What are the most common career paths for members of PF?

[Pyrrhus]

What specific careers (Experimental Physicist, Mechanical Engineer,...) the members of PF have/going to have?

I am a student of Civil Engineering.

 

[Danger]

None for me, buddy. Never finished high-school.

 

[Cyrus]

My goals (academic):

BS:
Mechanical Engineering

MS:
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Systems Engineering
(Maybe Applied Mathematics or Computer Science)

In terms of work:
Not too sure but there are a few areas of interest so far:

Tomahawk Cruise Missile (guidance and controls)
UAV's (Autopilot Design, Kalmann Filtering for vehicle identification and tracking [multiple hypothesis testing] also known as Ground Fusion Tracking)

But who knows, something else may come along that is more interesting.

PhD, eeeeh, maybe...

 

[mattmns]

Currently working on a BS in Pure Math (just recently switched from Secondary Math Education) which I should easily finish in 2 years. Overall goal is either Masters or PhD in Math, and then to teach Math (preferably at a community college).

 

[heartless]

Wow, a guy like you Cyrus (with such a mountain of degrees) should try out for NASA or DARPA.
I'm not in college yet, but I'll try out either for electrical engineering or any type of it, Particle physics, and maybe we'll see.

 

[ToxicBug]

Amazing, I was thinking about posting the same thread today. This is really uncanny.

Anyway, right now I'm taking a BSc. Specialization in Actuarial Mathematics.

 

[kant]

well, i got accepted to ucla as a math major, but i plan to swtich to a more practical major onces i got in. I have nothing in my mind but girls, and money. i might want to open up a solfware company with people infinitly more intelligent than i am. I don t like school at all, much less want to get a mountain of degrees like some other people.

 

[scorpa]

I'm working on getting into the medical laboratory science program and then hopefully going on the grad school from there.

 

[Cyrus]

well, i got accepted to ucla as a math major, but i plan to swtich to a more practical major onces i got in. I have nothing in my mind but girls, and money. i might want to open up a solfware company with people infinitly more intelligent than i am. I don t like school at all, much less want to get a mountain of degrees like some other people.

With this attitude, school is going to school you, hard.

 

[scorpa]

With this attitude, school is going to school you, hard.

+1

I'd definitely change that attitude and fast, I've known a few people who were extremely smart in high school but with a similar attitude as you and once they got into univeristy they got put in their place fast. Needless to say a few of them won't be returning for second year and not by choice.

 

[ToxicBug]

well, i got accepted to ucla as a math major, but i plan to swtich to a more practical major onces i got in. I have nothing in my mind but girls, and money. i might want to open up a solfware company with people infinitly more intelligent than i am. I don t like school at all, much less want to get a mountain of degrees like some other people.

If you don't like school, then why are you going to university?

 

[Danger]

I second that, Toxic. Bloody hell... I'll take his spot if he doesn't want it. I'd kill for a decent education.

 

[loseyourname]

With this attitude, school is going to school you, hard.

You haven't looked at the curriculum for a business major lately, have you?

 

[Sisyphus]

I'm going to university next year as a general math student. After my first year, hopefully I'll know if i like math or physics better and get a degree in that.

 

[Math Is Hard]

You haven't looked at the curriculum for a business major lately, have you?

Just as a side note...
You can't change to a business major after admission to a different major at UCLA, as far as I know. You have to be admitted from the beginning.
http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Prospect/Adm_tr/lsmajors/peco-bus.htm
The same is true for psychology. They are very picky about this.

 

[arunbg]

Well, I have just finished 12th and am looking for a BTech in Computer Science at some good engineering college .
After that, I will probably take a BSc in physics, for love of the subject.

 

[tegra97]

I'm currently a civil engineering student at Universtiy of Colorado. I'm really interested in structural engineering and hopefully would like to do something in that field. The program requires 136 credits to graduate, that seems like a lot. But I guess that's good in the long run. The more classes the more education. How many credits do you guys need?

 

[illwerral]

I'm a high school student right now, and hope to take something like engineering physics at McMaster, or engineering science at U of Toronto.

I'd be going this fall, but our awesome high school screwed me out of a required math course . So I'll be sticking around for one credit, and working as a sattelite dish installer/ computer technician (and hopefully getting an A+ certification!).

