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Blogs > nAi.PrOtOsS
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nAi.PrOtOsS
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Canada784 Posts
January 15 2010 04:08 GMT
#1
A friend of mine asked me to post here to get some opinions on a few majors that he is trying to decide between. He is currently in his first year of Engineering at UBC and has narrowed his choices down to 5.
-Electrical Engineering
-Astronomy
-Mechanical Engineering
-Physics/Astro
-Mining Engineering

He enjoys Astronomy and Physics but is worried that he will not be able to get a job after completing his degree, whereas the salary / chance of getting a job in the others is much better.

thopol
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
Japan4560 Posts
January 15 2010 04:12 GMT
#2
I don't know much about this, but I've heard that Engineering jobs are hard to come by lately.

I'd advise he do what he is interested in. There's always academia or a transition in discipline with the transition into graduate studies.
Faronel
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States658 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-01-15 04:15:54
January 15 2010 04:15 GMT
#3
So long as he is good at it, Astronomy and Physics is a good field for the exact reason is that there aren't too many of them. There should be enough openings in academia, teaching, or w/e.
-Source: Some career/college planning website my school pays for.


He has to remember though that if you do choose A+P, you pretty much have to get your PhD if he plans on pursuing something solely in those fields.

However, if he does something related to A+P, but based in engineering, that's a different story.
C'est la vie...
illu
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
Canada2531 Posts
January 15 2010 04:23 GMT
#4
Statistics.
:]
Ludrik
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Australia523 Posts
January 15 2010 04:29 GMT
#5
I'd probably choose from either electrical or mechanical eng. There's a decent amount of physics in both of them while at the same time being more "applicable" to the work force. Or he could do mining + move to australia = auto-job.

If he just wants to study phys/astro and not work in it then i'd say go for it, you can still get a job in related fields. But if he's doing it for the sole purpose of working in that field i'd advise against it.
Only a fool would die laughing. I was a fool.
DivinO
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States4796 Posts
January 15 2010 04:36 GMT
#6
Astronomy and Mechanical Engineering are well paid and fun.
LiquipediaBrain in my filth.
nAi.PrOtOsS
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Canada784 Posts
January 15 2010 04:36 GMT
#7
He's thinking about doing mineing and then moving to Austrailia so he can easily get a job.
Nightmarjoo
Profile Blog Joined October 2006
United States3360 Posts
January 15 2010 04:42 GMT
#8
Astronomy as far as careers go is pretty boring and hands-off, just crunching numbers, waiting years to get a chance to look through a giant telescope, then crunching the data you obtain for a few more years.

Either electrical or mechanical engineering would be a fine choice, skills in those fields will always be needed.
aka Lyra; My favourites: July, Stork, Draco, MistrZZZ, TheStc, LastShadow - www.broodwarmaps.net - for all your mapping needs; check my stream: high masters mech terran: twitch.tv/lyrathegreat
ero
Profile Joined April 2009
United States66 Posts
January 15 2010 04:48 GMT
#9
On January 15 2010 13:15 Faronel wrote:
So long as he is good at it, Astronomy and Physics is a good field for the exact reason is that there aren't too many of them. There should be enough openings in academia, teaching, or w/e.
-Source: Some career/college planning website my school pays for.


LOLOLOL.

I hope you're kidding.
FragKrag
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
United States11554 Posts
January 15 2010 04:49 GMT
#10
I believe that the common conception of Astronomy and Physics is that there are no jobs available because though there isn't a very large amount of them, there isn't much of a demand?
*TL CJ Entusman #40* "like scissors does anything to paper except MAKE IT MORE NUMEROUS" -paper
d3_crescentia
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
United States4054 Posts
January 15 2010 04:50 GMT
#11
As a recently graduated physics major, I can tell you that unless you want to be working for corporate, it's hard to get a job that your skills are directly applicable to unless you have at least a Masters/PhD in the field. Grabbing an engineering degree is better in that at least you'll be certified to do engineering jobs, but whereas even if you have the appropriate knowledge/skills you won't have the certification.

