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Physics or Mechanical Engineering
I'll be going to Uni September 09 and am stuck between two courses. Physics is a subject I've always enjoyed and been good at. Now that's great, but I'm unsure about future career prospects that are related to it and don't wont to end up doing a degree and not using it or doing something completely irrelevant to it. This led me into looking at Mechanical Engineering. Again, I've always been interested in technical sort of things and it's also related to Physics. There seems to be a more sure-fire line of careers after a Mechanical Engineering degree, so I am also considering it.
Basically, I'm slightly more interested in Physics than Mechanical Engineering and would probably enjoy the course more, but Mechanical Engineering would seem like a better thing for me to do career-wise.
Any advise?
Basically, I'm slightly more interested in Physics than Mechanical Engineering and would probably enjoy the course more, but Mechanical Engineering would seem like a better thing for me to do career-wise.
Any advise?
Well in theory your decision shouldn't be too difficult as the two courses are very different, being science vs engineering, so all the usual "understanding vs applying" arguments apply.
Firstly in terms of difficulty and respect garnered I would have to rank physics the highest of all subjects. There will be tons of maths involved and you will learn all about the underlying forces of the universe. Quantum mechanics, relativity, particle physics and atomic structure etc are these things that interest you?
If you find yourself reading articles in say new scientist about antimatter and the Higg's boson then that's going to be an indication about which one to choose, as physics is all about exploring and trying to understand these concepts and theories. With the exception of thermodynamics I don't think you will go too deep into natural laws with mechanical engineering.
On the other hand mechanical engineering is highly employable because it's so useful. If you're more interested in building machines/cars etc (doing and enjoying this stuff in the past is pointer) then I'm sure it's highly rewarding. I would also argue that you're more likely to make a measurable impact in this field, as much of front line physics is so mathematical and conceptually impossible, or expensive ie CERN.
So having a good degree in ME will pretty much guarantee you instant employment because it's in such demand. However I would think physics graduates earn just as much and probably more, because they can walk into many different jobs. It's just that getting a direct job in physics is quite hard.
So really you should do it based on what you've found most interesting so far in life. They are both good degrees, it's just that in my opinion physics will open your mind more, although as I said don't be too surprised to not find yourself working in that field later on if you do choose it.
Firstly in terms of difficulty and respect garnered I would have to rank physics the highest of all subjects. There will be tons of maths involved and you will learn all about the underlying forces of the universe. Quantum mechanics, relativity, particle physics and atomic structure etc are these things that interest you?
If you find yourself reading articles in say new scientist about antimatter and the Higg's boson then that's going to be an indication about which one to choose, as physics is all about exploring and trying to understand these concepts and theories. With the exception of thermodynamics I don't think you will go too deep into natural laws with mechanical engineering.
On the other hand mechanical engineering is highly employable because it's so useful. If you're more interested in building machines/cars etc (doing and enjoying this stuff in the past is pointer) then I'm sure it's highly rewarding. I would also argue that you're more likely to make a measurable impact in this field, as much of front line physics is so mathematical and conceptually impossible, or expensive ie CERN.
So having a good degree in ME will pretty much guarantee you instant employment because it's in such demand. However I would think physics graduates earn just as much and probably more, because they can walk into many different jobs. It's just that getting a direct job in physics is quite hard.
So really you should do it based on what you've found most interesting so far in life. They are both good degrees, it's just that in my opinion physics will open your mind more, although as I said don't be too surprised to not find yourself working in that field later on if you do choose it.
gruffyddd
Well in theory your decision shouldn't be too difficult as the two courses are very different, being science vs engineering, so all the usual "understanding vs applying" arguments apply.
Well that pretty much sums up my predicament. Something which I thoroughly enjoy or something which I'll enjoy and have a decent chance of a career.
gruffyddd
Firstly in terms of difficulty and respect garnered I would have to rank physics the highest of all subjects. There will be tons of maths involved and you will learn all about the underlying forces of the universe. Quantum mechanics, relativity, particle physics and atomic structure etc are these things that interest you?
