Don't know if I should change my course!

So I received my offer from Imperial College to study mechanical engineering this year. The problem I am facing is, I just feel like it is not the best course for me. I always wanted to do pure physics (quantum mechanics, string theory, etc.) but not only did my mum discouraged me to do so (because of economical aspects), I myself grew up to like a comfortable life style and don't think that a career in physics will satisfy my needs. So I decided to go with engineering as I basically thought it can provide a much better life. Nonetheless, when I see some hardcore physics in news or come upon a book about dark matter, I just feel regretful and just wanna let myself go.

I really don't know what to do with my life at this point, after all its my life and I want to do what I enjoy the most and perhaps I may have the chance to change the course, but I don't see myselfasking my mum to pay 25k (I am international) per year just to end up in a position where I can't sustain a good income and make money not an issue.

What would you have done? Have you been or heard someone being in a similar situation?

I appreciate any help!
Thanks

Reply 1

455409

Don't do a degree you won't enjoy, especially if there's one that you'd rather do instead. You'll end up getting stressed, bored and depressed by it wishing you'd done what you wanted.

Reply 2

qno2

You should do what you want to do not what you think will give you the best employment prospects or whatever. Also, there are quite a few physics graduates who end up working in engineering type jobs anyway so it's not like you would be completely switching to some obscure arts degree.

Reply 3

mickmook

I do know a guy who was in your predicament and I encouraged him to go down the line of engineering. But that was because I knew him well enough to know that he would enjoy engineering having worked and studied with him. The fact remains however, that, while 1st year of uni might be all partying and 2nd year too to some extent, you have to want the job you're going for. Otherwise, come third or fourth year, the stress won't seem worth it.

Money isn't everything, besides, a lot of physics graduates become academics which pays pretty well. Of course the flip side is that with all the stress of later years, you don't want to feel that it won't pay off, so if money motivates you, and you feel that you'll get more from engineering, maybe it will help you later on.

I think you might be underselling a physics degree though. It certainly can find you a well paid job if you are willing to put the work in.

Reply 4

thephysicsguy

Original post by mickmook

Well you are quite right there, money does motivate me and surely engineering is likely to give more opportunities easier. The problem with a physics degree is that my area of interest is very pure and 'abstract' physics and I am scared that I am gonna end up in a university with a decent but not great salary for the rest of my life. Even if I go places like CERN, I will never make big money... I guess I am just not a idealist kind of person.

Reply 5

eggfriedrice

Original post by thephysicsguy

You can't always have both; sometimes it's a job you enjoy but the pay isn't great, or a job you dislike but has higher pay.
Also bare in mind, you won't be making a killing being a mechanical engineer either.

Congrats on the offer at IC though. If you do end up doing mechanical engineering, you can always do a postgrade in physics, or vice versa (doing a physics undergrad and a engineering postgrad).

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 6

mickmook

I think physics lecturers and academic staff are on around 70K+ a year. Not exactly mansion and yacht money but certainly not impoverished either. You'll need a PHD for that job so it means a lot of work and a few years spent on a low wage before doors to big money open. Those are jobs that are very well suited to people with niche/specialised interests-in fact I'd say you'd struggle to stick with them if you weren't that kind of person.

Quite often a wage is only the start, it's the investments you make with it that decide your overall wealth and assets. The happiest people I know in life are those who work a job they love and make their money through property and stocks/investments etc.

I'm not saying these will work for you but it's something else to think about

Edit: I looked it up, generally speaking non-professors in UK unis are around 45-50K and professors are in and around 80K. Then if you were to move on to management etc it increases further.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 7

qno2

I was about to mention that the physics lecturers at my uni earn about 40-50k as academia is not really the highest paying profession. Some of them are involved with various commercial projects that earn quite a bit more. All of these tend to be involving high-end technologies and the latest cutting-edge reasearch in optics or materials physics.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 8

Alicelewis11

I think physic lectures and academic staff are on around 70k+ a year. Not precisely manor and yacht cash however unquestionably not bankrupted either. You'll require a PHD for that employment so it implies a ton of work and a couple of years used on a low wage before avenues to enormous cash open. Those are occupations that are exceptionally appropriate to individuals with specialty/specific diversions actually I'd say you'd strive to stay with them in the event that you weren't that sort of individual. All the time a pay is just the begin, its the speculations you make with it that choose your general riches and holdings.

Reply 9

ahpadt

Engineering is basically applied maths and physics. You'll still be exposed to a lot of it and you'll probably be able to chose more physicsy units aswell.