Advice Needed: Last Year of College, Physics Degree, Grad School

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the considerations and implications of pursuing a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering (EE) or Chemical Engineering (ChemE) after completing an undergraduate degree in Physics. Participants explore the rationality of this educational path and the associated time commitments and requirements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the rationality of pursuing EE or ChemE in grad school after a Physics degree, questioning the time commitment involved.
  • Another participant reassures that pursuing a career in science or engineering is rational regardless of age, emphasizing personal desire as a key factor.
  • A participant highlights the importance of reviewing the specific requirements for graduate programs, noting that many have recommended undergraduate courses that may not be covered in a Physics degree.
  • Concerns are raised about the necessity of research experience for admission into graduate programs, questioning whether the original poster has relevant experience.
  • There is a cautionary note regarding the time it may take to complete a Ph.D., with one participant suggesting it could take 5-7 years or longer, depending on various factors such as core classes and research challenges.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that pursuing further education in engineering fields is a valid choice, but there are differing views on the implications of time commitments and the specific requirements for graduate programs. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best path forward for the original poster.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of specific information about the original poster's current coursework and research experience, as well as the varying requirements of different graduate programs that may affect their eligibility.

Whowowwow
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I am 36 and enrolled in my last year at a small community college. I am pursuing an undergraduate degree in Physics with an intent on studying EE or ChemE in grad school. Is that rational? or Does anyone have a better idea?
 
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It's perfectly rational if that's how you want to spend the next (approximately) decade of your life; there is no age limit on being a scientist or engineer.
 
Decade? Really??
 
take your time, everything's rational as long as you really want it. Good luck !
 
Whowowwow said:
Decade? Really??

You'll have to look at the requirements to get into your desired possibilities for graduate graduate school and see if you will meet them via your present degree program... although I'm not as familiar about EE/ChemE programs, most programs have a set of recommended undergraduate courses so that you can succeed in their core coursework (which usually takes 1-2 years); if you don't have these courses or their equivalent, you'll have to take an extra year of prerequisites to catch up, even if you are conditionally excepted.

In addition, most programs look for research experience. Do you have any applicable research or work experience?

Typically even if you are well prepared to do research, finish your core classes and qualifying exams and comprehensive exams early... if you're looking to get a Ph.D., expect it to take at least 5-7 years (WATCH OUT for it taking longer! sometimes universities have required graduation deadlines and you'll need to petition for early core courses to still count!). Often along the way you'll have to build equipment, things will break and you'll need to fix them, etc. Typically there's only about 3 times that everything is working, and that's what gives you the data to write publications and your dissertation. :smile: The only people I knew that finished in less than five years from my program were a few theorists were very good at coding computer simulations and complex calculations...
 

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