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How to Get Into Grad School and What to Expect the 1st Year

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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!

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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!
  • Average length is 5-6 years*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!
  • 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 1st 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 1st 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 1st 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

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Advice (once there)

  • Grad school is significantly different from undergrad
  • The 1st 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

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Advice (once there)

  • Grad school is significantly different from undergrad
  • The 1st 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)