Should I Pursue My PhD in Quantum Physics in the US or Abroad?

  • Thread starter Thread starter IxRxPhysicist
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Phd
AI Thread Summary
When considering pursuing a PhD in quantum physics, the choice between staying in the US or studying abroad is significant. Both options have merit, with top universities abroad being comparable to those in the US. However, attending a lesser-known institution overseas may pose challenges when seeking employment in the US, as employers might not recognize the university or the advisor's reputation. Networking plays a crucial role in job placement, making it essential to consider the visibility of the institution and connections made during the PhD program. Ultimately, the decision should align with personal preferences and career goals.
IxRxPhysicist
Messages
34
Reaction score
0
Hey all,
It's getting time for me to start applying to schools for my PhD, looking to pursue a PhD in quantum physics. If given the opportunity should I stay in the US or travel? Relevant info-I'm finishing up my masters at the moment, thesis option.

IR
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Since you provide little in the way of actionable information, staying in the US is a fine option for you. So is going abroad. It's a personal decision.
 
How is the situation for people who went abroad for a PhD, and then came back to the States looking for a job, though?
 
A top university abroad is probably just as good as a top university in the U.S.

Where you might have a problem is if you go to a lesser-known university abroad, then employers in the U.S. might not be familiar with the school or your advisor. (The latter is probably more important... finding a job is very much a question of networking, after all.)
 
I’ve been looking through the curricula of several European theoretical/mathematical physics MSc programs (ETH, Oxford, Cambridge, LMU, ENS Paris, etc), and I’m struck by how little emphasis they place on advanced fundamental courses. Nearly everything seems to be research-adjacent: string theory, quantum field theory, quantum optics, cosmology, soft matter physics, black hole radiation, etc. What I don’t see are the kinds of “second-pass fundamentals” I was hoping for, things like...
TL;DR Summary: I want to do a PhD in applied math but I hate group theory, is this a big problem? Hello, I am a second-year math and physics double major with a minor in data science. I just finished group theory (today actually), and it was my least favorite class in all of university so far. It doesn't interest me, and I am also very bad at it compared to other math courses I have done. The other courses I have done are calculus I-III, ODEs, Linear Algebra, and Prob/Stats. Is it a...

Similar threads

Back
Top