Is a Science Career Right for Me? Finding Your Fit in the World of Research

  • Thread starter Thread starter scilover89
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Career Science
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the challenges of finding a suitable career in science, particularly when personal interests do not align with traditional expectations. A participant expresses a preference for topics like Relativity and Quantum Mechanics over Classical Mechanics, questioning their fit for a research career. Others suggest that personality tests and guides may not be effective in determining one's path, advocating instead for hands-on experiences like internships to explore interests. There is a critique of personality assessments, such as the Myers-Briggs test, which some believe unfairly categorize individuals and limit career possibilities. The conversation emphasizes the importance of personal passion and the idea that success in science is not solely determined by personality traits.
scilover89
Messages
78
Reaction score
0
I like science(at least I think so), but I don't like every part of it equally. For example, I like Relativity and QM, but I don't really like mechanic.
I like to ask question and do experiment, but I wonder whether I suit the research career, or which science field. Are there any test or guide that can be helpful?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Tests and guides are rarely helpful. You might want to look into an internship in a certain field to know whether or not that's where you want to go into. Other than that, you bassically have all of your first and second year of college to figure it out. You can never be too sure.
 
i wondered the same things because i have given a couple of tests at shrinks offcies regarding personality aptitude iq etc. and i have got a result that indicates that though my iq is high enough for science, my personality which is extroverted and sportsy and outdoorsy, is not suited for it, then my school cousellor has the gall to tell me (as if we were in a communist society), that see here, wen we look for scientists we generally look out for introverted people, blah blah blah, i am ready to spend my life at a microscope doing research on genetics, so its all about what YOU want to do,
 
You like relativity, but you hate mechanics?

That makes no sense at all.
 
JasonRox said:
You like relativity, but you hate mechanics?

That makes no sense at all.


Maybe he means he likes the concepts, but doesn't like to do the maths..? :rolleyes:
 
scilover89 said:
I like Relativity and QM, but I don't really like mechanic.
I like to ask question and do experiment, . . .
Can you elaborate on this statement.

Do you mean that you like the application of Special Relativity (SR) and Quantum Mechanics, but you do not like Classical Mechanics (or Statics and Dynamics).

As JasonRox pointed out, the statement as written is somewhat puzzling. It is difficult to avoid 'mechanics' in SR or QM.
 
scilover89 said:
I like science(at least I think so), but I don't like every part of it equally. For example, I like Relativity and QM, but I don't really like mechanic.
I like to ask question and do experiment, but I wonder whether I suit the research career, or which science field. Are there any test or guide that can be helpful?

classical mechanics you mean?
 
NeoVision said:
i wondered the same things because i have given a couple of tests at shrinks offcies regarding personality aptitude iq etc. and i have got a result that indicates that though my iq is high enough for science, my personality which is extroverted and sportsy and outdoorsy, is not suited for it, then my school cousellor has the gall to tell me (as if we were in a communist society), that see here, wen we look for scientists we generally look out for introverted people, blah blah blah, i am ready to spend my life at a microscope doing research on genetics, so its all about what YOU want to do,

That's the problem with those Meyer-Briggs personality tests. Imagine if everyone of the same "personality" ended up at the same sets of careers. Things would be extremely dull. Unfortunately, shrinks, career counselors, and human resource departments take the results way too seriously.
 

Similar threads

Back
Top