Navigating Physics Career Paths from St. John's University

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the career prospects for physics students graduating with a BA versus a BS, particularly from St. John's University. Participants explore the implications of different degree options, including an Applied Physics major, and the importance of skills such as programming for both job placement and graduate school acceptance.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the reputation of St. John's University mitigates concerns about having a BA instead of a BS.
  • Others argue that the specific courses taken are more important than the degree label.
  • A participant emphasizes that good grades and GRE scores are crucial for graduate school acceptance, while also noting the importance of recommendations.
  • Concerns are raised about the job market for physics graduates, particularly regarding the qualifications needed for engineering positions.
  • Some participants assert that an Applied Physics major could provide practical skills beneficial for industry, while others believe it may not align with the goals of students aiming for graduate school.
  • A question is posed about the perceived disconnect between the Applied Physics degree and graduate school aspirations.
  • Programming skills are highlighted as essential, with participants discussing various programming languages that may be advantageous for students.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of views regarding the value of a BA versus a BS, the relevance of an Applied Physics major, and the skills necessary for success in both industry and graduate school. There is no consensus on the best path forward, indicating ongoing debate and differing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the job market for physics graduates can be challenging, particularly for those seeking engineering roles without relevant experience. The discussion also reflects varying opinions on how graduate school committees evaluate applicants based on their coursework and industry experience.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering a physics degree, particularly those at liberal arts institutions, as well as those interested in the intersection of physics and industry careers.

Marsnikj
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Hello everyone.
I am a junior standing physics students at a private liberal arts university (St. John's University in Collegeville, MN specifically). I will be graduating in 3 semesters (if all goes according to plan haha) with a BA in physics and I was just wondering if I could see any difficulties with finding a job or being accepted into grad school with the BA rather than the BS?

Also my school has an option for an Applied Physics major which requires a chemistry course as well as a few electronics courses and another computer programming course I believe…would this possibly be more useful to me?

Thanks for the help!
 
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St. John's is a very respected school so I don't think the BA in and of itself is a problem. The Applied Physics major sounds good if you will learn some practical skills like programming.
 
What matters is the actual courses that you take, not whether the degree is labeled BA or BS.

I got a BA in physics from a small private liberal arts college in Ohio. It was good enough to get me into U of Michigan for grad school. (disclaimer: this was nearly forty years ago...)
 
Good grades and a good GRE will get you into grad school.
If you definitely want to go to grad school in physics, don't bother with an
applied physics option. Take computer programming and as many physics courses as you can.
 
Marsnikj said:
Hello everyone.
I am a junior standing physics students at a private liberal arts university (St. John's University in Collegeville, MN specifically). I will be graduating in 3 semesters (if all goes according to plan haha) with a BA in physics and I was just wondering if I could see any difficulties with finding a job or being accepted into grad school with the BA rather than the BS?

Also my school has an option for an Applied Physics major which requires a chemistry course as well as a few electronics courses and another computer programming course I believe…would this possibly be more useful to me?

Thanks for the help!
There is a lot of misinformation going on in this forum which should be expected after all it is a "Physics" forum. Do not expect to get a "Classical" Engineering job with a BA or BS in Physics period. The odds are against you. No, you are not more qualified than an engineer.

The bullet points for Engineers to get are as follows:

1. Co-op/Internship/Real work experience- companies are not looking for blank slates meaning only classroom work
2. GPA -usually above a 3.0 you are good.
3. Projects-a employer will most definitely ask what projects you have done,how you contributed,design schematics,and other documentation. Working with a team is important to a lot of employers.

Do not let people fool you into thinking you will be a perfect candidate for an engineering job with a BS or BA inPhysics.
 
Meir Achuz said:
Good grades and a good GRE will get you into grad school.
… and good recommendations. Those recommendations are very important.

At many schools, the applied physics option is an attempt to address the problem that physics undergrads who go straight into industry have a hard time finding a job. This degree option is orthogonal to the aims of students who do want to go to graduate school.
 
why is the applied physics degree option orthogonal to the aims of going to grad school?

In my experience graduate schools committees are good at respecting work in industry or at least looking at what classes you took and using that as a basis of judgement along with letters of recc. An HR employee or recruiter on the other hand is much more likely to be looking for "keywords".

An applied physics degree would not be anything but a positive for a student going into experimental condensed matter or any topic for that matter since programming is required in some capacity everywhere.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone I really appreciate it.
So one of the things I'm understanding is that programming is very important. I already know Mathematica fairly well and I've had a semester of work with C++ (although I'll be the first to admit I could use some more practice with it). What other languages are important? Thanks again for the help.
 
Java, C#, MATLAB/Octave, python
 

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