- #1
The Learner
- 5
- 2
Hi everyone,
I've got a lot on my mind and I would really appreciate any advice. I'm entering into my senior year of college in the Fall and for about a year now, I've been set on becoming a high school physics teacher because I'd like to maybe make a dent in education problems in the U.S., either one classroom at a time and maybe beyond that eventually. I also think teaching is a noble profession, and I would love to be that cool,skilled high school teacher in kids' lives (I had a pretty cool one, and that's a big reason why I chose to study physics). There appear to be multiple ways to become a high school teacher, and I'm planning on earning a Master's in Physics before applying to pathways to get certification.
My current problem is deciding what kind of physics program to apply to for grad school. I originally thought Master's was good because it's a more definite/shorter time frame and I didn't have any interest in doing research. But after getting a taste for independent work through an advanced lab course, I was surprised to see I liked doing the labwork. Sorta figuring things out on your own was actually fun because for the first time I wasn't all anxious about time constraints and following the recipe to the letter (I was shocked, I had actually taken something away from these labs). Now, okay that's not actual research maybe, but for me, it opened me up to the possibility of doing a little research.
So my stats: I see myself as an average physics student on paper (3.6 GPA, unfortunately no research experience, 1-2 pretty solid recommendations). I'm currently at a state university in NY, not really a top physics program or anything.
So right now I'm thinking: what would an ideal physics teacher do, what path would they take? Master's or PhD in physics? I'm hesitant to even apply to PhD programs because I don't have particular interest in specific research - my interest is in education. But I'd like to be well rounded so in my head it feels like an absence of any research experience is a weakness. Also, I'm not even sure how many Master's programs would be interested in investing in someone who wants to be a high school teacher. And funding is another real concern.
In the end, I'd like to believe what matters is the work I put in, wherever I end up. I would just appreciate some advice on maybe what program(s) you think would be a good fit because where I do end up going will certainly play a big role in my growth. Any thoughts or advice are welcome!
I've got a lot on my mind and I would really appreciate any advice. I'm entering into my senior year of college in the Fall and for about a year now, I've been set on becoming a high school physics teacher because I'd like to maybe make a dent in education problems in the U.S., either one classroom at a time and maybe beyond that eventually. I also think teaching is a noble profession, and I would love to be that cool,skilled high school teacher in kids' lives (I had a pretty cool one, and that's a big reason why I chose to study physics). There appear to be multiple ways to become a high school teacher, and I'm planning on earning a Master's in Physics before applying to pathways to get certification.
My current problem is deciding what kind of physics program to apply to for grad school. I originally thought Master's was good because it's a more definite/shorter time frame and I didn't have any interest in doing research. But after getting a taste for independent work through an advanced lab course, I was surprised to see I liked doing the labwork. Sorta figuring things out on your own was actually fun because for the first time I wasn't all anxious about time constraints and following the recipe to the letter (I was shocked, I had actually taken something away from these labs). Now, okay that's not actual research maybe, but for me, it opened me up to the possibility of doing a little research.
So my stats: I see myself as an average physics student on paper (3.6 GPA, unfortunately no research experience, 1-2 pretty solid recommendations). I'm currently at a state university in NY, not really a top physics program or anything.
So right now I'm thinking: what would an ideal physics teacher do, what path would they take? Master's or PhD in physics? I'm hesitant to even apply to PhD programs because I don't have particular interest in specific research - my interest is in education. But I'd like to be well rounded so in my head it feels like an absence of any research experience is a weakness. Also, I'm not even sure how many Master's programs would be interested in investing in someone who wants to be a high school teacher. And funding is another real concern.
In the end, I'd like to believe what matters is the work I put in, wherever I end up. I would just appreciate some advice on maybe what program(s) you think would be a good fit because where I do end up going will certainly play a big role in my growth. Any thoughts or advice are welcome!