Furthermore, the deeper you get into physics the more and more specialized you have to be; I personally don't find that very enjoyable. If your friend does want to do physics though and is worried about jobs, just tell him to be prepared and get internships at engineering firms, etc. so he'll already have an in.
once, not long ago, there was a moon here
illu
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
Canada2531 Posts
January 15 2010 04:52 GMT
#12
Let me be serious, though. Many people believe statistics will be the biggest field of science for the 21st centuary because of all of the new advances in computation powers.
:]
never_Nal
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Costa Rica676 Posts
January 15 2010 04:58 GMT
#13
Just Study something you really like. Remember this is what you will do the rest of your life, and I think you would prefer to spend your life working on something you really like and enjoy, if he really likes what he is doing he will be good, and if you are good enough you will get money, but don't make decisions on statistics
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.
neobowman
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Canada3324 Posts
January 15 2010 05:02 GMT
#14
Combine Astronomy/Physics with Engineering?

Aerospace Engineering.
Grobyc
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Canada18410 Posts
January 15 2010 05:03 GMT
#15
ASTRONOMY ALL THE WAY
If you watch Godzilla backwards it's about a benevolent lizard who helps rebuild a city and then moonwalks into the ocean.
Xxio
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Canada5565 Posts
January 15 2010 05:11 GMT
#16
Tell him to man up and take what he enjoys
KTY
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25990 Posts
January 15 2010 05:17 GMT
#17
Don't take any advice from here. Seriously. If you have half a brain you won't read anything anyone here says. "Take what you enjoy" can also been bad advice. I cannot stress enough that you don't take advice from this thread.
Moderator
mikeymoo
Profile Blog Joined October 2006
Canada7170 Posts
January 15 2010 05:21 GMT
#18
On January 15 2010 14:17 Chill wrote:
Don't take any advice from here. Seriously. If you have half a brain you won't read anything anyone here says. "Take what you enjoy" can also been bad advice. I cannot stress enough that you don't take advice from this thread.

Conundrum?
o_x | Ow. | 1003 ESPORTS dollars | If you have any questions about bans please PM Kennigit
nAi.PrOtOsS
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Canada784 Posts
January 15 2010 05:24 GMT
#19
On January 15 2010 14:17 Chill wrote:
Don't take any advice from here. Seriously. If you have half a brain you won't read anything anyone here says. "Take what you enjoy" can also been bad advice. I cannot stress enough that you don't take advice from this thread.


How can the experiences and opinions of people that come to this site be bad? Obviously he isnt going to base his entire decision off of what somone say's but it could help him come to a final decision.
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25990 Posts
January 15 2010 05:25 GMT
#20
On January 15 2010 14:24 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 15 2010 14:17 Chill wrote:
Don't take any advice from here. Seriously. If you have half a brain you won't read anything anyone here says. "Take what you enjoy" can also been bad advice. I cannot stress enough that you don't take advice from this thread.


How can the experiences and opinions of people that come to this site be bad? Obviously he isnt going to base his entire decision off of what somone say's but it could help him come to a final decision.

Because the opinions on this site are wildly skewed. If you spent any time as a graduate you could clearly see that. People vastly overvalue "do what you like" as well as "its hard to get a job right now." Of course this is all relative to what I feel is important so maybe I'm way offbase.
Moderator
SanguineToss
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Canada815 Posts
January 15 2010 05:35 GMT
#21
On January 15 2010 14:17 Chill wrote:
Don't take any advice from here. Seriously. If you have half a brain you won't read anything anyone here says. "Take what you enjoy" can also been bad advice. I cannot stress enough that you don't take advice from this thread.


This one included
jyhlol
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
243 Posts
January 15 2010 05:42 GMT
#22
go for electrical engineering imo
hwasin, zero, really fan
TimmyMac
Profile Joined December 2008
Canada499 Posts
January 15 2010 05:44 GMT
#23
If getting a stable job is important, take whichever one has co-op. If you're not lazy as hell at your co-op jobs, you'll have lots of leads when you're done.
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25990 Posts
January 15 2010 05:45 GMT
#24
On January 15 2010 14:35 SanguineToss wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 15 2010 14:17 Chill wrote:
Don't take any advice from here. Seriously. If you have half a brain you won't read anything anyone here says. "Take what you enjoy" can also been bad advice. I cannot stress enough that you don't take advice from this thread.


