1) If the tuition fee and health insurance are covered are the TA/RA and summer fellowship totaling to $27000 enough to be comfortable?
Answer: yes, this amount is more than enough for your living in a city like Rochester,NY. On an average, monthly expenses for housing, food and other expenses would be ~800$. This should give you an idea that what you get paid every month is quite a lot.
2) The average number of years it will take to complete the PhD?
Answer: Students who join the program with a masters degree can complete their phd in 4 years. Others take 5-6 years.
3) Course structure and if could take the qualifier at the entry level?
Answer: There are two types of courses - core and electives. In the first year, the students are suggested to take all the core courses which is also the syllabus for the qualifier exam. The electives allow you to choose your track, such as stellar astrophysics or galactic astrophysics or astro-instrumentation or extragalactic astrophysics. You do not have to decide your track as soon as you join. You can explore all the different options, talk to the professors and then by the end of your first year, you pretty much get an idea of where you are interested.
4) What is more independent selecting a wide based program at the start or if you know what you want to work in, to go for that particular area?
Answer: If you have done masters in astronomy/astrophysics, then you will have by now an idea of what you want to work and with whom. But, if you have no idea, it is better to familiarize yourself with the different research topics in your first year and then in your second year start to narrow down.
Answer: yes, this amount is more than enough for your living in a city like Rochester,NY. On an average, monthly expenses for housing, food and other expenses would be ~800$. This should give you an idea that what you get paid every month is quite a lot.
2) The average number of years it will take to complete the PhD?
Answer: Students who join the program with a masters degree can complete their phd in 4 years. Others take 5-6 years.
3) Course structure and if could take the qualifier at the entry level?
Answer: There are two types of courses - core and electives. In the first year, the students are suggested to take all the core courses which is also the syllabus for the qualifier exam. The electives allow you to choose your track, such as stellar astrophysics or galactic astrophysics or astro-instrumentation or extragalactic astrophysics. You do not have to decide your track as soon as you join. You can explore all the different options, talk to the professors and then by the end of your first year, you pretty much get an idea of where you are interested.
4) What is more independent selecting a wide based program at the start or if you know what you want to work in, to go for that particular area?
Answer: If you have done masters in astronomy/astrophysics, then you will have by now an idea of what you want to work and with whom. But, if you have no idea, it is better to familiarize yourself with the different research topics in your first year and then in your second year start to narrow down.
Indeed a good information. This removes fearful thoughts in the mind.
ReplyDelete-Satish
i just completed graduation in physics.i was interested in astrophysics.other than jest, do we have other entrance exams like iit jam.to get into the course.
ReplyDeleteYes ofcourse...There are many!! As I mentioned in the page 'How to become an astronomer', all the institutes, inaddition to JEST, conduct their own entrance exams. These exams are usually during the winter - dec,jan.
DeleteI am 8th class of FIITJEE WORLD SCHOOL.I have some doubts 1. What will happen if we enter into black hole.2. Is time travel possible through worm hole,and what will happen if we enter into it? 3rd.What is a white hole. Please give me answer.
ReplyDeleteI AM 8TH CLASS STUDENT OF FIITJEE WORLD SCHOOL. I HAVE SOME DOUBTS:- 1. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE ENTER INTO THE BLACK HOLE? 2 CAN TIME TRAVEL POSSIBLE THROUGH WORM HOLE? 3 WHAT IS A WHITE HOLE? PLEASE GIVE ME ANSWER.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI am a student studying in 10th grade in India. I want to pursue a research-oriented career in any field in Physics. Recently, I inculcated some interest in astrophysics. The blog is really good and gave me an idea as to what I can do after I complete my undergraduate course. Thank You for helping me out.
-Sriram
Happy to know that astronomy interests you. I am glad the information was helpful to you in guiding you to do astronomy. To get yourself more interested, you could join an astronomy club nearby. Look out for ongoing talks or workshops in astronomy (somewhere nearby).
Delete