Which Undergraduate Course Should I Choose to Become an Astrophysicist?

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To pursue a career in astrophysics, it's essential to choose the right undergraduate course. While a BSc in Physics is often considered the best path, concerns about job scope lead to consideration of BTech options, such as aerospace, electrical, or mechanical engineering. The choice of university for graduate studies is crucial, as it should align with specific research interests and faculty expertise. Researching potential graduate schools, their admission requirements, and available scholarships is recommended. It's important to plan undergraduate coursework strategically, ensuring it includes relevant classes like calculus and astronomy, and to remain adaptable in case interests change. For those with a BTech degree, understanding how the GRE is structured for different backgrounds is also vital, as the exam may vary for engineering and physics students.
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i want to be an astrophysicst.

currently I am 17 and about to join undergradaduation. I am confused which course to take bsc/btech i know that bsc physics is the best way but it doesn't have much scope as btech does. so I am thinking if it is btech then which is the best course that can get me closest to astronomy ( aerospce or electrical or mechanical ). btw i will do my masters in usa so how will the GRE be for astrophysics if i have a engg degree
 
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Many of these things will depend on the specific university you do your graduate work at. Picking that university will depend on the kind of work that the profs do, and whether you are interested in that specific kind of thing. If you have not already picked that school, do this. Get yourself to the library and get some magazines like Astronomy Today and similar. Find the issue that shows recent grads and where they went after graduation. Find the schools that send their grads to places you would like to work.

Also, google up the web page of schools with programs you find interesting. Find out what research the profs there do and see what looks like you might find that interesting. Possibly http://arxiv.org/ will be helpful there. Once you have some candidate grad schools, find out what requirements they have, and what they look at for admission. Sometimes their course calendars are on line so you can see admissions and requirements for various programs.

Then you can start to plan what makes sense for you to study in undergrad. For example, maybe the grad school has a language requirement, and maybe you can polish that off in undergrad. Maybe a lot of computer classes will help or maybe not. Probably a lot of calculus will be good. Maybe some undergrad astronomy classes are in order. And so on. Get the course calendar for your school and pick the classes you will take.

Once you know the classes you want, then you pick the degree. Maybe you can't get the astronomy classes in the btech? Maybe you can't do the language classes as a physics undergrad? Depends on your undergrad school. Keep in mind the possibility of filling holes with non-credit classes, though that's pretty severe.

Also, many universities have scholarships that you have to apply for to be considered. Check with your school's guidance people, and the school web site. Check again when you are about to start each semester, and again when you are about to start grad school. New scholarships may have been created. An extra stack of cash is probably very welcome.

When you are about to start second year, do a review of the situation. See if things look like they are on track. You might find you need to swap degree programs. Or you might just need to switch what courses you emphasize.

Before third year you probably want to contact some profs at potential grad schools. Talk to them about whether you will be a good fit and how you could be better. Find out if they will have space for you. Maybe they already have nine people in six places and won't be able to admit you. Also, check with them what scholarships you should apply for.

And keep in mind the possibility of a "plan B." Maybe you decide in two years you are not so keen on astronomy as you thought. Or maybe still love astro but something else you learn about becomes even better. You need to live after university. So pick up classes for breadth. That philosophy class might look pretty wildly off topic, but it may look good to a scholarship committee. And it may be a great conversation starter at the school pub. That computer design class may also look like it's wildly off topic, but might get you the great summer job that pays for your first year in grad school. And so on.
 
A thread similar to this was just created. A degree in aerospace engineering won't really help you be an astrophysicist, so just go for the BSc in physics.
 
thnx alot. i got another question if i have a btech degree how will the GRE exam be for astronomy. Do they conduct same exam for engg student and physics student
 
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"...
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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