Does undergraduate Physics school matter?

[Zandorian]

... if you are going to go to grad school? I read somewhere just now that it doesn't.

 

[check]

Are you asking whether something like a Major in Physics is required in order to move on to say, a Masters in Physics?

I would think not, however your Major/Specialization should be in something related, ie Math, Computer Science, Astronomy?, Chem.?

I know that to get into say graduate studies for Astronomy at my school, you don't need a Major in Astronomy or anything related for that matter.

 

[Zandorian]

No no, i meant the school.

I am sorry, i should have been more clear. I want to know if the undergrad school matters if you are going to go to grad school

 

[ZapperZ]

No no, i meant the school.

I am sorry, i should have been more clear. I want to know if the undergrad school matters if you are going to go to grad school

You may want to read this:

http://www.aip.org/isns/reports/2004/013.html

As an aside: please take note that AIP website has TONS of statistics on physics students/physicists/employment/etc., relevant to people in the US or intending to go to school in the US. I strongly recommend people check here first to see if there's any info already answered there.

Zz.

 

[JohnDubYa]

Essentially, no. The major factor in your post-graduate success is y-o-u.

There is one factor that often gets left out of the equation: Letters of recommendation. In my experience, you have a better chance of receiving a great letter if you attend a school that has a smaller department, for obvious reasons.