The most important skill that physics majors learn is reductionist problem solving. That is, they take very complex problems and break them down into small steps that can be understood by knowing certain universal rules. This makes our graduates more flexible in their thinking than many of their colleagues and therefore greatly valued by employers. Students who do well are frequently those who enjoy solving puzzles, even very difficult ones. They are also tenacious and don't give up easily when confronted with complexity. Then there is also the importance of valuing an understanding of the natural world around us.

The most important thing for an incoming transfer to do is make sure you have taken the math courses that are prerequisites for almost everything in the physics major. That means MATH235, MATH236, and if possible MATH237. Since these are sequential, not having any of them would mean there are at least 3 semesters to complete before you could take any of our upper level physics requirements.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
• Connect with an advisor at your community college and James Madison University within your first year via College Connect

All of our majors are required to participate in undergraduate research at some point in their time here. We place great value on these experiences since they are a student's chance to be a scientist rather than just learn about science. We presently have ongoing funded research projects in nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology, materials physics, and string theory.

Our graduates have a nearly 100% employment rate when they enter the work force directly after graduation. Many also decide to go on to graduate studies in physics, engineering, or astronomy and recent graduates have been accepted to grad schools such as Princeton, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Virginia, North Carolina State, UCLA, and Harvard.

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: James Madison University