<p>Okay, so I'm stuck between two things that I absolutely love to do: think of new ways to solve problems and build things. So, physics and engineering, particularly I've fallen in love with theoretical physics and aerospace engineering. I absolutely cannot think of any career that I would be happy with if I wasn't doing research, so I think at this point I'll go ahead and say I'm "planning" to get a doctorate and do research in either field.</p>
<p>The only problem I'm facing is that in engineering, I'm guaranteed good pay. Now I'm never the first guy to worry about money, but it does concern me because I hear sometimes these (probably foolish) things people say about physics researchers and how much they get paid (not much), and I'd like to atleast make enough money so that I don't have to worry about anything financially.</p>
<p>I love learning, and I love exploring new frontiers and find solutions to problems that no one has even thought of. For now, I feel as though I'm leaning towards theoretical physics, but I want to know one thing. Can I major in aerospace engineering and possibly go to grad school for physics? It'd be harder the other way around, and I'd like to do an engineering degree just incase I do want to be an engineer (seems like the safest option, and I do love it as well).</p>
<p>So is this stuff true? Do researchers get paid crap, and do most of them fail? I'm passionate about both subjects on unbelievable levels and I don't doubt my intelligence, but I want to make an informed decision. I'm getting ready to begin college this coming year.</p>