Graduate School Resources
Thinking about graduate school in physics or astronomy? Here's where to start.
Get involved in research early
Graduate programs want to see research experience. Talk to a faculty member about getting involved in their research group, or explore paid summer research through the NSF-REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) program at other institutions. Our Tools for Physicists first-year seminar also includes a career preparation unit covering REU applications and grad school exploration.
Choosing which schools to apply to
A good starting point is a list of 15 to 20 schools, then pare it down as you learn more. A few tips:
- Look for overlap in techniques (instrumentation, theory, observation) rather than picking programs based on a single narrow subfield. A mix gives you more flexibility if your interests shift.
- Find faculty whose work seems like a good fit for you specifically, not just programs with a good reputation.
- Be willing to look outside California. Casting a wider net gives you more options for funding, fit, and program culture.
- Use this crowdsourced GRE and Application Fee Tracker to check whether a program requires the Physics GRE, general GRE, or neither (there's an active, important discourse on the inequities that come with GRE use, and many programs have dropped it), and whether they offer application fee waivers.
Cal-Bridge Program
Cal-Bridge provides mentorship and financial support for students from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing physics and astronomy PhDs. Several of our faculty mentor through the program. See our Research page for more detail.
Explore programs and connect with the community
- GradSchoolShopper, presented by the American Institute of Physics, lets you search physics and astronomy graduate programs by location, keyword, and funding availability.
- The APS Bridge Program helps undergraduate physics students from all backgrounds chart a path to grad school.
- APS Student Resources offers broader career and grad school planning guidance, mentoring programs, and conferences for students.
Staying at CSUSB
Interested in continuing your education here? Our department, in partnership with the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, offers a Master of Science in Materials Science.
Questions? Talk to your faculty advisor, or reach out to our Administrative Support Coordinator, Maureen Murphy (mmurphy@csusb.edu). You're also welcome to email any of our faculty directly or stop by their office hours (coming soon).