Looking for a future in Astrophysics

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the potential for transferring from a community college to the University of Alabama - Huntsville (UAH) for a degree in Astrophysics. Key points include inquiries about the quality of UAH's PhD Physics program and the distinction between the PhD in Physics and the PhD in Space Science, which appears to encompass topics like Astrobiology and Cosmology alongside Astrophysics. The conversation emphasizes that the reputation of the institution may be less critical than the quality of research and mentorship received during the PhD program. It suggests that successful career outcomes in research labs depend more on the advisor and the quality of work than solely on the university's prestige.
SwiftyKaos
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I am currently attending Community College, but in the future I would like to transfer to a University and get a degree in Astrophysics. The University of Alabama - Huntsville (UAH) is the closest University where I live, and I was wondering if the PhD Physics program good, and also UAH offers a PhD in Space Science what is the difference between that and Astrophysics? Finally I would love to be a researcher working in a lab, but would I be able to land a job like that after graduating from UAH or is that kind of career more based on where you received your PhD?
 
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SwiftyKaos said:
I am currently attending Community College, but in the future I would like to transfer to a University and get a degree in Astrophysics. The University of Alabama - Huntsville (UAH) is the closest University where I live, and I was wondering if the PhD Physics program good, and also UAH offers a PhD in Space Science what is the difference between that and Astrophysics? Finally I would love to be a researcher working in a lab, but would I be able to land a job like that after graduating from UAH or is that kind of career more based on where you received your PhD?
Form the course catalog: http://www.uah.edu/science/departments/space-science/spa-grad-prog/ph-d-in-space-science , it looks like Space Science is mostly Astrophysics. Space Science could also include Astrobiology, Cosmology, or other subject areas.

One could compare the UAH program with astrophysics programs from other universities.
 
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It's not so much where you get your PhD so much as who your advisor is and how good your work is. I'm not saying getting into Princeton wouldn't help, but I've had many professors who have obtained their PhD's from surprising places; for instance, my classical mechanics professor is a cosmologist from a school that, according to US News (for what that's worth), is ranked ~70.
 

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