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On October 10 2011 11:27 NathanSC wrote:Show nested quote +On October 10 2011 05:39 TexDrum wrote:
I'm getting ready to enter college, and I'm looking to apply to Rice. We have to choose a specific first choice school, and my application will be reviewed as a specific applicant of that particular school.
I like physics much more than engineering, but I feel like mechanical engineering/Aerospace Engineering would provide more practical job opportunities than physics. I wanted to hear from some of y'all since I figure gamers will probably have a lot of technical majors. What are the practical opportunities of a physics major? I am more interested in knowing this than engineering since I am already aware of what I can do with a mech e degree. Especially physics vs engineering. Any help would be awesome, thanks! I go to Rice! Been here since fall 2006, ha. I'm in Hanszen college, in the engineering school moreover. Come join we engineers! If you need any help in your application process, let me know.
Oh wow. Do you think you could PM me your email or something? I would LOVE to ask questions. I did an overnight visit with a freshmen at Martel, and I also saw Mcmurtry and Duncan, they're pretty nice (big), although im sure hanszen is the most awesome college. :p
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Oh, I forgot to mention, I am applying for ROTC. Should the fact that I may end up with a few years of military service (preferably in a computer science/engineering/physics, not flight pilot or fighting role) affect this? Air force btw. This also means I technically have a paid job for several years.
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For god's sake do physics if you like that more. Any other decision is an absolute waste of time. The reason there's a major AT ALL means there's plenty of opportunities in it. Hell, always make decisions like this based upon what would make you happier on a day to day basis. Doing the subject you love? Or doing a subject that kinda sucks with a vague sense of more money arriving for a job you aren't familiar with yet weighed against a physics job you aren't familiar with yet.
Do happy things dammit!
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GOD DAMNIT BE HAPPY! Particle PHYSICS major incomlaude
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imo if you can handle a Physics major, you should be able to handle anything you see needed for an Engineering major
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I'd wait at least until the end of your freshman year to decide, until then take courses in both they don't diverge from each other until after first year. What you've seen in hs isn't enough to base a decision.
...
Then my other advice is fuck both of those fields, go math! Engineering is boring and the only interesting part of physics is the math anyway (biased, I know)
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On October 10 2011 06:11 micronesia wrote:Show nested quote +On October 10 2011 06:10 strongandbig wrote:
So I'm currently a first-year grad student in physics, and one thing a lot of people don't realize is how common it is for physics majors to go into finance/banking/consulting. For whatever reason, the people in those industries who hire new people out of college believe that a physics major teaches you things like problem-solving and flexible thinking. For undergrad physics majors in the department I went to, there were as many people going into finance etc as there were going to grad school. Yes, this was one of the things I heard... that physics majors often are prime candidates to go into finance due to their mathematical background (among other things like strongandbig said).
This is actually true but its more true for engineering majors. You don't really learn that much in each specialized major, you more learn about how to approach a problem well and problem solve and come up with a solution.
Right now I'm chemical Engineering, and its almost a 50% chance that I will end up doing something that has nothing to do with chemistry when i graduated. It is just one of the best majors because its one of the toughest and people hiring know that these are the best problem solvers around and they have the math background to back it up.
As someone already pointed out as well you take tons of physics for engineering, you continue to advance your physics learning by taking upper level classes as well. I am currently taking P chem, which is all physics, and this is required for chemical engineering.
There is soo much crossover these days I don't really see that much variation between some majors. I hear what Day[9] is saying but really chemical engineering is a shitload of physics. I have been doing quantum alot and even nanotechnology which involves a lot of physics as well.
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On October 10 2011 12:08 Sufficiency wrote:
If you do physics undergrad, you are good for: PhD in physics, or teaching physics in highschool
don't forget about lawyer..
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Congrats you got a mention from Day9!
I was in a similar dilemma late in High School, I was always good at maths and physics and was probably the area that I would gravitate to for university.
I applied for a Civil Engineering degree and after one semester of that I enjoyed a lot of the physics classes which were part of the course. After the first semester I switched from a Civil Engineering degree to a Double degree Science/Civil Engineering majoring in physics and I have been enjoying it quite a lot. There have been times where the workload has been large, but I wouldn't say too excessive (this may vary from uni/college).
I am not sure how the college system works in the states, but I found that once you are at university and so long as you are getting 'ok' grades, there isn't a huge issue with changing your subjects and course around if you have a change of heart.
I say pick either, they will probably both share subjects first year anyway, once you get a feel for uni(college) then you can choose to branch off more then.
Then my other advice is fuck both of those fields, go math! Engineering is boring and the only interesting part of physics is the math anyway (biased, I know)
Physics is maths with a purpose 
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Physics is just awesome man. I majored in Physics (but my current job doesn't directly involve physics) and I have to say that even though I'm not using specific things I learned in my physics classes, the concepts, and ways of thinking about problems are really broadly applicable IMO.
