Dr. Courtney said:
If you are still a minor or financially dependent on your parents you need to listen to them. Can you figure out how to pay for your own higher education? Academic freedom requires financial freedom.
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The idea that your parents should pay your bills while you study whatever you choose is very foolish.
In the UK we can get student loans from the government, which are paid back on good terms with no pressure or threats of bankruptcy or bailiffs. We don't just rely on wealthy parents or fierce bank loans. Social mobility is a thing on our side of the pond! (Maybe not for much longer though...)
StatGuy2000 said:
I chose to
study mathematics (started out studying math and physics,
switched to math and computer science, and finally
switched again to math and statistics).
We can't do it like that over here. You choose your course from the start and it's quite difficult to change to anything new later on. We do however mould our degree towards certain specialist topics as we progress. It's sort of similar in the grand scheme of things, but we can't just put things down or change direction in quite the same way, after already starting down a certain route.
symbolipoint said:
Keep going in the science and technology and mathematics direction while you are still in high school. Attend your chosen college or univeristy; next, is YOU CHOOSE what your major field should be. The choice is not theirs to make for you.
Here we choose a degree subject and take that route from the start. The idea behind it is that we get all the core parts of our specialism out of the way early on, allowing for greater specialism
within that specialism afterwards. It's done via 'optional modules' which a student gets to choose from alongside the core modules. Optional modules are almost always related to the degree being taken.
For example my course is 'theoretical physics', it's been called that since Year 1 and that's what my degree certificate will say. There's no minor or major aspect. However I can say, for example, that I've gained skills in programming, fluid dynamics and advanced mechanics because I chose these as optional modules (rather than optics, nanophysics, condensed matter or whatever other things that I only studied up to 'average physics student level').
If you're interested, http://www.iop.org/education/higher_education/accreditation/file_64166.pdf show what every British physics student must learn in their time. Better universities cover this material quickly in years 1 and 2, leaving plenty of room for teaching more advanced stuff later on
British students essentially choose their major at the start, then can pick out little specialist things along the way.
@tasjeel I went into my physics degree with the desire to learn for learning's sake, but now I'm near the end I'm thinking much more seriously about how I can employ myself afterwards. Physics is a great and intellectually stimulating subject, but always keep in mind how things will play out in the long run. I've just about managed to tailor my physics degree so that I'm a bit more employable when I graduate, mainly because of the programming stuff I've learned, and possibly the fluid dynamics and geophysics things I've done which may help get into areas relating to surveying, 'earth stuff', etc. But I think other students who go into niche things like quantum field theory or astrophysics are putting themselves into a very small hole.
I would say do a physics degree if it's what you love, but make sure you go to a uni that offers a lot of specialisms in areas that will help you find gainful employment outside of academia.
OR, go into it with the primary aim of becoming a researcher or a professor. Then you can study whatever you like,
as long as you make the cut.
