Why you should go to graduate school in geophysics

Because you'll get tired of that programming job. You'll burn out after endless 16 hours days of hacking. You will not learn anything important. You and your colleagues will not age well. You will become a boring person and people will avoid you at parties. Any skills you obtain will be obsolete in six months.

You could be going to graduate school in geophysics! Graduate school is just like college--only better. You only take classes for a year or two and then you work on your own research project. You're part of a community of scientists that are engaged in a grand adventure, probing the nature of our planet. It's creative, stimulating work, and you are acquiring skills that will serve you well in the future.

Sure, it doesn't pay as well as a real job. But you'll have more money than you had in college. Most geophysics graduate programs waive tuition, pay $15K--$20K/year, and provide the opportunity to live in subsidized housing. You will have flexible hours and the opportunity to do field work and attend conferences in exotic locations. Science is fun! Why rush to the job market and a 30 year mortgage when you can extend your college years and develop a career that will engage and challenge you the rest of your life.

The job market in geophysics is better than in straight physics, and graduates from the top programs are getting good jobs, many of them in academia and government and private labs.

Why you should go to Scripps

From my perspective as both a former graduate student (1981-1986) and current faculty member, let me list some of the reasons:

• A large and diverse number of faculty engaged in a variety of projects, including seismology, geodesy, geomagnetism, geomorphology, mantle convection and E/M methods. Theoretical, observational and experimental approaches are all used.
• The beach.
• An office in the Keller during your first year (the Keller probably has the most spectacular view of any graduate student office in the United States).
• Numerous opportunities to go on research cruises or assist with field programs on land.
• The beach.
• Taking Bob Parker's inverse theory class.
• Abundant recreational opportunities. SIO grad students are active rock climbers, surfers, kayakers, mountain bikers, wind surfers, and hikers.
• The beach.
• A congenial atmosphere without the nasty infighting that prevails at some departments.
• Near perfect San Diego weather, year round.
• The beach.
• Students are treated as colleagues and are usually first authors on papers.
• A proven track record in turning out good students who have gone on to have great careers. Examples include: Don Helmberger, Tony Dahlen, Ralph Archeleta, Marcia McNutt, John Orcutt, Paul Silver, Jeff Park, Ken Creager, Rick Aster, and Cathy Constable.
• The beach.
• IGPP operates the IRIS/IDA part of the global seismic network, the Anza and Kazakhstan regional networks, the Pinon flat geophysics observatory, and has active seagoing programs in ocean bottom seismology and EM measurements.

David Sandwell, our surfing professor, catches a wave at Blacks.

Geophysics Curricular Group

Info on Scripps Graduate Department

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