Leaving Physics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Engineering is more of a grind type of hard. Physics is an extremely high level of abstraction. Can I do it all vs. can I understand even a bit of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

if he really loved it he wouldn't be considering a switch. he should not be studying physics in order to become an economist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Engineering is more of a grind type of hard. Physics is an extremely high level of abstraction. Can I do it all vs. can I understand even a bit of it.

Physics was the grind type of major to me as someone starting in Math. Math cares way too much about all cases possible and full abstraction. Physics cares about single cases most of the time and is a team effort, depending on where you go to school. Math was a sad, solitary activity, while physics was a focused, team-based one for me. Engineering was more direct performance-based learning, which wasn't my cup of tea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I believe he's doing well. He recently got a prize from the college for his work in physics, but I've never asked for his transcript. Then again, something as hard as physics will have the smartest people second guessing!

[Anonymous]

If he wants to go be a quant and make money, if his school has a well regarded Stat department that's a better option.
The world is full of equation jockey economists who have no passion or understanding of economics. DH is a passionate well published economist. He was going to be a stat major,, lol,, before he took an Econ course.

[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.

Off-topic but I thought the reason for the gazelle's jump was to get their tasty, tiny legs above lion mouth level before bolting. Like recoil from a too tight handshake. It's a removal of self from contact zone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

What about engineering physics, lol. That's real degree! My dad's.

[Anonymous]

Can't tell if people here are delusional or stupid, but yes, switch to an econ major, so he can have an actual job at the end of graduation. No one wants to be 28 being paid 30k as a researcher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't tell if people here are delusional or stupid, but yes, switch to an econ major, so he can have an actual job at the end of graduation. No one wants to be 28 being paid 30k as a researcher

Yes, you are delusional and stupid. There are more jobs for Physics degrees than being a PhD student, including most jobs an exon major could get (but the Physics major would be preferred).