Is a degree in Physics Worth it ?

[maumau]

Hi all,

As some of you might be knowing that i plan to do a direct PhD in Physics or an MS in condensed matter Physics but i am having a second thought about it.

My main concern is getting a decent job.Earning money is not my primary constraint but i need a decent salary for livelihood.I certainly don't want to become a starving researcher running from pillar to post.Just a few days ago i was watching a program on TV about Russian microbiologist and nuclear scientist selling toys in the street as they don't have a job.I also know about many Indian scientist who fell into the trap of poverty.

Almost every other month i receive an email from SETI Institute mentioning about their worsening financial condition as US govt has slashed the R&D budget.They now survive on Charity and donations and are finding it very difficult to pay salaries to their employees.

My dad wants me to do an MBA so that there is some financial security and then in future when i am well settled i can do a course in Physics.

what do you say?

why are you considering american R&D insstitutes only ,just recently i was watching fareed zakaria and he was talking of how canada is encouraging skilled immigration to its country ,looking at how their economy is performing thats looks like where you should consider.even some of the indians who are studying in american iv league colleges are graduating and heading to canada,where there immigration is more welcoming than america(american is not encouraging skilled labour immigration to their country)

[maumau]

why are you considering american R&D insstitutes only ,just recently i was watching fareed zakaria and he was talking of how canada is encouraging skilled immigration to its country ,looking at how their economy is performing thats looks like where you should consider.even some of the indians who are studying in american iv league colleges are graduating and heading to canada,where there immigration is more welcoming than america(american is not encouraging skilled labour immigration to their country)

http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn....und-the-world/

[CrYsIs]

why are you considering american R&D insstitutes only ,just recently i was watching fareed zakaria and he was talking of how canada is encouraging skilled immigration to its country ,looking at how their economy is performing thats looks like where you should consider.even some of the indians who are studying in american iv league colleges are graduating and heading to canada,where there immigration is more welcoming than america(american is not encouraging skilled labour immigration to their country)

Well US offers much more than any country on this planet can offer.Well to begin with the education in US is higly standardized ie the quality is same everywhere.Secondly US spends a lot of money on R&D and my intended course is R&D based.Thirdly a lot of my relatives live in US so there is some sort of security,so why should i go to an unknown place ?

[Daedalus]

Well to begin with the education in US is higly standardized ie the quality is same everywhere.

According to my colleagues working or having worked in the US, far from it. Quality of degrees vary a lot. The US. do not have a standardized definition of what an "engineer" is and their certifications encompass glorified technicians too. Easy to be registered as a "profesionnal engineer" in the US.

Or so they say.

[eATS]

i wouldn't recommend college this day and age, better off starting your own business and work for yourself.

According to my colleagues working or having worked in the US, far from it. Quality of degrees vary a lot. The US. do not have a standardized definition of what an "engineer" is and their certifications encompass glorified technicians too. Easy to be registered as a "profesionnal engineer" in the US.

Or so they say.

loool, thats why they hire our consulting firm all over the world, our engineers are such crap.

[Winger]

I have a degree in naval architecture.......I should of gotten it in Marine Engineering. I would recommend a high level Engineering degree, it gives you better options from what I've seen.

[D-Mitch]

Phd position can be a good job as well, in West and Northern Europe the salary starts from 1,600 euros to 2,000 from the 1st year. Why not machine learning or nanotechnology, see what the market demands. If you have a bachelor or a master in Physics field do not leave it, just check what skills from your fiedd are more attractive from job seekers. Physics have many applications, even for department of phycology they ask Phd canditates. It is better always to find a connection in your studies, MBA has none if you had before a degree in Physics.

[Beowulf]

I'm kind of interested in physics.

Having only a fundamental understanding of physics - where would be a good place to start learning more about physics? Are there any particular books that won't make blood come out of my ears?

[IraGlacialis]

Are there any particular books that won't make blood come out of my ears?

Stephen Hawking's: The Universe in a Nutshell.

[gaz]

I'm kind of interested in physics.

Having only a fundamental understanding of physics - where would be a good place to start learning more about physics? Are there any particular books that won't make blood come out of my ears?

If you want basic then I'd really recommend "Tweeting the Universe". It's explanations of scientific principles and ideas (Why is the sky blue? How fast is the universe expanding?) in the form for ten tweets or less so essentially ten lines of 145 characters (Or whatever the limit is on tweeting). Every explanation is stripped down to the bare minimum so as not to waste space.

[IconOfEvi]

I'm kind of interested in physics.

Having only a fundamental understanding of physics - where would be a good place to start learning more about physics? Are there any particular books that won't make blood come out of my ears?

Well what do you like better? Motion of objects? Electricity/magnetism? Or nuclear stuff?

[GreggWilliams30]

If you want basic then I'd really recommend "Tweeting the Universe". It's explanations of scientific principles and ideas (Why is the sky blue? How fast is the universe expanding?) in the form for ten tweets or less so essentially ten lines of 145 characters (Or whatever the limit is on tweeting). Every explanation is stripped down to the bare minimum so as not to waste space.

I haven't heard of that book before! It sounds very interesting!

[harryc]

If you want to do interesting stuff while being well paid with job security study something in engineering. Already has quite a bit physics and a MBA can be added later.

x2 - I was lucky and took a few years off between HS and College, hitch hiking back and forth across the US I got serveral rides with Engineers who pointed out that
1) Engineers get to play with the cool stuff under the direction of "scientists"
2) Engineers get paid much better
3) it just takes a 4yr degree.

As a bonus at UIC Engineers didn't need to take a foreign language !

[harryc]

I'm kind of interested in physics.

Having only a fundamental understanding of physics - where would be a good place to start learning more about physics? Are there any particular books that won't make blood come out of my ears?

Causality and Chance in Modern Physics - 1957 Free PDF link here .

[GreggWilliams30]

x2 - I was lucky and took a few years off between HS and College, hitch hiking back and forth across the US I got serveral rides with Engineers who pointed out that
1) Engineers get to play with the cool stuff under the direction of "scientists"
2) Engineers get paid much better
3) it just takes a 4yr degree.

As a bonus at UIC Engineers didn't need to take a foreign language !

Engineers do get to play with all the cool toys! I am very jealous! My brother is getting his Electrical Engineering Degree Online and has a ton of toys! Very Jealous!