How do I Become an Astrophysicist? - Ask a Spaceman!

How does one become an astrophysicist? What are the challenges and rewards of that kind of career? Are there even any jobs? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!

Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPACE!

Big thanks to my top Patreon supporters this month: Justin G., Matthew K., Kevin O., Justin R., Chris C., Helge B., Tim R., Nick T., Branea I., Lars H., Timothy G., Ray S., John F., James L., Anilavadhanula, Mark R., David B., and Silvan W.!

Music by Jason Grady and Nick Bain. Thanks to WCBE Radio for hosting the recording session, Greg Mobius for producing, and Cathy Rinella for editing.

[hyperpotato]

Well I'm in high school and I wanna be an astrophysicist. I don't care about the nature of those jobs or the salary. I just love physics and I wanna work on it. I just love it. I don't think I'm making a wrong decision. Any tips or advice?

[damienwayne]

You sir just saved me. I was feeling so depressed about not being able to follow the career of my dream and this makes me feel like I can actually do it. Now I won't stop at anything until I get the education I long for. Many thanks!!!

[neosilver]

I did like the books of Brian Green too and am now trying to work through "B. Schutz - A First Course in General Relativity" and it is hard as i do it autodidactically.
I don't need to be at a college to live out my interest and enthusiasm for astrophysics and i am not able to. And of course i am progressing slower then a college student, but it is my passion and my curiosity will maintain it.

[minukiadhihetty]

All this time ive known that i want to be an astrophysicist, work on the big unanswered questions and research mind-boggling topics. A lot o f people keep telling me that it is one of the hardest carrier paths and that i have a thin chance of actually reaching that point, which actually made me doubt myself for a second. And now, this video has helped restore belief.

[SLIZZAL]

Literally I connected with you story so much. I started my college career with the hopes to get a degree in computer science. Then things in my personal life changed and I really looked into what interested me. I was struggling for a month or two, GPA falling. I barely passed my classes at the time and thought I’d start fresh in 2018. Started an astronomy class and was instantly hooked. Now 2 months later, accepted into Michigan State, I am pursuing a degree in Astrophysics.

[tatjanagobold]

Wow thank you for this video! I really felt this was going to dicourage me and that now you would reveal the truth.. and you talked about your personal experience which ended up encouraging me even more :) because I love this type of experience, where you can always improve! So thanks for sharing!

[laurencheer]

I am a sophomore physics major and have been feeling very overwhelmed by how much I don't know and intimidated by the task of learning it all. I've tried to talk to my profs about this but they never really understand my issue. Finally, some advice from a relatable human being. Thank you!!

[maryamali]

Hi im a high school student who aspires to become an astrophysian and the only reason I want this is because I love space
People always said that it was too difficult and that I would not make it
Thank you for the video
U have given me hope

[joehartman]

This is the sweetest most encouraging post. Thank you.

[HarshColby]

My sister gave me Gödel, Escher, Bach and it´s always been one of my favorite books.

[_Halaby]

Could you please talk about computational astrophysics in one of your videos. I'm a CS PhD student myself and I'm really interested in this subject. Love your videos, keep it up :)

[brucewilkinson]

Great video. Thanks for offering this perspective on the journey you've made and the path you're walking as a scientist.

[Gustavo-lzmi]

Thank you very much for this video, you're helped me a lot!! I think this is not only about the way to become an astrophysicist but also about another areas of science (as you said). I have plans to apply in a PhD in nursing, and every word that you said fit very well in my own experience, I felt scared about the enormous quantity of knowledge required in a PhD program but now I realize the nonsense of having such feelings. Blessings and keep going!

[newshaghorbanniaa]

Wow I am in the beginning of this road 🤩🤩🤩🥰🥰🥰🥰

[krisrubioartist]

I’m 37 with a bachelors in communications at CSUN. I always loved astronomy and want to pursue a degree in it but I’m intimidated by the amount of work and my mediocre math skills. Plus, I don’t know if it’s too late in my life to pursue something like this and the risk of getting into massive debt when I’m close to 50. Any advice? Just saw this video and clicked the “subscribe” button because your knowledge is worth listening too. Keep up the good work.

[nazhatkhan]

Excellent speech given to build up a career of astronomer with immense hard work, concentration, interest, time schedule where will and skill is compulsive to thrive on a long road then a mountain which is a task to keep on going till the final step to be an astrophysicist.

[muhammadosama]

Can I do Astrophysics after BSc. Electrical Engineering?

[christtumbledryer]

I'm in secondary school and I'm about to select my GCSE subjects that Sappourt my career choice (which is an astro-physists) I enjoy every aspect of science wether it's biology, chemistry or physics. Of course my favourite is physics but i still really love biology and chemistry.

[itsmarv]

Hey i wanna be a astrophysicist and u rlly helped me thank u very much yey!

[zenithalizesquads]

Apparently, study steady is best. So I am 15 I started learning differential equation and Integration and trying to understand Gamma Beta and Laplacian operator works. Wasn't too fast right? Because I've done fundamental calculus at 14 but still I did some test on physics but I didn't made a good score.