Should I know what field I want to go in for grad school?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the uncertainty faced by undergraduate students in selecting a specific field of physics for graduate studies. Participants share their experiences and concerns regarding the implications of this uncertainty on their application choices and future career paths.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a lack of clarity about which field of physics to pursue in graduate school, suggesting that many undergraduates may feel similarly uncertain.
  • Another participant mentions having narrowed their interests to three different areas but still feels indecisive about their specific focus.
  • A participant indicates a clear preference against pursuing theoretical fields such as particle or high energy physics, stating a desire to work outside of academia.
  • Some participants suggest that narrowing down interests can help, with recommendations for fields like condensed matter experiment, material science, optics, optoelectronics, or semiconductor physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the uncertainty surrounding field selection for graduate studies, with multiple competing views on how to approach this decision. There is no consensus on a specific path or field to pursue.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of uncertainty and personal preferences, with some focusing on avoiding certain fields rather than identifying a clear direction. The discussion reflects a range of experiences and considerations without resolving the complexities of the decision-making process.

Who May Find This Useful

Undergraduate students considering graduate studies in physics, particularly those feeling uncertain about their field of interest.

theDRG5
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Hi,

I'm a senior undergrad preparing for graduate studies.
But I have this problem where I don't really know what field of physics I want to go in.
I really have no clue.
And I feel like that is a big part in deciding what schools to apply/attend.
Then again, I feel like no one really knows either, since undergrad physics really is an assortment of appetizers of all the different fields of physics.

Could anyone share some words of wisdom? Thanks.
 
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I'm kinda going through the same thing. Though I have been able to narrow things down a bit, I'm still interested in about 3 different areas.

I suppose you could apply to universities which have a wide variety of research areas, so if you decide you like a certain field, you can get into it.
 
Well, I know what I don't want to do at least.
I want to work outside of academia when I'm done, so stuff like particle/high energy physics or pretty much anything theoretical isn't what I want to do.
Other than that, no clue lol
 
theDRG5 said:
Well, I know what I don't want to do at least.
I want to work outside of academia when I'm done, so stuff like particle/high energy physics or pretty much anything theoretical isn't what I want to do.
Other than that, no clue lol

That actually narrows it down quite a bit. You should consider looking into condensed matter experiment and material science.
 
That makes 3 of us lol.

Jack21222 said:
That actually narrows it down quite a bit. You should consider looking into condensed matter experiment and material science.

Took the words out of my mouth. That or something related to optics/optoelectronics or semiconductor physics come to mind.

If you're in the UK/EU you might want to have a look at this:
 
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