- #1
Mobusaki
- 33
- 0
"Do what ever I want"
I don't think this has been asked before. Or if it has, I was unable to find it. So here's my question:
Which field, EE or Physics, would better prepare me to "do whatever I want" once I am done with school (having obtained a PhD)? By "do whatever I want," I mean whatever I want that uses math and science. So I may want to be a professor, start my own toy company, start a high-tech industry company, do consulting, do research, work for NASA (dare to dream! hehe), lock myself in my garage and try to invent things, etc. and so on. Who knows? That's the point.
In this discussion, upon graduation I may or may not want to do what I went to school for, but it will definitely involve math and science. Also, the choices are PhD in Physics and PhD in EE. Also assume that the change in path is being made by choice, not circumstance. Those are the only constraints. Again, the question is: Which field better prepares one to go in any direction as long as it involves math and science, and be successful at it?
My thoughts are that Physics better prepares one to go in any direction intellectually - to change directions and become capable at something else. I also think that the way a physicist thinks may help with the obvious creative process required to change one's direction in life and do something unexpected, new, and likely daunting.
Electrical Engineering provides a much broader area of things you can do because of the word "Engineering" at the end. A lot of doors are opened because of it. However, I think that may not be the case anymore once you get a PhD and are therefore ultra-specialized. So maybe they break even. I also think that the application focus of the education may help with "getting things done" when trying to go in a new and unanticipated direction with math and science.
What are your thoughts? It would be helpful if background was provided, so I know where people are coming from. Are you a physicist? An engineer? Student? Do you work in academia or industry? etc.
So you know where I am coming from: I am a 2nd year EE student who plans to go on and get a PhD. As you've likely surmised by now, I'm trying to decide between staying EE, or switching to Physics. ;) I love and am good at math and science, and I have a deep desire to understand how and why things work. I enjoy solving problems, making things, fixing things, and learning new things. I think I would enjoy either discipline.
Thanks in advance. And try to have fun in this thread! :)
I don't think this has been asked before. Or if it has, I was unable to find it. So here's my question:
Which field, EE or Physics, would better prepare me to "do whatever I want" once I am done with school (having obtained a PhD)? By "do whatever I want," I mean whatever I want that uses math and science. So I may want to be a professor, start my own toy company, start a high-tech industry company, do consulting, do research, work for NASA (dare to dream! hehe), lock myself in my garage and try to invent things, etc. and so on. Who knows? That's the point.
In this discussion, upon graduation I may or may not want to do what I went to school for, but it will definitely involve math and science. Also, the choices are PhD in Physics and PhD in EE. Also assume that the change in path is being made by choice, not circumstance. Those are the only constraints. Again, the question is: Which field better prepares one to go in any direction as long as it involves math and science, and be successful at it?
My thoughts are that Physics better prepares one to go in any direction intellectually - to change directions and become capable at something else. I also think that the way a physicist thinks may help with the obvious creative process required to change one's direction in life and do something unexpected, new, and likely daunting.
Electrical Engineering provides a much broader area of things you can do because of the word "Engineering" at the end. A lot of doors are opened because of it. However, I think that may not be the case anymore once you get a PhD and are therefore ultra-specialized. So maybe they break even. I also think that the application focus of the education may help with "getting things done" when trying to go in a new and unanticipated direction with math and science.
What are your thoughts? It would be helpful if background was provided, so I know where people are coming from. Are you a physicist? An engineer? Student? Do you work in academia or industry? etc.
So you know where I am coming from: I am a 2nd year EE student who plans to go on and get a PhD. As you've likely surmised by now, I'm trying to decide between staying EE, or switching to Physics. ;) I love and am good at math and science, and I have a deep desire to understand how and why things work. I enjoy solving problems, making things, fixing things, and learning new things. I think I would enjoy either discipline.
Thanks in advance. And try to have fun in this thread! :)