Want to become a Astrophysicist

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An Indian student pursuing a BE in Mechanical Engineering with strong grades in physics and mathematics seeks advice on pursuing a Master's degree in astrophysics in the US. The discussion highlights that American universities do accept engineering undergraduates for graduate programs in astrophysics. To enhance admission chances, it is recommended to take additional physics courses such as electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics, and to perform well on the Physics GRE. Engaging in research, securing strong letters of recommendation, and publishing in physics journals are also crucial for a competitive application. The student inquires about the possibility of taking elective courses outside their degree program and the necessity of certificates or exams to demonstrate eligibility for graduate studies. Self-learning is acknowledged, but formal coursework is emphasized as beneficial for meeting program prerequisites.
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Hello Guys,
Im a Indian pursuing BE Mechanical course.I have a 9.1 average physics grade from my 2 semesters and currently in my 3rd sem.My maths grades are also in the range of 9.
I want to undergo a Masters degree in astrophysics in US.Can u recommend me a good college and the possibilities of me becoming a Astrophysicist.
I also have a diploma in astrophysics and undergoing a 100 hr certificate program in astrophysics.
Do American universities accept a bachelor in engineering for Masters in Astrophysics?
Can i do anything further to boost my chances to join a good american college?
Can my GRE grades boost my chances?
 
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Most astrophysicists have PhDs. Yes, an undergrad in Mech E. can get into grad shool for astrophysics. There are several things you can do to help your chances:

Take some physics courses: E&M, Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics.
Score well on the Physics GRE.
Get involved in research, do well, secure good letters of recommendation from research supervisors, and publish papers in physics journals.
 
How can i take physics courses?,Do you mean like a diploma?
 
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Does your university allow you to take elective courses outside of your prescribed degree program? In the US, this is allowed and very common. In fact, almost all students here do this to some extent. However, I've read that this is not true in some other countries.

I also have a diploma in astrophysics and undergoing a 100 hr certificate program in astrophysics.

Which courses does this include?

As a bare minimum, to get into any physics Ph.D. program here, you should have taken the following courses above the introductory (first-year) level: classical mechanics (including Lagrangian and Hamiltonian methods), quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics + statistical mechanics.
 
Yes,there are no such programs in my country.
I have not taken a specific course yet,just the basics of astrophysics and astronomy.
Is self learning enough or should i have any certificates to provide for my masters?
Are there any exams to prove my eligibility?
Thanks.
 

Thread 'Self Learning Math/Physics'

Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
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Thread 'What should I do if I found a paper with same result as mine?'

Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...
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