- #1
Heisenberg.
- 68
- 0
Hello all!
I'm currently entering my sophomore year as a physics major at a uni with a pretty good program. Right now (and has been for quite some time) I have plans on studying astrophysics and am working towards a B.S in Physics and Astronomy (yes my university has a degree to allow the distinction from this to regular physics). I am one of seven girls out of the approx 40 total physics and physics and astronomy majors for my class year. The male to female ratio (although climbing in recent years) is no stranger to the people on these forums. There are few things I was hoping people with more experience could possibly clear up. Thus far I have heard a wide ranging amount of supposed and frankly some contradictory truths when it comes to women attempting to attain a seat in graduate school for physics. There is always the "some male teachers are sexist" to "because there are less girls you have a better chance of getting into grad school" or "you will get more scholarship money if you are a girl" or my favorite "ha good luck, girls in physics like oil in water" - and yes I unfortunately was told this once by a mean spirited and awfully bitter grad student/TA. Now online, I can find only the stats to how many female's were accepted into a grad program vs total applicants, and the proportion was if not exact but very similar to the male's (I believe I looked at Michigan's stats to be exact?).
So would anyone here care to share their experiences or perhaps any insight they have gained as to the truth behind the "differences" from male to to female when it comes to attaining a job/PhD in physics? I know there will always be that one professor (but then again professors can have a plethora of other "faults" as well at times), but what about grad school acceptance? Or even research opportunities, such as REU's? In this new modern age there are there no differences, advantages, or disadvantages to being a girl physics major? Or are they still there?
My curiosity stems from not only being a female physics major, but also one who is quite nervous about whether she will make it or not. And would love to know what world I am desperately trying to step into, and whether this world will have me fighting to the very end to prove my worth! (haha alas must be that rotten ole female nature of mine taking those emotions and running away with them ; P ).
Thank-You all in advance - any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
-E.L
I'm currently entering my sophomore year as a physics major at a uni with a pretty good program. Right now (and has been for quite some time) I have plans on studying astrophysics and am working towards a B.S in Physics and Astronomy (yes my university has a degree to allow the distinction from this to regular physics). I am one of seven girls out of the approx 40 total physics and physics and astronomy majors for my class year. The male to female ratio (although climbing in recent years) is no stranger to the people on these forums. There are few things I was hoping people with more experience could possibly clear up. Thus far I have heard a wide ranging amount of supposed and frankly some contradictory truths when it comes to women attempting to attain a seat in graduate school for physics. There is always the "some male teachers are sexist" to "because there are less girls you have a better chance of getting into grad school" or "you will get more scholarship money if you are a girl" or my favorite "ha good luck, girls in physics like oil in water" - and yes I unfortunately was told this once by a mean spirited and awfully bitter grad student/TA. Now online, I can find only the stats to how many female's were accepted into a grad program vs total applicants, and the proportion was if not exact but very similar to the male's (I believe I looked at Michigan's stats to be exact?).
So would anyone here care to share their experiences or perhaps any insight they have gained as to the truth behind the "differences" from male to to female when it comes to attaining a job/PhD in physics? I know there will always be that one professor (but then again professors can have a plethora of other "faults" as well at times), but what about grad school acceptance? Or even research opportunities, such as REU's? In this new modern age there are there no differences, advantages, or disadvantages to being a girl physics major? Or are they still there?
My curiosity stems from not only being a female physics major, but also one who is quite nervous about whether she will make it or not. And would love to know what world I am desperately trying to step into, and whether this world will have me fighting to the very end to prove my worth! (haha alas must be that rotten ole female nature of mine taking those emotions and running away with them ; P ).
Thank-You all in advance - any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
-E.L