There's so much interesting stuff in physics and so much of what you learn gets you interested in other fields. I gained a huge appreciation and admiration for science that has lead me to become interested in all sorts of subjects like behavioral economics, astronomy, evolutionary psychology, rationality, and biology.
I don't believe in a god but I think I've gained a sense of purpose and wonder that's far more real, meaningful, and awesome than religion.
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As a 3rd year physics undergrad here's my advice to you. Only pick physics if you know you'll enjoy it. Ignore everything people tell you about how hard it is to get a job, the little money involved or how hard it is in general. If you enjoy it, that's all that really matters.
There are so many stories of physics grads regretting their decision to go into physics because of many reasons including time invested, money gained, life thrown away, etc. Most of their exposure to mainstream physics is the rockstar side of it with people like Feynman and Einstein and a good chunk want to aspire to be like that but that isn't physics at all. Physics is about the collaborative probing of nature and seeing how it ticks and whether it matches our mathematical models or not. Sure, the practical applications of physics is cool but if you ask most physics professors why they went into physics, they'll never tell you it was the practical applications that drew them in. Most of the time, it was because they just enjoyed thinking about physics and everything else was just secondary.
So if it's hard to think of other things you'd rather be doing than thinking about physics, then you won't go wrong with choosing to study physics.
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On October 10 2011 13:49 Day[9] wrote:
For god's sake do physics if you like that more. Any other decision is an absolute waste of time. The reason there's a major AT ALL means there's plenty of opportunities in it. Hell, always make decisions like this based upon what would make you happier on a day to day basis. Doing the subject you love? Or doing a subject that kinda sucks with a vague sense of more money arriving for a job you aren't familiar with yet weighed against a physics job you aren't familiar with yet.
Do happy things dammit!
Wow. Day[9] posted in a topic I made. What's more, the first topic I ever made on TL. I am honored. 
Trust me, I understand this my dad has always insisted this fact on me, over and over. He grew up literally in a trailer for the better part of his life, and is now the youngest senior executive at a company. But he loves his job. I'm well aware that happiness is important, but I am VERY happy to see that a lot of people seem to embrace this as well hehe.
The thing I'm stuck on is that it -seems- like I can accomplish a lot of the same things with an engineering degree, but be a lot more broad. I guess it's hard deciding what I like the most. I love theoretical physics, but I don't like the idea of being in a research lab. And i do love nanotechnology, so the electrical engineering sounds really cool. I'm just taking in all of the opinions that everybody is giving me, and it is helping a ton.
I do assure you that I won't embark on a miserable job though when I like all of these things, I am really interested to see what people consider more practical though, because it is a factor. That said, happiness honestly is probably my #1 factor in choosing a job. It's why I'm not majoring in English (No offense to any english majors)
P.S. your dailies brought me from bronze - diamond (SOOOOO close to masters, playing them in MMR now!)
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God Fuji, you described pretty much exactly what I like about physics. I like understanding how things work.
Then again, that's why nanotechnology (and things like that) are interesting, because then, I get to understand (and innovate) how things work better/more efficiently. (at least in my head)
ARGH CHOICES
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Hey;
As a former physics major, along with knowing someone very highly placed in the field- physics major.
Here's the reasoning:
approximately 50% of the engineers in the US hold a physics degree, instead of an engineering degree. Already, that should demonstrate that a physics degree is just as "practical" as an engineering degree. Here's where they differ though:
Someone with a physics degree understands the why behind what they're doing better than engineers, and can do some things that engineers can't. Think of it a bit like a A inside B- Physics majors can do everything engineers can, but engineers can't do everything physics can do*
*Engineers right out of University have more experience at what they're doing initially, but Physics catches up fast.
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QM makes me QQ
Personally I like the applied science side of things a little more, but ultimately you should just do whatever you're really interested in.
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*warily pokes up head into conversation*
Arts degree here, did History and had a blast (bear with me, I have a point). Originally went for psychology since I thought it would be more employable (hey, it has to have more prospects than history, right?). Hated it. Totally hated it. Changed to history and Uni was awesome for me. After I had plenty of opportunities which were available to anyone with a degree, and currently trying to decide what to do with the rest of my life.
My two pennies is do whichever you enjoy more, which from the sound of it is physics. Don't go to college thinking about how employable your degree might be. If we all did that Arts would die a slow and painful death. Uni is a chance to take your passion for something further. If you enjoy it enough you might decide to specialise in it more and do a graduate degree, which is really what matters when it comes to being employed in your chosen field of study.
Do engineering if you honestly feel it will be more fun for you, but after watching many, MANY people going to Uni doing a degree they hate for three or four years, I can honestly say changing my degree to something I enjoy was the best thing I could have done. If you don't enjoy your field of study, you won't enjoy Uni. I saw lots of people drop out because of this, and others get bad grades because they had no motivation.
