Best Schools In The Us For Physicists

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the best colleges in the U.S. for obtaining a physics degree, with a focus on potential salary outcomes and career opportunities in various fields of physics. Participants explore the relevance of school reputation, specific fields of study, and the pathways to successful careers in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that besides Ivy League schools and Stanford, other institutions like UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and CalPoly could be considered for a physics degree.
  • Others argue that the best school depends on the specific field of physics one intends to study, indicating that salary potential is influenced by job type, experience, and networking opportunities.
  • There is a viewpoint that theoretical physicists may find high-paying jobs in the private sector, while cosmologists might have limited job prospects outside academia.
  • One participant expresses the opinion that CalPoly is primarily beneficial for employment at specific companies, like Cisco Systems, and emphasizes that many successful physicists emerge from lesser-known colleges.
  • It is noted that pursuing a career in physics typically requires further education, including graduate school and postdoctoral positions, extending the timeline before securing a permanent job in the field.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on which schools are the best for physics, with multiple competing views on the importance of school reputation, specific fields of study, and career trajectories. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best institutions for different physics specializations.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include varying definitions of "best" in terms of schools, fields of physics, and career outcomes. The discussion reflects personal opinions and experiences rather than established rankings or outcomes.

Silverbackman
Besides IV League and Stanford, what are the best colleges you can come out of with a physics degree and get the highest salary and year annual pay? UC Berkeley? UC Davis? CALPOLY? ECT? ECT?
 
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Well the ivy league schools arent necessarily the best in physics. It really depends on what field of physics you want to study. Pay simply depends on which job you get and what your experience is and how well known you are. It also depends on who you studied under because they will be able to help you get the better jobs based on their own name recognition.
 
Pengwuino said:
Well the ivy league schools arent necessarily the best in physics. It really depends on what field of physics you want to study. Pay simply depends on which job you get and what your experience is and how well known you are. It also depends on who you studied under because they will be able to help you get the better jobs based on their own name recognition.

Then what is the best school for the field theoretical physics and cosmology?
 
Theoretical physicists can get high paying jobs on the private sector but don't think you can make money with cosmology because cosmologists aren't needed outside of universities. Well maybe except to write pop-sci books and appear on tv every now and then.
 
IMO, CalPoly is only good for getting you a job at Cisco Sytems ! :biggrin: And many of the IVY league schools are pretty bad for physics. At the college level, it doesn't matter so much what the reputation of the school is. Many successful physicists come from less known colleges.

And if you want to do research in physics, don't expect to start after a college degree. You'll want to then go to grad school and spend 5-7 yrs getting a PhD. After this, you will spend a few more years on a postdoc.

So, if you're in high schoolnow, you've got at least about 12 years to go before you get a permanent job in physics.

<waiting for Zz to do the pulling his hair out act>
 
Last edited:
Gokul43201 said:
<waiting for Zz to do the pulling his hair out act>

Too late, Gokul. I've pulled my hair each time question like this pops up that I have none left to pull. So now I just grind my teeth and let it slip by. Eventually, I'll wear away at the enamel...

Zz.
 

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