Engineer Vs Physicist (DEATHMATCH )

[neil_m]

Engineer Vs Physicist (DEATHMATCH!)

OK...i've seen some friendly comments on the similarities and differences between Engineering and Physics. I would like to hear from people in these fields and studying these fields to get defensive, get personal, but be serious (why not witty and funny ...but mature) about their major/profession/passion.
Could any member from either group post, and tell me why Engineering or Physics is THE way to go, and why it is undeniably better than the other.
(I am aware this might instigate some unpleasent fights, but as men and women of Science, it shall be only for the sake of experiment, because it should really come down to a draw...but for now, sum1 just start some shhhhh...uh ...poop)

 

[Smurf]

I'm not in either field =)

 

[Polly]

Neither am I (just feel like making some noise at this particular moment in time).

 

[marlon]

I studied theoretical physics at college and now i am studying applied physics. It seems to me that besides courses like electronics and simulations of dynamical systems, there is not much extra to learn when someone with a physics degree starts to study engineering. Keep in mind that i am referring to physical engineering like nanotechnology or nuclear sciences...

marlon

 

[Chi Meson]

Well, let's see. First year there were 200 "physics majors." Second year there were 100. Third year 40, and 18 graduated witht the BS. Most transferred to engineering.

Some say they were the smart ones, because they figured out that they were not smart enough to finish the physics degree, so instead took the "more emplyable route."

 

[Soilwork]

Well I mean I don't really know much about engineering, but our lecture seems to like to give them immense crap.
I'm a second year physics student and, yes there is a pretty high drop out rate. Especially in second year because that is probably the biggest jump in terms of difficulty level.
But yeah Physics is pretty damn interesting and it has a lot of applications.
I mean it's pretty cool to know how the things you use operate, such as a guitar amp.
Anyway that's my two cents worth:)

 

[JasonRox]

At my school there is 6 or less, during year 3 and 4.

 

[franznietzsche]

we have 30 or so graduate each year. Nice big department. Of course we also have 7,000 engineering majors who aren't smart enough to be physics majors, and then ten years down the road all think they've disproved relativity with common sense, except for the fact that they have no understanding whatsoever of the mathematics involved, and why relativity is so accurate. They make me angry. I don't try to show them the best way to build an airplane when i know nothing about airplane design.

 

[dekoi]

I will be an engineer in a matter of 5 years. Whoo-pee. :D

 

[jai6638]

as a high school student who likes physics, i wanted to know what would be better?? the degree of engineering or a degree for becoming a physicist ( a physics major i guess ) ? also, what's the different between the two since they both deal with physics

thanks

 

[dekoi]

as a high school student who likes physics, i wanted to know what would be better?? the degree of engineering or a degree for becoming a physicist ( a physics major i guess ) ? also, what's the different between the two since they both deal with physics

thanks

Engineering seems to deal more with the mechanics of systems. Of course, that depends on which field of engineering you are interested in. For example, Mechanical Engineering would be much more centered around mechanisms such as robots or automobiles, while physics deals with specific cases and general laws.

Correct me if i am wrong.

 

[neil_m]

not to be an a-hole, but i am conducting a study here.
I want to see some Physicist VS Engineer action.
In here we know what an engineer and physicist do, we want to know who's better and why they think that.
COME ON PEOPLE!
LETS GET THIS STARTED!

 

[dekoi]

There is no "better" course to major in. That is absurd. It is strictly subjective.

 

[Gokul43201]

neil_m, this may not be the cat-fight you'd hoped for, but let me say this anyway :

I graduated from college with an engineering degree and am currently doing a PhD in physics. I would highly recommend this route for folks who are physics inclined. You can always take a whole bunch of physics courses with an engineering major. Over this period, you get to assess if you are still as interested in physics as you were, when you were an ignorant high schooler, and you'll figure out if you're cut out for it. Most are not. And even if you are, you get to learn a lot of cool engg stuff that you'll never see if you major in physics. And you can learn most college physics by yourself...just buy yourself a Resnick & Halliday and a few other books from the library are useful.

