<p>Hey everyone. I am a junior in high school just trying to think ahead about my major.
I have been deeply enthralled with theoretical physics/astronomy/cosmology since early in middle school. I could spend hours watching lectures on string theory, black holes, theories about the end of the universe, etc. and nothing has ever fascinated me more in terms of academics. I took a CTY course on astronomy in the summer of 7th grade and an online intro to physics class this past summer (and loved them both), but outside of those, I've not had an opportunity to take any physics/astronomy classes in high school (but I will be able to next year). </p>
<p>From what I understand- and please correct me if I'm wrong- an undergrad degree or master's degree in these fields are not very useful for getting a job, and if I want to be a researcher, I have to go for a PhD which I really do not want to do (I'm going to be honest, I don't have the work ethic to get a PhD). It seems like doing physics undergrad, and then something like engineering or computer science in grad school, is a better path as far as getting employed is concerned?
As a side note, I have a growing interest in biomedical engineering but don't really know much about it. </p>
<p>Also, I am a bit worried because a) I got a 2310 on my SAT, but my lowest score was math at 730 (but I DEFINITELY intend to study hard for the Math 2 subject test) and b) I will most likely get a B+ in AP chem this year (but an A in math), and even though I have no interest in chem I'm worried it will reflect badly on my science skills. Anything I can do to prove that I am capable in science besides doing well in my classes next year (which will actually be on physics/astronomy)? I got recommended to attend the Georgetown junior science and humanities symposium by my chem teacher but that's it, don't know if it means anything. </p>
<p>Basically, what path should I take in college that will a) avoid a PhD, b) allow me to study something at least related to physics/astronomy/technologyish fields and c) open a lot of doors when it's time to look for a job? And how can I start improving my chances to become a science major now in HS?
Thank you!</p>
<p>Also, how does showing an interest in a certain field affect admissions? Would I have a better or worse chance of being accepted to colleges if I simply said I was undecided and then took some classes to narrow down my interests?</p>
<p>If you want to do research in physics (especially in things like string theory, black holes, end of the universe), you absolutely have to have a PhD. The employability rate for people with a bachelors in physics is very high, but a great deal of those people end up in jobs that have nothing to do with physics, but involve the types of problem solving skills that one develops as a physics major. </p>
<p>Doing original research in physics requires the higher level understanding that comes from a PhD program. The courses that are taken early in the PhD are more specialized to specific interests. Most of the physics classes in undergrad are fairly static. Physics majors follow roughly the same core of classes everywhere; classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, Special Relativity, and typically a few electives. There are a handful of fixed courses that are universal to most physics PhD’s (again, classical mechanics, E&M, QM), but if you want to research particle physics, the majority of the courses that you’d take in the first 2-3 years of your PhD would be courses that were specific to particle physics. You’d study some general subatomic physics, followed by particle phenomenology and the Standard Model. If you wanted to research astrophysics you’d take different courses on interstellar astrophysics, cosmology, star formation etc. </p>
<p>That type of specialization is necessary. Having this rigorous treatment of more specific topics is what helps you to jump off into your original research for the remainder of the PhD program. </p>
<p>First, you are trying to make long reaching decisions too early, imo. I will tell you what my daughter did. She had some experience with science research and fieldwork in HS. She also was good at math and took the AIME. She wanted to be some kind of science researcher but she didn’t know what. She secretly wanted Physics because she loved Universe in a Nutshell. She applied to her colleges undeclared. She took a Chem advisor but ended taking mostly physics classes and the math to support it. She worked first summer crunching numbers as part of a physics research team and got to go to the Fermi lab where they presented. She also learned some programming in physics class in a language called matlab. So she then took a computer science intro year at her college, a famous class there and she loved it. At end of sophomore year declared a math-cs major and did a lot of research so was admitted to a PhD program. I relay this to show how someone can study what they are interested in and take advantage of opportunities and let one thing lead to another, find out what you really like.</p>
<p>Now if you study physics, you don’t really have to think about doing a PhD or not until Jr year. Of course it will help if you get involved in some research. Doing a PhD is doing research, so if you don’t want to work hard enough to get a phD then you don’t want to work hard enough to do research. That’s fine. But at most colleges you will be doing some gen eds and dabbling in areas that may also catch your interest. There really isn’t time to do everything. But studying physics, you will be advanced in math and you will learn some computer programming. It is actually quite common for physics students to get jobs without advanced degrees because of these skills. You can take extra stats or CS and be very employable. Tech companies, finance companies all need people with those skills.</p>
<p>But if you think you are interested in engineering then it is better to get that as an undergrad. ABET accreditation is at the undergrad level. You need that in case you want to be a PE. Sure you can get a masters later, but you will have to fill in all the undergrad classes you are missing as a non degreed student. MS students in engineering almost always have an undergrad engineering degree. Often it is expected for CS too, but you can take a smaller amount of classes to get qualified if you have a physics degree.</p>
<p>B+ in anything doesn’t reflect badly on anything, get some perspective. Having special interests that you go after in HS always looks good. But you don’t need to be a specialist as a HS student. The symposium sounds great if you can swing it. You should take physics if you are going to apply for a physics or engineering major. You should really have one each bio, chem, physics to be the most competitive student.</p>
<p>That’s a very relevant point. A PhD involves some classes at the beginning, but the core purpose of a PhD is the research involved in getting it. You say you’re interested in doing physics research, but you’re also saying that you don’t have the kind of dedication required to do research. </p>
<p>Real physics research is a lot different than many people understand it to be. Not everyone is Stephen Hawking researching the big bang and black holes, or Brian Greene researching string theory, or Sean Carroll researching high level quantum field theory. Positions doing this kind of research are very limited, and very competitive. Most physics researchers are working in materials science and nuclear physics. These fields are no less fascinating though. The material properties of superconductors and the search for room temperature superconductors is, in most respects, MORE important than string theory or black holes. Superconductors at room temperature could solve a lot of the problems in the world. </p>
<p>I was originally drawn into majoring in physics because of the same things as you. I loved reading about the big bang, black holes, astronomical bodies, elementary particle physics etc. When I first started majoring in physics, I wanted to research string theory. Now I’m of the opinion that string theory is barely even physics. It’s a failed theory that more closely resembles pure mathematics. Point being - don’t lay out your plans too far in advance. You’re a HS junior. You might do a couple of internships throughout your undergrad and find that you LOVE doing research. This could lead you to decide on doing a PhD.</p>
<p>It is a fallacy that physics majors cannot get jobs. There are lots of opportunities for physics majors with a B.S. degree. They just aren’t in physics research. As @comfortablycurt says, a Ph.D. is needed if your goal is to have a career in physics research (or research in any field, actually). As i have said to others, if you like physics then study it as an undergraduate. By the time you are in your Sophomore year, you will have a clearer idea of what your path might be. You will also have some faculty mentors with whom to discuss your career possibilities.</p>