What should a high school student do to get on a track to become an astrophysicist? Reworked from a rework from an oldie. Something prompted me to think it is time to lightly update and republish this series, possibly with added bonus parts!
So, youre in high school wondering what to do with yourself, and you think: hey, I could be an Astrophysicist!
So, what should YOU do, wanting to get into a good university and an astro/physics major?
1) Take all the math that is offered, and do well in it. The limiting factor for most students wanting to do astronomy or astrophysics is poor math preparation in school. You need to get as far and as fast in calculus as you can and be proficient and comfortable with advanced mathematics.
Astrophysics is a mathematical science. In principle, you can pick up the math you need as you go along, but in practise it is better to be as fluent as possible first, and most all math is of some use. My anecdotal observation is that a primary factor limiting peoples ability to progress in astrophysics is inadequate math preparation and insufficient capacity to get up to speed with the additional math needed when it is needed.
2) Take all the science on offer, and do well in that. In particular, take physics classes. One year of high school physics is Not Enough. Take physics, take as much physics as is offered and you have the opportunity to. The more and earlier exposure to introductory physics, the better. You need to have basic physical concepts deeply ingrained and intuitive and that is best done through overlapping repetition over time. It can all be done in the first two years of undergraduate study, but most people have a hard time getting comfortable when crammed with too many new concepts too rapidly.
There are great physical scientists that were English Majors (seriously)! But, that is not the optimal way to proceed for the average student. Figure you are better off taking physics early if you can, and that more is better, as long as it is not so dreadful as to permanently put you off the subject
3) Get good grades overall; preferably straight A, but B+ will do. It will get you far enough to have a chance to see if you can hack it at the next level. Lower grades can be overcome, there is no permanent record, but it makes it harder to get over the next hurdle, or even be allowed to attempt the next hurdle, if you go into it with below average grades.
4) Do all of this without overextending yourself; university is harder with much more intense workload, you need to be able to step up the pace (and again at grad school).
5) Jump through whatever hoops are needed, try to enjoy the process, or just grit your teeth and do it; the real world is worse that way.
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So, You Want To Be An Astrophysicist? Part 0: redux [Dynamics of Cats]