This one included

Yes, seriously. Don't let people's single paragraphs shape your future.
Moderator
Ancestral
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
United States3230 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-01-15 06:27:57
January 15 2010 06:21 GMT
#25
On January 15 2010 13:12 thopol wrote:
I don't know much about this, but I've heard that Engineering jobs are hard to come by lately.

I'd advise he do what he is interested in. There's always academia or a transition in discipline with the transition into graduate studies.

Troll?

Anyway here's what I think, and you should certainly disregard this:

1. Getting a job in astronomy / astrophysics / physics is hard. Unlike engineering, you have to be an exemplary student and go to graduate school to do things on the cutting edge of your discipline. However, you could always get a masters in education afterward and teach the subject in high school. That is very gratifying for some people.

2. Getting engineering jobs is not hard at all, an they have good starting salaries. But be prepared to work hard. There is less theory than in physics, but it's rigorous nonetheless - more number crunching and learning about empirical things applicable to manufacturing etc. than theory. I'm chemE, and a common comparison is "chemists learn how to synthesize molecules, chemical engineers learn how to make a profit off of them," or something like that.

3. Doing what you want is important, but so is money. He should look up statistics regarding job placement, talk to professors about graduate school talk to advisers in that department etc. More important than doing what you like is not being miserable doing what you're doing - being "meh" can be tolerable, but if you're work inspires you you'll perform better.

4. He should consider his strength. Physics requires a fair amount of maths, engineering doesn't really - calculus, differential equations, vector analysis, and linear algebra are about all you need. Some abstract physics applications require abstract algebra, real analysis, complex analysis, and maybe even topography (not so sure, but it may exist in really weird theories). Of course, to get a bare-bones physics B.S., you certainly wouldn't need all that. But in graduate school it should be helpful.

5. My uncle got his M.S. in math and then M.S. in geo astrophysics, worked for JPL all his life, and is now happily married, retired, and living in beautiful Sedona, AZ.

6. Engineering involves a lot of group work - people skills are somewhat important.

7. Graduating with a 2.5 in engineering will get you buy - a 2.5 in physics and you pretty much have to be a teacher (unless you turn your act around instantly somehow and prove yourself in an absurd way).

8. Did you mention computer engineering? Lots of discrete mathematical structures - good if you have a firm grasp of logic. Electrical and computer engineering are pretty math intensive at least in the area of discrete mathematics and mathematical logic. So he should consider that too. They're fun areas though

9. You can change your major even two years into school and graduate in 5 still. But better not to change it in your fourth year.

10. Pick up a minor (see below).

Hope this is somewhat helpful.

Edit: Oh, mining engineering. I know nothing about it, but if it's a sure job like you say, that's a powerful influence. I'm a major economics and chemical engineering, with a minor in math, because why the hell not.

Really it's because I don't know what I want to do, want to be able to get a job if I have to, and want to be able to go to grad school for a variety of disciplines if I elect grad school.

But my life is a clusterfuck, too much work, too little sleep. I enjoy the work I do though, and I thought A LOT about majors. I gave to nix to physics, math (a major anyway), Korean, chemistry, computer science and engineering, political science (best decision ever), and business economics (also best decision ever).

I also take 1 or 2 credits of Korean individualized instruction a quater. Honestly, whatever he does, he should pick up a minor at least. It may just be my view, but I think everyone should get a minor. The world is full of interesting things, and a MechE with a physics minor could certainly go to grad school for physics; a variety of other combinations exist too. Variety and versatility is good - it can help detract from you main discipline becoming too monotonous.
The Nature and purpose of the martial way are universal; all selfish desires must be roasted in the tempering fires of hard training. - Masutatsu Oyama
Saturnize
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United States2473 Posts
January 15 2010 07:45 GMT
#26
On January 15 2010 14:17 Chill wrote:
Don't take any advice from here. Seriously. If you have half a brain you won't read anything anyone here says. "Take what you enjoy" can also been bad advice. I cannot stress enough that you don't take advice from this thread.