If you can't handle most of Resnick by yourself, you're not cut out for physics.

If you are happy with your engineering path and wish to study it further or get a job in the line, that's not especially difficult (relatively speaking); but if you still find that your heart is with physics, you can always do a PhD in physics...which is really the only way to learn any serious physics.

Of course, if you have an aversion to engineering (a true, head-in-the-clouds theoretician...which at the high-school level mostly means you're stupid), go ahead and get a degree in physics.

PS : I've used some specifically inflammatory phrases (in bold) for the benefit of neil_m's experiment.

 

[Moonbear]

I'm neither, though I've dated an engineer, but no physicists. I have a "thing" for engineers...they're both booksmart and practical. I think being an engineer will get you more women than being a physics major. Is that sufficient justification for you all to become engineers?

 

[Evo]

not to be an a-hole, but i am conducting a study here.
I want to see some Physicist VS Engineer action.
In here we know what an engineer and physicist do, we want to know who's better and why they think that.
COME ON PEOPLE!
LETS GET THIS STARTED!

neil_m, I think you will find that people here (for the most part) are serious about school, are mature (doesn't mean that they don't like to have fun) and they know that the quickest way to get a thread closed is for people to start flinging insults. It's not going to happen.

 

[neil_m]

(for dekoi, and anyone else who may not have understood the point of this)

I am not only referring to Engineering and Physics as majors... I am asking if anyone STUDYING or who are actually IN the fields to post their OPINIONS, on these topics.
What you appear to be saying is anyones opinion on that is absurd, which makes you appear not very open minded.
Letsee quoting MYSELF at the beginning of this thread "...it shall be only for the sake of experiment, because it should really come down to a draw..." so ummm I DO NOT THINK THAT ONE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER IN MY OPINION, but I would like to hear what other people have to say, and allow them to be free with it (but back up what they have to say with good and valid reasons and facts --or GOOD humor at least)
Now, if you STILL have a problem then don't post. Otherwise pick a side for fun and sling some mud at it, and pick another and say why you THINK it is better.
(so dekoi, lighten up, and have some fun, no hard feelings...peace)

 

[Gokul43201]

the quickest way to get a thread closed is for people to start flinging insults. It's not going to happen.

I thought this was for fun...and not meant to provoke any serious insult trading.

 

[Moonbear]

I thought this was for fun...and not meant to provoke any serious insult trading.

That was my interpretation too...all in good fun, sort of like a pie fight.

 

[Evo]

As Rosanne Rosanna Danna would say "never mind".

Hey, I just finished eating sushi, some marinated bell peppers, onion, cucumber and feta cheese and then topped it off with some chunky peanut butter. I think I'm going to die.

 

[neil_m]

WHOA WHOA WHOA...
I never said start a cat fight, i never said get insulting.
I said that COULD happen, because OBVIOUSLY some people would misunderstand, and not be able refrain from acting like children. Flinging insults just shows you have nothing intelligent to say to back up an opinion you have about a PERSONAL preference. Therefore it makes ot easy to disregard stupid comments or opinions.
I enjoy hearing intelligent people say what's on their mind, and what they think about a science so magnificent. I am VERY serious about school, I don't think a discussion on Physics and Engineering that is encouraging personal feelings towards Engineering or Physics (NOT individuals) should be considered immature. Therefore this thread need not be closed.
Gokul43201 : Thank you for your advice. I seriously will consider that. As a matter of fact that is pretty much what I had in mind. I was looking at either General/Integrated Engineering, or Engineering Physics.
The only aversion to Engineering is I am afraid that if I specialise in a particular field, I may miss out on a lot of the general Physics, but as you said, I suppose if I am truly interested in Physics I should make time and study it on my own. Perhaps go for postgraduate study in Physics after I get an Engineering degree. Other than that I am very interested in Engineering. Thanks to people here, I have gotten a lot of reassurance that making an early decision is not detrimental to what you major in.
I am actually finished high school, and stuying some first year University Physics and Mathematics on my own, in my year off (financial reasons).
I wouldn't say I am ignorant to the structure of University study, but I certainly don't know everything, or else I wouldn't be asking you guys.
Thanks a lot everyone, and to be clear let there be NO personal insulting.
I apologise, I was trying to make it fun, I thought courtesy would go without saying among intelligent people, but perhaps i am wrong.
I hope I can still get some feedback form people who ARE capable of making some comments on why they THINK of Physics or Engineering, WITHOUT getting personal with EACH OTHER.

