Physics BA: Options after Undergrad

[dreamfulmirag]

I'm majoring in Physics (getting a BA) and want to go to graduate school for Electrical Engineering. During my first year and a half of college, I explored different subject areas and tried to figure out what I was interested in. Because of this, I don't have space in my schedule to switch majors or take Electrical Engineering courses on the side. Any advice on what I could do to make myself marketable to graduate programs? If grad school is a reach in my situation, what could I do after college (career wise)?

 

[jasonRF]

I know people who did EE grad school after a physics major - one was from a liberal arts school that had no engineering so he clearly had no engineering courses (EDIT: I thought of a second person I went to grad school with who was from a liberal arts school). If you do well in your courses, and do whatever you can to get some research experience, you will have a shot at grad school. A great recommendation from a researcher you worked with will go a long way - profs want grad students who can do research!

If you are interested in the parts of EE that are more applied-physics aligned (electromagnetic, plasma physics, solid state device physics, photonics, ...) then some profs will see your physics background as a great benefit. I had several EE profs. that had even had PhDs in physics, so don't despair! I am an EE and did plasma physics in grad school, and I went to grad school with quite a few folks that did Physics as undergrads.

Hopefully some faculty member will chime in soon - I am in industry so don't have as much insight as a faculty member would!

best regards,

jason