"Thinking about the future:
What's in it for me?"
Prof. Donald D. Koetke
Professor of Physics
Valparaiso University
Department of Physics & Astronomy Colloquium
8 February 2002
?
?
?
What are future
possibilities?
?
What resources
are available?
?
How to prepare?
Which directions to
follow?
"So, you'll have a degree in
physics -- what now?"
• What can you do now to improve your
chances of success immediately after
leaving Valpo?
VALPO
VALPO
B.S.
V. U.B.S.
IN
PHYSICS
IN PHYSICS
Study!
Career?
Graduate
B.S. in
Physics
www
Library
~50%
Career
Planning
Placement
Center
~50%
Faculty
Valpo
Grads
Coop
Educ.
Field?
School?
Graduate
School
Prepare!
Find a Job?
Employment
VALPO
B.S.
VALPO
B.S.
V.
U.
IN
INPHYSICS
PHYSICS
Study!
Career?
Graduate
B.S. in
Physics
Note the feedback loops -•Your study should inform your
career considerations
• Your career considerations should
inform your study plans

What do you like most?
 Experimental
 Theoretical
 Writing
 Computer applications
 Teaching others
 Problem solving
Attempt to match your curriculum and your
career ideas/plans/aspirations.
VALPO
B.S.
VALPO
B.S.
V.
U.
IN
INPHYSICS
PHYSICS
Study!
Career?
Graduate
B.S. in
Physics
How can you attempt to match your
curriculum and your career ideas,
plans, aspiration?
Here are some suggestions -• Try to anticipate your future
• Make use of available resources






The www
The library
The faculty
Valpo grads
Coop education
The Career Center
…more on these ahead...
VALPO
B.S.
VALPO
B.S.
V.
U.
IN
PHYSICS
IN PHYSICS
Study!
Try to anticipate your future
Career?
Graduate
B.S. in
Physics
~50%
•Begin thinking about your future now •Perhaps, begin by asking the question ...
~50%
“What happens to VU physics and
astronomy graduates after graduation?”
[Alumni]
Field?
School?
Graduate
School
Prepare!
Find a Job?
Employment
Which sub-field of physics or
astronomy interests you?
Field?
School?
Graduate
School
You do not have to cement this
now but it helps to have some
ideas.
Words from our graduates:
“When I was at VU I could not
have imagined I would be doing
what I am doing now!”
Will it be physics or astronomy or …
Medicine, Law, Applied Physics,
or something else?
What are some physics sub-fields?
Field?
Condensed matter physics
Nuclear and particle physics
School?
Graduate
School
Atmospheric physics
Electro-optics
Laser physics
Moral:
Think broadly about
your future possibilities
Biophysics
Geophysics
Astrophysics
Medical physics
…and many more...
Here are more physics sub-fields?
Field?
School?
Graduate
School
Moral:
Think broadly about
your future possibilities
Acoustics
Applied Physics
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Atmospheric Sciences
Atomic, Molecular
Biophysics
Chemical Physics
Computer Science
Condensed Matter
Electromagnetism
Electronics
Energy Sources
Environmental Physics
Fluids
Geophysics
History/philosophy Low Temperature Phys.
Marine Sciences
Materials Science
Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear Physics
Optics
Oceanography
Particles and Fields
Physics Education
Physics of Beams
Plasma Physics/Fusion
Polymer Physics
Relativity & Gravitation
Space Science
Statistical/Thermal Phys
Systems Science
Computational Physics
Laser Physics
Surface Science
Mathematical Physics
Accelerator Physics
Electron Optics
How to select a graduate school?
Field?
Consider your preferred field
Rule out geographic areas
School?
Graduate
School
Be realistic GPA
GRE
MS or PhD
Begin the process early!
Discuss it with faculty
Consult grad school profiles [AIP]
Look at preferred schools on the
www
See VU www page for help (soon)
Plan for graduate school -Field?
School?
Graduate
School
Grades
• Do your best; study hard
• Don't be unduly anxious about
grades
• Be ambitious to learn
• Take a broad curriculum of courses
• Be solid in math
Plan for graduate school -Graduate Record Exam Field?
School?
Graduate
School
General (verbal, quantitative,
analytical) -- take it early (e.g.,
summer of junior -> senior year)
Try practice test
Physics (take this in fall of senior
year) -- but -•You must prepare - early
•Begin in spring, junior year
•Take the department’s prepcourse
Plan for graduate school -Field?
School?
Graduate
School
Recommendations
•Probability for success in grad school
•Shows imagination/creativity
•Promise of a good career
•Communications skills (written & oral)
•Good computer and laboratory skills
•Evidence of reliability and responsibility
Plan for graduate school -Field?
School?
Graduate
School
You do not pay for
grad school in
physics!
Free tuition
Stipend (TA/RA)
What is average time for an MS after
VU?
•About 1.5 years.
•Seek advice on schools.
What is average time for an PhD after
VU?
•About 6 years.
•2.5 years of course work,
•3.5 years of research.
What does one do with a PhD in
physics?
•Physics research in industry
•Physics research at government lab.
What does a physics graduate do?????
Prepare!
Find a Job?
Think of your marketable skills…
• Problem solving skills
• Computer/analytical skills
Employment
• Laboratory skills
• Communications skills (written/oral)
Think of what you enjoy doing most…
• Computer applications
• Working with people
• Working in the laboratory
What do employers look for?
Prepare!
Find a Job?
Employment
Applicable skills
•Be computer literate!
•Develop problem solving skills
•Know your way around the laboratory
•Communications skills
•If written and/or oral
communications are a limitation for
you, get help now!
•Teamwork and independence
•Adaptability
•Be educated -- not merely trained.
(There is a difference!)
What do employers look for?
Prepare!
Find a Job?
Employment
•Reliability and Responsibility
•Get assignments in on time!
•Don't miss class or appointments
without excuse!
•Creativity
•Think! Don't merely do the
minimum.
•Read! Spend at least some time
reading beyond the texts.
•Interact! Try ideas out on others
(including faculty).
•Question! Keep asking questions. It
is one mark of a good student!!
What do employers look for?
Prepare!
Find a Job?
Employment
Experience
• Summer research experience
• Follow the opportunities posted
• Apply early and often!
• Summer employment
Search out guidance...
Search out guidance...
Prepare!
Find a Job?
• VU Career Center (www)
• Career guidance
• Interest inventory
Employment
Career
Planning
Placement
Center
• Career opportunities
• Interview training
• Resume writing help
• Talk with faculty
• Ask VU Alumni (more later..)
• Look at www employment sources
• Consider a coop experience ...
What resources are available?
• Let’s look back at the overall plan…
• We can explore each “resource” in more detail
• Find out what is to be learned from each...
VALPO
VALPO
B.S.
V. U.B.S.
IN
PHYSICS
IN PHYSICS
Study!
Career?
Graduate
B.S. in
Physics
www
Library
~50%
Career
Planning
Placement
Center
~50%
Faculty
Valpo
Grads
Coop
Educ.
Field?
School?
Graduate
School
Prepare!
Find a Job?
Employment
Coop
Educ.
• What is “coop(erative) education?”
• How can it help me?
• It is a “cooperation” between VU and some employer
• You work for the employer for a semester & summer
• You get paid ($$) by the employer, often rather well
• You earn 3 credit-hours from VU
• You learn real-work experience
• You gain appreciation how VU education can be used
• You move toward career decision(s)
www.physics.valpo.edu
Is this an option for you?
Faculty
How can faculty help you to plan for your future?
• Faculty (especially your academic advisor) knows you -
Your academic abilities and performance

