- #1
zeroentropy
- 1
- 0
I am currently a high school graduate trying to plan my career. I am aware this does not count much in the higher scale of things, but the one thing i was really interested in since my elementary school years has been science. And i always liked to imagine myself being a "scientist" when i was little. I did have some romanticization going on, but i believe i have managed to put that aside to some extent.
Overall, i do want physics to be a major part of my life and i believe its just about the only way i can have a satisfying career. I never claimed i would be a hotshot physicist, i believe it might be a bit late for me for that. (My high school years were mostly spent studying for my entrance exam since my country has a very tough competition going on). Even if i will be working more towards physics in my university years, I was and am very okay with just doing my best and being a "mediocre" physicist. So i have been set on having a physics related career for the past year, have been doing my own research online and have been talking with various physics graduates from various areas (i have spoken with people pursuing their academic career, those working in a national lab, head professors and etc.).
A few weeks ago, i spoke to someone who has graduated with a physics degree from the university i was set on enrolling in, and he has told me to consider doing dual degree in electrical engineering and physics after i explained myself to him. I have always had an aversion towards engineering as i feel like it is more limited compared to pure physics. And being an engineer mostly does mean having to end up in industry related fields, so i was never keen on it. (i am aware a huge chunk of people with physics end up in industry, but i viewed it as my last resort really.). But after talking to him a dual degree did seem more rational to me. I do have my concerns about not being able to land a job even after my masters with how the world is going. Plus pursuing a career in physics does rely on luck, and i would not call myself lucky. Also my parents do think its mostly going to be a waste for me to do pure physics since i wont even have an engineering title, so having a dual would feel secure for both me and them. And after talking it out more as well, i do not think it would hinder and even be a positive thing for my scientific career if i were to decide to go after physics for masters rather than engineering.
I am aware how exhausting chasing a dual degree would be, but i have already accepted it and would not mind how hectic it is even. I do like a challenge and learning, and studying has been one of my hobbies really. But i do want to hear the opinion of people who are more knowledgeable than me, so my question is: How rational is it to get a dual degree in electrical engineering and physics for someone who is mostly planning a career in physics? (if everything does go as planned) What are the pros and cons? Thank you.
Overall, i do want physics to be a major part of my life and i believe its just about the only way i can have a satisfying career. I never claimed i would be a hotshot physicist, i believe it might be a bit late for me for that. (My high school years were mostly spent studying for my entrance exam since my country has a very tough competition going on). Even if i will be working more towards physics in my university years, I was and am very okay with just doing my best and being a "mediocre" physicist. So i have been set on having a physics related career for the past year, have been doing my own research online and have been talking with various physics graduates from various areas (i have spoken with people pursuing their academic career, those working in a national lab, head professors and etc.).
A few weeks ago, i spoke to someone who has graduated with a physics degree from the university i was set on enrolling in, and he has told me to consider doing dual degree in electrical engineering and physics after i explained myself to him. I have always had an aversion towards engineering as i feel like it is more limited compared to pure physics. And being an engineer mostly does mean having to end up in industry related fields, so i was never keen on it. (i am aware a huge chunk of people with physics end up in industry, but i viewed it as my last resort really.). But after talking to him a dual degree did seem more rational to me. I do have my concerns about not being able to land a job even after my masters with how the world is going. Plus pursuing a career in physics does rely on luck, and i would not call myself lucky. Also my parents do think its mostly going to be a waste for me to do pure physics since i wont even have an engineering title, so having a dual would feel secure for both me and them. And after talking it out more as well, i do not think it would hinder and even be a positive thing for my scientific career if i were to decide to go after physics for masters rather than engineering.
I am aware how exhausting chasing a dual degree would be, but i have already accepted it and would not mind how hectic it is even. I do like a challenge and learning, and studying has been one of my hobbies really. But i do want to hear the opinion of people who are more knowledgeable than me, so my question is: How rational is it to get a dual degree in electrical engineering and physics for someone who is mostly planning a career in physics? (if everything does go as planned) What are the pros and cons? Thank you.