PhD Topic Change: Is It Common for Physicists?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the commonality of physics graduates changing their research focus during graduate school, specifically within the context of PhD programs. Participants explore personal experiences and seek clarification on the nuances of the question regarding what constitutes a change in focus.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares their personal experience of changing from an experimental project in their master's to a different subject in computational physics for their PhD, emphasizing the importance of personal motivation in such decisions.
  • Another participant questions the clarity of the original query, suggesting that terms like "graduate school," "topic," and "focus" can have multiple interpretations, and asks for more specificity.
  • Some participants express confusion about the relevance of the question, noting that the original poster is still in high school, which may affect their perspective on graduate school topics.
  • There is a mention of the original poster being an undergraduate student, which adds another layer to the discussion about the appropriateness of their inquiry regarding graduate-level topics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the commonality of changing research focus, as experiences and interpretations of the question vary widely. Some share personal anecdotes while others seek clarification on the terms used.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights a lack of statistical data on the frequency of topic changes among physics graduates, and the ambiguity surrounding the definitions of "graduate school" and "research focus" remains unresolved.

Josh0768
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Is it common for physics grads to change the topic of their research focus (staying within physics) while at graduate school?
 
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I'm not aware of the statistics regarding how common it is however I myself did it. Completed my master on an experimental project and my PhD was completely different subject in computational physics. I was lucky to discuss my differences with my professor at an early stage in PhD and settled the issue by seperating our ways. (I do not regret this decision even once when I turn back and look.) Your own motivation should shape your way.
 
Josh0768 said:
Is it common for physics grads to change the topic of their research focus (staying within physics) while at graduate school?
Maybe explain how you mean, "grad school" or PhD program.
Did you mean, Masters degree for one topic and then PhD for a different topic? Did you mean, start PhD in one topic but want to change to a different topic?
 
Why do you need to know, given that you are still in high school? As pointed out "graduate school", "topic', "focus" can mean many things. If you could be clearer in the question, you might get better answers.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Why do you need to know, given that you are still in high school? As pointed out "graduate school", "topic', "focus" can mean many things. If you could be clearer in the question, you might get better answers.
"You" who? josh0768 is an undergraduate student according to profile page. I already have a degree , something beyond high school which I already graduated years before that.
 
symbolipoint said:
josh0768 is an undergraduate student according to profile page

He's asking about which undergrad schools to attend here and here.
 

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