Job prospects for physicists from less-than-stellar schools?

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companion_cube
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 9:55 pm

Job prospects for physicists from less-than-stellar schools?

Post by companion_cube » Wed Nov 24, 2010 5:03 am

What are some options for physics PhDs from universities that aren't rated in the top 20 for the field? I don't intend to go into academics, but rather research and development or industry.
Would it be very hard to land this sort of job?
Would I be better off just getting a masters or sticking with my bachelors if that is my career goal?

admissionprof
Posts: 369
Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 7:50 pm

Re: Job prospects for physicists from less-than-stellar schools?

Post by admissionprof » Thu Nov 25, 2010 12:23 pm

companion_cube wrote:What are some options for physics PhDs from universities that aren't rated in the top 20 for the field? I don't intend to go into academics, but rather research and development or industry.
Would it be very hard to land this sort of job?
Would I be better off just getting a masters or sticking with my bachelors if that is my career goal?
I'm admissions director at a place that is not top 20, but is top 50. The job prospects are about the same if looking at R&D or industry--the letters from your advisor and others are much more important. In academia, being from a top 20 is more useful--it helps get a stronger postdoc, there are more connections, etc.



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