 

[ToxicBug]

I'm currently a civil engineering student at Universtiy of Colorado. I'm really interested in structural engineering and hopefully would like to do something in that field. The program requires 136 credits to graduate, that seems like a lot. But I guess that's good in the long run. The more classes the more education. How many credits do you guys need?

I need 90 credits to get a BSc., from which 60 are for my program and 30 are electives.

 

[mattmns]

90cr? Where do yo live ToxicBug, and what exactly is a BSc.? At my univeristy the minimum for any B.S. is 128cr.

 

[brewnog]

BSc is a Bachelor of Science (as BA is Bachelor of Arts, MSc Master of Science, BEng Bachelor of Engineering...)

 

[ToxicBug]

90cr? Where do yo live ToxicBug, and what exactly is a BSc.? At my univeristy the minimum for any B.S. is 128cr.

Montreal, I'm going to Concordia University. Here our high school lasts till grade 11, then there's 2 year "college", so the university is only 3 years after that, not 4. I've done 3 physics classes + 1 optionnal, 2 chem classes, 1 bio, Cal1/Cal2 (single variable) and aslo optionnal Cal3 (multivariable), and also Linear Algebra I + Linear II (optionnal) in "college", however I have to take multivariable calculus and classes similar to Linear II in university.

 

[Data]

Credits work differently at different places. Here (Carleton University, Ottawa), honours programs are mostly 20 credits - you get .5 credits per semester-long course, so an honours degree works out to 40 four-month courses.

 

[kant]

+1

I'd definitely change that attitude and fast, I've known a few people who were extremely smart in high school but with a similar attitude as you and once they got into univeristy they got put in their place fast. Needless to say a few of them won't be returning for second year and not by choice.

Not at all. I love to learn, but the way schools teachs their subject makes me crane. each subject are never covered in any depth. There is a constant pressure to perform; such pressure are to me unproductive to learning. The spirit of inquary are not taught, and learning becomes equate to memorizations to pass a god damn exam. There is never any hint whatsoever that a single subjects is changing, or evolving. It is no surprise to me that students are failing at schools. if you people can look beyond a school s name, or merely classification of a particular subject( what degrees one got). learning is more than how much one knows, or what schools you go to, but rather many ways to see a single world. A place to share ideas. I think most schools fail the students in that regard. Most people i know who are good in a particular subject tend to be self-motivated( family values), or that they are born in a tradition that promotes academic. It is simply not representative of the 99 % of the population. You people here have grant ideas about universities, and learning, but you miss every thing a school is suppost to stand for: producing people to go out into the real world, and change it for the better. Improve the world.

 

[scorpa]

Not at all. I love to learn, but the way schools teachs their subject makes me crane. each subject are never covered in any depth. There is a constant pressure to perform; such pressure are to me unproductive to learning. The spirit of inquary are not taught, and learning becomes equate to memorizations to pass a god damn exam. There is never any hint whatsoever that a single subjects is changing, or evolving. It is no surprise to me that students are failing at schools. if you people can look beyond a school s name, or merely classification of a particular subject( what degrees one got). learning is more than how much one knows, or what schools you go to, but rather many ways to see a single world. A place to share ideas. I think most schools fail the students in that regard. Most people i know who are good in a particular subject tend to be self-motivated( family values), or that they are born in a tradition that promotes academic. It is simply not representative of the 99 % of the population. You people here have grant ideas about universities, and learning, but you miss every thing a school is suppost to stand for: producing people to go out into the real world, and change it for the better. Improve the world.

Sorry for any misunderstanding, it just seemed from previous posts that you were more interested in things like girls and money that school.

 

[Cyrus]

Not at all. I love to learn, but the way schools teachs their subject makes me crane. each subject are never covered in any depth. There is a constant pressure to perform; such pressure are to me unproductive to learning. The spirit of inquary are not taught, and learning becomes equate to memorizations to pass a god damn exam. There is never any hint whatsoever that a single subjects is changing, or evolving. It is no surprise to me that students are failing at schools. if you people can look beyond a school s name, or merely classification of a particular subject( what degrees one got). learning is more than how much one knows, or what schools you go to, but rather many ways to see a single world. A place to share ideas. I think most schools fail the students in that regard. Most people i know who are good in a particular subject tend to be self-motivated( family values), or that they are born in a tradition that promotes academic. It is simply not representative of the 99 % of the population. You people here have grant ideas about universities, and learning, but you miss every thing a school is suppost to stand for: producing people to go out into the real world, and change it for the better. Improve the world.

