Math or Physics or both? Grad school decisions.

[Dougggggg]

I have been back and forth between math and physics for grad school, they are both such beautiful subjects and I know I would love research in either one for the rest of my life. However, I was doing some thinking, if I like both of them, why just do one of them? So I started thinking about the idea of doing both. Is this practical? Do people get PhD's in multiple subjects? So I wanted to ask if anyone here has done this, thought about this, or now that I mention it can think of some advice. The big worry I have is that means a total of around 12 years of graduate school. That is a long time commitment considering I'm going to end up graduating as a 5th year Senior for my undergraduate while also taking a year off right out of high school so even going straight to grad school after graduation would have me finishing 1 program at 29-30. So other than that small note, anyone know of some advice I could use for doing things like this.

 

[twofish-quant]

So I started thinking about the idea of doing both. Is this practical? Do people get PhD's in multiple subjects?

No. Ph.D.'s tend to be hyperspecialists in one area.

The good/bad news is that there is too much interesting stuff for one person to know, so just accept that fact, and find one some area that you find interesting.

The big worry I have is that means a total of around 12 years of graduate school.

Something to remember is that you will be learning new stuff for the rest of your life. Take one Ph.D. and after you get that, keep learning. What you'll find is that the more stuff you know, the more you realize that there are things that you don't know.

So other than that small note, anyone know of some advice I could use for doing things like this.

Don't rush yourself, and don't burn out. If you don't burn out, then you'll be spending the next six or seven decades of your life learning new stuff. Getting the degree is just a stop on the journey and that journey doesn't end until you stop breathing.

 

[Dougggggg]

No. Ph.D.'s tend to be hyperspecialists in one area.

The good/bad news is that there is too much interesting stuff for one person to know, so just accept that fact, and find one some area that you find interesting.



Something to remember is that you will be learning new stuff for the rest of your life. Take one Ph.D. and after you get that, keep learning. What you'll find is that the more stuff you know, the more you realize that there are things that you don't know.



Don't rush yourself, and don't burn out. If you don't burn out, then you'll be spending the next six or seven decades of your life learning new stuff. Getting the degree is just a stop on the journey and that journey doesn't end until you stop breathing.

Thank you for the quality advice, the really difficult thing is just deciding between all these things on what to look into. I know that if I did just focus on one area, I will still make an effort to learn more on the other subjects as well. I love learning something new in both Math and Physics. I watch lectures of classes that I'm not even in yet to learn that stuff and also to be more prepared for when I take those classes. I also can't wait until, if I am able (not a lack of confidence, more just trying to avoid counting eggs before they hatch), I get a PhD and I am actually getting to teach these things to others and hopefully they will get the same joy out of these things as I do. I guess for now I will just do my best in undergrad and then apply to probably schools in both areas that have research in subfields that I am really interested in and then pick out of the schools that accept me, which research I get more excited about.

 

[Anonymous217]

I was in exactly the same situation you were a couple months ago. Do note that if you're concentrating in both Math and Physics for now, you'll eventually have to choose either math or physics grad school. Doing both is somewhat impractical for reasons already stated above. Note that if you want to enter pure math in math grad school, that knowledge of physics will be a waste of time that could have been used more effectively. The same goes somewhat for physics grad school, excluding the applied math courses, PDEs, etc. I ultimately decided that I wanted to go to math grad school in some area of pure math, which made me no longer a double major, but just a math major. That way, I'd have a lot more time to take grad courses/research/etc.

 

[Dougggggg]

I was in exactly the same situation you were a couple months ago. Do note that if you're concentrating in both Math and Physics for now, you'll eventually have to choose either math or physics grad school. Doing both is somewhat impractical for reasons already stated above. Note that if you want to enter pure math in math grad school, that knowledge of physics will be a waste of time that could have been used more effectively. The same goes somewhat for physics grad school, excluding the applied math courses, PDEs, etc. I ultimately decided that I wanted to go to math grad school in some area of pure math, which made me no longer a double major, but just a math major. That way, I'd have a lot more time to take grad courses/research/etc.

If I don't lock in on one right now then I keep my options open. Plus, I honestly get so many math courses just for physics courses that it isn't too much more for the double major. Only about 3-4 more classes. I wouldn't want to drop Physics either because it is simply too much fun. Whenever I have to make a decision, I will, plus having a double major will look better on a an application I believe.