What is Astrophysical Sciences?
What is it like being an Astrophysical Sciences major?
What are common misconceptions about AST majors?
What kind of internships and international experiences have majors had?
How will AST majors save the world?
Why would anyone want to date an AST major?
What is Astrophysical Sciences?
Astrophysics is basically the study of the universe we live in — from the tiniest grains of interstellar dust to galaxy clusters. If you have ever wondered what's out there, how did the universe start, how big is it, are there other habitable planets, what are stars and galaxies made from, and how do we know all these things, anyways, chances are you will also find this a very interesting field.
You'll learn a whole lot about the Universe, as well as about how much we really don't understand at all about it (but hopefully your senior thesis will clear a few things up). You will learn a whole lot of physics, mathematics, computer programming and general research skills, from taking courses but more importantly from all the research you will be doing.
What is it like being an Astrophysical Sciences major?
The Astrophysics department is rather small and very informal, which makes it a great place to be an undergrad! Normally faculty outnumber undergraduate students, so when choosing a JP or thesis advisor, you simply stop by and chat with professors working on topics you are interested in. Both JPs and your thesis must be original research (no "reading projects" here), and undergrads frequently end up publishing some of their independent work. Seniors normally also present a poster at the American Astronomical Society meeting every year.
All undergrads get a workstation with a computer in one of the undergrad offices in Peyton, both very nice for independent work, and for getting to know and working with your fellow astro majors. Hey, you'll probably get to know most grad students too, and discover that they're nice people (and very useful when you're stuck on your research or homework). There's also tea and cookies every day at 3:30, very informal and another good way to meet the rest of the department.
What are common misconceptions about Astrophysical Sciences majors?
Since it is such a small department, many people aren't even aware that it exists. Well, it does, and it is awesome.
Many also aren't quite sure what the differences between being a Physics and Astrophysics major are. While we do take most core Physics classes (except Core Lab), you also take at least three upper-level astro classes, and the requirements are somewhat more flexible. The biggest difference is probably that you get to do your independent work in a smaller department where you get lots of attention, and that all your independent work needs to be research (unlike Physics, where the JPs are reading projects).
Some people also have the misconception that Astrophysics is a very narrow, and therefore limiting field: what on earth can you do with it, except more astrophysics? Well, while many people do go to grad school, we also have people doing science policy, teaching, journalism, consulting, finance and pretty much everything you can think of. The skills you will learn will be applicable to most disciplines, and firms tend to love Astro majors.
What kind of internships and international experiences have majors had?
The Astro department has a very good undergraduate research summer program, which is also a great way to get to know the department. Many people also do summer research programs elsewhere, in the States or abroad (recent examples including South Africa and Germany). It is not necessary to stay summer after junior year to start thesis research, but it is possible if you want a head start.
And of course, people who don't plan on continuing in research choose their summer internships accordingly, so we also have people doing finance, consulting, journalism and pretty much anything else over summer.
Spending a semester abroad is absolutely possible, but requires a bit of planning ahead if you want to go junior or senior year.
How will Astrophysical Sciences majors save the world?
First of all, we know that in a few billion years, the sun will run out of hydrogen in its core, expand into a red giant, and that will be the end of the Earth — sorry, there's no saving us from that. Though hopefully by then we have also discovered somewhere to relocate, and a way to get there. Meanwhile, we'll try our best detecting any asteroids, cosmic explosions or other things that might be bad for the world at the moment.
Why would anyone want to date an Astrophysical Sciences major?
We know where all the good spots for stargazing are :).
