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Felix Quintana
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Only possible job for me is to become a physicist because it's the only subject I enjoy every second of it. Can I know what the competition of a job will be and the process Ill need to complete to become one,
Felix Quintana said:Only possible job for me is to become a physicist because it's the only subject I enjoy every second of it. Can I know what the competition of a job will be and the process Ill need to complete to become one,
ModusPwnd said:It's very hard to be a physicist. The vast majority of physics grads never become one. Of my undergraduate class none of us were able to do it.
You really need to open your mind or you will never be happy.
ModusPwnd said:It's very hard to be a physicist. The vast majority of physics grads never become one. Of my undergraduate class none of us were able to do it.
You really need to open your mind or you will never be happy.
Felix Quintana said:What am I supposed to do then? Why should I even try? I won't get to do what I love.
Amrator said:Felix, I say go for it, man. You don't need to be a genius to be a physicist. It's all about hard work and persistence. Most of my physics professors say that they struggled, and that they just kept pushing.
Like I said in my post, luck is a huge component of it. But the way I see it is even if you don't get a permanent research position, you can still get many jobs outside of physics.f95toli said:The problem is that you also need luck. Hard work and persistence will get you a PhD, but to actually get a permanent position as a physicist you have have quite a bit of luck- you have to have the right set of skills and be at the right place at the right time and know the right people (i.e. have worked with someone who can recoomend you for the position).
If the government/funding agencies decides that your chosen subject is a national priority then your chances of getting a job goes up dramatically, if you happen to have done all your work in an area which is no longer "hot" you might be out of luck irrespective of how good you are.
Amrator said:Like I said in my post, luck is a huge component of it. But the way I see it is even if you don't get a permanent research position, you can still get many jobs outside of physics.
StatGuy2000 said:BTW ModusPwnd, do you know what happened to your undergraduate class after graduation? Do you know what career paths they have found themselves?
ModusPwnd said:I say none became physicists, but the people doing radiation treatment might actually have a job title of "medical physicist". I think they did the best in terms of career, pay and marketable skills.
Felix Quintana said:Why should I even try? I won't get to do what I love.
I understand what you guys are saying, thank you. Medical physicist could be a possibility with me, as for engineering, I'm not much of a fan. All this made me reflect what should I do with my life.StatGuy2000 said:Felix, keep in mind where ModusPwnd is coming from. If you follow his posts here on PF, you'll realize that he had finished his BS in physics, was enrolled in a PhD program which he could not complete (and was awarded a MS due to this), and then ended up working as a pizza delivery man for years before completing some electrical engineering courses (not sure if he completed a second degree or not), and is now working as an engineer. So understand that there is some underlying bitterness regarding his university experiences.
(ModusPwnd, feel free to step in if I'm being inaccurate or have misrepresented your posts).
Now onto your original post. I'm not sure how far along you are in your studies, but how do you know that physics is the only subject that you enjoy? There are very many subject areas that are similar to physics (e.g. electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, mathematics, computer science, etc.) Are you sure you won't enjoy any of them?
It's also worth keeping in mind that a physics degree have the potential to provide skill sets that can be used or applied in areas other than physics (e.g. programming/software development if you take CS classes along with physics). Many physics graduates have done precisely this and are happily employed in such fields. So don't be discouraged from pursuing physics -- just be smart and make sure you develop your skills more broadly.
Felix Quintana said:All this made me reflect what should I do with my life.
Choppy said:Why would a medical physicist not count as a physicist?
Perhaps for clarification, it's important to draw the distinction between radiation therapist and medical physicist. A radiation therapist is someone who actually delivers radiation to a patient for treatment. Medical physicists have a lot less direct patient contact and do a lot more work behind the scenes.
ModusPwnd said:Teaching at elementry and high school is what many of my fellow undergrads ended up doing. A large minority, the most "popular" outcome. A couple went into the armed forces, a couple are doing radiation therapy, some are back on school for other things, some are doing menial work. Lots of different outcomes. I say none became physicists, but the people doing radiation treatment might actually have a job title of "medical physicist". I think they did the best in terms of career, pay and marketable skills.
Wanting a physics education is reasonable. Expecting to be a professional physicist with no other interest is not a reasonable expectation.
Of course, it's a good idea to get perspectives from people who are not physicists, because if you only hear from physicists, you might get some distorted idea about how easy it is. Every step is a filter: getting into college, graduating, getting into grad school, qualifying, doing good research, graduating, finding a post-doc position, getting funding, building a reputation, landing a faculty position... I don't know if there's ever a point where you can say, "damn, that was tough but I've finally made it", since I haven't gotten that far. I'm a post-doc and the path forward doesn't really look any easier than the path behind me. I suppose if you get tenure at a university then you "made it".StatGuy2000 said:Felix, keep in mind where ModusPwnd is coming from. If you follow his posts here on PF, you'll realize that he had finished his BS in physics, was enrolled in a PhD program which he could not complete (and was awarded a MS due to this), and then ended up working as a pizza delivery man for years before completing some electrical engineering courses (not sure if he completed a second degree or not), and is now working as an engineer. So understand that there is some underlying bitterness regarding his university experiences.
ModusPwnd said:Teaching at elementry and high school is what many of my fellow undergrads ended up doing. A large minority, the most "popular" outcome. A couple went into the armed forces, a couple are doing radiation therapy, some are back on school for other things, some are doing menial work. Lots of different outcomes. I say none became physicists, but the people doing radiation treatment might actually have a job title of "medical physicist". I think they did the best in terms of career, pay and marketable skills.
Wanting a physics education is reasonable. Expecting to be a professional physicist with no other interest is not a reasonable expectation.
The path to becoming a physicist typically involves obtaining a Bachelor's degree, which takes about 4 years, followed by a Master's degree, which takes an additional 2-3 years, and finally a PhD, which can take anywhere from 4-7 years. In total, it can take around 10-14 years to become a physicist.
While a PhD is not always required, it is highly recommended for those who want to pursue a career in research or academia. Many jobs in the field of physics require a PhD, and having one can greatly increase your job opportunities and earning potential.
To become a physicist, you will need a strong foundation in mathematics, critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific research methods. Additionally, skills in computer programming and data analysis are becoming increasingly important in the field.
The field of physics is highly competitive, as it attracts some of the brightest and most ambitious individuals. It is important to have a strong academic record, research experience, and a passion for the subject in order to stand out in this competitive field.
Job prospects for physicists are generally good, especially for those with advanced degrees. Many physicists find employment in research and development, academia, government agencies, and private sector industries such as technology and engineering. The demand for physicists is also expected to grow in fields such as renewable energy, healthcare, and data science.