Careers and Study After Cornell Physics

1
Careers and Study After Cornell Physics

• A Career in H.S.
• Physics Teaching
• Marty Alderman, Physics Teacher!
• PhysTEC TIR (Teacher In Residence)
• 101 Clark Hall 607.255.8158
• mda35_at_cornell.edu

2
The Next Step

• Graduate School
• Research
• Teaching
• Other Careers

3
Picking A College

• Location
• Size
• Broad field of interest
• Prestige
• Cost
• Social climate
• Weather (OK, maybe not for Cornell)

4
Picking A Career

• Interesting Work
• Meaningful Work
• Control of Work
• Sufficient Income
• Quality Benefits
• Secure Benefits
• Job Security
• Job Choice
• Location Choice

• Vacation Time
• Flexible Time
• Compatible w/ Family
• Status
• Pension
• Opportunities For Advancement
• Work Load

5
The Teachers Work

• Youre a PHYSICS teacher!
• You have the best toys!
• Every student is different, and a new
  opportunity. Teaching is not boring!
• The students have energy that is contagious
• You are in control of your own work space
• You are appreciated (most of the time) by
  students, parents, and the community

6
The Teachers Work

• Extracurricular activities help make work even
  more interesting and fun!
• Science Olympiad
• (My students came in second in the Nation in the
  Wright Stuff event, and Forth overall this year!
  Sometimes teachers get to brag a little!)
• Authentic Science Research
• NY State Jr. Science Humanities Symposium
• Westinghouse Science Talent Search
• Team America Rocketry Challenge

7
The Teachers Work

• No Illusions
• The work is not easy (but youre used to that!)
• Grading papers is time consuming
• There are limited opportunities for Advancement
• There are times when you have to work with
  students and parents with serious issues

8
The Teachers Work

• BUT
• You can make a huge difference in the lives of a
  lot of people!!!
• Your work is some of the most meaningful work
  there is.
• Your work is always interesting.

9
The Teaching Job Market

• There is a critical shortage of physics teachers
  worldwide.
• You can choose where you want to live, including
  international schools.
• You can choose the kind of school you want to
  teach in (rural, suburban, urban).
• Some places are even offering finders fees and
  signing bonuses. (Eat your heart out, athletes!)
• You can definitely feel needed.

10
Quality Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Funding to attend conferences
• Sufficient income comparable to salaries at
  many colleges!
• Health insurance equal to or better than industry
• A very good pension plan

11
Family Friendly

• This may not be first on your mind at the moment,
  but teachers are done with scheduled time at
  roughly the time kids would get home from school.
• You have great vacation time that matches
  vacation for the kids. (In industry you start
  with 1-2 weeks Max!)

12
VACATION

• Did I mention vacation time?!
• It is flexible time for you.
• Some choose to teach summer school for extra
  income
• Some take graduate courses for advancement
• Some attend summer workshops
• Some work odd jobs that they choose to take on.
• Some just enjoy the free time and time with their
  families.

13
Security

• There is NO WAY your job will be shipped
  overseas!!! You are needed right here. Can
  industry say that?
• Once you have tenure, you cant be fired without
  cause just to hire someone at lower pay.
• Your retirement pension fund cant be raided like
  in so many industries today.