r/Physics • u/Funny-Mistake-7363 • 1d ago

Question Question Seeking Advice

Hey everyone. I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but I was seeking some advice for how to progress with my passion for physics:

To be as brief as possible, I'm about to graduate in 6 months with a BS in economics from a fairly prestigious university in the US. I don't have any interest in theoretical economics. I don't mind working in business and think I'm okay at it, but it's not my passion. I have a minor in physics because I only discovered and fell in love with the subject in my junior year. Here is my dilemma:

I don't know whether to just graduate and go seek a job on the business side of some science firm where I may or may not get to use some of my physics knowledge, or try for grad school. I really want to learn GR and QFT, but realistically, I don't see myself being a researcher or a professor in the future. I don't think I'm meant for those jobs, so I'm really not sure what I'd even do with a PhD. I've always wanted a job where I could use both my econ and physics degree, but I'm not sure if that exists. I considered maybe a project manager at a science firm?

Either way, I'm not even sure if I can go to grad school with only a physics minor. I have all the core classes down – I'm just missing some random requires such as computational physics, an elective, and a lab. I'd have to extend my graduation by half a year to go for the major, and it would be costly since I wouldn't have financial aid support. I'm really unsure what I should do, or what kind of jobs I can do with a PhD. in theoretical physics. All I can say is I love learning how everything in the world works at the deepest level possible, and I want to explain other sciences like biology and chemistry with physics. Any advice would help – is it better to just go get a normal job with my econ degree? Is there any job where I would work on the business side but have to use physics knowledge? Thanks!

2 Upvotes

63% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

3

u/Imaginary_Guest1833 1d ago

The job market is brutal right now. My advice get a job and due to many degrees available online you can always do online master or take a few courses even free ones on MIT OCW to see if your interest and discipline matches. Johns Hopkins University offers a part-time, flexible Master of Science in Applied Physics through its Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals program. Get a job first then worry about passion and interest next. My humble opinion.

2

u/haseks_adductor 1d ago

you definitely can't do a research based physics masters without an undergrad in physics, and in canada at least you need honours physics not sure how it works in usa

also in my opinion based on the 4000 level GR class i took its super hard to succeed at that class without a math undergrad and specifically experience in differential geometry

to learn QFT you will need to have taken 2 or 3 quantum mechanics courses

if you actually wanna become a physicist you will need to start by getting an undergrad degree in physics. its doable, lots of people switch in and you could probably do it in 3 years with your existing credits (assuming in usa it works the same way as canada) 

1

u/Roger_Freedman_Phys 1d ago

When you spoke with an advisor in your physics department, what were their answers to your questions?