 

[mathlete]

Put it this way.. physics and math majors sit atop the food chain and look down on everybody else :D

Everyone knows art majors are at the very bottom, though ;)

 

[neil_m]

thank you moonbear, lol.
Definately like a pie fight. Only more fun cus there's more physics to this than projectile mechanics! ;)
come on people I know people who say science is not fun or cool.
I DISAGREE
lets have some FUN!

 

[GENIERE]

I’d say that for most a BS in engineering is a great choice for advanced study of any field. For the high intellect theorist or mathematician it would be a waste of time.

If you took your fathers watch apart to see how it worked when you were 8 years old, you’re an engineer. If, at an earlier age, you looked in a mirror and wondered why your ears were on the wrong side, you’re a physicist. I have no idea what drives a mathematician, only envy.

 

[i_wish_i_was_smart]

Put it this way.. physics and math majors sit atop the food chain and look down on everybody else :D

Everyone knows art majors are at the very bottom, though ;)

you are dead right, DOWN WITH ARTS, DOWN WITH ARTSIES HAAHAHAHAHA

If you took your fathers watch apart to see how it worked when you were 8 years old, you’re an engineer. If, at an earlier age, you looked in a mirror and wondered why your ears were on the wrong side, you’re a physicist. I have no idea what drives a mathematician, only envy

you are also right, oh so many times di i take brand new electronics my parents and i took them apart, sometimes i put them back together and they didnt always work hehe such is the price for learning i guess, my dad always said i'd make a good engineer, well I'm taking engineering, i don't know about the being good part yet but... if you want to waste your time in a lab or in an office be in physics, if not and you like th outdoors pick a trade, but we proud, we few, shall become engineers DOWN WITH ARTSIES haha

 

[JasonRox]

People get driven into mathematics because they see beauty, not necessarily simplicity, within numbers.

I enjoy numbers very much, but my bad background isn't helping much.

Also, I try and normally don't look down on students in other programs. I hate competitiveness within programs on which is better or which is a waste of time.

Do what you love, and keep your trap shut.

 

[neil_m]

well i do agree with you. but this was the point of this thread. Dont take offense to it, in here forgive it. i just want to see some creative opinions.
Although I didn't include 'Mathematician' (Physicist and Engineers are essentially Mathematicians). Props to "pure" Mathematicians though...they study the very language of Physicists and Engineers (and pretty much anything else...but to stay on topic).
So no hard feelings... as Moonbear said its, "all good fun...like a pie fight"
;)

 

[Moses]

Mmm...
Well, sounding odd by taking pre-mid courses, majoring at electrical engineering and physics, and studying psychology as a minor, I found taking a mojor in mathematics will help me in all the above much more than if i did not take it!

I found physics people and math people are the Giants at which the engineers stand on their shoulders to make theory "useful" to people walking in the streets. If i was "educatiojn minister" or whatever you call it i will make a law that every body at Uni has to take a minor in mathematics because it help in "engineering" the ideas in any other field.. from sciences fields to humanities to Arts...even in figuring our the proper steps to cook eggs...

Still, engineers are the practical people who intesect with human societies from solutions of need perspective, while physicist and mathematician are seeing it from "natural facts" perspective..

