You’re applying to or have been accepted to graduate school. How do you decide? Here are some suggested questions and answers. These apply to Physics and Astronomy.
The best advice is: talk to students already at that institution before making a decision to attend. They know what it’s really like.
Do the Department do what you want to do?
Not all schools cover all topics. Before you apply, check out their faculty websites and see if there are people doing things you want to spend the next 5-6 years of your life doing. It’s ok if you don’t know what you want to do yet but make certain something interests you.
Larger programs can offer broader opportunities but smaller programs may offer more individual attention.
How long does a PhD take?
It takes between 5 and 8 years to get a PhD. The norm is 6. If you already have a masters you can probably subtract 2 years from this estimate. You will take 1-2 years of coursework and then develop a research project and carry it out. You will learn a lot. Things you did not anticipate like magnets blowing up, hurricanes hitting your telescope, or balloon failures crushing your data will happen. Assuming things work out, you will spend the last six months writing almost full time while trying to find your next position.
Do you want to live there for 5-6 years?
Do you want to live in a big city or in a leafy rural area? Does having mountains or a beach within 1,000 miles of you matter? What does your partner think? Big cities are better if you have to find two positions. More rural areas are better if you need peace and quiet to think.
Check to see if they have or are near specialized facilities you might need, like huge lasers, deep mines, accelerators … You can always travel to those facilities but living near enough for a day trip is awful convenient.
Financial aid
Unlike Law and Medical schools, most Physics and Astronomy PhD programs in the US offer financial aid that is intended to allow you to support yourself (generally only yourself) while you pursue your degree. Aid offers generally will consist of a stipend ( $ to live on), a tuition waiver and partial or full waiver of fees. Many pay most of the cost of health insurance for you as well.
Here are some things to consider.
- Stipend – how does it compare to the cost of renting a room in a shared house? A studio apartment? Generally the stipend will cover minimal housing, food and basics but may not be enough to afford a car.
- Tuition waiver – does it cover all or part of tuition costs?
- Fees – these cover “extras” like bus passes, gyms, clubs. They are not optional but some programs cover them partially or completely.
- Health insurance – how much will you have to pay to insure yourself? Is family coverage available? If so, at what cost?
Other questions about aid offers:
- Is it possible to get partial or full stipend in the summer?
- Is it as a Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant or Fellowship? Teaching assistantships are generally 12-20 hr/week commitments. RA’s generally mean you work for a particular supervisor. Fellowships allow you to choose your own projects.
- Is there a cutoff in guaranteed support? Some institutions expect graduate students to be supported by grants or an advisor after the first couple of years while others allow students to remain eligible for teaching assistantships throughout a reasonable time to degree.
- Formal offer letters are sometimes constrained to one year by HR so it is good to ask for clarification on what the normal aid terms are.
The cost of living can vary drastically from place to place. Ask present students what they pay for housing and check out rental costs before deciding that an offer from UC Muy Caro is superior to one from say, the University of Wisconsin. Try to aim for rent < 50% of stipend.
Don’t turn down a good school because the stipend looks lower than another one without checking on costs. Do the numbers, then decide. Then again, don’t go someplace you can’t afford. To quote one of my friends who got into Harvard.
Friend: ” I don’t think I can afford to live on this stipend’
Harvard: ” But it’s Harvard”
Friend: ” I can’t eat Harvard”
He turned them down and did just fine.
Make certain you have received your financial aid offer if you need one!
While programs generally offer financial aid to admitted students it is important to make certain that an aid offer has been made before accepting an offer of admission. You may receive two separate notifications, one of admission and one of financial aid. Make certain you understand both. I almost didn’t go to my chosen school because the snail mail aid offer never reached me. Fortunately I asked.
Curriculum and Exams
Check out the course catalog – do they offer courses that you want to take?
Check out their requirements – is there a written or oral preliminary/comprehensive/qualifying exam early in the program? These have different names but they are tests you would need to complete before advancing in the program. Many institutions have moved away from general exams to using grades in courses and an examination on a preset topic. If the program still requires these more general exams, try to see some examples, what topics they cover and how many chances one gets. Ask existing students about the exam – in particular how many people fail.
Masters vs Doctorate?
Most Masters programs do not offer financial aid. Doctoral (PhD) programs generally offer financial aid to admitted students but have to be more selective as they only have so many assistantships and fellowships to give out. One way to get a Masters funded is to work for a company that will pay for it.
Should I visit if I can?
Personally, I’ve found that students who visit before admission often make a good case for themselves. One of my best students was not going to be admitted and after giving them a tour, I insisted. They went on to receive a thesis award.
If you are going to be in the area of a school you are interested in, in your junior or early in your senior year, contact the department and set up a visit. Most schools are happy to oblige. If particular professors aren’t available, the admissions committee and graduate students can give you valuable information.
Am I too old for grad school?
I’ve found that more mature students often thrive in graduate school. It does require financial sacrifice, compared to having a “real” job, but maturity and experience tend to make you more efficient and focussed. My two students who started in their 30’s graduated very quickly, because they knew what they were doing, and got excellent positions immediately. But anticipate living the student life again for a few years unless you have a partner with a real job.
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