Leaving Physics?

[Anonymous]

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

…outside of Engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

This is very good advice. Also start reading The Economist, although it has a lot of content beyond Econ.

A solid Physics major with some Econ coursework will be able to find employment in finance/economics if they wish to do so. Employers will want the math and logical reasoning skills.

If they really want to hedge their bets, then they could stretch their degree by a semester to make room for more Econ coursework, but I would not recommend that — because I do not think it would be needed.

[Anonymous]

I'm a physics major from a LAC who ended up working in econ. Unless you want to be in business (sales, marketing), physics (and math) is a much better background for econ careers than econ undergrad. He should take whatever he's most interested in, really, and just do very well. If he is interested in econ, then take as much math as possible.

[Anonymous]

Here's that Georgetown report I was referring to earlier. I haven't re-looked at all the details, but I recall physics majors doing quite well. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/valueofcollegemajors/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's that Georgetown report I was referring to earlier. I haven't re-looked at all the details, but I recall physics majors doing quite well. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/valueofcollegemajors/

Yeah, my recollection was accurate. As of 2013, physics grads earned $81k, econ grads $76k between ages 25-59.

[Anonymous]

Even if he ends up in grad school, there’s always industry backup in Data Science and software engineering! Physics is a great path, even if it seems a bit too theoretical

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Lol. Interesting story. In my experience I’ve never worked with a physics major who wasn’t very bright, and many were very successful in fields outside physics. OP, if your kid actually likes physics, I’d encourage them to continue. Long term it absolutely won’t limit their options; probably would do exactly the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Cute fake story.

Running is more direct and safer way to show a lion that it can't catch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Cute fake story.

Running is more direct and safer way to show a lion that it can't catch.

Strikes me as fake in terms of prospects for physics majors, too. As a former physics major, I knew plenty of people who ended up under employed in other areas like IT. Employers who collect brainiacs, are pretty focused on the exact credential. It may all work out, but don't do it just because of some delusion about fallback position.

[Anonymous]

Maybe he is worried about not getting a job that he wants? There a plenty of great jobs in physics. The Jet Propulsion Lab hires new grads as does NASA to work on things like satellite operations. In addition physics is for many a difficult science that they cannot begin to comprehend. A physics major is impressive to many hiring managers for that reason. I really think your son should think about what specifically he is interested in doing in his career. But physics opens many doors and really I don’t see a downside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Cute fake story.

Running is more direct and safer way to show a lion that it can't catch.

I'm not a wildlife ethologist so I can't 100 percent vouch for that story, but the Georgetown statistics adduced earlier do show physicists slightly out earning economists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Cute fake story.

Running is more direct and safer way to show a lion that it can't catch.

Strikes me as fake in terms of prospects for physics majors, too. As a former physics major, I knew plenty of people who ended up under employed in other areas like IT. Employers who collect brainiacs, are pretty focused on the exact credential. It may all work out, but don't do it just because of some delusion about fallback position.

I'd be shocked if you went to a top school and that were true. Physics majors spread their wings far like most non-CS majors and end up in many lucrative careers. From grads I know, they've gone on to be engineers, software developers, quants, physicians (and medical physicists) and patent lawyers. All pay pretty well.

[Anonymous]

It might be because the courses have become too difficult and he wants a reason to be out. But if he is doing well and loves the subject, he should stay. He'll be more successful and make more money.
The key in anything is love for the subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Cute fake story.

Running is more direct and safer way to show a lion that it can't catch.

Strikes me as fake in terms of prospects for physics majors, too. As a former physics major, I knew plenty of people who ended up under employed in other areas like IT. Employers who collect brainiacs, are pretty focused on the exact credential. It may all work out, but don't do it just because of some delusion about fallback position.

I'd be shocked if you went to a top school and that were true. Physics majors spread their wings far like most non-CS majors and end up in many lucrative careers. From grads I know, they've gone on to be engineers, software developers, quants, physicians (and medical physicists) and patent lawyers. All pay pretty well.

Take a look at the Georgetown statistics. Physics majors averaged $81k in 2013, but there was high variance. The 25/75 percentiles were $40k and $120k, so people do flounder. FWIW econ majors were in a similar boat variance wise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

…outside of Engineering.

Nope. I was an engineering major. Kid is studying to be a physicist. Its not comparable. The math in physics is harder. The theory and abstraction is just harder. Engineering (materials science) was easier in comparison. Even in weed out courses.