Quite honesly: This question sounds with non-sense in someways. Its like: Who is better to serve society: Medicine/Pharmacy people, or Chemistry/ Biology people...both are crucial steps...and that it is!
[I am thinking of growing a lo-o-ong beard, and "paint" it in white to look more as wiseman in my sayings... ]

 

[Math Is Hard]

I'm neither, though I've dated an engineer, but no physicists. I have a "thing" for engineers...they're both booksmart and practical. I think being an engineer will get you more women than being a physics major. Is that sufficient justification for you all to become engineers?

ha ha ha I'm just the opposite-
I've dated physicists, but not engineers. In truth, I think it's fun to date the physicists, but I'd rather settle down with an engineer. Engineers are more reliable and stable.

 

[Soilwork]

hahaha it's funny the different things that are talked about.
I'd say generally a lot of physics students can bore you ****less in a second.
While engineers don't have time to bore you because they're too busy trying to get lucky ;) engineers = 80% are amoral

 

[Clausius2]

It seems to me that besides courses like electronics and simulations of dynamical systems, there is not much extra to learn when someone with a physics degree starts to study engineering.
marlon

Here you showed a bit of unreal superiority, didn't you?. I don't know how is engineering in Belgium, but here a physicist is unable to do something in the third, fourth, and fifth year of my engineering program. Our knowledge is more general and at the same time more specific in areas not covered by physicists. For intance, an usual physicist here don't know anything about Resistance of Materials, Machine's Design, Structural Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Heat Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Finance and Administration of Businesses.

You know, a new knowledge takes away some time in your life and some space in your brain, so it is impossible you have had the time and space to have both knowledges.

 

[marlon]

Here you showed a bit of unreal superiority, didn't you?. I don't know how is engineering in Belgium, but here a physicist is unable to do something in the third, fourth, and fifth year of my engineering program. Our knowledge is more general and at the same time more specific in areas not covered by physicists. For intance, an usual physicist here don't know anything about Resistance of Materials, Machine's Design, Structural Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Heat Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Finance and Administration of Businesses.

You know, a new knowledge takes away some time in your life and some space in your brain, so it is impossible you have had the time and space to have both knowledges.

I disagree, most people here that have studied physics will understand very well the subjects you just mentioned. Finance and Administration of Business is quite vague. What do you mean by those 'subjects'?

I never said a physicist will know these subjects better then an engineer, ofcourse not. I am only saying that for a physicist it is more easy to learn these topics because they are all just apllied physics...


marlon

 

[marlon]

You know, a new knowledge takes away some time in your life and some space in your brain, so it is impossible you have had the time and space to have both knowledges.

?

I studied theoretical physics and did my master thesis on quarkconfinement. Now i am studying "engineering in applied physics" and my specialization is photonica. Why can't I have knowledge on two or more different subjects AND i am only 24 now...

marlon

 

[Soilwork]

yeah definitely.
Fluid Dynamics, resistance of materials and electrical engineering.
Those subject physicist would know about for sure.
I'm only second year, but I know the course structure and there are units relating to what you listed.
But it's not saying that physicists are smarter or anything like that.
Just cover those units.
And who gives a toss in the end.
As long as your life is good you don't need to be smart or carry a huge chip on your shoulder.
Just relax :) If people do feel the need to look down on others then that's their problem.

 

[Clausius2]

I disagree, most people here that have studied physics will understand very well the subjects you just mentioned. ...
I am only saying that for a physicist it is more easy to learn these topics because they are all just apllied physics...
marlon

That has more sense. The term ""understand very well"" is a bit vague too. How much? Enough to pass our exams? Answer-->Not. I know something about quantum dynamics, special and general relativity, atoms and atomic structure, and also about physics of particles. But it is, like your knowledge about the subjects I stated in my last post, a general knowledge or general culture. I'm not prepared at all to pass any of your exams of your theoretical physics program. My knowledge about that is maybe a 2% of what you really know about it. You don't know what is Electrical Engineering merely by solving an RC circuit, because the real problems of an Electrical Engineer are more difficult than that.

