I really excelled at physics in high school, what would be a good career choice?
April 21, 2010 by
Filed under class registration system
Well, for the last 4 years of my life, I was dead-set on becoming an anthropologist. Nothing sounded better than researching humans and how they developed, in fact its something I’ve been interested since I could first started reading. Well, things changed. The downturn in the economy and absolute hell in an anatomy class made me rethink my career path.
Luckily, I discovered a new love this year: Physics. It was the first science class where everything just “clicked” into place; where all the systems of equations connected and could be applied to just about anything in the world. In fact, the thing I excelled at most was taking those equations and applying them to problems.
So my question to you is this: What’s a career that I could apply these problem solving abilities? My first guess was engineering, but I’m not sure which specialization I should go into. At college registration, I went with electrical, is that a good choice? If you have any other ideas, let me know. 
P.S. Don’t say “physics”. My girlfriend turned down a full-ride physics scholarship because there’s apparently no work in it… I’ll take her word for it D:
I recommend Engineering. You can get a good job with a BSEngr
It is not uncommon for engineers to accept the reality of phenomena that are not yet understood, as it is very common for physicists to disbelieve the reality of phenomena that seem to contradict contemporary beliefs of physics – H. Bauer
It is fun being an engineer, we are the least rigorous of the math and science community. That opens up whole new worlds of things that are possible.
True story from my Grad School days:
My professor of Numerical Analysis was doing a proof used for Finite Element models. At one step a math major stopped him with, ” Professor, you cannot do that! You cannot prove it is true for all cases.” The professor stopped, thought for a minute, and said, “You’re right. Never the less it is true.” Then he continued with the proof.
You do not need to decide on a specialization right now. Engineering Core will give you a taste of the different disciplines. Decide late in your Sophomore year. They are all fun in a nerdy sort of way. I built and raced Intelligent robots, a concrete canoe, and a self powered car made from junk.
Physics is good for undergraduate education, then you can pick engineering for higher education.
If you want to work after four years of college, then engineering is best.
I have a BS in physics, and work as an electrical engineer in solid state electronic design. I make circuits for satellites that orbit the earth and spacecraft that fly to other planets. It is fun.