- #1
OmashRavash
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Hey everybody reading, this is my second thread! I must say this is a great website, I've read posts on it for help with some physics questions I've had in the Grade 12 physics course I am taking.
Just two weeks ago, I applied to universities in Ontario, more specifically Laurentian University in Sudbury, Queen's University, and Waterloo. I had to order my choices of programs on my general application, and basically I chose physics at Waterloo first, then mechanical there as well, mechanical at Queen's, and then both physics and mechanical at Laurentian.
Just to tell you how I feel about my future, I'm torn between physics and mech. engineering. It's definitely the hardest decision in my life, harder than what university I want to go to. My plan if I were to do physics is get a PhD in some field of theoretical physics, I'm not exactly sure what area, and become a professor at some college/university. Of course, this is not guaranteed and there is a surplus of physics PhDs in the United States from threads I've read. But I live in Canada. Does Canada provide better opportunities for physics PhDs? As with mech. engineering, I can see myself getting a job a lot easier. I would do a simple bachelor's and go straight to industry, perhaps a master's degree for higher recognition in the job market. Also, I feel for some reason I would be bored doing mechanical engineering because I want to deal with complex mathematics and the edge of scientific knowledge. Comparing the two, I feel I am deciding between a risk (physics) and a safety option (engineering). Part of me wants the risk, but I'm not so sure I am ready for it.
I have analyzed the pros and cons of both these two careers, hurting some of my passion for them because one has more job security over the other, etc. To conclude this issue of mine, I don't want to care about money, but at the same time, I want enough to survive and actually earn money in what I got a degree in. I want to solve problems using math and physics. I wish it was easy to get a job in anything, but the world does not work that way. I just got to pick one and go with it.
So... feel free to mention what I've said and give advice. I do have questions I want the ask. Do you think the physics job market will open up in a decade from now in North America? How about internationally, maybe places in Europe like Sweden or Italy?
Also, is research in condensed matter popular? And what type of jobs does that lead to (it sounds cool, no pun intended)?
Thanks everyone, I hope to hear answers from you in the near future!
P.S. I literally did a coin toss earlier today between which one to go into, heads for physics and tails for mechanical engineering. I got heads!
Just two weeks ago, I applied to universities in Ontario, more specifically Laurentian University in Sudbury, Queen's University, and Waterloo. I had to order my choices of programs on my general application, and basically I chose physics at Waterloo first, then mechanical there as well, mechanical at Queen's, and then both physics and mechanical at Laurentian.
Just to tell you how I feel about my future, I'm torn between physics and mech. engineering. It's definitely the hardest decision in my life, harder than what university I want to go to. My plan if I were to do physics is get a PhD in some field of theoretical physics, I'm not exactly sure what area, and become a professor at some college/university. Of course, this is not guaranteed and there is a surplus of physics PhDs in the United States from threads I've read. But I live in Canada. Does Canada provide better opportunities for physics PhDs? As with mech. engineering, I can see myself getting a job a lot easier. I would do a simple bachelor's and go straight to industry, perhaps a master's degree for higher recognition in the job market. Also, I feel for some reason I would be bored doing mechanical engineering because I want to deal with complex mathematics and the edge of scientific knowledge. Comparing the two, I feel I am deciding between a risk (physics) and a safety option (engineering). Part of me wants the risk, but I'm not so sure I am ready for it.
I have analyzed the pros and cons of both these two careers, hurting some of my passion for them because one has more job security over the other, etc. To conclude this issue of mine, I don't want to care about money, but at the same time, I want enough to survive and actually earn money in what I got a degree in. I want to solve problems using math and physics. I wish it was easy to get a job in anything, but the world does not work that way. I just got to pick one and go with it.
So... feel free to mention what I've said and give advice. I do have questions I want the ask. Do you think the physics job market will open up in a decade from now in North America? How about internationally, maybe places in Europe like Sweden or Italy?
Also, is research in condensed matter popular? And what type of jobs does that lead to (it sounds cool, no pun intended)?
Thanks everyone, I hope to hear answers from you in the near future!
P.S. I literally did a coin toss earlier today between which one to go into, heads for physics and tails for mechanical engineering. I got heads!