A physics master’s degree opens doors to myriad careers • Hacker News Board

Re: A physics master’s degree opens doors to myriad careers

#41

Post by oneepic » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 6:44 PM UTC

I've also heard the opposite, that it leads to absolutely nothing and you are kind of treated like a PhD dropout, at least in the US. Just be careful, I guess, and get plenty of advice from real people who took that path (successfully or not).

Oh, and a bachelor's in engineering physics seems to lead to nothing as well. Have had quite a few friends go to career fairs and every company rep lost interest as soon as they heard the words "engineering physics". They just went on to grad school in plain old physics since they had 0 other options besides learning to code.

Re: A physics master’s degree opens doors to myriad careers

#42

Post by mjfl » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 6:46 PM UTC

msvan wrote: post #38

I've spent a lot of time getting an MA in mathematics, but I sometimes feel that I should've just gone straight for computer science. I never intended to do pure math research. My CS friends know more about databases and distributed systems than I do, even if I know more about representation theory. Still, if you subscribe to the signaling theory of education, what does it matter.

> My CS friends know more about databases and distributed systems than I do, even if I know more about representation theory

I don't mean to be rude but this was a very foreseeable outcome of a masters in math. Why didn't you foresee it?

Re: A physics master’s degree opens doors to myriad careers

#43

Post by muvek » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 6:57 PM UTC

mjfl wrote: post #39

muvek wrote: post #27

I have an MS in physics and I disagree with this. If you want opened doors, go for software engineering. You have so many things you can do with software, seriously. I have finished my master's in November, and I have been looking for a job. I have not been very lucky so far. I am looking for data-science related stuff. If you have any suggestions, please, I am all ears. (I am in Europe) There was a time when, if you…

why data science and not something where physics degrees confer more of a comparative advantage? Something like telecommunications engineering or something of that sort?

My MS was in astroparticle physics (applied). That means I am better suited for data science than for engineering stuff.

Weirdly enough, if I knew optics but no coding I would be in a better place than the one I am in right now, which is: I know (a little bit of) coding but no optics.

Re: A physics master’s degree opens doors to myriad careers

#44

Post by msvan » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 6:59 PM UTC

mjfl wrote: post #42

msvan wrote: post #38

I've spent a lot of time getting an MA in mathematics, but I sometimes feel that I should've just gone straight for computer science. I never intended to do pure math research. My CS friends know more about databases and distributed systems than I do, even if I know more about representation theory. Still, if you subscribe to the signaling theory of education, what does it matter.

> My CS friends know more about databases and distributed systems than I do, even if I know more about representation theory I don't mean to be rude but this was a very foreseeable outcome of a masters in math. Why didn't you foresee it?

My reasons for choosing what I chose do not fit into a Hacker News comment.

Re: A physics master’s degree opens doors to myriad careers

#45

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 7:03 PM UTC

mjfl wrote: post #39

muvek wrote: post #27

I have an MS in physics and I disagree with this. If you want opened doors, go for software engineering. You have so many things you can do with software, seriously. I have finished my master's in November, and I have been looking for a job. I have not been very lucky so far. I am looking for data-science related stuff. If you have any suggestions, please, I am all ears. (I am in Europe) There was a time when, if you…

why data science and not something where physics degrees confer more of a comparative advantage? Something like telecommunications engineering or something of that sort?

[deleted]

Re: A physics master’s degree opens doors to myriad careers

#46

Post by mrits » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 7:06 PM UTC

oneepic wrote: post #41

I've also heard the opposite, that it leads to absolutely nothing and you are kind of treated like a PhD dropout, at least in the US. Just be careful, I guess, and get plenty of advice from real people who took that path (successfully or not). Oh, and a bachelor's in engineering physics seems to lead to nothing as well. Have had quite a few friends go to career fairs and every company rep lost interest as soon as the…

I've never considered being a PhD dropout a bad thing. There are so many legit reasons for not finishing a program.

Re: A physics master’s degree opens doors to myriad careers

#47

Post by noetic_techy » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 7:08 PM UTC

Not my experience and I have a Engineering-Physics degree, which is essentially a full physics degree with additionaly courses gears towards training us as systems engineers and luckily that's how I landed a job afterwards. I tell all prospective physics majors to dual major in CS or EE or some other engineering useful discipline if you truly want to do something good. You have a much better chance of landing a job afterwards and gaining the foothold you need to propel into what you really want to do. Most places outside academia don't know what to do with you. Funny thing is, the people I know with physics degrees end up being some of the best engineers and quickly bubble to the top. HR types have a hard time seeing that potential if you don't fit their criteria degree exactly.

Re: A physics master’s degree opens doors to myriad careers

#48

Post by dorchadas » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 7:09 PM UTC

noetic_techy wrote: post #47

Not my experience and I have a Engineering-Physics degree, which is essentially a full physics degree with additionaly courses gears towards training us as systems engineers and luckily that's how I landed a job afterwards. I tell all prospective physics majors to dual major in CS or EE or some other engineering useful discipline if you truly want to do something good. You have a much better chance of landing a job a…

Physics major myself and found it pretty much the same as you mentioned. Definitely wish they had put more emphasis on double majoring, or doing internships and such.

Re: A physics master’s degree opens doors to myriad careers

#49

Post by rongenre » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 7:11 PM UTC

mrits wrote: post #46

oneepic wrote: post #41

I've also heard the opposite, that it leads to absolutely nothing and you are kind of treated like a PhD dropout, at least in the US. Just be careful, I guess, and get plenty of advice from real people who took that path (successfully or not). Oh, and a bachelor's in engineering physics seems to lead to nothing as well. Have had quite a few friends go to career fairs and every company rep lost interest as soon as the…

I've never considered being a PhD dropout a bad thing. There are so many legit reasons for not finishing a program.

I've been in recruiting discussions where we specifically wanted an ABD in CS (we wanted ability, but also eagerness to work in a new subject area).

Although, it's conceivable that being both ABD and not specifically in CS is seen as a bridge too far.

Re: A physics master’s degree opens doors to myriad careers

#50

Post by MockObject » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 7:12 PM UTC

muvek wrote: post #43

mjfl wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

why data science and not something where physics degrees confer more of a comparative advantage? Something like telecommunications engineering or something of that sort?

My MS was in astroparticle physics (applied). That means I am better suited for data science than for engineering stuff. Weirdly enough, if I knew optics but no coding I would be in a better place than the one I am in right now, which is: I know (a little bit of) coding but no optics.

Applied?