Surely, If you'd get into an engineering program you will find easy to get new knowledge about engineering because of that technical apprenticeship. But the inverse situation is also true. I would find easy to learn about theoretical physics due to my little knowledge in physics.

 

[franznietzsche]

Here you showed a bit of unreal superiority, didn't you?. I don't know how is engineering in Belgium, but here a physicist is unable to do something in the third, fourth, and fifth year of my engineering program. Our knowledge is more general and at the same time more specific in areas not covered by physicists. For intance, an usual physicist here don't know anything about Resistance of Materials, Machine's Design, Structural Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Heat Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Finance and Administration of Businesses.

You know, a new knowledge takes away some time in your life and some space in your brain, so it is impossible you have had the time and space to have both knowledges.

Fluid Dynamics is a subfield of condensed matter physics.

Same with resistance of materials.

Heat engineering, see thermodynamics.

Electrical Engineering, my school goes so far as to have an electronics or electro-optics concentration for the physics major.

The only one a physicist would not be able to match in would be the ambiguous business admin part. Of course, this is entirely out of disdain rather than inability, we tend to make fun of the college of business very much.

 

[marlon]

But the inverse situation is also true. I would find easy to learn about theoretical physics due to my little knowledge in physics.

Untrue. trust me it would be more difficult for an engineer to study QFT then for a physicist to study mechatronics for the first time...
Beeing a physicist that is following the engineering curriculum right now, i know what i am talking about.

marlon

 

[marlon]

Fluid Dynamics is a subfield of condensed matter physics.

Same with resistance of materials.

Heat engineering, see thermodynamics.

Electrical Engineering, my school goes so far as to have an electronics or electro-optics concentration for the physics major.

The only one a physicist would not be able to match in would be the ambiguous business admin part. Of course, this is entirely out of disdain rather than inability, we tend to make fun of the college of business very much.

amen to these wise words...Besides i also studied opto-electronics and lasers when i was in my senior year.

marlon

 

[Clausius2]

Fluid Dynamics is a subfield of condensed matter physics.


Heat engineering, see thermodynamics.

Heat engineering, see thermodynamics?? What's that?

Do you think heat engineering, Heat Engines, Heat Transfer, Propulsion Engineering, Fluid-dynamics engineering are merely concentrated in a themodynamic course?? There are several engineers who are studying these topics all their life. And these fields are 90% covered by engineers, I know this field very very very very well.

Here you are putting the problem upside down. You are forgetting that are the engineers and not the physicists who are present at many many fields, some of them being far away from their original knowledge. Is for this reason the industry demands engineers. The polivalence is in our side, not in yours. And this is a fact.

 

[Fritz]

In general, is engineering a lot easier than physics?

 

[Clausius2]

In general, is engineering a lot easier than physics?

SURE NOT

Where are the engineers here? I'm alone??

 

[vanesch]

In general, is engineering a lot easier than physics?

For the record, I started out as an engineer (Electromechanics) and after that I did a masters and a PhD in experimental particle physics. I've been working both in physicist-dominated, and engineering dominated environments.

My general opinion is that the cultures are quite different. Physicists have quite advanced courses (conceptually more difficult) as compared to engineers ; however, I have the impression that engineers afterwards apply more theoretical knowledge than physicists, and probably this is because the course material tought to engineers is "closer to real-world application" than are the more fundamental matters tought to physicists.
Take an example: signal processing. For the physicist, this is easy: the theory of linear differential equations for continuous signals, and of linear algebra in the case of discrete signals. However, if a physicist has to actually design a digital filter, that's another piece of cake. For engineers, they lack maybe the overall view on the mathematics but they've spend so many more hours on actually DOING signal processing, that they can apply it.
Recently I had another example: most of the people around me are physicists, and know very well electrostatics. But to actually sit down and calculate the electrostatic field in a given setup (in this case using conformal transformations), I was the only one able to do it from A to Z.