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rice? good luck, i'll be applying there too in the winter 
what i've seen with my friends who go into physics is that they really love physics and want to learn that - it's ok if you don't like your major, i also have a lot of friends who switched their major around 2nd year. go to college and major in physics since i feel like you really want to, it's not like you're going to be stuck in physics for the rest of your life. majoring in physics is way more flexible than something like majoring in biology.
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On October 10 2011 14:01 lachy89 wrote:Show nested quote +Then my other advice is fuck both of those fields, go math! Engineering is boring and the only interesting part of physics is the math anyway (biased, I know) Physics is maths with a purpose
The purpose of which is ruining my beautiful math by applying it!
Really though, I'm inclined to agree with the folks who are telling you to major in physics. If you love it, you'll probably love it even more when you start getting into the heavy duty theoretical stuff. Plus, if you decide that you don't want to do research you can get your masters in Engineering of some sort and become employable.
People like to talk about how professional degrees will earn you more money, but sometimes degrees like math and physics are just far too fun to pass up. If you find engineering to be just as fun, or money ends up being the main deciding factor, then go for engineering. However, there is just something amazing about working in a more theoretical area where getting your hands dirty really only entails going crazy with the chalk =P.
The only real downside here is that it may be the case, like math, that "real physics" is very much so divorced from the stuff you learn in high school/first few semesters of college. Well, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, just something to look out for. I, for one, was pleasantly surprised when I found out that math wasn't just the drudgery of Calc 3 or Diff EQ. In fact, I am absolutely in love with model theory, set theory, and analysis which are subjects you never really get to touch until you start taking senior level courses (no, doing epsilon-delta proofs does not constitute doing analysis...you aren't really doing analysis until you have to invoke some form of AC =P).
Anyway, this is the incredibly biased view of a math nerd who is taking a couple grad courses in math and applying to grad schools. So, take it all with a grain of salt...except the following: Do math!
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On October 10 2011 14:19 TexDrum wrote:
God Fuji, you described pretty much exactly what I like about physics. I like understanding how things work.
Then again, that's why nanotechnology (and things like that) are interesting, because then, I get to understand (and innovate) how things work better/more efficiently. (at least in my head)
ARGH CHOICES
I'm actually taking a nano course right now, and I must say the theoretical physics side of things is WAY more helpful than any engineering knowledge (for me, at least). I'm a materials science / engineering major.
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Funny question. It dominated my study life for a couple of years. Thought I would share my experience.
I have studied both engineering and physics (got a job before I could take out a dual degree through). I started studying particle physics and theoretical physics for about 4 years before switching to engineering. The reason I switched was that the life as a researcher didn't go hand in hand with the family life I wanted to live (moving around between different postdocs). In the end I got a job in programming/telecommunications: a field I had very limited knowledge in (from school).
There are some major points I would recommend you to think about:
1) Do you see yourself as a researcher? In my case that meant alot of moving around which was a deal breaker for me. Talk with some researchers, not just about their work but also about the rest of their life. If you feel like a life as a researcher is not for you, I would recommend engineering.
2) What makes you tick? How important is it for you to work at the forefront of a field? Does derivative work feel meaningless to you? Again, in my case I discovered than any creative scientific field gave me the same satisfaction as particle physics. As long as there are interresting problems to solve I'm happy. The reasoning skills learned while studying physics can be applied to lots of stuff. Where I studied engineering relied more on knowledge and "static" thinking, which is a bad thing. This does differ between schools ofc but it was my biggest gripe with engineering: It focused more on knowledge and less on problem solving. Problems here is it took me nearly a year of studies to find out I didn't like how engineering was taught. Try the best you can to compare the teaching methods between departments. Things to look for: Exams that rely on more than applying formulas and repeating knowledge, labs that require you to figure out HOW to do stuff not just repeat stuff from a manual and so on.
3) Study programming and maths even if it's not your major. I can't stress this enough. Don't just take the compulsory cources. If you have decent math and programming skills the range of jobs you can perform well widens alot. Its really fun to be a niche scientist sure, but a backup is awesome to have aswell. It's just stupid to paint yourself into a corner. Maths and programming are common tools for all fields of physics and engineering anyway. I have seen more than one brilliant theoretical physiscist hindered by poor programming skills.
4) Can you sell yourself? Are you a social person? Do you interview well? Can you write a good resume? If the answer is yes then imho the difference between the two fields is minimal when it comes to applying for a job. I got my first jobs through connections and because "I seemed smart". Just the fact that you finished a physics/engineering degree with decent grades is worth alot even if you are out of your comfort zone (see point 3). My exployers have on multiple occasions told me that they don't really expect new employees to pay for themselves the first year since there is so much new stuff to learn. As such, the ability to learn if often worth more than actual knowledge to a smart employer. And many fields move so fast that in ten years time much of what you learned in school is obsolete. If on the other hand you know that you interview badly I would recommend engineering as the safer choice.
In conclusion : If you are passionate about science and have some backup math/programming, don't worry you really can't go wrong either way. I would say engineering is "safer" but it is eclipsed by so many other factors thats it's hardly relevant.
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EPT
