Other Which branch of engineering is more physics heavy?

[CrysPhys]

I think it wouldnt be impossible to get into a phd in average univeristy if i try with alot of admissions no? An engineering physics masters can include electives in heavy physics topics like QFT and advanced math like differential geometry. Many-body theory these are the most theoratical electives. More applied but still physics electives would be quantum information and computers. So either way i think it contains alot of deep physics enough to qualify me to a phd in physics rather than engineering. But thats just my opinion correct me if im wrong.

This can't be answered without a lot more specific details about your personal situation. Without probing into them, here are some key factors:

* A lot will depend on the specific area of research that you will wish to pursue your physics PhD in. E.g., experimental solid state vs theoretical cosmology. There will likely be a lot more openings (but also likely more applicants) for experimental solid state than theoretical cosmology. An engineering background would be a lot more useful in experimental solid state than in theoretical cosmology. So at this point, is your heart fixed on a specific area of research, or do you need to wait and see?

* Suppose you apply for a PhD program with Professor P in Country C. Will Prof. P be familiar with your home university (and in particular, with the engineering master's program there)? If Prof. P is familiar with it, will their opinion of it be plus, minus, or neutral? If Prof. P is not familiar with it, will they spend time researching it, or will they simply trash your application; particularly if they have a pile of applications from universities that they are familiar with and which they do regard highly? Does Prof. P's program have funding for foreign students, or is funding restricted to nationals of Country C? Will Country C issue you a visa to study there?

* My advice is that about a year before you finish your undergrad degree, you should develop a candidate list of professors and universities and get in touch with them to see what your options would be ... before you spend 3 yrs on getting an engineering physics master's at your home university.

 

[CrysPhys]

And also how is research experience a requirement for phd in usa if the phd is after bachelor?

Research experience may not be technically a requirement, but you will be competing against applicants who do have undergrad research experience.. As I've mentioned before, it's not sufficient to simply meet requirements; you need a strong showing why you should be selected over other applicants (you really need to start thinking like this). In the US, some schools have undergrad research programs in which students can do research for course credit or pay, either during the academic year or during the summer. Some schools also either require a bachelor's thesis for a degree or make one optional (e.g., for an honors program). And there are also various programs such as the NSF REU (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/reu) and internships in private industry.

 

[questions000]

This can't be answered without a lot more specific details about your personal situation. Without probing into them, here are some key factors:

* A lot will depend on the specific area of research that you will wish to pursue your physics PhD in. E.g., experimental solid state vs theoretical cosmology. There will likely be a lot more openings (but also likely more applicants) for experimental solid state than theoretical cosmology. An engineering background would be a lot more useful in experimental solid state than in theoretical cosmology. So at this point, is your heart fixed on a specific area of research, or do you need to wait and see?

* Suppose you apply for a PhD program with Professor P in Country C. Will Prof. P be familiar with your home university (and in particular, with the engineering master's program there)? If Prof. P is familiar with it, will their opinion of it be plus, minus, or neutral? If Prof. P is not familiar with it, will they spend time researching it, or will they simply trash your application; particularly if they have a pile of applications from universities that they are familiar with and which they do regard highly? Does Prof. P's program have funding for foreign students, or is funding restricted to nationals of Country C? Will Country C issue you a visa to study there?

* My advice is that about a year before you finish your undergrad degree, you should develop a candidate list of professors and universities and get in touch with them to see what your options would be ... before you spend 3 yrs on getting an engineering physics master's at your home university.

Im mostly interested about particle phyics ( expermental or theoratical ) and theoratical solid state.
And in your 2nd point doesnt that mean that my chances are close to 0 anyways? If the professors are not going to waste time to research about the program then that makes the chance i get into a phd is zero. Since in paper the program got the word engineering in it giving the feeling that it might be lacking in physics content compared to engineering one plus that its not from a well known univeristy say not at least in the top 100

 

[CrysPhys]

Im mostly interested about particle phyics ( expermental or theoratical ) and theoratical solid state.
And in your 2nd point doesnt that mean that my chances are close to 0 anyways? If the professors are not going to waste time to research about the program then that makes the chance i get into a phd is zero. Since in paper the program got the word engineering in it giving the feeling that it might be lacking in physics content compared to engineering one plus that its not from a well known univeristy say not at least in the top 100

It looks like you are finally facing reality. It's a good time to revisit what I previously wrote:

But so far the responses you have received are along the lines of, "The path you are pursuing will not get you to your desired destination."

The engineering physics master's from your home university by itself doesn't look like a good path. You would need, e.g., at least to collaborate with an established physics researcher with contacts in suitable universities. Someone who would reach out to professors and vouch for you. Something extra along those lines.

