<p>ahhh i dont know what i want to study in grad school.</p>
<p>transportation, coastal, or renewable energy. </p>
<p>its frustrating...I'm sure many ppl on this board weren't sure what they wanted to study in grad school as a junior. How did you guys decide?</p>
<p>If you’re not sure about what you want to study, why are you considering grad school? Have you taken introductory courses in those areas already?</p>
<p>If you’re not sure, pick the one you like the best and throw yourself into it. Put yourself in a tight spot, and fight your way out of it.</p>
<p>i’ve taken courses in those areas. One of the reasons i’m considering grad school is the collapse of the economy. Gonna be tough to find work in April.</p>
<p>"i’ve taken courses in those areas. One of the reasons i’m considering grad school is the collapse of the economy. Gonna be tough to find work in April. "</p>
<p>That’s an exceedingly bad reason to go to graduate school.</p>
<p>That is not only going to get you completely burnt out from your graduate program, it is also potentially going to keep you from having any real fire in your personal statements, so that won’t help you get in in the first place. If you are an engineer, you should be able to find a job assuming you have decent grades, even in this economy, ESPECIALLY if you “specialize” in renewable energy or anything similar. I graduated with a 3.4, but when I was applying for jobs last October, I had a 3.17, and I still had an offer by November that was both above the national average in salary, and never got rescinded.</p>
<p>Don’t go to grad school because of the economy. Go to grad school to learn and to advance your field.</p>
<p>This poll is of course only applicable to physics, but</p>
<p>[PHD</a> grads, Area of Study. When did you know?](<a href=“PHD grads, Area of Study. When did you know? | Physics Forums: Science Discussion, Homework Help, Articles”>PHD grads, Area of Study. When did you know? | Physics Forums: Science Discussion, Homework Help, Articles)</p>
<p>I agree with the results. The most likely time for you to actually know what you want to study in grad school is while you’re taking your first graduate classes. SoP’s, while important, do not set in stone your path.</p>
<p>Right, but if your only motivation for grad school is a shoddy economy, then that could hurt your chances of getting in in the first place, which means you won’t even have the chance to switch.</p>
<p>“One of the reasons i’m considering grad school is the collapse of the economy”</p>
<p>The economy is One OF the reasons I’m considering grad school. Not the only reason. </p>
<p>In my case since I don’t know what to study, i think that maybe working for a bit and then coming back to grad school might be helpful but I’m not sure if thats an option due to the economy. </p>
<p>I have pretty good grades (3.88/4) but I go to one of the worst schools in the province so there won’t be much recruiting here…last year’s job fair consisted of 1 company considering environmental students.</p>
<p>Be proactive. Don’t wait for companies to come to you, go to them. If you sit around and wait for opportunity to come to you, you will not have a ton of luck in life most likely. Go make your own opportunities. Getting a job is about more than just your GPA and undergrad school.</p>