I think you should hold off on your opinions of college until you have actually been to one...

If you can't handle pressure to perform, then guess what, you are going to fail at your place of work. Specially if you want to own your own software company.

 

[kant]

Sorry for any misunderstanding, it just seemed from previous posts that you were more interested in things like girls and money that school.

well. i do. Money can help a lot of people. No?

Girls? who does like girls? A would give my life for a single woman.

 

[kant]

I think you should hold off on your opinions of college until you have actually been to one...

If you can't handle pressure to perform, then guess what, you are going to fail at your place of work. Specially if you want to own your own software company.

I don t like the pressure, because it is counterproductive to learning. I wanted to go in depth on every single suject that i like( and avoid every god damn subject i don t like), but i just can t in the school environment. That doesn t mean i don t get very good grades. In fact, i get good grades without much effort at all. it tells me nothing whatsoever about me, or anyone else in their capacility to contribute or change the world. in my opinion, those people that want mountains of degrees are nothing more but people who has such a low self esteem about themselves that they want to find wants ways to build their scared ego. People like Einstain or Newton love what they do, which is physics, and they do only physic. Both person are also individual that see beyond their subject, hated to universities of their time, and values the strength of character.

 

[Cyrus]

I don t like the pressure, because it is counterproductive to learning. I wanted to go in depth on every single suject that i like, but i just can t in the school environment. That does mean i don t get very good grades. In fact, i get good grades without much effort at all. it tells me nothing whatsoever about me, or anyone else in their capacility to contribute or change the world.

Like I said, wait until college serves you a dose of reality.

 

[G01]

In fact, i get good grades without much effort at all. it tells me nothing whatsoever about me, or anyone else in their capacility to contribute or change the world.

100% Chance this will change in college. Please do not go into college thinking that this is the case, whatever your major is. This is absolutely false.

Also, everyone wants to go in depth in every field they are interested in. Its not that the education system prevents us, its that there is just too much information for one person to handle. This is why we have to pick and choose. This is a fact of life, Just like pressure to succeed. You can complain all you want that there is too much unwanted pressure in school but this is the case, EVERYWHERE, school, Jobs, family.

Please change your attitude for your own sake. Good luck.

 

[G01]

O yeah, forgot the point of the thread. I am a sophmore in college majoring in Physics. I hope to teach someday at a University Level.

 

[kant]

Like I said, wait until college serves you a dose of reality.

I am actually talking courses at the near by college in my junior year in high school. So what? What is the reality.

 

[Cyrus]

I am actually talking courses at the near by college in my junior year in high school. So what? What is the reality.

What classes are you taking?

 

[kant]

100% Chance this will change in college. Please do not go into college thinking that this is the case, whatever your major is. This is absolutely false.

Also, everyone wants to go in depth in every field they are interested in. Its not that the education system prevents us, its that there is just too much information for one person to handle. This is why we have to pick and choose. This is a fact of life, Just like pressure to succeed. You can complain all you want that there is too much unwanted pressure in school but this is the case, EVERYWHERE, school, Jobs, family.

Please change your attitude for your own sake. Good luck.

Well, GO1 i never ****ing denial the existence of these pressure. my point is that these pressure are counterproductive for learning.

 

[kant]

What classes are you taking?

lol.. Going on a tengent ah? let's just say i ****ing hated it even more than high school

 

[Omega_6]

lol.. Going on a tengent ah? let's just say i ****ing hated it even more than high school

I don't think he is going on a tangent necessarily. I think he wants to know if you are actually taking any courses that may be at least a bit challenging.

By the way, I am a freshman double majoring in physics and electrical engineering (type of engineering may change though).

 

[kant]

It is ridiculous. What am i going there for? to take art class?

 

[Omega_6]

It is ridiculous. What am i going there for? to take art class?

It was just a simple question...no need to get defensive or anything.

 

[gravenewworld]

Education: BS in Chemistry & Mathematics, Minor in economics


Current occupation: I am now officially a Medicinal Chemist for a bio pharm. company.