Your best option I think is to find Physics research master's programs that will admit you with an Engineering background and that will allow you to make up the deficiencies in your coursework. After that you'll be more likely to be able to secure a PhD admission. You also need to be prepared to potentially have to pay out of pocket for some or all of the cost of that master's degree, though in some countries research master's do provide some funding (Canada for example).

I agree that this would probably be the best option if you can somehow get the financial resources. If you can't, you are caught in an over-constrained problem, a problem without a solution since you can't simultaneously satisfy all the constraints.

 

[StatGuy2000]

In an ideal world perhaps but that's a very western centric viewpoint and I suspect that the OP is not from a western country. Even many students from western countries face pressure from family to pursue educational pathways they don't particular want to follow. Expecting an 18 year old to defy their parents' wishes is unrealistic considering that most undergraduates still rely on them for financial support. It also raises the specter of potentially needing to make a complete break with the family should the student choose to disregard their parents' wishes. Even many older adults have difficulties defying their parents.

I think we should take the OP at their word that choosing a non-Engineering pathway for their undergraduate studies is not an option. The issue then becomes is there a pathway the OP could follow that would allow them to satisfy their parents' dictates to study Engineering for their undergraduate degree, but still keeps the door open to be able to pursue Physics at the graduate level.

As someone who comes partially from a non-Western background, I recognize that it is not always easy for children to choose the educational path they when there is parental pressure involved.

Hence why I asked the OP what country they are from. Knowing the culture, plus knowing the educational system involved, can allow us to provide more meaningful advice.

 

[StatGuy2000]

I'm not surprised. I've come across similar instances here in the US (including in my own family), highly dependent on family culture, number of generations in the US, and income level. E.g., parents (call them Gen 1) originally immigrated to the US from Country X. Their culture highly values careers in fields such as e.g. science, engineering, and medicine but does not highly value careers in fields such as e.g. art, music, and dance. The parents don't make all that much money but they will work like crazy day and night and scrimp and save to send their children (call them Gen 2) to college ... as long as the children study in a field that the parents value. The children study hard, become successful, and earn a lot more money than their parents ever made. When Gen 2 have their own children (call them Gen 3), Gen 2 will have been more integrated into US cultural norms, will appreciate the value in pursuing diverse fields, and more importantly, will have the financial resources to allow Gen 3 to pursue fields that Gen 1 had considered frivolous. If this high-level discussion is too vague and abstract, I can supply more concrete examples.

As someone who comes from a multiracial, multicultural background myself, and who lives in a city (Toronto) well know for its cultural diversity, I do recognize this dynamic.

At the same time, even within cultures that highly value education in certain technical fields like engineering (India and China being two especially prominent examples), there is not necessarily unanimity among parents within those cultures about whether to guide their children to those paths. And there are examples of children from those cultures who have forged their own paths educationally and career-wise without parental approval.

When I asked the OP what country they were from, I was hoping to gain more information about their culture and their family dynamic.

 

[CrysPhys]

As someone who comes from a multiracial, multicultural background myself, and who lives in a city (Toronto) well know for its cultural diversity, I do recognize this dynamic.

At the same time, even within cultures that highly value education in certain technical fields like engineering (India and China being two especially prominent examples), there is not necessarily unanimity among parents within those cultures about whether to guide their children to those paths. And there are examples of children from those cultures who have forged their own paths educationally and career-wise without parental approval.

When I asked the OP what country they were from, I was hoping to gain more information about their culture and their family dynamic.

Yes, certain countries have broad cultural norms; but under the umbrella of those broad cultural norms, there are wide variations in individual behaviors. So, if you want to advise the OP further, understanding the broad cultural norms of their country is not sufficient ... you will need to delve into the specifics of their personal and family scenario. If you wish to do that, you should probably follow up with the OP via DM, rather than via public post. But if you do that (ETA: DM), please heed gwnorth's previous caveats above, and tread carefully:

In an ideal world perhaps but that's a very western centric viewpoint and I suspect that the OP is not from a western country. Even many students from western countries face pressure from family to pursue educational pathways they don't particular want to follow. Expecting an 18 year old to defy their parents' wishes is unrealistic considering that most undergraduates still rely on them for financial support. It also raises the specter of potentially needing to make a complete break with the family should the student choose to disregard their parents' wishes. Even many older adults have difficulties defying their parents.

I think we should take the OP at their word that choosing a non-Engineering pathway for their undergraduate studies is not an option. The issue then becomes is there a pathway the OP could follow that would allow them to satisfy their parents' dictates to study Engineering for their undergraduate degree, but still keeps the door open to be able to pursue Physics at the graduate level.

E.g., you don't want to be responsible for triggering a rift in the OP's family.

 

[Muu9]

Engineering professors often do research that is somewhat physics-y. That might be a potential route.