Is it hard to change intrestes as a grad student?

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Changing research focus in graduate school, such as shifting from nuclear physics experiments to condensed matter theory (CMT) or high-energy physics (HEP) theory, is generally feasible but depends on the availability of relevant programs and faculty openings. Graduate students often explore different areas before settling on a specific path, as illustrated by experiences from past students who transitioned from low-temperature physics to HEP or from experimental optics to theoretical solid state physics. Early exploration and adaptability in research interests are common and encouraged in graduate studies.
epislon58
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Suppose you apply to a grad school with interestes in nuclear physics experiment and then you are accepted, but you then change your mind to maybe cmt or hep theory. Would it be possible to change?
 
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It depends, but it is usually OK. The university needs to have a program in that area, and the professors have to have openings for graduate students.
 
When I started grad school, I thought I might go into low-temperature physics, and in fact spent my first summer working with a research group in that area, tinkering with a helium-3 dilution refrigerator. I ended up doing my Ph.D. in experimental HEP because I was into computer programming. This was back in the 1970s when programming skills weren't as common as they are now, and the HEP guys were the heaviest users of programming talent at the time.
 
No, especially early on.
 
started in experimental optics, ended up with PhD in Theoretical Solid State... it isn't hard at all...
 
thank you very informative.
 

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