<p>I know that UChicago emphasizes learning for the sake of learning and not for the grade or practicality of a subject. However, I am also concerned that there may not be a job market when I graduate, as much as I love to learn for the pursuit of knowledge and not of money. </p>
<p>I truly enjoy learning everything (because of personal satisfaction) but I am somewhat concerned. Is there a high demand for physical science graduates from UChicago, particularly for physics or chemistry? Am I right to be concerned this early on? I was thinking of doing a degree in physics (a subject which genuinely interests me and one which I find fascinating) and then going onto entrepreneurship/engineering...is that possible?</p>
<p>The sciences is probably one of the firmest growth market in the future. Having, said that, there is a high degree of variability based upon what any particular field will be like. Ph.D level physics teaching/research positions are highly competitive, if interested in other graduate engineering or even finance related fields there are more choices.</p>
<p>There isn’t that much of a difference in terms of job placement between grads of natural science and those of engineering. Of course, engineering is much more applicable. However, I know several chemistry grad of the University of Chicago now working for Intel.</p>
<p>There are definitely a lot of opportunities available.</p>
<p>You should not worry about GPA. If you keep yourself on top of everything, there is no reason not to excel at the University. Many people who get low GPA should just blame Facebook.</p>
<p>I am also worried that since Chicago is so difficult, would future employers looking at your GPA take into account the level of difficulty of Chicago’s curriculum? For example, after getting a degree in physics with say, a 3.5 GPA (I’m not sure how hard that is), would those seeing your resume consider UofC’s rigor?</p>
<p>If you can get A’s and B’s in one of the top Physics programs in the nation, I wouldn’t worry too much. Most likely you’d end up doing post-graduate work and the schools you apply to will be definitely familiar with how U of C works and its reputation.</p>
<p>Employers don’t care what grades you got at your school. They care more about the school you went to instead, and you went to the U of Chicago, which is a good school. Don’t worry about jobs, anyway. Undergrad doesn’t matter; people are more interested in grad school. You can major in whatever you want, and do whatever you want, jobwise. I know friends majored in linguistics or philosophy and are working at NGOs.</p>
<p>This “learning for the sake of learning” thing has become really annoying. First of all, only people who don’t have money worries can even claim that for themselves. It’s a privileged mindset and its celebration is grossly insensitive to those who can’t even afford to think that way. Second, <em>every</em> person is curious; it’s only human nature. People who think they’re somehow better for being “curious about the world” are naive and misguided because if they are indeed more curious than usual, it’s probably simply because their parents are more educated or they grew up around highly educated people.</p>
<p>^ I agree; I also feel that Chicago’s condescending attitude towards engineering is somewhat annoying. Even though I don’t know if I am going into that field, it’s still “wrong” to look down upon it…</p>
<p>I don’t think the University looks down on engineering, but is just saying that it is not the emphasis of the school. Even so, molecular engineering may find its way into the curriculum. As for learning for the sake of learning, I believe that many at the University believe that the job will come, and it best to focus on ideas and inquiry at the undergraduate level. Andrew Abbott’s data seem to bear this out.</p>