<p>I'm thinking about majoring in ME for undergrad and pursuing physics in grad school since I wanna be a physicist. I don't wanna major in physics for undergrad because I've heard that job opportunities are extremely slim for students with bachelor degrees in physics, and in case if I can't go to grad school, I'll be stuck with a B.S in physics and be jobless if I do physics for undergrad. So, my question is, would I be prepared for grad school without a B.S in Physics? Do you know some other people who did the same thing? How did it turn out for them?</p>
<p>It's much harder to go from MechE to Physics in grad school than from Physics to MechE, I'd say.</p>
<p>If you plan on doing this you should definitely plan on getting at least a minor and possibly a double major in physics. I imagine just about every physics grad program out there requires you to take the physics GREs, as well, and from what I've heard they're pretty difficult.</p>
<p>I've also been thinking of switching to physics for grad school, but I'm currently majoring in EE. Unfortunately, I can't double major in physics due to time constraints, and my school doesn't offer a minor. I'll be getting a physics GRE practice book to see how much I know. Maybe you can do the same when the time comes.</p>
<p>If you really want to be a physicist, you don't need the ME degree. You will be going to grad school after your B.S. right? Then you don't need a job, and so the ME will be useless.</p>
<p>And if you really want to be a physicist, then double majoring may not be a good idea either. You will want to immerse yourself into as much physics, and especially physics research, as possible. Its really one of those sciences where you need to be incredibly passionate and devoted.</p>
<p>Also, physicists don't have a hard time finding a job. They just have a hard time finding a job in their field. In fact, there aren't any jobs applicable to a physics B.S. degree because a career in physics entails academia, which entails getting at least a PhD. So, other than getting a lab assistantship or lab technician position, the B.S. in physics won't get you anything in the field of physics. But if you're resourceful then you can still get a job in engineering, finance, programming, and certain areas of business and management. Of course, you will have to be good enough to beat the competition for all those spots, and your competition will consist of people who have the required degrees for the job.</p>
<p>But most of this should not concern you if you want to go to grad school and get your PhD.</p>
<p>I suggest going for the BS in physics if you think you're passionate enough. If by the end of the four years you don't like it and want out... then go to grad school in an engineering discipline of your choice. This will make you reasonably employable.</p>
<p>As for your original question, I've always been told its a bad idea to jump into a graduate physics program without undergraduate preparation. I don't know anyone who has done this.</p>
<p>I'm pretty much doing an applied physics degree after doing engineering degree in undergrad and it sucks. Hard.</p>
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If you really want to be a physicist, you don't need the ME degree. You will be going to grad school after your B.S. right?
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Well, that's the thing -- I'm not sure if I'll be able to go to grad school. I'll probably already be thousands of dollars in debt to the college from which I would've gotten my B.S and if I can't afford to go to grad school, I'll kinda be screwed...</p>
<p>^ how so?
10char</p>
<p>I worked at a company where many of my coworkers and bosses were physics majors in college. I'm no expert, but I wouldn't be too worried about job opportunities. I would major in physics if I were you. Remember, you can always change majors if you change your mind.</p>
<p>I would major in Math and Physics at undergrad. Trust me, this is at least as good as any engineering degree.</p>
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<p>The Materials Science graduate program here is almost identical to the applied physics one. I get to choose a different year's worth of math if I want and I do three classes in materials science instead of classical mechanics. I'd also argue that one and a half of my materials classes are really physics classes disguised as materials ones. These are out of a total of fifteen classes, too.</p>
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Well, that's the thing -- I'm not sure if I'll be able to go to grad school. I'll probably already be thousands of dollars in debt to the college from which I would've gotten my B.S and if I can't afford to go to grad school, I'll kinda be screwed...
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<p>People who enter PhD programs in physics tend to try to get full funding from one or more of TAships, RAships, government grants, fellowships, and the like. If they can't, they may need to borrow the money.</p>
<p>If you really want to be a physicist, you should probably go to phds.org and read the articles that pertain to graduate school, research, funding, etc. They'll give you an idea of what you will be doing for the rest of your career, should you go into physics.</p>
<p>I started on my career path with the intention of becoming a physicist. What I gathered from my research is three things: 1) A bachelor's degree in physics is not a bad decision, 2) A career in physics is not for the light-hearted, and 3) Getting a B.S. in physics does not mean you are bound to pursuing a career in physics (as a physicist).</p>
<p>Let me elaborate:
1) Its not a bad decision to get a degree in physics because it is very fundamental. It really doesn't mean very much, since you're not qualified to do anything. But it is probably the best undergraduate degree for this same reason because it teaches you the most fundamental of things: how to think. So, if you plan to go to grad school, and you don't really know what to do at the moment, then a physics degree will give you everything you need to succeed in almost anything in grad school. Also, with a physics degree you can still get many engineering/business/finance job, but you have to prove yourself.</p>
<p>2) A career in physics means research and academia. Its a very very long path and you have to be very passionate and devoted to be able to traverse it. Its especially unappealing because unlike other long paths (ie: law and medicine) it does not entail a high paying job at the end of it. Its almost as noble as a religious undertaking. Don't get me wrong... it can be immensely rewarding but in more meaningful (and less practical) ways than money. Also keep in mind that you get paid to go to physics grad school (PhD, not masters) in most cases.</p>
<p>3) As I mentioned already you have many options after a BS in physics: law school, med school, engineering grad school, business school, physics grad school, and pretty much anything else. The only thing you may have a hard time with is getting a job in your field.</p>
<p>Sorry for not answering your original question but I just don't feel that getting a job is a real concern if you really want to become a physicist.</p>
<p>Get the degree in physics - most likely if you go to graduate school and don't end up in academia which most physicists don't because it is so competitive, you can always work as an engineer.</p>
<p>DocT is right. my physics teacher was an engineer at AMD for a long time. he was a physics major at pomona college.</p>