Make sure you attend all of your classes and turn in all of your homework. Good attendance and making sure you turn in all of your homework will help you get better grades. If you’re struggling with any of your subjects, ask your teacher for extra help.
Students usually have to declare their majors in their sophomore (second) year of college[3] X Research source Having a high GPA, not only in just your physics major but in all your classes, makes you a stronger candidate when either applying for graduate schools or going directly into the workforce after college.
While you sometimes might be able to teach physics at the high school level with just a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree is necessary to teach at the junior college level. Some high schools even require a master’s degree to teach physics at their schools. [5] X Research source In addition to greater work opportunities in the educational sector, those with master’s degrees in physics have more career opportunities open to them in the private sector and government as well.
While there are job opportunities in both the government and private sectors for physicists with bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees,[7] X Research source the most respected and well-paying physics research positions in the government or private sectors often require a PhD. [8] X Research source It’s often free to obtain a PhD in physics for graduate students who teach or do research. [9] X Research source In addition to free tuition, graduate students in physics who teach or do research also receive a modest stipend of around $12,000 per year or more to cover their living expenses. [10] X Research source
To obtain research experience, ask your physics professors if they have any research projects on which you can assist them. Contact physicists who work in private industry or in the government and ask them if you can volunteer to help them with any projects they’re working on. Also consider applying for the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. More information about applying can be found at https://www. nsf. gov/funding/pgm_summ. jsp?pims_id=5517&from=fund.
Take other science classes besides just physics. Exposing yourself to other sciences will open your mind to new ways of analyzing and solving problems. If your college has a Physics Club, join it. There, you’ll enjoy the benefits of expanding your analytical and problem-solving skills outside the classroom, while also socializing with others who are interested in physics, too.
As a physicist, not only do you need strong science and math skills, but you also need solid speaking and writing skills in order to teach physics to others, present your research at conferences, and publish your research in scientific journals. Some classes that you might want to consider taking include English literature, business management, oral communication, and scientific writing. [14] X Research source
To find job openings for physicists in the federal government, visit https://www. usajobs. gov/. Sometimes physics conferences also sponsor job fairs that can connect physics job seekers and hiring managers on the spot. Check out https://www. aps. org/careers/employment/jobfairs/index. cfm for the latest physics job fair information.
Physics jobs in the private sector consist of industrial jobs in private labs. Private sector industrial jobs often consist of physics research on lasers, semiconductors, and computers. [15] X Research source Physicists who go into government jobs often find themselves working in a national laboratory, and they’re either research scientists or technicians/engineers for a variety of projects having national interest. [16] X Research source Academic jobs consist of teaching and/or research at the high school, college, or university level. If you enjoy teaching physics, you should consider a career in academia, but be aware that jobs at the college and university level are very scarce and difficult to obtain. There are many more job openings for teaching physics at the high school level. [17] X Research source
Some professional associations that you may want to consider becoming involved in, depending on your specific interests, include the American Physical Society (APS), the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPS), and the American Institute of Physics (AIP). Professional associations provide you with access to key publications in physics and opportunities to network with other physicists.
