Posts: 228
Threads: 15
Joined: November 8, 2011
Reputation:
5
How practical is it to major in astrophysics?
December 31, 2011 at 3:17 am
First of all I would like to apologize if I posted this in the wrong forum.
I love astronomy, and I can say that my passion for it really drives me. I don't think words can really express my love and fascination for astronomy which I'm sure is the case for many people as well. However, I am seriously considering majoring in astronomy and physics. But how practical is it? It seems like a huge risk that I'm taking just to end up jobless and realized I wasted all these times....What can I do as a career with such majors?
Posts: 1211
Threads: 38
Joined: July 15, 2010
Reputation:
21
RE: How practical is it to major in astrophysics?
December 31, 2011 at 3:50 am
I certainly hope so. I'm hoping to return to college in fall of '12 and I intend to go the astrophysics route.
If possible, I might also go the route of quantum physics as well. I'd like to have a well-rounded perspective.
I've tested quite well in math, so I'm hoping it can carry me far beceause I know I'll need it.
If today you can take a thing like evolution and make it a crime to teach in the public schools, tomorrow you can make it a crime to teach it in the private schools and next year you can make it a crime to teach it to the hustings or in the church. At the next session you may ban books and the newspapers...
Ignorance and fanaticism are ever busy and need feeding. Always feeding and gloating for more. Today it is the public school teachers; tomorrow the private. The next day the preachers and the lecturers, the magazines, the books, the newspapers. After a while, Your Honor, it is the setting of man against man and creed against creed until with flying banners and beating drums we are marching backward to the glorious ages of the sixteenth centry when bigots lighted fagots to burn the men who dared to bring any intelligence and enlightenment and culture to the human mind. ~Clarence Darrow, at the Scopes Monkey Trial, 1925
Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first. ~Ronald Reagan
Posts: 19789
Threads: 57
Joined: September 24, 2010
Reputation:
85
RE: How practical is it to major in astrophysics?
December 31, 2011 at 4:37 am
I considered majoring in astronomy in college, until I realized that
1. There is no career that would interest me without a PhD
2. There are about 30 job openings each year in the WORLD, POSSIBLY THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE, for astronomy PhDs.
Posts: 31905
Threads: 205
Joined: July 19, 2011
Reputation:
141
RE: How practical is it to major in astrophysics?
December 31, 2011 at 4:44 am
Oh - one more thing. If you're not involved in a local amateur astronomy group, I would recommend it. You can do useful research as an amateur.
Posts: 2966
Threads: 124
Joined: May 12, 2011
Reputation:
30
RE: How practical is it to major in astrophysics?
December 31, 2011 at 4:53 am
Its well known in the uk that physics, maths, engineering and economics students are at the top of graduate employment statistics, so go for it.
And phds astrophysicists are liked in quant finance jobs and earn shit loads.
Posts: 3158
Threads: 132
Joined: September 1, 2011
Reputation:
44
RE: How practical is it to major in astrophysics?
December 31, 2011 at 10:02 am
You could always teach! LOL
Posts: 12806
Threads: 158
Joined: February 13, 2010
Reputation:
111
RE: How practical is it to major in astrophysics?
December 31, 2011 at 10:16 am
Shit, you could run a website and make a decent amount of cash. Fuck it. Go for it.
