Is Engineering a Viable Option for Grad School After a B.S. in Math and Physics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the viability of pursuing graduate studies in engineering after obtaining a B.S. in Math and Physics. Participants share personal experiences, academic backgrounds, and considerations regarding graduate school options, funding, and the competitiveness of different fields.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares their academic achievements, including a GPA of 3.5/3.6, and expresses gratitude for the community's support.
  • Several participants congratulate the original poster (OP) on their graduation and share personal reflections on their own academic journeys.
  • There is a discussion about the differences in grading experiences in math and physics courses, with one participant noting their opposite performance in these subjects.
  • One participant suggests that switching to engineering for graduate studies could be a viable option, citing that engineering programs may be less competitive than math/physics due to job opportunities available to engineers with bachelor's degrees.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential need for leveling courses in engineering graduate programs, which the OP expresses reluctance to undertake.
  • Another participant mentions that funding for graduate school is often available for Ph.D. students, but this may not apply to master's programs, especially outside the U.S.
  • The OP clarifies their intention to pursue a master's program rather than a Ph.D. and indicates a desire to maintain their current job while considering graduate school options.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of considering different graduate school options and the potential for funding. However, there are competing views regarding the competitiveness of engineering versus math/physics graduate programs, and the necessity of leveling courses remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the funding landscape for master's programs compared to Ph.D. programs, and there is a lack of consensus on the implications of switching fields for graduate studies.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering graduate school after completing a degree in math or physics, particularly those interested in engineering or related fields, may find this discussion relevant.

Shackleford
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I took my last final tonight. Commencement is tomorrow. I have a B.S. Math, Physics Minor with a 3.5/3.6 GPA.

Thanks to everyone on this site who helped me with my homework over the years! It's appreciated.
 
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Congratulations!

Out of curiosity, do you have very specific memories of how you were when you had just joined? I find it pretty cool to go over old posts of mine occasionally (done it twice/thrice as of now) - just to see how my posting style changed, or if it changed at all.
 
Congrats!
 
Mépris said:
Congratulations!

Out of curiosity, do you have very specific memories of how you were when you had just joined? I find it pretty cool to go over old posts of mine occasionally (done it twice/thrice as of now) - just to see how my posting style changed, or if it changed at all.

Well, when I first joined I was a physics major, math minor. After taking some junior-level physics and math classes, I discovered that I enjoyed learning just the math much more. It was more my style. So, I swapped them, and I'm very glad I did. I'm sure my old posts are full of naivete. Haha.
 
Congratulations! :smile:

I'm on my way to it!
 
That is sooo awesome. You are a beast. Especially with that gpa. So beastly!
 
Congratz I will be starting my bachelor in summer so hopefully I have fun as well learning :).
 
@ OP. Good on you! Do well in your life, and still come back here for hints and tips.
 
Many congratulations!
 
  • #10
Shackleford said:
I took my last final tonight. Commencement is tomorrow. I have a B.S. Math, Physics Minor with a 3.5/3.6 GPA.

Thanks to everyone on this site who helped me with my homework over the years! It's appreciated.

Congratulations! Be sure to come back and let us know where you end up: grad school, industry, etc.
 
  • #11
Congrats Shackleford :approve: I still remember that feeling!
 
  • #12
Congrats :approve:!

(I hate to say this, but when I saw the title of this thread, I expected "I just got a B- on a quiz, my entire academic career is trashed!" Note that I had that reaction *before* I saw who the poster was :smile:.)
 
  • #13
Oh, don't be such a wet blanket.

Congratulations, Shackleford!
 
  • #14
Thanks for the congratulations. Commencement went well last night. After dinner, an extremely severe thunderstorm rolled through the area, so driving home was a challenge. In fact, I couldn't make it home because the water was so high in my subdivision. I had to stay the night at my brother's.

I wish I had only one B- in my courses! My final overall GPA is 3.579. My math GPA is a bit higher. I got one B in math (probability) and the rest were mostly "A"s and a few "A-"s. My physics grades weren't that great, though (B+, B+, B, B-, and C in quantum).
 
  • #15
Great job. What's the next step?
 
  • #16
hadsed said:
Great job. What's the next step?

Stay at my current job while I look for something higher-paying and also consider graduate school and how exactly to pay for it.
 
  • #17
BTW, how does one read a GPA? Is it 3.6 out of 4 or 5?
 
  • #18
Congratulations for the graduation !

Shackleford said:
Stay at my current job while I look for something higher-paying and also consider graduate school and how exactly to pay for it.

Usually one does not need to pay. Most graduate schools provide funding for Ph.D students.
 
  • #19
HossamCFD said:
Usually one does not need to pay. Most graduate schools provide funding for Ph.D students.

Depending on whether he does or doesn't live in the USA, he might have to go for his MSc first. It's not usual for those to be funded by schools.
 
  • #20
atyy said:
BTW, how does one read a GPA? Is it 3.6 out of 4 or 5?

Typically, it's out of 4.

Yes. I'm in the U.S. I don't plan on getting a Ph.D. I'm looking at master's programs. Since I have a job, I don't want to quit it just to get funding for graduate school as a TA or RA.
 
  • #21
Congrats, man. It's funny, I had your opposite problem: all As in physics and all Bs in math (didn't help that math used std dev for grading).

Don't know what your job is, but you could always switch over to engineering for grad school. Engineering is much less competitive for grad school than math/physics because lots of engineers are simply able to stop and get good jobs with bachelors, meaning there's (generally) more opportunities than there are people given that you're qualified. Getting a masters in something is tough because even though you can find research positions, they may not cover your tuition. Math/physics grad school, at least for the past couple years, is kind of a lottery.
 
  • #22
Congratulations Shackleford!
 
  • #23
Congratulations! Hope to be in your shoes soon, except as majoring in Physics.:-p

Great GPA, best of luck to you!
 
  • #24
Mindscrape said:
Congrats, man. It's funny, I had your opposite problem: all As in physics and all Bs in math (didn't help that math used std dev for grading).

Don't know what your job is, but you could always switch over to engineering for grad school. Engineering is much less competitive for grad school than math/physics because lots of engineers are simply able to stop and get good jobs with bachelors, meaning there's (generally) more opportunities than there are people given that you're qualified. Getting a masters in something is tough because even though you can find research positions, they may not cover your tuition. Math/physics grad school, at least for the past couple years, is kind of a lottery.

Thanks again, everyone.

Nothing in engineering really jumps out at me. Most engineering graduate programs would require several leveling courses which I don't want to do. Whatever I do in graduate school is something I can start immediately without any leveling courses.
 

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