest of the time is up to you structure as you think you need in order to complete your work. You may be expected to present research updates weekly, and collaborate with people across time zones. This is where time management skills are critical, because there is no set 'end' point to your work day unless you make one. Your research project may require different hours/commitments, but expect to be busy full-time (as in, don't expect to take on paid work outside to supplement your grad school stipend - you won't have time).
Many folks find it a bit easier at this stage to set a regular work schedule that involves exercise, hobbies, and time to socialize.
Graduate programs in physics will vary in their specific requirements, but most follow a common structure (at least in the U.S.). Your day-to-day will change as you advance through the program to become more self-structured, but overall you can expect to be busy and will need to have good time management skills.
In the first 1-2 years you will be taking 2-4 classes per semester, usually including one or more seminar classes. This will echo your undergraduate experience, in that you may only be in class for 3-4 hours per day, but with more complex problem sets and exams which require 4-6 hours per day of study outside of class. You may also be required to perform teaching assistant duties, to the tune of 15-20 hours per week of work. In the summers, you are likely expected to continue your TA duties while preparing for some form of qualifying exam or meeting with potential thesis advisors. If you're taking full advantage of the opportunity, you will be busy for 12-16 hours per day doing grad school-related things. Then you still need to eat, sleep, bathe, and (hopefully) exercise. Hobbies and interests frequently take a back seat for a period of time as you get through this part, but departments/peers may organize social activities weekly.
After roughly the second year, your time becomes more self-structured as you transition out of classes and into training as an independent researcher. Depending upon how you are funded, you may still have teaching assistant duties taking up to 20 hours of your time weekly. You can anticipate weekly seminars and research group meetings to take up 2-6 hours per week, and the rest of the time is up to you structure as you think you need in order to complete your work. You may be expected to present research updates weekly, and collaborate with people across time zones. This is where time management skills are critical, because there is no set 'end' point to your work day unless you make one. Your research project may require different hours/commitments, but expect to be busy full-time (as in, don't expect to take on paid work outside to supplement your grad school stipend - you won't have time).
Many folks find it a bit easier at this stage to set a regular work schedule that involves exercise, hobbies, and time to socialize.