Yes, these things do interest me quite a bit.
gruffyddd
If you find yourself reading articles in say new scientist about antimatter and the Higg's boson then that's going to be an indication about which one to choose, as physics is all about exploring and trying to understand these concepts and theories. With the exception of thermodynamics I don't think you will go too deep into natural laws with mechanical engineering.
Yep, i would/do find myself reading those type of articles.
gruffyddd
On the other hand mechanical engineering is highly employable because it's so useful. If you're more interested in building machines/cars etc (doing and enjoying this stuff in the past is pointer) then I'm sure it's highly rewarding. I would also argue that you're more likely to make a measurable impact in this field, as much of front line physics is so mathematical and conceptually impossible, or expensive ie CERN.
Making an impact would be an extremely rewarding thing for me which is one of the factors that draws me to mechanical engineering.
gruffyddd
So having a good degree in ME will pretty much guarantee you instant employment because it's in such demand. However I would think physics graduates earn just as much and probably more, because they can walk into many different jobs. It's just that getting a direct job in physics is quite hard.
That's a good point, maybe after studying Physics there would be a way to transfer to ME?
gruffyddd
So really you should do it based on what you've found most interesting so far in life. They are both good degrees, it's just that in my opinion physics will open your mind more, although as I said don't be too surprised to not find yourself working in that field later on if you do choose it.
Well as a child i enjoyed building mechanical/technical things with knex etc. and have always liked looking at mechanical things and machinery, but later on I've now become interested in physics type stuff and how i can apply maths to things.
Ultimately, you should do what you enjoy. With a Physics degree you will be very employable, equally, if not more so, than a Mech Eng grad. I'm doing a Physics degree and I have a friend who's just graduate with a first in mech eng, in his fourth year he was doing Maths that I did in my first term. If you want a challenging and rewarding degree Physics is your subject..
Well reading your reply it 'sounds' as though you're more interested in physics. I am myself biased towards physics so take what I say with a pinch of salt. But try to imagine yourself doing mechanical engineering. There would I'm sure be a lot of practical work in which you'd have to build prototypes of engines and systems, and as in all walks of engineering, it doesn't matter how good your theory/plan is, if it doesn't work in practice then it's no good.
Physics on the other hand is often about imagining perfect systems which can be solved exactly (eg for quantum mechanics, see particle in a box, quantum harmonic oscillator and particle on a ring). For the enthusiastic student there is a certain amount of natural beauty here as it's very satisfying to be able to find exact solutions for systems. Of course in real life these conditions are hardly ever replicated, but e.g. for my subject chemistry we also learn these perfect models and then later learn to modify the conditions and approximate reasonably answers, with the models still being a good basis, and conceptually useful.
So just have a think about what you really find interesting, Imagine you're at university chatting in the bar. If some of your mates are talking about the merits of big bang vs steady state theory, are you going to feel left out if you're studying mechanical engineering? On the other hand if you're not fussed about intellectual snobbery and want to (literally) get your hand dirty and make something that's going to have a direct impact in people's lives, then ME is an excellent choice. But in my opinion it's always best to choose the thing you're most interested in to study, careers and money can follow on later.
Just to touch on your query about transferring to ME later, that's something you would really need to research e.g. by directly emailing some physics and ME tutors. To my knowledge there is a certain amount of transferrence that goes on between science and engineering, but the more common ones I've heard of are chemistry -> chemical engineering and physics -> electronics engineering. I think you need to be more careful about physics -> ME as the latter is all about designing things that actually work in practice. I have some physics friends who are geniuses, yet couldn't change a lightbulb if their life depended on it. So I think transferring from a highly conceptual subject to a highly practical subject is less common, although I think there may be conversion courses.
Physics on the other hand is often about imagining perfect systems which can be solved exactly (eg for quantum mechanics, see particle in a box, quantum harmonic oscillator and particle on a ring). For the enthusiastic student there is a certain amount of natural beauty here as it's very satisfying to be able to find exact solutions for systems. Of course in real life these conditions are hardly ever replicated, but e.g. for my subject chemistry we also learn these perfect models and then later learn to modify the conditions and approximate reasonably answers, with the models still being a good basis, and conceptually useful.
