I’m a sophomore at Vassar currently on track to major in physics with a minor in math.
I’ll be quick and to the point:
I’d like to find a high paying job without going to grad school that ideally doesn’t have insane hours. I know this is a lot to ask for but I figure why not aim high. (I know, I should go for what I love and not for money)
I’m considering adding a second minor in econ so that I can broaden career options. I don’t really care if my career isn’t in physics as long as it meets the specs above. I want to make a lot of money but I don’t want to ruin my life doing so. I wouldn’t mind working on Wall street if I only worked 50 hours a week but from what I’ve heard, the amount of hours those guys put in is absurd.
(I’m applying to a dual-degree engineering program at Dartmouth but I probably won’t get in so I need a backup plan)
If you have any ideas and know of any careers that fit this description please comment. I need to figure out what I’m doing asap. Thanks!
Your specs are high paying job (which is how much?) / no grad school / max 50 hours/week with a physics major, econ minor.
You sound like somebody who might be suited to things like PNC Banks [Development Progams](https://www.pnc.com/en/about-pnc/careers/students/development-programs.html)- 1-2 year programs for recent grads where they expose you to the various parts of the business and see where you fit best. Along the way you work on getting the certifications you need. You could be a VP before you are 30.
What is a lot of money to you?
Physics being a quant major, there are a lot of great and potentially lucrative positions you can secure post-college. As you have probably guessed, the highest-paying ones also require crazy hours from new grads. If you’re more willing to play the long game, you can probably find a good solid position that pays well and has the potential to grow into a lot more money while still keeping a reasonable pace of work/life balance.
Since you are a sophomore, if you haven’t already, take some programming classes and try your hand at developing an app and getting some experience in software development. That’s definitely a field that can earn you a lot of money out of college, and you don’t have to major in CS to do that. You can move into program management, too, which also pays well.