Programs Master in Electrical Engineering from Physics degree

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The discussion centers around an individual feeling unfulfilled in their physics studies and expressing a desire to transition to electrical engineering (EE) for their master's degree. They plan to complete their current degree in Physics and Applied Math before applying to EE programs. The individual seeks motivation and success stories to help them stay focused on their current studies. A respondent shares that many physics graduates successfully transition to EE, highlighting that experience in building circuits can enhance their application. They recommend reaching out to the EE department for guidance and taking relevant courses to prepare. The individual expresses gratitude for the encouragement and plans to meet with their adviser to adjust their graduation plan and pursue more EE classes, despite facing some bias from physics faculty. They also mention a friend's successful acceptance into an EE PhD program with a similar background, reinforcing the feasibility of their goal.
twlin93
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Dear all,

I am this dilemma. I found out that I am not suitable to be a physicist. I want to be an electrical engineer but it is too late to change to ee now. My plan is to finish my degree in Physics and Applied Math, then apply ee for master.

I want to know how can I do it, in order to fulfill this ambition.

I am desperate to know it. I don't have the driving force in the physics department now. I feel that what I am pursuing now is impossible to achieve. I feel very dry now. I don't have the purpose to go to the physics department. The only place that I can remain my sanity is in the physics lab I am working now. I was asked to build circuits. It's fun.

I need motivations and success stories, so that I can focus on my current degree.

Thank you.
 
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I am an EE that went to grad school with and work with quite a few physics BS turned EE MS / PhD. Working in a lab building circuits should give you a good recommendation letter when you apply to grad schools. If your university has an EE department it would be worth your time to talk to some faculty and take a course or two to prepare. Some branches of EE are highly mathematical (controls, communications, signal processing), some use a lot of physics (solid state devices, photonics, electromagnetics) , and some are more "enginering" (computer engineering, electronics). In all cases it sounds like your background is a reasonable match. You will certainly have some remedial undergrad courses to take, but which ones depends on your specialization.

Otherwise, this is very do-able. The combination of physics and applied math, combined with experience actually building circuits (which I didn't get that much of as an undergrad EE, believe it or not) places you in a good spot.

By the way I am in the US, other countries may have systems that view this differently.

I wish you the best,

jason
 
Thank you

Dear Jason,

Thanks a lot. It's good to know about it. My parents are not very supportive about it. They didn't know what to do. But, you gave me hope. Hope is strong.

I'm going to meet my physics adviser and rearrange my graduation plan soon. Planning to take more ee classes. I will email the ee department in my school. My applied math professors are supportive with my ambition. But physics professors have biased opinions (implying me to do physics for grad school)

Thank you. I really appreciate it.
 
My good friend just got accepted for a Phd in EE with a fellowship with a physics degree. He did not have that many Engineering courses at all. He was in fact a physics/ applied math double as well. Good luck to you.
 
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