How to start a career in physics having a degree in applied math?

[ricky33]

Hello, I have a Bachelor's degree in mathematics and I want to pursue a career in physics. I have a good understanding of physics and have the ability to learn very advanced topics by myself just by reading college books and solving the exercises. I am more attracted to experimental physics but I think it's harder to transition to the experimental side without having lab experience. So my hopes are that I land a job in anything related to physics (theoretical or computational) and from there make my way into experimental. Is it possible to achieve that with a BSc or an MSc in applied math? What are the possible positions that I can apply to? What is the most physics-related job that I can get if I'm willing to learn all the topics that a physics major learns?

 

[Choppy]

If you seriously want to pursue physics as a career, your best bet is to look into what will be required for you to get into a PhD program from where you're at. Likely you'll need to complete a few courses at the undergraduate level that weren't part of your applied math program to qualify for admission, but it's best if you speak to an academic advisor about the details.

Note that learning topics on your own won't count for much, I'm afraid.

The other thing to think about is what specifically you mean by "a career in physics." If you mean academia, keep in mind that this is an extremely competitive field. The majority of people who earn PhDs eventually leave academia. Many end up going into the commercial/industrial sector and work in data science, programming, engineering, research and development, technical sales, etc. and find careers that are tangentially related to their physics background, but are not specifically doing the physics they envisioned when they embarked on their educational paths.