High School senior confused in life

[xilc]

High School senior confused in life... :(




I was wondering if anyone had any insight as to which career path I should take? I am interested astronautical engineering, because of my love of space and designing spacecraft seems incredibly interesting and fun... It would be a dream to one day go out in space, but that will probably never happen. I love love love the idea of exploring space, and making machinery that goes out into space.


I would consider astronomy, because I love physics, and science, and I love watching the TV series the universe. It's just so amazing, and everything on it is so interesting. It's like...When I watch it, and they talk about all these mysteries they're working on and all these things they're trying to solve...It makes me think heavily about them. I can sit there, thinking and watching the show for hours, thinking about it. I love the idea of astronomy.

I just don't understand what career an avid lover of space like myself would pursue...And I'm slightly worried my love of space is due to the glitzy, or glamorous parts of it... I know, they do tons and tons of math, but that hardly worries me when I think of how amazing everything about space is.

But my worry in picking any of the careers I'm considering is that I wouldn't begin to know where to find a job as anything I've listed above, because I haven't really met anyone that is a member of those professions. With today's economy, I fear it might be a bit hard to find a job...



I have also considered legal/criminal justice, because A: I love law, and the idea of being a police officer/detective, and being a lawyer/attorney would be fun. I know, legal is WAYYY off of Aeronautics/space/physics, but I guess it's the 'practical' career path. Pursuing a degree in anything with astronautics/aeronautics/space physics would of course be anything but easy. Probably the hardest thing I can do.

so I was hoping someone here could help...
Thanks!

 

[Choppy]

It's always difficult to make decisions when you havemulitple interests.

Something you might want to consider is focusing first on your education. If you're really passionate about building things then maybe an engineering degree is the way to go. Rather than pick up a specialty early on, start out basic - take a general engineering year first, then specialize afterwards. You can work in the space industry just as easily with a mechanical or electrical engineering degree or perhaps an engineering physics degree as you can with an 'astronautical' engineering degree. A physics degree would be another option. You can compliment this with a minor in astronomy.

Once you have that, the options you're talking about are all still available to you. If space research appeals to you, you could then go on to do graduate work. If you're more interested in a job at that point, you could see what's available in the industry. If you would rather go into law enforcement, a degree will help you both in getting in and in advancing through the ranks. Law school would also be an option for you because that basic degree is what you generally need to get in.

 

[Artus]

You really should consider labour market. Astronautics is not doing well because of lack of funds. Private companies are not making so much progress and they could quit the effort. Astronomy/Astrophysics is already crowded, and a degree in Law might get you a job but you're going to be almost drowned in debt. Physics is the best starting point so you can give a try to your interests. You could also try to get an Engineering minor so you could be more 'commercial'

 

[xilc]

It's always difficult to make decisions when you havemulitple interests.

Something you might want to consider is focusing first on your education. If you're really passionate about building things then maybe an engineering degree is the way to go. Rather than pick up a specialty early on, start out basic - take a general engineering year first, then specialize afterwards. You can work in the space industry just as easily with a mechanical or electrical engineering degree or perhaps an engineering physics degree as you can with an 'astronautical' engineering degree. A physics degree would be another option. You can compliment this with a minor in astronomy.

Once you have that, the options you're talking about are all still available to you. If space research appeals to you, you could then go on to do graduate work. If you're more interested in a job at that point, you could see what's available in the industry. If you would rather go into law enforcement, a degree will help you both in getting in and in advancing through the ranks. Law school would also be an option for you because that basic degree is what you generally need to get in.

Hm, you're right...It seems like I am mistakenly thinking that having an Aerospace/astrospace engineering degree is the only way to get close to a company like nasa...I considered majoring in physics, but idk what I can do with that major alone.

 

[MECHster]

You really should consider labour market. Astronautics is not doing well because of lack of funds. Private companies are not making so much progress and they could quit the effort. Astronomy/Astrophysics is already crowded, and a degree in Law might get you a job but you're going to be almost drowned in debt. Physics is the best starting point so you can give a try to your interests. You could also try to get an Engineering minor so you could be more 'commercial'

I disagree about looking at the labour market. Even if you could predict the market for aerospace engineers after graduation (which is very difficult), your degree would still be employable. Aerospace engineering programs are very similar to mechanical engineering programs. You will likely take almost exact courses until 4th year, when you can specialize. With some self-studying about topics in which a mech would take but not an aero, an aerospace engineer would be just as qualified for many jobs, as a mech grad would be. In my opinion, since your (OP) interested in aero/astronautics, I recommend trying to get into an undergraduate aerospace engineering program. Some schools do not even offer a engineering minors (i.e. my school).

