- #1
Winzer
- 598
- 0
I will have a B.S. in Applied physics with a minor in Computation. Graduating in
one week.
I have been applying to jobs left and right and haven't gotten one call back. It has
been very discouraging. I have been applying to Lockheed, Ball, Nasa, Northrop and Grumman...
Besides the recession, I am trying to look for reasons that I am not even being considered.
My GPA is ok: 3.15. But I feel that I have some other qualities that offset this.
2 graduate physics courses, got A's in both. I have also taken some engineering courses: material science, and fluids. I also did an REU last summer. My University is considered to be in the top 10 for applied physics.
Truly, I have enjoyed my major. But not getting any calls back has left me wondering what value my degree has, relative to EE, Mech, Materials, etc. I am now regretting that I did not specialized in some type of engineering. If I apply for an engineering position, I feel that my resume will instantly be discarded once a EE or Mech applies for the same position since they have specialized knowledge. Companies also need to meet a quota. "Ok we need 2xEEs and 1x Mech. An applied physics major? What do we do with you?"
I also feel that the physics department has been deceiving. According to their stats, app. physics majors on average start in the 45k-50k range. I have know a lot of people in the phys. department I don't think I know anyone starting in that range. It could be me, but I feel that adverts and stats like this are a recruiting tool.
So the plan is to keep applying for jobs for the next 4-5 months. If I don't find anything, then I will go to graduate school for a MS in EE or Materials Engineering. Or, depending on the demand, I'll go for a quant degree (Quantitative Finance). I guess the harsh lesson to learn is that app. physics is a great degree for going to grad school, but not so good for finding a job. I would appreciate any advice.
one week.
I have been applying to jobs left and right and haven't gotten one call back. It has
been very discouraging. I have been applying to Lockheed, Ball, Nasa, Northrop and Grumman...
Besides the recession, I am trying to look for reasons that I am not even being considered.
My GPA is ok: 3.15. But I feel that I have some other qualities that offset this.
2 graduate physics courses, got A's in both. I have also taken some engineering courses: material science, and fluids. I also did an REU last summer. My University is considered to be in the top 10 for applied physics.
Truly, I have enjoyed my major. But not getting any calls back has left me wondering what value my degree has, relative to EE, Mech, Materials, etc. I am now regretting that I did not specialized in some type of engineering. If I apply for an engineering position, I feel that my resume will instantly be discarded once a EE or Mech applies for the same position since they have specialized knowledge. Companies also need to meet a quota. "Ok we need 2xEEs and 1x Mech. An applied physics major? What do we do with you?"
I also feel that the physics department has been deceiving. According to their stats, app. physics majors on average start in the 45k-50k range. I have know a lot of people in the phys. department I don't think I know anyone starting in that range. It could be me, but I feel that adverts and stats like this are a recruiting tool.
So the plan is to keep applying for jobs for the next 4-5 months. If I don't find anything, then I will go to graduate school for a MS in EE or Materials Engineering. Or, depending on the demand, I'll go for a quant degree (Quantitative Finance). I guess the harsh lesson to learn is that app. physics is a great degree for going to grad school, but not so good for finding a job. I would appreciate any advice.