Advice on Switching from Biology to Astrophysics Graduate School

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges and considerations of transitioning from a biology background to pursuing graduate studies in astrophysics. Participants explore the implications of academic performance, research experience, and potential pathways to gain relevant skills and knowledge in the field of astrophysics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares their background in biology and minor in physics, expressing a strong interest in astrophysics and a desire to pursue research despite challenges such as low GPA and lack of research experience.
  • Some participants suggest that gaining programming skills and seeking internships or technician roles in labs could provide valuable experience and networking opportunities.
  • Concerns are raised about the feasibility of unpaid internships, with differing views on the legality and common practices surrounding such positions in academic settings.
  • Another participant warns that the original poster may not fully understand the challenges of transitioning to astrophysics research, emphasizing the need for a strong commitment and good academic standing.
  • Some participants discuss the importance of obtaining a physics degree with a strong GPA and recommendation letters as a more reliable pathway to graduate school in astrophysics.
  • A later reply clarifies that the original poster has some prior physics education, which may not be entirely negligible in their pursuit of astrophysics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the best approach to transitioning into astrophysics, with no consensus on the feasibility of unpaid internships or the best path forward for the original poster. Some emphasize the need for a solid academic foundation, while others suggest alternative routes to gain experience.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the limitations of the original poster's academic record and the potential barriers to graduate school admission, including the need for strong recommendation letters and relevant research experience. There are also discussions about the legalities of unpaid internships, which remain unresolved.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering a shift from biology or other fields to astrophysics, as well as those interested in the challenges of gaining research experience in STEM disciplines.

blakholeinfo
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hello, this is my first time to post to ask for some advice. I will try to describe as neat as possible, so that I can some good info or advice.

I graduated 2 years ago with bachelor of science in biology as major and applied physics as minor.
Now I'm hoping to get into graduate school in astrophysics for fall 2014 semester.

So my reason for studying astrophysics, as many other astrophsycis students or professionals would be, is that that was my first reason why I got into science and stars and black hole are always fascinating to me.
My first major was physics, but I sort of lost my purpose why I was studying physics and didn't get long with other people in the class. So I switched to biology, and did as a major.
However I still love math, physics and I want to do research in thie field as my career for my whole life.

So those are my background and reasons..

The problems are...

1) I dont' have physics degree, though as a minor.
2) I got terrible grades(I mean really terrible) - 2.9/4.5
3) I do not have any research experience in astrophysics or any other field
4) I don't think I can get a strong recommendation letter at this moment.

The solutions that I've been thinking are...

1) I've been studying computer science by myself - math, programming and linux stuff, and I'm going to study computer network in San Francisco next year. Also I heard programming skill is pretty beneficial in astrophsyics field.

So I was thinking that maybe I can get some intern/technician job for computer stuff at lab while I'm getting involved with research. - It won't have to be paid. ;)

This way I can learn more hands on, and getting to know professors, and of course gain experience.

2) Study physics again with Feymann lecture note and MIT OCW. Since I admit that I need to really brush up my physics, I will be pretty commited to study as my project next year.

My research interests are black hole information paradox at this moment and multiverse. I would need to specify more precisely as I apply for graduate school, but now those are my interests.

So I would love to hear any opinion or advice regard to my problem-solution matter. Also it would be great to hear from anyone who studied biology and got into astrophyiscs graduate school.

Thank you very much for reading my post!

P.S) Just in case that some might suggest about astrobiology, I'm not really interested in it now. :)
 
Physics news on Phys.org


blakholeinfo said:
So I was thinking that maybe I can get some intern/technician job for computer stuff at lab while I'm getting involved with research. - It won't have to be paid. ;)

Yes it will. There are minimum wage laws, at least for US universities.

More problematic is that these positions are usually filled by people who already have their PhD's.
 


Yes it will. There are minimum wage laws, at least for US universities.

Not for interns. Several labs at both my undergrad and graduate institutions had unpaid interns (generally eager high school kids), and I've seen job advertisements looking to fill unpaid internships in industry.
 


I don't want to sound harsh, but I don't think you know where you're getting yourself into. You hardly know anything about physics, so you don't know whether you will like doing research in it.

Your GPA is not good enough to get into grad school, especially not when you're not a physics major. Your best bet would be to go back to college and get a physics degree (with a good GPA and recommendation letters). But this will cost you much time and money.

Are you willing to put in all the effort? Is astrophysics research not just an unrealistic dream you have. I'm not saying not to go for it, but please think long and hard about what you're going to do. If you're going to go for it, you need to give yourself 100% for years in a row.
 


ParticleGrl said:
Not for interns. Several labs at both my undergrad and graduate institutions had unpaid interns (generally eager high school kids), and I've seen job advertisements looking to fill unpaid internships in industry.

One cannot take a job that someone else is getting paid for and simply call it an internship. There are state and federal laws (FLSA) about this. There are a number of rules (six) and the most relevant are #4: "The employer derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern and may actually be impeded by his/her presence" and #3: "The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff".
 


Hi~blakholeinfo~
I'm kind of in the same situation as you are. I'm about to graduate from EE and I want to apply for cosmology or particle physics. You can read my thread here, https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=611028
Some nice people have already given me many advice. Maybe it would help you.
 


Vanadium 50 said:
One cannot take a job that someone else is getting paid for and simply call it an internship. There are state and federal laws (FLSA) about this. There are a number of rules (six) and the most relevant are #4: "The employer derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern and may actually be impeded by his/her presence" and #3: "The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff".

Yes, but I was simply suggesting the original poster could look for unpaid internships in labs.

Also, I suspect that those rules are not strictly enforced, as the unpaid interns that I have known in university labs were high school students doing work that normally undergrads would be paid to do and it certainly was of immediate advantage to the lab.
 


Well, you're the lawyer. You would know.
 


Finally I can log in! Thank you very much for all your advice!

Actually I studied physics for 2 years in my undergraduate before I changed into biology, so it is not completely nothing that I have for physics.
Since I have minor in physics, it prevents me from getting second bachelor in physics, but not good gpa to apply for graduate school right away.
So currently I've started to study Feynman lecture on physics, and studying linear algebra. I'm willing to take time and effort since not only it has been my interests all the time but also that I want to give my 100% at least once in my life time.
Even if nothing works out with my attempt, I have other back up plans in "worst" case.

As for unpaid internship at lab, I do not know any rules about that. I'm just hoping to get involved with research even if it's minor job.

Anyway, thanks again guys!
 

Similar threads

Admissions Advice to enhance my profile for grad school
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Admissions Graduating a year early anxieties + grad school
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Admissions Am I cooked for graduate school?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Admissions Graduate school admission chances
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Admissions What are my chances of being admitted into good graduate schools?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Admissions Sincerely seeking graduate school admission advice
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
Admissions How to improve graduate school applications after college?
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
4K
Switching from Biology undergrad to Physics grad....
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
5K
Admissions Advice on how best to spend my time for graduate school applications
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Admissions Latebloomer with many past mistakes applying to graduate school
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K