Zap said:
You're probably right. I was being bitter. She had a lot more experience in MATLAB than I do and still does. I'm now taking Python classes to try and learn some computer skills. Simulations and modeling aren't taught in the physics curriculum, as far as I know, and there is only one physics class related to programming in MATLAB. I would feel unqualified if I were to apply for a position as a software engineer or a modeling/simulation engineer. She somehow taught herself all of that stuff. She is some kind of genius lady. I still don't know how to do that stuff, but I like to use Python for data analysis. It's a million times faster than Excel. I don't know why I wasted my time learning Excel. I can do so much more with Python, and it's so much faster.
I applied to Raytheon a bunch of times, but I don't think my experience is a good fit for any of there positions. Sometimes I wonder whether being a woman would make a difference. Maybe, but probably not. It was a dumb thing to say. I have also been considering an engineering masters in hopes of getting a job in R&D. My friend was trying to convince me to do a bachelors instead, because the master's programs aren't ABET accredited. He told me he did a masters in industrial engineering and had a hard time finding a job because of that. I don't know if that's true. I can't afford another undergraduate degree, anyway.
I've spoken with an electrical engineering department about their masters program. They told me that I would not have to take remedial classes but I could if I wanted to. However, at my school, I know someone who pursued an MS in chemical engineering with a biochemistry BS and had to take a year of remedial courses. Maybe it depends on the school and the amount of overlap between the two subjects.
I work in R&D and unless it's in a report I've found higher ups like data simplified to the point where they put it into a spreadsheet, lol.
Python, MATLAB, and Excel are all good skills to know and to put on your resume.
There's physics programs where the classes are geared towards a more computational bent, there's also some programs where they have dedicated classes in computational physics (so numerical linear algebra, solutions of PDE's, etc). I did undergrad research in physics so I had some limited experience programming in Python and used it for running fairly basic simulations and for reducing and analyzing data, learned basic Linux through Ubuntu as well; I also did some online coursework in MATLAB on coursera where they had you do projects and you could get a certificate and put it on your LinkedIn.
I have friends who work in the same environment as me and one works as a Test Engineer for munitions and other systems with 'only' a BS in physics (with internships at a national lab and a private company) and the other works dual roles as a Modeling and Simulation Engineer and a Test Engineer with 'only' a BS and an MS in physics (also had research experience); both my friends are doing graduate work in engineering as they work too.
My situation is a little different as I double majored in physics and electrical engineering (so having the engineering name in there was useful for jobs but I do have a wide bit of experience) I learned most of the Finite Element Analysis and other numerical techniques like Finite Difference and others I use at work mostly actually at work and it's been working out so far. There's certainly loads of ways to teach yourself the skills you need to get and keep jobs, learning shouldn't stop when college does.
I know one math major who did a masters in Electrical engineering and now works for Intel on something semiconductor related, actually one of my old supervisors who was doing her physics PhD at the time also ended up working in Intel as a fabrication engineer if I remember correctly.
I think there's a difference between a science that's more removed from the engineering side of things like BioChem would have a harder time than a Physics or a Math major doing an engineering program. Depending on how good your physics actually is you'd probably be able to make relatively easy work of a lot of the MS coursework in an EE department (which I think an ABET accredited MS is the better option vs a 2nd bachelors). E&M from a physics department at the level of Griffiths is harder than the E&M the EE undergrads take so I think you'd do well in that area, but the EE undergrads know a lot more circuits than a physics undergrad so I could see you probably take a class or two like Signal Analysis and Electronics to brush up and you could go from there.
Hope my experience could give you some perspective on thing that are possible, best of luck.