Finally, if you are still interested in law after your undergrad you can always go to law school, whereas if you take some sort of pre-law undergrad (philosophy, criminology) it will be much harder to switch into engineering.

 

[WatermelonPig]

Start in engineering because then you could just switch to physics if you want to. The other way around usually does not work well in terms of graduating on time.

 

[elfboy]

plastics

 

[nobelium102]

I have the exact same problem as you do too
I wanted to study cosmology and astrophysics thought of working and researching at NASA
or become physics professor but It takes lots of time and money
so than i thought of becoming engineer cause of more job prospect and more income but that's not what i exactly wanted to do... i don't want to end up in some kind of company and i am a employer,,, if that was my dream i would have done business
...
I have noidea what to do
should i go for engineering or physics
omg
omgomg
zomg
life is hard

 

[PoetaPhysics]

Although I was accepted into Florida Tech for Astrophysics, the job ecnonomy working as an Astrophysicist/Professor is absolutely terrible, so instead of spending 47K a year ( I'd be liable for around 20K of it) I decided being 80-250K ( depending on how long I attended college) in the hole is too big of a chance to take. I was in the same boat as you, and I still am. I go to school and do independent research on the subjects I love learning about,
( Astrophysics/Theoretical Physics/Meta Physics and other theories i think of ). So my advice is always have a back up plan. Good luck.

 

[nobelium102]

yea?
but I think I going to try it!
good luck to you too, so what are you planning to do after school?

 

[twofish-quant]

Although I was accepted into Florida Tech for Astrophysics, the job ecnonomy working as an Astrophysicist/Professor is absolutely terrible

That's true, but the job market for people with astrophysics Ph.D.'s is quite good. The important thing is to realize that there are jobs other than research professors, and some of them pay *extremely* well.

I decided being 80-250K ( depending on how long I attended college) in the hole is too big of a chance to take. I was in the same boat as you, and I still am. I go to school and do independent research on the subjects I love learning about

People in physics graduate school typically work as teaching or research assistants. Also many student loans have no-interest deferrals until you get out of graduate school.

Independent research is a bad idea, because no research is truly independent, and without going to graduate school, you won't have an idea of what physics research looks like. Also, research is a highly social activity, and graduate school gets you into the club.

The big problem is time and money. You have to eat. In graduate school, you get paid a small amount so you don't starve, and you can spend the rest of your time doing research. Once you are out of that environment, you have to worry about eating which poses a challenge.

 

[twofish-quant]

You shouldn't plan your life out too much. It's a good idea to explore and see what's out there. You probably don't know for example that investment banks are major employers of astrophysicists.

I wanted to study cosmology and astrophysics thought of working and researching at NASA or become physics professor but It takes lots of time and money

Lot's of time, not really that much money.

life is hard

It helps if you don't plan everything out. I'm at least twice as old as you, and I still aren't sure what I want to do with my life.

 

[PoetaPhysics]

That's true, but the job market for people with astrophysics Ph.D.'s is quite good. The important thing is to realize that there are jobs other than research professors, and some of them pay *extremely* well.



People in physics graduate school typically work as teaching or research assistants. Also many student loans have no-interest deferrals until you get out of graduate school.

Independent research is a bad idea, because no research is truly independent, and without going to graduate school, you won't have an idea of what physics research looks like. Also, research is a highly social activity, and graduate school gets you into the club.

The big problem is time and money. You have to eat. In graduate school, you get paid a small amount so you don't starve, and you can spend the rest of your time doing research. Once you are out of that environment, you have to worry about eating which poses a challenge.

Independent research is something I do to continue learning on a subject I'm unable to progress academically in, if you honestly think that's a bad idea you're sadly mistaken, and have no interest in learning.

 

[Entropee]

Well I suppose I can climb in this boat with you. We basically have the same interests, but I like the cosmology side more than the engineering side. I'm going for a double major in physics / astronomy and will see what happens after that, just remember that atleast you will have a very good and highly impressive degree to help you get jobs. For me personally, I just don't want to have to worry about my financial situation, I don't care about being rich.