Leaving Physics?

[Anonymous]

DS is a sophomore at a T3 LAC and has recently felt like chickening out of his Physics major due to panic on not being able to finding a career. Even though he is well aware of all his senior friends getting jobs at tech companies or going into good PhD programs, he has become "very nervous" about his future and is thinking of making the switch to econ. Though, when I press him even a little bit about his interest in econ, he really isn't that interested and is just looking for a quick salary.

I really think he's making a huge mistake, but I understand the pressures of ROI.

[Anonymous]

He probably should leave if he has no interest, but getting an econ degree doesn't get you the job. Many of the internships have negligible acceptance rates and your kid has to be very headstrong with constantly reaching out to alum for referrals. If he isn't a very striving type, I wouldn't recommend the switch.

[Anonymous]

Don’t make panic-driven decisions. If he doesn’t like physics, he should find something he likes. If he likes physics, he should stick with it. A degree from a Williams/Amherst/Swarthmore-type school will get him in a lot of doors.

More importantly, what’s really causing the panic? Did he grow up with financial insecurity? Will he have loans to pay off after he graduates? Does he not know what he wants to do professionally (totally normal) but has friends who do and so is comparing himself to them?

[Anonymous]

I would hire a physics major over an ecom major in a heartbeat. It is the hardest major next to math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a sophomore at a T3 LAC and has recently felt like chickening out of his Physics major due to panic on not being able to finding a career. Even though he is well aware of all his senior friends getting jobs at tech companies or going into good PhD programs, he has become "very nervous" about his future and is thinking of making the switch to econ. Though, when I press him even a little bit about his interest in econ, he really isn't that interested and is just looking for a quick salary.

I really think he's making a huge mistake, but I understand the pressures of ROI.

This isn’t about physics; it’s about his anxiety. He knows physics majors who found jobs or are going to grad school.

[Anonymous]

He should stick with physics. Your major doesn’t determine your career and employers everywhere will be impressed by that major at that school. It can open doors.

[Anonymous]

He can get a masters in economics if he wants or needs to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t make panic-driven decisions. If he doesn’t like physics, he should find something he likes. If he likes physics, he should stick with it. A degree from a Williams/Amherst/Swarthmore-type school will get him in a lot of doors.

More importantly, what’s really causing the panic? Did he grow up with financial insecurity? Will he have loans to pay off after he graduates? Does he not know what he wants to do professionally (totally normal) but has friends who do and so is comparing himself to them?

+1. This happened to our DD too but fortunately she stuck with it and is happy she did

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would hire a physics major over an ecom major in a heartbeat. It is the hardest major next to math.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would hire a physics major over an ecom major in a heartbeat. It is the hardest major next to math.

Quant skills sell.

I know a physics major who went into a general business career. It wasn't hard to transition.

For people who love a subject but fear the job market, I recommend dual majoring where feasible. Talk to an advisor.

[Anonymous]

If he's done research, he likely has some skillset that is needed. Panic decisions like these can really lead a student astray when it doesn't need to happen!

[Anonymous]

When a gazelle encounters a lion, the first thing it does is jump real high, and only then starts running. The jump doesn't aid it in getting away, but it signals to the lion that the gazelle is spry and not worth chasing.

There are a few majors that function like the gazelle jump - not useful in themselves, but they signal to employers that the recipient can handle tough problems and is not @#$&ing around. Physics would be the main one. There's a degree ROI report on the Georgetown website. I'd link it but I'm on my phone and about to go to bed. It shows that physics grads do very well - look it up and share it with DC.

Encourage him to apply for finance internships. They love physicists for quant positions, even more than math grads.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses! I'll make sure to assure him through this and to be considerate of where his actual interests lie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a sophomore at a T3 LAC and has recently felt like chickening out of his Physics major due to panic on not being able to finding a career. Even though he is well aware of all his senior friends getting jobs at tech companies or going into good PhD programs, he has become "very nervous" about his future and is thinking of making the switch to econ. Though, when I press him even a little bit about his interest in econ, he really isn't that interested and is just looking for a quick salary.

I really think he's making a huge mistake, but I understand the pressures of ROI.

He should take a few economics classes and read the Wall Street Journal, but he should get the degree in physics, if he can handle the work and is interested in it.

First, because he might end up getting work related to physics, even without grad school. You never know.

Second, because the math in physics is great preparation for a career in finance or economics. Several physics majors I know all ended up making a fortune as quants.

[Anonymous]

Physics major is a hard sell, especially if hearts not in it. There are probably too many Econ majors, but employers know what to do with them.