How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post Reply
SuperStringBoy
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:35 am

How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by SuperStringBoy » Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:13 pm

How is Condensed Matter Physics for career? Is it now best for career? Which are the top schools for condensed matter? It will be very helpful if anybody can give rank up to 20.

I am undergraduate student of Physics Major. After BSc can i apply directly to Phd?

User avatar
will
Posts: 399
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:26 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by will » Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:21 pm

String theory is currently the most promising subfield for employment after a BSc.

User avatar
zxcv
Posts: 402
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:08 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by zxcv » Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:25 pm

will wrote:String theory is currently the most promising subfield for employment after a BSc.
Will, that was my first thought exactly. But then it occurred to me that saying so would perhaps be too cruel.

SuperStringBoy
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:35 am

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by SuperStringBoy » Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:33 pm

will wrote:String theory is currently the most promising subfield for employment after a BSc.
By i know that string theory is most risky for career

User avatar
noojens
Posts: 187
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:59 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by noojens » Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:23 am

Do what you love. It's really the only reason to pursue physics as a career - if you're looking for job security or a weighty income, look elsewhere.

christopher3.14
Posts: 65
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:19 am

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by christopher3.14 » Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:21 am

noojens wrote:Do what you love. It's really the only reason to pursue physics as a career - if you're looking for job security or a weighty income, look elsewhere.
Ditto. If looking for security and money, just go into engineering.

User avatar
butsurigakusha
Posts: 293
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:05 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by butsurigakusha » Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:33 am

Do what you love. It's really the only reason to pursue physics as a career - if you're looking for job security or a weighty income, look elsewhere.
I tend to disagree with this philosophy. I think it is perfectly reasonable to consider the viability of a career and earning potential. It doesn't matter how much you love string theory, if you can't find a job, then you aren't going to have much of a career.

User avatar
will
Posts: 399
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:26 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by will » Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:26 am

I think the point of that statement was that it's all kinds of silly to pick a subfield of physics that might not actually interest you for the marginally larger job market, and still mediocre salary. No one's saying it's unreasonable to consider the viability of a career, but if we were here for viable careers, this would be cpa-exam.org.

SuperStringBoy
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:35 am

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by SuperStringBoy » Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:30 am

I love to study any topic related to cosmology,gravity, particle physics, blackhole.. but i am scared because now in most of the university are not asking for permanent job... Most of the time post doctoral fellow. If i dont a good permanent job and cant live an easy life.... then can i enjoy physics...?

There are lot of string theorist who left it after doing a lot of research. Because lot of people did not achieve anything. They are called rocket scientists. I read it in an article of Michio kaku 's article. MKaku.org

I also love string theory and hate those people who says its nothing but science fiction.

I am just scared for Career. I don't need huge money. If will be very very happy to be a faculty of a good university at Cosmology or High energy physics.

What i asked in this topic and what are saying! :lol: I am in Dilemma .

sltrukshan
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:30 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by sltrukshan » Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:17 am

SuperStringBoy wrote:I love to study any topic related to cosmology,gravity, particle physics, blackhole.. but i am scared because now in most of the university are not asking for permanent job... Most of the time post doctoral fellow. If i dont a good permanent job and cant live an easy life.... then can i enjoy physics...?

There are lot of string theorist who left it after doing a lot of research. Because lot of people did not achieve anything. They are called rocket scientists. I read it in an article of Michio kaku 's article. MKaku.org

I also love string theory and hate those people who says its nothing but science fiction.

I am just scared for Career. I don't need huge money. If will be very very happy to be a faculty of a good university at Cosmology or High energy physics.

What i asked in this topic and what are saying! :lol: I am in Dilemma .
Not only you but many hav the same question "which is hot?". As far as I understood ,you should balance both the future (career) and your intension. Although condensed matter and medical physics are hot, don't pick them if you don't like. On the other hand high energy and theoretical sides are very interesting but the future is bit uncertain.

Think about yourself. If you like to join the industry you better pick Condensed matter/nanophysics areas. But if you wanna be a faculty member or would like to work in (government) laboratories then high energy/astro/nuclear sides are not bad.

User avatar
twistor
Posts: 1529
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:47 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by twistor » Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:16 pm

If i dont a good permanent job and cant live an easy life.... then can i enjoy physics...?
No.

User avatar
will
Posts: 399
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:26 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by will » Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:37 pm

That's crap. Of course you can.

User avatar
twistor
Posts: 1529
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:47 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by twistor » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:43 pm

Like sex, without financial incentive physics is boring.

ler1
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:55 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by ler1 » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:55 pm

sex financial incentive?hookers?

User avatar
grae313
Posts: 2296
Joined: Tue May 29, 2007 8:46 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by grae313 » Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:58 pm

ler1 wrote:sex financial incentive?hookers?
yes, exactly

User avatar
Helio
Posts: 809
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:11 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by Helio » Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:40 pm

I would say the best thing is what you want to do. Who the hell cares what you do as long as you can get a job out of it. Do string theory and if it doesn't work out go do finance. you have a physics degree nearly all doors are open.

christopher3.14
Posts: 65
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:19 am

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by christopher3.14 » Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:43 pm

Helio wrote:... and if it doesn't work out go do finance. you have a physics degree nearly all doors are open.
Isn't that weird? When I was visiting grad schools and looking at the positions of past graduates I saw so many going into finance, working at Bank of America or Citibank, going into stock brokering, etc. These companies, I guess, want/need smart, analytical people.

