Anybody Got (Or Working Towards) a Degree in the Physicial Sciences?
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Genocidicbunny
Bug squasher
Well, seeing as I am in high school, Im not really working towards a degree per se, but I do plan to do something with chemistry when I do get into college.
MrCynical
Deity
I'm in my last year of a chemistry degree. As to where my career is going, it'll depend on whether I can get funding for further study.
GenMarshall
High Elven ISB Capt & Ghost Agent
I only have an associates in Marine Science that is anything remotely related to Physical Science.
aaglo
Furioso!
I've got a degree on civil engineering, but it hardly counts as a physics degree... well, grunt-physics maybe... 
JerichoHill
Bedrock of Knowledge
I minored in Biology
ArneHD
Just a little bit mad
I'm currently studying for a masters degree in geology.
Joe Harker
1st in the Premiership!
I am studying chemistry and physics a level hoping to do motersport engineering!
Mise
isle of lucy
I have a Physics degree, graduated in June 2006. My first job was with an Energy company, as a reporting analyst (spreadsheets, basically). I'm now working at the Diamond Trading Company (the commericial arm of DeBeers) as a Pricing analyst.
Genocidicbunny
Bug squasher
How does that tie in with Physics?
xienwolf
Deity
As someone working on his PhD in Physics I can answer that maybe
If you tell someone you have a Physics degree, their eyes sort of glaze over, and they don't hear anything you say for the next 12 minutes or so. After that they assume you are smart and trainable, so they hire you for whatever random thing they have an opening for and the last person didn't do well. Now they can brag that they have a Physicist working for them, even though you don't use your degree at all
If you tell someone you have a Physics degree, their eyes sort of glaze over, and they don't hear anything you say for the next 12 minutes or so. After that they assume you are smart and trainable, so they hire you for whatever random thing they have an opening for and the last person didn't do well. Now they can brag that they have a Physicist working for them, even though you don't use your degree at all
I'll vouch for xienwolf on this. As I mentioned in the other thread, I got a BS in Chemistry and Biology (double major), and ended up working first, in munitions maintenance, and since, as a professional computer geek.
I got the munitions job in part because of my hard science degree, but in reality what it required was a business degree.
In essence, unless you look for and get a specific science-based job, most employers just assume that if you got a degree you are "trainable", and are willing to hire you for any random position.
I got the munitions job in part because of my hard science degree, but in reality what it required was a business degree.
In essence, unless you look for and get a specific science-based job, most employers just assume that if you got a degree you are "trainable", and are willing to hire you for any random position.
Bartleby
Remembers laughter
I have a BSc and PhD in chemistry. Currently I'm working as an academic post-doc.
I'm in my second year of a maths degree in which I'm taking predominantly physics options... don't know if that counts.
Mise
isle of lucy
As someone working on his PhD in Physics I can answer that maybe
If you tell someone you have a Physics degree, their eyes sort of glaze over, and they don't hear anything you say for the next 12 minutes or so. After that they assume you are smart and trainable, so they hire you for whatever random thing they have an opening for and the last person didn't do well. Now they can brag that they have a Physicist working for them, even though you don't use your degree at all
Well, that was certainly 100% true for my first job after graduating, and for most of the other graduates I've met since, but my current job really does use a lot of the maths/stats I learnt...
Basically I do statistical modelling, with a smattering of business/strategic planning/modelling. I work with an Engineer and a Mathematician -- the maths skills we respectively possess are pretty important in our department.
However, the thing that really makes you stand out from all the other mathsy/sciency people is a good grasp of the business, and the ability to communicate your ideas effectively. If you want to switch away from sciency/techy stuff and into the really interesting decision making/strategic stuff then the first thing you should do is learn to talk the talk. Second thing is get an MBA from a good business school.
brennan
Argumentative Brit
QFT. The bit where they give you a job never seems to happen though. Just the eyes glazing over.As someone working on his PhD in Physics I can answer that maybe
If you tell someone you have a Physics degree, their eyes sort of glaze over, and they don't hear anything you say for the next 12 minutes or so. After that they assume you are smart and trainable, so they hire you for whatever random thing they have an opening for and the last person didn't do well. Now they can brag that they have a Physicist working for them, even though you don't use your degree at all
Hey Mise, let's 'network': Get me a decent job willya i'm bored of this crap.
BSc (Hons) 2:2. 'Physics with Electronics and Computing'.
I come under Abaddon's 'lazy' category - I got top marks all the way through my first year, then got bored when my marks actually started to count.
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I have a degree in Chemical & Process Engineering. It is actually required for my job, but general business and management skills are required, as well as on-the-job experience. I don't use much of my degree specifically day-to-day, but do draw on the theoretical side at time.
Enkidu Warrior
Ultramagnetic
I have an undergraduate masters in Physics. I'm currently an English teacher. I'll probably teach Science or Maths at some point in the future.
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