Is a career in astrophysics the right path for you?

[Chicken1999]

Hi,
I would like to ask you, How has your experience in pursuing your career in astrophysics been like? Such as College, University, Finding work in the field and working in the field.

I ask because I love the subject, definite passion of mine and now i'd like to pursue it, get to university and work towards a masters, then a Ph.D.

I'd like to hear how you've all got on pursuing your careers in astrophysics and maybe it'll help prepare me for what I am getting into. Also, I am very curious and interested in your experiences :).

Thank you.

 

[twofish-quant]

I would like to ask you, How has your experience in pursuing your career in astrophysics been like? Such as College, University, Finding work in the field and working in the field.

Painful because I had to unbrainwash myself of the idea that the only "real" job was a research professor. Once that was done, it wasn't too bad. Worked for an oil/gas company for seven years, then a logistics startup for three, and then switched to finance, for another three years.

Right now, it looks as if I'll have enough money in the bank so that in another few years, I'll just camp out at some university and write supernova code and publish papers for the rest of my life.

I'd like to hear how you've all got on pursuing your careers in astrophysics and maybe it'll help prepare me for what I am getting into. Also, I am very curious and interested in your experiences :).

The one big thing that you need to know early on is that it's rather unlikely that you'll end up being a research professor. The second thing is that you'll have to spend more time that you imagined "finding your own path." The good/bad thing about physics is that it's not a degree for which your career is planned for you, so you have to expect to create your own career.