 

[Clausius2]

For the record, I started out as an engineer (Electromechanics) and after that I did a masters and a PhD in experimental particle physics. I've been working both in physicist-dominated, and engineering dominated environments.

My general opinion is that the cultures are quite different. Physicists have quite advanced courses (conceptually more difficult) as compared to engineers ; however, I have the impression that engineers afterwards apply more theoretical knowledge than physicists, and probably this is because the course material tought to engineers is "closer to real-world application" than are the more fundamental matters tought to physicists.
Take an example: signal processing. For the physicist, this is easy: the theory of linear differential equations for continuous signals, and of linear algebra in the case of discrete signals. However, if a physicist has to actually design a digital filter, that's another piece of cake. For engineers, they lack maybe the overall view on the mathematics but they've spend so many more hours on actually DOING signal processing, that they can apply it.
Recently I had another example: most of the people around me are physicists, and know very well electrostatics. But to actually sit down and calculate the electrostatic field in a given setup (in this case using conformal transformations), I was the only one able to do it from A to Z.

Now, Marlon, yes, it's the time for, as you said:

AMEN TO THAT!

 

[JasonRox]

We have a engineering fan going on a "better-than-you" trip.

The reason why a physicists would probably never to extremely well in engineering is because he will get bored. Being so used to studying things rigorously and quickly, and going down a level to the very basics will cause boredom. Boredom cause people to not go to class, which causes bad grades in most cases. In the eyes of a physicists, why bother with such boring stuff.

This applies to engineering people too. Engineers think it is useless to learn things that can't be applied or what not.

Who really cares anyways?

I don't care if someone thinks their subject is harder than mine. I really don't care. I am not taking it because its hard or easy. I am taking it because I LLLIIIKKKEEE IIITTT!

Get over your cocky attitudes.

 

[russ_watters]

I stayed out of this thread because I didn't like the tone of the opening post, but by request...

as a high school student who likes physics, i wanted to know what would be better?? the degree of engineering or a degree for becoming a physicist ( a physics major i guess ) ?

As said, "better" is subjective, and a lot depends on what you like. But, to me, the most important reason to become an engineer and not a physicist is that the point of college is to prepare yourself for a career and there are more jobs in engineering than physics.

Second, engineers and physicists often have fundamentally different ways of looking at the universe: physicists deal with the theoretical and engineers deal with the practical. I have firsthand experience with a brilliant physicist-turned-engineer for whom reality existed only in his head and as a result, couldn't engineer himself out of a wet paper bag. He made stupid mistakes because while he could figure out what was needed, he didn't consider whether the ideas in his head would actually work: is there a product that does what you want?, does it fit where you want to put it?, can it be connected to the existing system?, how much does it cost?, etc.

Third, in engineering there is a lot more teamwork, interpersonal relations, and, above all, responsibility involved - so more opportunity to use and develop leadership skills.

Fourth: the chicks prefer engineers (evidence already presented)

Basically, the way to decide between the two is ask yourself: "Self, what do I want to do after I graduate?" If you want to push the envelope of what we know, physics is a good choice. If you want to build satellites the day after graduation, engineering is the way to go.

Also, the idea that one or the other can easily be converted into the other/one is pretty naive. There is some overlap, but not as much as some people think. Note: I'm not talking about getting a degree in physics then a masters in engineering or vice versa, but about the implication that a physics major could pass a thermodynamics test or a physicist could do an engineer's job.

edit: as far as difficulty/intensity level in college goes, there is wide variation in engineering. But I would put EE or Aero up against physics any day. With one caveat: I think everyone has a point at which they level off in the complexity of math they can learn. The math of physics does pretty much just keep going up. And while much of that is available to engineers, it generally isn't required. For me, calculus was a piece of cake, but I had trouble getting my arms around differential equations. And that's not just about intelligence - attention span and memory play a big role as well.