So just have a think about what you really find interesting, Imagine you're at university chatting in the bar. If some of your mates are talking about the merits of big bang vs steady state theory, are you going to feel left out if you're studying mechanical engineering? On the other hand if you're not fussed about intellectual snobbery and want to (literally) get your hand dirty and make something that's going to have a direct impact in people's lives, then ME is an excellent choice. But in my opinion it's always best to choose the thing you're most interested in to study, careers and money can follow on later.
Just to touch on your query about transferring to ME later, that's something you would really need to research e.g. by directly emailing some physics and ME tutors. To my knowledge there is a certain amount of transferrence that goes on between science and engineering, but the more common ones I've heard of are chemistry -> chemical engineering and physics -> electronics engineering. I think you need to be more careful about physics -> ME as the latter is all about designing things that actually work in practice. I have some physics friends who are geniuses, yet couldn't change a lightbulb if their life depended on it. So I think transferring from a highly conceptual subject to a highly practical subject is less common, although I think there may be conversion courses.
You can even get a employment in banking with a Mechanical Engineering degree.
Preferably MEng Mechanical Engineering.
Preferably MEng Mechanical Engineering.
If you're more interested in physics then do physics. Ignore gruffyddd because he doesn't have a clue about mechanical engineering.
But if you want to work in engineering, then do engineering. If you do engineering then you're much more likely to be in employment directly related to your degree.
But if you want to work in engineering, then do engineering. If you do engineering then you're much more likely to be in employment directly related to your degree.
It's not impossible to switch to an ME career after a Physics degree. Maggie Aderin, the science communicator, has a BSc in Physics and a PhD in Mech E. Physics is about the fundamental principles and Engineering is about applying them to build stuff. So I would say that it's easier to go from Physics -> Engineering but harder to go from Engineering -> Physics. My advice would be if you want to be an engineer study engineering but if you're not sure then do physics.
Well, the LHC is a good example to use when explaining the difference between Physics and Engineering. The physics look at the results from the experiments done at CERN, and analyse the results. However, it's the engineers that actually designs and builds the LHC. Without the engineers, there would be no LHC, but without the physicists, there's no purpose for the LHC.
It all really depends on what you find more exciting, writing articles and papers based on results and data from various experiments, or actually building the vital apparatuses that makes the scientific discoveries possible.
However, I think it might be easier to switch to an engineering career with a physics degree than vice versa, since a physicist would have the basis and fundamental knowledge to become an engineer, but an engineer would only be more refined in the engineering skills
It all really depends on what you find more exciting, writing articles and papers based on results and data from various experiments, or actually building the vital apparatuses that makes the scientific discoveries possible.
However, I think it might be easier to switch to an engineering career with a physics degree than vice versa, since a physicist would have the basis and fundamental knowledge to become an engineer, but an engineer would only be more refined in the engineering skills
(edited 14 years ago)
Original post by Jiamenguk
since a physicist would have the basis and fundamental knowledge to become an engineer
No, not really.
Original post by Smack
No, not really.
I know what you mean, and I see where I've gone wrong with that sentence, what I meant was that it's possible for physicists to become engineers, which quite a few people I listened to talks to have done. I wanted to say that physicists have a basis of knowledge that will enable them to become engineers, but the opposite probably can't be said as an engineer wouldn't study cosmology and therefore can't work as a physicist in particular fields
Original post by Jiamenguk
I know what you mean, and I see where I've gone wrong with that sentence, what I meant was that it's possible for physicists to become engineers, which quite a few people I listened to talks to have done. I wanted to say that physicists have a basis of knowledge that will enable them to become engineers, but the opposite probably can't be said as an engineer wouldn't study cosmology and therefore can't work as a physicist in particular fields
Possible, but much more difficult than if you study engineering to start with.
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