What Are My Career Options After Earning a BS in Physics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around career options available to individuals who have recently completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics, particularly in relation to pursuing research positions or further education in graduate school. Participants explore the feasibility of obtaining research roles and the importance of specifying research interests.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire for a research or research assistant position after completing a BS in Physics and Computer Science, noting the challenge of finding positions that typically require higher degrees.
  • Another participant argues that a BS in physics does not qualify one for a research position, drawing a parallel to degrees in other fields.
  • A participant questions what other career options might be available, suggesting that opportunities depend on individual interests and competition for positions.
  • Concerns are raised about the lack of specificity in the original inquiry regarding research interests, which may hinder job prospects.
  • One participant emphasizes that quantum physics is a broad field and suggests that more specific areas of research should be considered, listing various subfields such as optics, condensed matter, and particle physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the qualifications of a BS in Physics for research roles, with some suggesting it is insufficient while others explore broader career options. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best path forward for the individual seeking advice.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the importance of specificity in research interests and the competitive nature of job applications, but do not resolve the implications of these factors on career prospects.

cacl_sam
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I just completed my BS in Physics and Computer Science from a small university. I am looking for a research position or a research assistant position. Most of the jobs I see are looking for MS or PhD or postdoc researchers. I want to collect experience and earn some money (just a little to keep me alive for a year) and then want to join a graduate school after a year. Any suggestions, friends? Feel free to do feasibility analysis here :)
 
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A BS in physics does not really qualify you for a "research position". (Just like a BS in history wouldn't)
 
What other career options, you suppose, would be out there in general?
 
cacl_sam said:
I just completed my BS in Physics and Computer Science from a small university. I am looking for a research position or a research assistant position. Most of the jobs I see are looking for MS or PhD or postdoc researchers. I want to collect experience and earn some money (just a little to keep me alive for a year) and then want to join a graduate school after a year. Any suggestions, friends? Feel free to do feasibility analysis here :)

I think the telling deficiency is that you did not specify *what* you want to research. It doesn't have to be specific, but the total lack of *any* specificity will make getting even a tech job difficult.
 
cacl_sam said:
What other career options, you suppose, would be out there in general?

Pretty much whatever you think would be interesting. You'll have more or less luck getting a position depending on what it is, and who else applies for the job.
 
Andy Resnick said:
I think the telling deficiency is that you did not specify *what* you want to research. It doesn't have to be specific, but the total lack of *any* specificity will make getting even a tech job difficult.

Thanks for your reply. My interest is on Quantum Physics.
 
Quantum physics is a little too broad a term and basically encompasses all modern physics. When people ask about research areas they're generally thinking something along the following list:

Optics, condensed matter/solid state, cosmology, astronomy, atmospheric physics, medical physics, particle physics, nuclear physics, accelerator physics, computational, etc.
 

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