- #1
Magmatic
- 3
- 0
So I'm an older guy, not horribly old but old enough that I should know "what I want to be when I grow up". I have a B.S. in Computer Science and work in the Consulting industry as an Environmental Consultant. My current job is decent, most people wouldn't complain. I get to travel on the company dime, I make decent money for only having a B.S. (in a totally unrelated field), I work in pretty low stress environments, it's decent. But I can't say that I am overly happy nor do I feel that I am challenged in any way. I feel as though my "abilities" are not being used to their full possibilities.
About two years ago I starting debating the idea of returning back to school and working my way from the bottom up with a goal of grabbing a Ph.D. in physics, (B.S. ---> Ph.D). I've spent some very long and sleepless nights over the past two years contemplating the possible outcomes of the decisions I could set into motion. I've consulted family (who for the most part are against my ideas), I've consulted friends (whom are mostly indifferent to these ideas), I've even consulted the random Physics majors that I've run into in my travels across the U.S. (whom are always very enthusiastically supportive).
Where do I want to go, what do I want to do, what do I hope to achieve in this? Happiness. How can I know that there will be happiness? I won't, as I am sure most of you in University or in career fields will tell me. I believe that there is a lot to still learn, do, see, etc within the realm of Astrophysics, or all Physics for that matter. For me, reading journals, research papers, books, etc on previous findings or current research never gets old. I sit back and say "wow, that's pretty awesome!" So, I enjoy it.
With that said, I have a little under two months to make a quick decision or I feel that I will not make a decision at all. I'm going to allow YOU, random folks here at the Physics forums to make the decision for me. So we have:
1) (Shot for the Stars, work on that Ph.D) Taking a chance with something that humbles me and makes me "feel" great passion and emotions
2) (Be a mindless corporate drone, get that MBA!) Continuing on what feels like a lame existence in which I do not feel as though I am contributing to society other than by working and paying taxes.
Some things to take into consideration that may or may not matter:
1) I'm 29
2) I live on my own
3) I have relatively no debt, other than a car loan which is only at about $10k at this time
4) I plan on grabbing a second B.S. (Physics) BEFORE moving on to Graduate work because I have been out of University for some time and wish to "get back into the swing of things"
5) Local State University, while not known for Physics it does have a small department where the Physics majors normally get into top tiered graduate schools
6) Feel free to ask me any question of relevance
About two years ago I starting debating the idea of returning back to school and working my way from the bottom up with a goal of grabbing a Ph.D. in physics, (B.S. ---> Ph.D). I've spent some very long and sleepless nights over the past two years contemplating the possible outcomes of the decisions I could set into motion. I've consulted family (who for the most part are against my ideas), I've consulted friends (whom are mostly indifferent to these ideas), I've even consulted the random Physics majors that I've run into in my travels across the U.S. (whom are always very enthusiastically supportive).
Where do I want to go, what do I want to do, what do I hope to achieve in this? Happiness. How can I know that there will be happiness? I won't, as I am sure most of you in University or in career fields will tell me. I believe that there is a lot to still learn, do, see, etc within the realm of Astrophysics, or all Physics for that matter. For me, reading journals, research papers, books, etc on previous findings or current research never gets old. I sit back and say "wow, that's pretty awesome!" So, I enjoy it.
With that said, I have a little under two months to make a quick decision or I feel that I will not make a decision at all. I'm going to allow YOU, random folks here at the Physics forums to make the decision for me. So we have:
1) (Shot for the Stars, work on that Ph.D) Taking a chance with something that humbles me and makes me "feel" great passion and emotions
2) (Be a mindless corporate drone, get that MBA!) Continuing on what feels like a lame existence in which I do not feel as though I am contributing to society other than by working and paying taxes.
Some things to take into consideration that may or may not matter:
1) I'm 29
2) I live on my own
3) I have relatively no debt, other than a car loan which is only at about $10k at this time
4) I plan on grabbing a second B.S. (Physics) BEFORE moving on to Graduate work because I have been out of University for some time and wish to "get back into the swing of things"
5) Local State University, while not known for Physics it does have a small department where the Physics majors normally get into top tiered graduate schools
6) Feel free to ask me any question of relevance