Computer skills are a must. You can expect to do a lot of number crunching. The more experience you can get with various computer platforms and software programs, the better.

Students interested in geophysics can benefit from firsthand experience in the field. Student internships or summer programs would give you invaluable experience. Look for positions with geophysical consulting firms, or state or U.S. Geological Surveys.

Some geophysicists spend most of their time outdoors studying various features of the Earth. Others spend most of their time indoors using computers for modeling and calculations.