Your demonstrated skills
• We (faculty) will try to ask helpful questions -
To get you to think through your options

To help you to explore possibilities

To connect you with resources - people, www, print, ...
When have you last discussed your future with your advisor?
www.physics.valpo.edu
Library
What can you learn from print resources?
•The library resources for career planning are vast!
•Consult the reference librarian for more definitive help!
www.physics.valpo.edu
Valpo
Grads
What do VU alumni have to offer for
your career planning?
• Graduate school choice -- “been there; done that”
• Sub-field selection -- “made the decision”
• Employment opportunities -- “job openings here”
• Career advice -- “it’s not physics, but I love it!”
• MS or PhD? -- “it was my choice and I am happy with it”
• Specific company -- “sure I work here; glad to offer advice”
www.physics.valpo.edu
www
What’s on the www for career planning?
Probably more than we can profitably use!
• Graduate school information [AIP]
• Connections with alumni [Alumni]
• Career planning resources [Career]
• Job searches
• Some specifics --• American Institute of Physics (AIP) [AIP]
• American Physical Society (APS) [APS]
Suggestion: Take some time to explore your
career options on the www
www.physics.valpo.edu
VALPO
VALPO
B.S.
V. U.B.S.
IN
PHYSICS
IN PHYSICS
Study!
Career?
Graduate
B.S. in
Physics
www
Library
~50%
Career
Planning
Placement
Center
~50%
Faculty
Valpo
Grads
Coop
Educ.
Field?
School?
Graduate
School
Prepare!
Find a Job?
Employment
Have we begun to answer some of these questions?
?
?
What are future
possibilities?
What resources
are available?
?
?
?
How to prepare?
I hope so...
Which directions to
follow?