The Science Dilemma

College Majors Science Majors
1

<p>I'm about to head into college, and I'm having a bit of trouble deciding now. My plan for a bit has been to get my B.S. in both Astronomy and Physics, then get my PhD in Astronomy (PhD minor in Astrobiology). Ultimately, I want to wake up, go to work in a lab, and do research for a living. That's my ideal scenario, and I love space, so the path seems clear, right? </p>

<p>However, it appears I haven't done my research well enough, as I just looked into job prospects, and apparently astronomy jobs are actually pretty sparse, particularly for what I'm looking for. Astrophysics seems to have similar prospects, obviously. </p>

<p>So I have a couple of questions.</p>

<p>1: Have research jobs gone the way of the dinosaur? I know that biology currently has exceptionally low prospects according to my various friends who are afraid of even getting biology bachelor's in case they don't get into med school, etc. But are the sciences of physics and astronomy going the same way? Are all natural science research jobs?</p>

<p>2: Would a PhD in Astronomy with a minor in Astrobiology, and a bachelor's in Physics be enough to get me a research job? Would I be better off picking some kind of math, engineering, or computer minor instead of astrobiology, or-</p>

<p>3: Would I be best off "biting the bullet" so to speak and going into aerospace engineering? There's nothing I particularly wouldn't like about that job. It is my second choice, and seems like the best chances of getting a job remotely like what I envision</p>

<p>They say to follow your dreams, but is this actually logical when 1/4 people following their dreams will get an ideal astronomy job, and 3/4 people following their dreams will have to go into a different field? Am I overreacting/jumping to conclusions? Am I misinformed? Basically I don't know what to do now, and I don't understand how it would be hard to get a job in the sciences. Don't we still need to research space before we fly there?</p>

2

<p><a href=“http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/reports/phdinitial.pdf[/url]”>http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/reports/phdinitial.pdf&lt;/a&gt; (figure 3) indicates that a significant portion of physics PhD graduates find employment in other fields (e.g. engineering, finance, education, medical services, computer software).</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/reports/empinibs0910.pdf[/url]”>http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/reports/empinibs0910.pdf&lt;/a&gt; (figure 3) indicates that only 5% of physics bachelor’s graduates find jobs in physics. The biggest shares of jobs found are in engineering and computers.</p>

<p>More here: [Education</a> and Employment Data - American Institute of Physics](<a href=“http://www.aip.org/statistics/]Education”>Statistical Research Center | American Institute of Physics)</p>

<p>It is ok to pursue your dreams, as long as you have realistic expectations of the chances of attaining them, and you prepare for backup options.</p>

3

<p>Gotcha. I think I’ll have to accept that chances are slim of becoming an astronomer as I envision. As long as I’m making decent money that’s becoming of a PhD, I supposed it will have been worth the 8 years.</p>

<p>On a side note, how much difference would an undergrad minor in mathematics affect things? I know that superior math skills are obviously preferable, but does anyone even care about undergrad minors when you’ve gotten your PhD?</p>

4

<p>As far as future employment goes, and undergrad minor in mathematics isn’t likely to make much difference in whether or not one gets hired. It would typically be presumed that someone with a PhD in astronomy is fairly adept at mathematics. However, minoring in math certainly wouldn’t hurt at all.</p>

<p>Overall, I’d guess that astrophysics would have more general utility than astronomy, as far as alternatives for employment. Astronomy is far from a dead field though. It’s not booming like other fields are, but there’s still work out there. There again though, I think astrophysics would open up more doors.</p>

5

<p>You get a PhD because you want to, because it’s a calling, but you make contingency plans in case you don’t get an academic/research job. Keep your computer programming skills sharp.</p>

6

<p>I definitely see the logic behind the back up plan. It’s just a matter of balancing it while trying to make myself as attractive an astronomer as possible and attempting to have a semblance of a life… and also preferably finishing college before I’m 40. But I digress, the only thing worrying now will affect is my health. Thanks for the wisdom.</p>

7

<p>At least with physics majors, some of the common backup options (engineering, computers, finance) are a lot better paying than the backup options for biology majors who do not get into medical school or make it into good academic or research jobs. Probably has to do with math skills making physics majors more adaptable into such types of work.</p>

<p>Throwing in some electives in computer science and such can be helpful for both the backup plans and as supporting knowledge for physics study and research.</p>

8

<p>Would 2 introductory computer science courses be preferable to the math minor (which would be introductory probability and statistics)? I don’t have enough electives to do both and get the double major.</p>

9

<p>You need to take at least one prob&stat course. Everybody should. I mean everybody on the planet.</p>

<p>But as for computer programming, try to take classes that cover modern OOP, algorithms and data structures, and software design principles.</p>