User avatar
will
Posts: 399
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:26 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by will » Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:14 am

The people who fail at physics tend to make at least twice the salary of the people who succeed.

User avatar
twistor
Posts: 1529
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:47 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by twistor » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:11 am

Or is it just that the truly smart people realize they're not being fairly compensated for their hard work?

User avatar
will
Posts: 399
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:26 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by will » Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:21 am

But if you spend all day counting your money, how are you supposed to do string theory?

User avatar
dlenmn
Posts: 578
Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:19 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by dlenmn » Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:02 pm

will wrote:But if you spend all day counting your money, how are you supposed to do string theory?
Hire someone to count your money for you, and then do string theory?

jupiter_oct23
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:39 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by jupiter_oct23 » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:23 pm

Hi
I am an international student, after struggling for a year i get admitted in University of Idaho and wayne state university. I know these are not well known and highly ranked. Can you please help me to select one of these. I will appreciate your advice and help. And good luck for all of you.

SuperStringBoy
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:35 am

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by SuperStringBoy » Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:55 pm

twistor wrote:Like sex, without financial incentive physics is boring.
Corrrect

SuperStringBoy
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:35 am

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by SuperStringBoy » Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:58 pm

dlenmn wrote:
will wrote:But if you spend all day counting your money, how are you supposed to do string theory?
Hire someone to count your money for you, and then do string theory?
:lol: Nice Reply

User avatar
zxcv
Posts: 402
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:08 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by zxcv » Thu May 01, 2008 12:41 am

jupiter_oct23 wrote:Hi
I am an international student, after struggling for a year i get admitted in University of Idaho and wayne state university. I know these are not well known and highly ranked. Can you please help me to select one of these. I will appreciate your advice and help. And good luck for all of you.
Juniper, there's no way we can give you advise unless you tell us what you're looking for in a grad school. What are your research interests? What sort of place do you want to live in?

Personally, knowing nothing about the physics departments, I would probably pick Idaho over Wayne State. I value access to the outdoors, and Idaho is going to be far prettier place, although it's also in a smaller town. Wayne State is in Detriot, which is a large, economically depressed city. I don't think I'd want to live there, but that's just me.

jupiter_oct23
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:39 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by jupiter_oct23 » Thu May 01, 2008 2:20 pm

Juniper, there's no way we can give you advise unless you tell us what you're looking for in a grad school. What are your research interests? What sort of place do you want to live in?

Personally, knowing nothing about the physics departments, I would probably pick Idaho over Wayne State. I value access to the outdoors, and Idaho is going to be far prettier place, although it's also in a smaller town. Wayne State is in Detriot, which is a large, economically depressed city. I don't think I'd want to live there, but that's just me.


Thanks ZXCV.
I am interested in exp. condensed matter and currently working on magnetic nanoparticles. I liked the research work in Univ. of Idaho, one research group is working on nanomedicine which sounds very interesting. Wayne state Univ. is mainly focusing on smart sensors with other kinds of research. I get confused here. Physics dept of Idaho is very small, about 10-12 faculties, and it is collaborated with washington state university. If I go to Idaho, I will get chance to work with PNNL(pacific northwest national lab) as it is collaborated with univ. of Idaho. Wayne state univ. is huge, physics department has more than 25 faculties. What do you think, is it matter If I get Phd from a small university ? I will appreciate your advice. Thanks.

User avatar
zxcv
Posts: 402
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:08 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by zxcv » Thu May 01, 2008 11:51 pm

Personally, I don't think the size of the university you go to for grad school matters very much in itself. What matters much more is the overall reputation of the school, and on that count it's probably a wash, as neither school even is ranked by US News or the NRC. That's not terrible, it just means your success will rely on making a name for yourself, not riding on the reputation of where you went to school.

Where size matters is in the flexibility you gain in terms of choosing a field and an adviser. Since I'm still pretty much undecided, size was an important consideration for me. But if you have fairly narrow interests and there are several faculty you like at each school, then size is not so important. It sounds like you would have good research opportunities in either case, so that makes it harder to decide.

If you can't decide on research, I would try to get a sense of the culture of the specific schools and their graduate programs. If at all possible, you should try to speak with grad students from program, and see if you can get a sense of whether you like the people better at one place or the other.

jupiter_oct23
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:39 pm

Re: How is Condensed Matter for career and school ranking?

Post by jupiter_oct23 » Fri May 02, 2008 12:22 pm

Thanks ZXCV
I appreciate your helpful advice. I will try to contact some graduate students and find out more about the department. I already contacted one student who had phd from univ of Idaho and with the same advisor with whom I likely to do my research. Currently she is doing post doc at stanford university. She replied my email as ...
Dr.Qiang recently got tenured. He is a better person to comment on his experience. I can tell you what experience I gained as his grad student. While working with him, I gained experience in Magnetron sputtering system, SQUID and lots of other devices by using facilities at PNNL. I also gained experience in writing journal papers. As he has
collaboration with PNNL, I could access PNNL site and work with many scientist there. He is a friendly person and a hard worker, and can guide you pretty well with your research.


As per your suggestion I will contact grad students from wayne state and find out more. Once again thank you.



Post Reply