Is Joining the American Physical Society Worth It for Undergrad Students?

[mathlete]

Is it worth it to join? I don't know how much it is for undergrad students, but I don't want to pay or sign up for something that isn't worth it/scam (I don't think it's a scam, of course, just that it's not worth it). I think you get a choice of a magazine as well, which one would be best?

Please don't link me to their website as I'm reading it now, I just want some general information from people who have heard of them or are members or something.

 

[jcsd]

Read Zapper's journal, you might also want to pm him as I think he's a member of the APS, or at least he's very famlair with the soceity:

If you are an undergraduate in a US university, there is no excuse for not enrolling yourself in The Society of Physics Students (SPS). This organization is open to all students, not just physics majors. As part of your membership dues, you get a year's subscription to Physics Today, a journal that practically all physicists read and contains timely information on the world of physics and physicists. You will also get a newsletter and information specifically targeted for undergraduates like you, and also entitles you later on for significant discounts and even free registrations to attend various physics conferences. In other words, if you have even half a brain, enroll in this! The benefits are just too great to not to. Go to the physics department at your school and ask if they have a chapter of the SPS there. You can enroll via your school's chapter. If there isn't any, go to the SPS website at

http://www.aip.org/education/sps/index.html

and you may enroll there as an individual member. It is NEVER too early to be a member, so do it as soon as you are settled. If you are not in a US university, you may still subscribe to Physics Today by going to their website at..

 

[Gokul43201]

I'm a student member. I think it's about 25 bucks a year and for a Grad Student (me) it's almost mandatory. You get Physics Today with your subscription, which is quite useful as well.

If you're an undergrad majoring in Physics in your junior or senior year, I think it's definitely worth it. If you're working on a research (or REU) project with a professor, he/she might allow/require you to present any new work at a conference. To attend any of the APS conferences, you need to be a member...and if you have the smallest chance of attending a conference, take it. You won't regret the experience.

If you plan on going to Grad School, it might help your resume (maybe just a little) to have an APS membership.

 

[mathlete]

Thanks everyone! I'm a bit confused, however. On the application site: https://www.aip.org/forms/sps_mbrapp.html I am asked to "Please join the AIP Member Society of your choice:" What exactly is that? Which one is the most common to join? Does it affect anything, namely getting the Physics Today journal (or is that separate)?

 

[imabug]

Thanks everyone! I'm a bit confused, however. On the application site: https://www.aip.org/forms/sps_mbrapp.html I am asked to "Please join the AIP Member Society of your choice:" What exactly is that? Which one is the most common to join? Does it affect anything, namely getting the Physics Today journal (or is that separate)?

The AIP (American Institute of Physics) is an umbrella organization composed of representatives from each of its http://www.aip.org/aip/societies.html . Each organization will have it's own set of benefits, journals, meetings, etc.

 

[mathlete]

The AIP (American Institute of Physics) is an umbrella organization composed of representatives from each of its http://www.aip.org/aip/societies.html . Each organization will have it's own set of benefits, journals, meetings, etc.

I understand now. Can you explain the difference between Physical Review A-E. Is it just different topics?

 

[Gokul43201]

I understand now. Can you explain the difference between Physical Review A-E. Is it just different topics?

Yes, different areas :

A : Atomic/Molecular/Optical Physics
B : (Hard) Condensed Matter/Materials Physics
C : Nuclear Physics
D : Particle/Astrophysics
E : Statistical Physics/Non-linear systems (incl. soft cond. mat.)

 

[mathlete]

OK thank you very much everyone, now I have all the basic information I think i'll need! It'll be interesting to get a magazine and see what's going on in physics (though I doubt i'll understand more than 1% of anything).

Hrm... which physical review would be most interesting? All of them look inticing... thoughts? :)