Expert: Daniel Mazur - 10/21/2005

Question
Hi,
im a 11th grade student, and im very interested in physics. But i think that getting a BA in physics or even MA may not get me lot of many as being an engineer or IT or Computer programmer ? What should i do?, maybe its better to take BA in Aerospace engineering (becuase i like it) and then take MS and PhD in physics.?

Answer
This depends very much on your priorities, but if you look at the money in science (both academic and industrial grounds) compared to money in programming, it is not too different. You should ask your self, what will probably be the most fun for you, or the most convenient job, or the job with the most variety - whatever your priority no.1 is, apart from money.

If you'd like to experience the feelings of the first human knowing something (finding a new material, solving a difficult theoretical problem,...), than science/physics is the thing for you. Here, you'll do your programming and design as a part of your job too and there are people, who designed something useful as scientists and then moved to industry and marketed their creation.

If you'd like to see things you design all around the market within 1 to 5 years, take the engineering. You will be using other people's discoveries to make useful things, but you'll have plenty of opportunity to be creative.

Only if you a) are really attracted to computer programming, or b) are not so keen on the risks of research, or c) fast money is the most important thing for you, then going for Comp.Eng. will do. I do not thing this option is the best one for you, if you are seriously interested in the physics and how world works.

In all cases, you have to be very good and a little lucky to have the money you want. With engineering it just works faster, because to MS is enough to get a job. In science, a PhD is a must and then you usually have to spend 2-6 years as a moderately paid post-doc. As a scientist you will be moving more too, because in science your CV looks the best if you got experience all around the world, or at least around the USA. This may discourage some people, if they want to have families before 30 years of age.

I hope this helps. My major was just physics all the way through Bc, MS and now PhD. If you want to migrate between majors during your curriculum, have a good look at the majors' compatibility (i.e. how many undergrad courses of Physics you'll have to take to get MS in Physics) before you put down your strategy.

Good luck.
Daniel