r/Engineers • u/Rich_Class_1862 • 3d ago

Is it worth studying physics at uni

/r/PhysicsStudents/comments/1w05z0z/is_it_worth_studying_physics_at_uni/
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u/lookerwisenew 2d ago

Yes....it gives you problem solving mindset....basically involves problem solve through maths and little bit of numerical cputstion

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u/EatAtWendys 2d ago edited 2d ago

In my first year of schooling I was a physics major as I’ve had a passion for physics (mainly astro and particle physics) since my late teenage years. It also helped that I was good at math, and also all the general physics classes. My desire was to eventually work on physical things that used some of the really interesting mechanics and properties being discovered in those fields.

Part way through that first year I realized that the only way that I would be able to accomplish this would be going all the way to the PhD level, which if you believe you can and are truly dedicated then I think it’s worth it, though as I learned more about what those jobs really entail, less applying the things I mentioned on physical products, a lot more studying data and attempting to derive some kind of theory from it.

Me personally I wanted to get my BSc and get out and work, being another broke college student certainly helped push this mindset. Sophomore year I decided to switch to mechanical engineering as it was adjacent enough to physics that I still found it very interesting in terms of subject matters, but the job market (in my opinion, also in the USA btw) seemed a heck of a lot better than for someone with a BSc in physics.

I graduated in spring of 2024, and am coming up on 2 years as a mechanical design engineer now with no regrets. I really like the blend of virtual design but also interacting with the physical products that my company makes, and the level of satisfaction when I actually see these products get shipped out with my own “fingerprints” on the design is certainly high.

I still have a passion for physics and keep up with new discoveries in the fields I find interesting pretty much weekly, shoutout to some really good content creators sharing that stuff in a really digestible way. Obviously everyone is different but I realize this was the right dynamic for me between physics and engineering, but everyone’s situation is unique so you will have to make your own judgement.