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“The Path”

UG 4 yr

Grad School

5-6 yr

Postdoc #1

3 yr

Postdoc #2

3 yr

Permanent Job

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“The Path”

UG 4 yr

Grad School

5-6 yr

Postdoc #1

3 yr

Postdoc #2

3 yr

Permanent Job

Mission/Observatory Support

Science Writers/Publishing

Outreach

K-12 Education

Financial/Industrial Analyst

Space Industry

Software Development

Science Policy

Technical consulting/management

(Masters?)

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Basics

100-400 applicants, accept 10-20%

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Basics

100-400 applicants, accept 10-20%
~60 institutions that grant PhD in Astronomy, but majority of PhDs come from ~15-20 institutions

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Basics

100-400 applicants, accept 10-20%
~60 institutions that grant PhD in Astronomy, but majority of PhDs come from ~15-20 institutions
Tuition is paid and given a stipend (~$25,000/yr)^*Check!

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Basics

100-400 applicants, accept 10-20%
~60 institutions that grant PhD in Astronomy, but majority of PhDs come from ~15-20 institutions
Tuition is paid and given a stipend (~$25,000/yr)^*Check!
Being a TA is common, particularly in early years^*Check!

8 of 21

Basics

100-400 applicants, accept 10-20%
~60 institutions that grant PhD in Astronomy, but majority of PhDs come from ~15-20 institutions
Tuition is paid and given a stipend (~$25,000/yr)^*Check!
Being a TA is common, particularly in early years^*Check!
Average length is 5-6 years^*Check!

9 of 21

Basics

100-400 applicants, accept 10-20%
~60 institutions that grant PhD in Astronomy, but majority of PhDs come from ~15-20 institutions
Tuition is paid and given a stipend (~$25,000/yr)^*Check!
Being a TA is common, particularly in early years^*Check!
Average length is 5-6 years^*Check!
Out of PhD 77% accepted a postdoctoral position with a median salary of $54,000

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Advice (getting in)

Talk to grad students, postdocs, faculty

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Advice (getting in)

Talk to grad students, postdocs, faculty
Where? size, research, location, community, “success” rate

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Advice (getting in)

Talk to grad students, postdocs, faculty
Where? size, research, location, community, “success” rate
Physics GRE (PGRE) is flawed but important: study, perhaps take twice

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Advice (getting in)

Talk to grad students, postdocs, faculty
Where? size, research, location, community, “success” rate
Physics GRE (PGRE) is flawed but important: study, perhaps take twice
Personal essay should not be major focus: explain your experiences/skills and why this particular institution is a great match for you

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Advice (getting in)

Talk to grad students, postdocs, faculty
Where? size, research, location, community, “success” rate
Physics GRE (PGRE) is flawed but important: study, perhaps take twice
Personal essay should not be major focus: explain your experiences/skills and why this particular institution is a great match for you
Letters are important: Give writers 1 month warning

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Advice (once there)

Grad school is significantly different from undergrad

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Advice (once there)

Grad school is significantly different from undergrad
The 1^st year is tough. Periodic feelings of doubt, being an imposter, alone are normal. Try to ride it out and find support.

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Advice (once there)

Grad school is significantly different from undergrad
The 1^st year is tough. Periodic feelings of doubt, being an imposter, alone are normal. Try to ride it out and find support.
Build your cohort

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Advice (once there)

Grad school is significantly different from undergrad
The 1^st year is tough. Periodic feelings of doubt, being an imposter, alone are normal. Try to ride it out and find support.
Build your cohort
Seek support from older graduate students and postdocs, the Graduate Office, campus mental health office, campus Title IX or anonymous resources, former mentors (that’s us!), national message boards/blogs/forums

19 of 21

Advice (once there)

Grad school is significantly different from undergrad
The 1^st year is tough. Periodic feelings of doubt, being an imposter, alone are normal. Try to ride it out and find support.
Build your cohort
Seek support from older graduate students and postdocs, the Graduate Office, campus mental health office, campus Title IX or anonymous resources, former mentors (that’s us!), national message boards/blogs/forums
Trust your instincts and be proactive

20 of 21

Advice (once there)

Grad school is significantly different from undergrad
The 1^st year is tough. Periodic feelings of doubt, being an imposter, alone are normal. Try to ride it out and find support.
Build your cohort
Seek support from older graduate students and postdocs, the Graduate Office, campus mental health office, campus Title IX or anonymous resources, former mentors (that’s us!), national message boards/blogs/forums
Trust your instincts and be proactive
Seek out mentors, ultimately your PhD advisor

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Resources

American Astronomical Society (aas.org) general career advice, list of schools
Astrobites (astrobites.org) timeline for application process, European PhD, deferring, advice once in grad school
Astrobetter (astrobetter.com) an excellent repository of resources
American Institute of Physics (aip.org) statistics; (gradschoolshopper.com) filterable search engine for grad schools
List of PGRE requirements for Astro grad schools (the spreadsheet)
PhDcomics (phdcomics.com)