Rofl.
"Time to put the mustard on the hotdog. -_-"
ThunderGod
Profile Blog Joined February 2009
New Zealand897 Posts
January 15 2010 07:56 GMT
#27

On January 15 2010 14:17 Chill wrote:
Don't take any advice from here. Seriously. If you have half a brain you won't read anything anyone here says. "Take what you enjoy" can also been bad advice. I cannot stress enough that you don't take advice from this thread.

Chill is a baller.
Chill is an engineer.

Q.E.D.
"Certain forms of popular music nowadays, namely rap and hip hop styles, are just irritating gangsters bragging about their illegal exploits and short-sighted lifestyles." - Shiverfish ~2009
ShroomyD
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
Australia245 Posts
January 15 2010 08:44 GMT
#28
Mining Engineering!! So he can come over here to Australia and help me start an underground living company. I want underground cities and I need the Engineering skills to help me yo~~ and they've gots to be sturdy! I'll be stuck if I just start with a pick and a shovel~~
아나코자본주의
illu
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
Canada2531 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-01-15 08:53:04
January 15 2010 08:52 GMT
#29
On January 15 2010 14:25 Chill wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 15 2010 14:24 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote:
On January 15 2010 14:17 Chill wrote:
Don't take any advice from here. Seriously. If you have half a brain you won't read anything anyone here says. "Take what you enjoy" can also been bad advice. I cannot stress enough that you don't take advice from this thread.


How can the experiences and opinions of people that come to this site be bad? Obviously he isnt going to base his entire decision off of what somone say's but it could help him come to a final decision.

Because the opinions on this site are wildly skewed. If you spent any time as a graduate you could clearly see that. People vastly overvalue "do what you like" as well as "its hard to get a job right now." Of course this is all relative to what I feel is important so maybe I'm way offbase.


Enough said. You just refuted yourself!
:]
ero
Profile Joined April 2009
United States66 Posts
January 15 2010 09:47 GMT
#30
On January 15 2010 14:17 Chill wrote:
Don't take any advice from here. Seriously. If you have half a brain you won't read anything anyone here says. "Take what you enjoy" can also been bad advice. I cannot stress enough that you don't take advice from this thread.


Fucking agreed.

Take it from a grad student who majored in physics and math for undergrad (I'm in computational biology, btw... yet didn't take a single bio class in college). My undergrad physics/astro colleagues are now all over the map. Some are in grad school (physics and others), one is in med school, a few are working in finance, one is an actuary, one is traveling, one is in the army, one is in some energy conservation program, one it teaching high school, one got married, one took a year off to lead some hiking camp thing...

Why do people make these stupid generalizations about other peoples' lives? No one here on TL can give you or your friend the faintest clue about what path is "right"...

It's more productive to ask people about their experiences, then decide for yourself the probability that those experiences might apply to your own life, and whether or not they should guide your decisions.

Ask questions, but none of us have your answers.
Ancestral
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
United States3230 Posts
January 15 2010 20:17 GMT
#31
On January 15 2010 18:47 ero wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 15 2010 14:17 Chill wrote:
Don't take any advice from here. Seriously. If you have half a brain you won't read anything anyone here says. "Take what you enjoy" can also been bad advice. I cannot stress enough that you don't take advice from this thread.


Fucking agreed.

Take it from a grad student who majored in physics and math for undergrad (I'm in computational biology, btw... yet didn't take a single bio class in college). My undergrad physics/astro colleagues are now all over the map. Some are in grad school (physics and others), one is in med school, a few are working in finance, one is an actuary, one is traveling, one is in the army, one is in some energy conservation program, one it teaching high school, one got married, one took a year off to lead some hiking camp thing...

Why do people make these stupid generalizations about other peoples' lives? No one here on TL can give you or your friend the faintest clue about what path is "right"...

It's more productive to ask people about their experiences, then decide for yourself the probability that those experiences might apply to your own life, and whether or not they should guide your decisions.

Ask questions, but none of us have your answers.

Disagree. Also, you're giving him the advice of not following any advice. Anyway, he won't decide anything based on this thread, but things to consider are always good.
The Nature and purpose of the martial way are universal; all selfish desires must be roasted in the tempering fires of hard training. - Masutatsu Oyama
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