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Returning to School for a Better Degree?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the disillusioned-with-the-current-degree dept.

HerbieTMac asks: "I graduated a few years ago (AB '00) from a decent school. Having worked my myself quite nearly to death, I am now the proud owner of two bachelor's degrees in Economics and Public Policy. I also have put in a couple of years working as a Computer Science TA for the masters program. Being older and arguably wiser, I find that I don't really like where I am going and instead want to pursue a PhD in physics. The problem is that most PhD programs require an undergraduate degree in physics first. Or at least a significant amount of classwork in the field. Most of my physics knowledge has come from self-study and bumming class notes from friends. I'd love to go back to school and do the work for the AB but most schools won't accept applications for a second (in my case third) bachelor's degree. Has anyone else decided that they really didn't want to work with the first degree? How did you go about convincing a school that you are a good bet? Or even to let you do some preparatory course work?"

4 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. Older and wiser? by xyzzy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I really hate to say this, but if you are legitimately older and wiser, you'd reconsider the PhD in Physics, unless you are REALLY in love with the field.

    In ~15 years in the computer biz, I have worked with numerous Physics PhDs who have gotten OUT of the field due to lack of jobs (since we stopped doing bombs in the 80s), lack of research funding, and lack of ability to make progress in the field.

    Again, I don't want to disuade you if you are really in love with the field. But remember, a PhD is a 4-8 year commitment, and you better know where you are going before you jump.

    I think the Economics and Public Policy gig, combined with a knowledge of computers (which I am assuming from your /. posting) is a hot combo, personally!

    1. Re:Older and wiser? by Chilles · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Your data set is screwed, all physics PhD's you meet have gotten out of the field already and therefore where not motivated enough or able enough to find a job in the physics field (or they felt the lure of IT money).
      If this guy is in love with the field he should go for it, physics needs motivated people, most physics students I know (myself included) get out of the field because they are unable to continually perform at the high intellectual level physics requires of them. To actually make a meaningfull contribution to physics these days you need to be one intelligent single minded dedicated person, It's just too damn hard for the rest of us.
      I would advice the original poster to honestly test his knowledge of physics and mathematics when compared to that of the physics bachelors/masters he knows. If he can convince his friends (who should be very sceptical if they take their own hard work serious) that he is at least at bachelor level in physics he should be able to convince a university.

  2. My wife changed direction...... by jsimon12 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    My wife went to school wanting to do Anthropology (Primatology to be specific, the whole Jane Goodale thing), well after earning a BA in that she decided it really wasn't for her and she wanted to get a MFA (Masters of Fine Arts, the highest you can get in Art, basically a PhD for artists) so she could teach at the college level. Well they require all sorts of odd prequistes and such to get into those programs without you being a special stupid (stupid stuff like 2D design and art history 101). Well my wife has been an artist on the side for years and is actually ver accomplished, and sells pieces and has been in a couple shows. So in lieu of taking a bunch of classes she doesn't need she went and talked to the Dean of that department and the people in charge of admissions and showed them her work and explained herself and they waved the requirements.

    From what I have seen the best thing you can do is talk to the people in charge, don't talk to the low level consuler types they will simply point at the rules book. If you can prove yourself and prove you know what you are doing and that you have direction and drive and are willing to work hard most of the people in charge will let you wave stupid things. So in other words talk to people.

  3. Take time to make the right decision. by cybermace5 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sounds like you have a little difficulty determining what you really want.

    Did it ever occur to you, while working toward you other two degrees, that it wasn't what you wanted to do? You could have switched majors and been much further ahead then where you are now, which is probably in debt and with two essentially worthless (for what you want to do) degrees.

    I suggest you pay more attention to what you're doing this time. Maybe find a way to work with actual physicists and determine if you like it.

    Whatever, it's just another "O Great Oracle of Ask Slashdot, guide me in my everyday life choices!" question.

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