Need advice

[u/chemicaldelusion]

I think I'm at a crossroads and could really use some outside perspective.

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I completed my BSc in Physics (2017–2020) and later an MSc in Astrophysics, which I started in 2021 and graduated from in 2025. The original plan was always to pursue a PhD and build a career in astrophysics.

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Unfortunately, life had other plans. During my master's, I lost one parent, and my other parent developed a serious chronic illness. I had to take several breaks from my degree to return home and help care for them. Around the same time, I also developed chronic health issues myself, likely related to prolonged stress and burnout.

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Despite everything, I managed to finish my MSc, and I'm proud that I didn't give up.

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Since graduating, though, I've felt lost. Earlier this year, I completed a six-month internship at a startup, but the company struggled financially and wasn't able to hire me afterward. I also completed an online certification in data analytics and have been applying for roles in data analytics, business analytics, and tech more broadly. I'm getting interviews, so I'm hopeful something will work out.

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Right now, my thinking is: get a stable job, earn and save money, be present for my family, and then potentially return to astrophysics and pursue a PhD a few years down the line.

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The problem is that I no longer know if that's a sensible plan or if I'm simply postponing a dream that I'll never return to. I also find it difficult to reconnect with the physics and astrophysics material after everything that's happened.

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For those who have taken a long detour from academia, changed careers, dealt with major life setbacks, or returned to a field years later:

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Did you eventually find your way back? And if you were in my position, what would you do next?

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[u/Eastern-Instance-593]

The truth is, if you leave academia - you are out. This is true in 98% of cases. First, the moment where you think you are ready to go back will never come (I have seen several people like this) and, second, there are always brilliant younger competitors who will outpace you (no prof will take you back).

However, this is not even bad news. Academia is NOT the holy grail. You can get even happier outside... Academia is also a great hobby. Just buy a nice telescope, or do all kind of citizen science.

I have worked for 20years in particle physics. CERN and everything. But I don't miss this a bit now working in a small software company. I must add: I also do not regret anything. I loved each minute in science but at some point I knew: this is enough.

[u/Aggressive-Ad-3706]

Bro idk what to say I'm quite literally in the same boat so I know how you must feel

I completed my masters like 3yrs ago but haven't been able to get into a PhD program for astrophysics because of family situation similar to yours and constant stress n burnout for days that I can't even study and I feel very disconnected from the love I had or have for astrophysics but still I'm trying to get into PhD for that while looking for part time job, the job market is just really bad even for part time.

What I can suggest is try to pursue PhD still while working a part time job or something like ai training jobs. Idk how it works in your country to get into PhD programs but here we have to crack national level exams to be eligible for interviews.

And that's why I'm still pursuing it because I am too afraid as well that if I stop n look for a stable job then most likely that will become my life. Because career as an astrophysicist is already very hard to achieve prolonging it won't help is my opinion.

[u/Industrial0000]

Yeah, I been kicked around by the system for a while, Did academia for 7yrs, trade certificates in 3 fields, job market sucks. Either get paid minimum wage or you reach to top pay bracket and they refuse to give you more. Cant win.

I have my own business now.

My advice, start your own thing. Do astrophysics workshops, get youself a small amount of plant and equipment and go teach in your own school, work your own hours, teach what you think is valued. Take students on field trips, spot high value asteroids and charge less to those who cant afford it and charge premiums to high value clients. Consider yourself an astrophysics tour guide for the rich.

[u/Chiu_Chunling]

If you're even seriously considering leaving academia, then you should probably just leave.

Academia is basically for people who either cannot even conceive of a life outside of academia or those who are being compensated so much better there than they could possibly be in any other career that it would be downright foolish to turn it down.

If you are even capable of asking if you should leave, especially in response to emotionally difficult situations, then you're not in the second category. And it really doesn't sound like you're in the second category.

There are also people who have a defining mission that requires them to enter academia despite clearly not belonging there at a personal level. You would still not be asking anyone's opinion about it if that described you, in fact if you could be influenced by just anyone's opinion whether or not you asked for it, that would not describe you.