Unable to settle on a specialisation

[warhammer]

Hi. I am having a hard time settle on a specialisation. To give some details- I will complete my 3 year UG Course with a GPA of 9.65/10. I have been selected & partaken in a healthy number of conferences intended for students mostly belonging to Astrophysics, Quantum Systems & QFTs. I have a prior "research experience" (obviously at an elementary level) but no publishing so far. And I also won a Prize for my Scientific Essay on Nuclear Medicine at an Inter University Level.

I am having a hard time pick a specialisation or something that pivots me in a concerted direction as opposed to a harebrained approach (more vitally because I am looking to apply at schools in Europe under MSc Programs that require full funding and mandate preferred topics. If not mandated it is a 'soft' requirement to be mentioned on the student's Cover Letter/LoM/Essay).

Full disclosure, I really liked Astrophysics growing up, naturally since exposure to PopSci commentators was massive & on transiting within and transitioning from HS to Uni I partook in activities that signify good 'scientific involvement' for a student my age.

However upon entering the university and subsequently maturing as an individual, I have noticed that I really like other subfields apart from Astro, upon studying them as part of my curricula or reading about the current trends in Journals/Physics Today etc.

I am really not sure and my mind is in a constant state of tension or conflict. Reason being one half rationalises that being from a nation where proper research exposure (or REUs as they're called in US) is super LOW, I must get a "taste" of the ones I like and then evaluate my interests. But the other half also suspects this is me being a contrarian by second-guessing an interest developed during HS as a figment of consumption of PopSci material.

The first half of this conflict presents another problem as you may deduce which I have already mentioned above - pertaining to a preferred/soft interest displayed in applications for schools particularly in context of funding opportunities. Additionally, this tension has impeded my progress since I am consistently in a flux because I feel I am unable to move ahead and significantly contribute (in conjunction at my level of course) in line with my potential.

This post is kind of a heartfelt one. The atmosphere at my university is fine in a pedagogical sense but you can't be open at this level with the faculties, atleast the ones I have, since they don't care much and would render only halfassed or even lower than that counsels to the issues of this nature.

Can the good Samaritans over here share their experiences on how I might be able to resolve this inner conflict eating me out? (I am also privy to the fact that one can change track in Grad Schools at an early stage if something nice comes up instead but what I need now is a kickstart, since I won't be entering PhD stage until 2 more years anyway!) and or even highlight how they developed their own interests-pursued them.

 

[Dale]

When I was at a similar point in my education/career I faced a similar choice. Two specialties that both seemed very appealing to me.

I picked a university that was strong in both and spent a few months working in a lab of each. After working in each for a few months I still liked both. I took classes in each and enjoyed the coursework for both.

So in the end I just sat down and looked at their market value and job prospects and picked the one that seemed better economically. I would have been happy doing the work in either specialty, but it was good to look at external factors as well and I wish I had done that earlier.

 

[CrysPhys]

OP: Have you seen this concurrent thread:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/phd-programs-for-mathematical-physics.1053810/ ?

It's a bit convoluted. You might want to skim the entire thread first. But then focus on the question raised in Post #25, and the posts spawned by it. They discuss a scenario closely akin to yours; and from a couple of different perspectives. Main focus is on the US educational system, but with some comparisons to educational systems in other countries. Worthwhile for you to sift through.