 

[JasonRox]

I think this post should be closed/locked since the intentions are obvious.

In the end, we all love each other and let's not allow a dumb thread cause problems.

 

[Moonbear]

Another consideration for choosing between the two: would you prefer to be confined to a lab all day long, or to work in an office and occassionally escape to do some field work in the great outdoors? Physicists, by and large, will find themselves working in a lab, perhaps windowless, perhaps below ground, perhaps in a facility that requires security clearance so they can't even tell their family what they do all day (though, truthfully, this probably is a good thing, or you'd suffer the disappointment that while they let you talk, they really don't care or have a clue what you're telling them). Engineers get to work in more traditional office settings, but also get to talk to non-engineers more often than physicists will deal with non-physicists. Engineers have to talk to the people who will actually be building whatever they are designing, or the people who will be buying what they are making. Depending on the field of engineering, fieldwork may be involved, and it may force you to get down and dirty and play in mud or water, climb around construction sites, visit manufacturing or processing plants, dodge cars on busy highways, and maybe even do some heavy lifting. For some who like to stay clean, this is a drawback, for those who get claustrophobic in an office setting, they may embrace this chance to go play in dirt once in a while. With physics, a lot of what you will do will deal with things too small to see...this delving into the subatomic world will fascinate some. Others will prefer engineering, where you get to see what you designed once it's built, you can point to it and show your friends...hey, I designed that car, microchip, bridge, plant, etc.

In every field of science, there is an applied field and a basic science field. Both are good, both are important, and you'll be attracted to one or the other based on your own personal objectives, likes, dislikes, etc. The most important thing is to keep the flow of information between the two, which doesn't always happen as well as it should. Personally, I most enjoy working a bit between those two realms to usher basic science into the hands of those who can apply it.

 

[Moonbear]

I think this post should be closed/locked since the intentions are obvious.

In the end, we all love each other and let's not allow a dumb thread cause problems.

I don't see the thread heading in a bad direction...I'm sure Evo is keeping a close eye that it doesn't go astray. I think it's useful for people to see why folks in a given field chose that over another one that seems similar to those just starting out and trying to choose between the two. There's nothing wrong with asking people to put their best argument forward as to why they chose their field of study/work, and why they think it's the very best thing to choose. You can do that without needing to put down other fields. Just tell folks what all the great things are that you get to do in a day. The vast array of choices available are not understood or even known to all those high school students who need to start making choices about them. When I was in high school, I had no idea what an engineer did. I didn't even know there was such a major as engineering, or options in science other than chemistry, biology and physics. Some of you probably take it for granted that everyone knows these things, but if you grow up in a blue collar family in a blue collar part of town, you don't have any exposure to people who can tell you what your options are. So, share with the folks here, what do you get to do with your field of physics or engineering...take the high road while educating some folks here who will appreciate learning the different options available.

 

[Evo]

Fourth: the chicks prefer engineers (evidence already presented)

I'm mixed on that. I've dated tons of engineers, mostly aerospace (I lived near NASA in Houston), also a chemical engineer, a software engineer, structural engineer, etc... Engineers, for the most part are CHEAP and stress over every nickel and dime they spend. On the other hand physicists will not call you for three days and then explain it by saying they lost track of time.

My dad was an electrical engineer, btw.

 

[neil_m]

Thank you people for realising that this isn't meant to ultimately have one discipline claim dominance over the other. I wanted people who knew what they were talking about, to give their opinions that's all. I want everyone to know I am seriously considering the two on every level, and I just wanted to see the personal attatchment individuals have with their respective discipline. I have noting but respect and love for Engineering and Physics...(and Mathematics) -(hey even the Arts...umm sorry...not much for business though...)...and still believe being based generally on the same things, they are equal but different and CANNOT be compared based on their worth. Which is why ONCE AGAIN, this is a comparion between OPINIONS.
thank you, thank you, thank you, people. (keep it clean please, and thanks again)