Mathematical physicists, where are you

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the decision-making process for graduate studies in math versus physics, particularly focusing on theoretical particle physics and mathematical physics. Participants share their experiences and outcomes after choosing their respective fields, offering insights into the challenges and rewards of each path. Key considerations include the nature of the research, the academic environment, and personal interests in topics like braneworlds, AdS-CFT, and string theoretic dualities. The conversation emphasizes the importance of aligning one's choice with career goals and research passions, especially for those currently finalizing their decisions.
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I remember there being some posts a while back from people who were trying to decide whether to study math or physics at the graduate level. Just wondering, if you were one of these people and are now a grad student (or past grad school), which did you choose and how did it turn out? Any advice to those of us working on final decisions?
 
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I'm in the middle of trying to make this decision myself, in between writing the speech for my Honours thesis!

For me it's a toss-up between theoretical particle physics (ie braneworlds adnd AdS-CFT) at the University of Melbourne in Australia or mathematical physics (string theoretic dualities) at the ANU.
 
After a year of thought, I decided to adjust my ratio for applying the US/EU(+UK) schools. I mostly focused on the US schools before, but things are getting complex and I found out that Europe is also a good place to study. I found some institutes that have professors with similar interests. But gaining the information is much harder than US schools (like you have to contact professors in advance etc). For your information, I have B.S. in engineering (low GPA: 3.2/4.0) in Asia - one SCI...
I graduated with a BSc in Physics in 2020. Since there were limited opportunities in my country (mostly teaching), I decided to improve my programming skills and began working in IT, first as a software engineer and later as a quality assurance engineer, where I’ve now spent about 3 years. While this career path has provided financial stability, I’ve realized that my excitement and passion aren’t really there, unlike what I felt when studying or doing research in physics. Working in IT...
Hello, I’m an undergraduate student pursuing degrees in both computer science and physics. I was wondering if anyone here has graduated with these degrees and applied to a physics graduate program. I’m curious about how graduate programs evaluated your applications. In addition, if I’m interested in doing research in quantum fields related to materials or computational physics, what kinds of undergraduate research experiences would be most valuable?
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