 

[Math Is Hard]

I am finishing my B.S. in Cognitive Science. It's a couple of years away. I'm very happy with my current profession working for an IT dept. I have been in the workforce for 20 years, and I am now seeking my degree solely for my personal satisfaction and knowledge.

 

[scorpa]

I am finishing my B.S. in Cognitive Science. It's a couple of years away. I'm very happy with my current profession working for an IT dept. I have been in the workforce for 20 years, and I am now seeking my degree solely for my personal satisfaction and knowledge.

What does a degree in cognitive science entail? Stupid question I know but my univeristy doesn't have a program with that name. Is it like psych?

 

[scarecrow]

I received my B.S. in Chemistry and I am currently a PhD. graduate student.

I want to first teach high school and then work in academia as a professor.

 

[0TheSwerve0]

Will pursue some type of physical anthropology, I'm interested in primatology right now - conservation, evolution, behavior of non-human primates.

 

[bomba923]

Currently, I'm a high school student. However, I would like to major in:
-Mathematics
-physics
-chemistry (both organic & inorganic, for a career in medicinal research <-> drug development)
-computer science (w/electrical engineering)

No college/university, though, would likely allow concurrent pursuit of more than two majors...
(my top two choices are mathematics and physics)

(P.S: I'm quite interested in philosophy...but IIRC, philosophy majors don't exactly...earn...much, in terms of salary)

 

[loseyourname]

Screw that. I just finished a philosophy degree and am working on finishing an english degree. I've nearly finished minors in biology and chemistry, but have no plans to actually complete those. I doubt I'll go to grad school. If anything, law school, possibly the military.

While it's true that you're not likely to make a whole lot of money as a philosopher (unless you're a celebrity like Dennett), you'll make as much as any other university professor (except for the highly paid ones, like business and med school professors). If you specialize in something esoteric like medieval scholasticism or American philosophy, you might actually find yourself in demand.

Besides, you don't have to go into philosophy as a career. Heck, a damn lot of the richest men in the world don't even have degrees at all. If it's money you want, money you can make regardless of what you study.

 

[Kalimaa23]

I'm currently in the last phases of doing a Master in Theoretical Physics, doing a thesis on String Theory derived corrections on the Einstein equations.

After that, who knows. I'm hoping to start a PhD, it will depend on wether I can find funding or not.

 

[SpaceTiger]

What specific careers (Experimental Physicist, Mechanical Engineer,...) the members of PF have/going to have?

Miscellaneous.

 

[Math Is Hard]

What does a degree in cognitive science entail? Stupid question I know but my univeristy doesn't have a program with that name. Is it like psych?

No, not a stupid question at all. It's still a pretty rare major. It is a type of psychology major here, but it has a lot of overlap with other disciplines such as computer science, linguistics, philosophy, neuroscience, and anthropology. The focus of the major is on both natural and artificial intellence systems and how they process information. While I think the AI classes will be interesting (and no doubt challenging!), I'm really looking forward to studying animal cognition. I've always been fascinated by stories of "smart" animals like http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3430481.stm" .

 

[scorpa]

No, not a stupid question at all. It's still a pretty rare major. It is a type of psychology major here, but it has a lot of overlap with other disciplines such as computer science, linguistics, philosophy, neuroscience, and anthropology. The focus of the major is on both natural and artificial intellence systems and how they process information. While I think the AI classes will be interesting (and no doubt challenging!), I'm really looking forward to studying animal cognition. I've always been fascinated by stories of "smart" animals like http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3430481.stm" .

Thanks for the explanation, that sounds like it would be very interesting!

 

[Zantra]

I am actually talking courses at the near by college in my junior year in high school. So what? What is the reality.

The reality is that you will be going from a school with less than 2000 students to one with 10's of thousands of students, and from one where you may be one of the smartest in the school to a school full of intelligent people who, while they may be not quite as intelligent, can surpass you with the effort you won't bring. So you'll now be competing against lots of very intelligent kids who can potentially make you look very stupid if you go in with the wrong attitude.

Also, unless you literally have a photographic memory, you WILL have to study in college. If you don't, you will fail- badly. The amount of information you have to assimilate will at least triple compared to high school.

But I eagery look forward to you telling me how easy college is after the end of first year. Best of luck