I just finished a research masters at the Harvard Smithsonian centre for astrophysics in the USA. I always wanted to go on to study quantum gravity and particle physics. I have been accepted on a theoretical physics (pure maths) masters course at a top UK uni (I'm originally from the UK). I have also been accepted onto their Applied maths course. I have to decide which on to do.

While the choice seem obviously theoretical course, I should probably state that after my research experience I was put off of becoming an academia, mainly due to the post doc think - you know moving around, not to mention the unstable future. I would still do a theoretical phd involving space-time and quantum mech if it were to get me somewhere, I believe I'm good enough (I graduated top of my class fro a good uni).

I also like maths (though my passion is quantum stuff) and it seems to have more career options. I feel like I going insane with this decision, should I follow my dream of doing a phd in quantum gravity and try and find a decent carer or should I  concentrate on more numerical maths and go into industry? I my dream worth gambling my entire life on.

In years to come I don't want to regret not having done the theoretical PhD and maybe just maybe been apart of something but at the same time I don't want to over-qualify my self in a niche area and have few computational or transferable skills to get me a decent job and end up in a low paid job with little career prospects and have to look my future kids in the eye and live a poor life. The decision is tearing me apart! What would you do!? What are you experiences? Please help!

Hey Spark, I work in (private sector) consultancy and we have many people with PhDs in physics - across the board from theoretical to very mathematical (and in fact two people I work closely with did "quantum stuff"). The skills you would pick up on a PhD will always be useful - you can soon find out what skills are useful in industry and try and tie them into your PhD. Don't forget you have to spend a lot of time working on a PhD so it's best to do something you really enjoy than something you feel that you should!

Hey DanB, thanks for your reply. I guess that I'm very over cautious when it comes to doing a phd. Can I ask, do you have any regrets after all that sacrifice? I know you wont regret the Phd in terms of its personal intellectual stimulation, but what about in terms of career benefits or personal sacrifice?

I know how busy you can be when doing research and what/who you can lose as a result During my research year I was treated just like the final year post docs, right down to the adviser who expected you to know everything). It does come down to long term happiness, and while I would like to research something I loved I need to make sure my Phd lead to a meaningful career that I not only enjoined but also make enough money to pay of personal bank (and family) loans. I have heard that with a theoretical phd becoming a quant and/or consultant is possible, but what about more scientific based careers in industry and R&D. Also does a lack of computational knowledge not put you at a severe disadvantage? finally did you get your role before or after the credit crisis? Thanks again.

Hi Spark.

I can't really help with the decision between the theoretical stuff and computational stuff as I'm a social scientist so in a very different field. But I would say that it's important that you have a passion for the subject of your PhD, if at all possible - it takes up so much head-space and life-space that it would be a real struggle to do justice to the PhD opportunity without that passion. I know some people do do a PhD just as a job and see it as a means to an end, but I think if you do have passion for another topic undertaking a PhD in this way would become very frustrating, and could well lead to resentment of the actual topic of your PhD, if you see what I mean.

Also, all PhDs are by their very nature highly specialised. If you want your future career to be in the same speciality, or you want to follow a career where the speciality of your PhD is a prerequisite, then that shapes your decision. But if there's a bit more flexibility in that, then you do have the opportunity to follow your interests rather than what you think might be useful for industry. But someone else would be better placed to advise on the exact position in the areas you're thinking about.

Good luck, anyway!

I have also been very unsure about my path. After my masters in physics (where i got a first), and also after being treated like a PhD student during it, my brain was becoming fried (it was super-stress and at the time i was going through other problems so i wasn't sleeping). I decided to pursue a "normal" life and become a teacher, dreams of being able to settle down, have a famly, thinking that my career ambition didn't matter anymore. It did. I had to look through proper physics books just to keep myself sane. I wanted to follow my dream. I realised that there was no way i would be happy otherwise.

After training and being in a couple of schools as placements, teaching up to A-level (18yrs old), i decided that i had made a mistake, i wanted to do my PhD. I like working with kids and do it in a few other roles i hold, but i wanted to do the PhD for me, and for a different future career. Many reasons. So i gave them their money back (they were willing to pay physicists a lot of money to train as teachers because they had this idea that they need proper scientists to become teachers- i no longer think that is so), and quit the whole thing.

Finding myself at the wrong time of the year for most PhD entries i was being pressured financially from all directions, so went on the "back-up" job hunt for jobs in industry with physics. Even after going through some lengthy interview and presentation processes with industry and also holding agencies at bay, i wasn't sure. The money was tempting, but when the offers came close i just felt that it was not right. I knew what i wanted to do, i was just pretty scared about the prospect, the gamble of waiting for something that may not come quick enough.

Now i know for sure that doing this PhD was the right thing, it just feels so right. I will be starting the end of this month. I can hardly explain it. I was so happy when i found out i got my PhD, and came out top of all candidates, that i was roilling on the floor! I guess what i am saying is that it is more important to follow your heart, your passion. That's what i think. I think that should help to decide which PhD to do.

I am glad now though that i took the route that i did because it gives me more perspective and more passion to do the PhD (not going into it sluggish like i would have). Taking a year out in a different world, looking at teaching and industry, and seeing how life can be. I can't imagine anything else i would prefer to do with the next 3 years of my life, the choices seemed to be to basically work your way up in a job you probably are not so passionate about or do something that you really want to do.

I see what you mean about the postdoc thing, but that is one of the things about doing a PhD, you pretty much have to go in with the attitude that yes you will have to move about a bit because it is so specialised until you can settle down. It is just one of those sacrifices (but often people have to move about for other jobs too). But i was talking to my Professor about this, he gave a good speech, i wish i could remember it, but it convinced me that it isn't such a dangerous route, the speech was something about uncertainty, and about learning to be okay with uncertainty. He also said that most people he knew who graduated and went straight into these jobs are now not doing as well as the people like himself who did the whole postdoc thing. In any case, it is hard for me to name Professors and Doctors in my dept who dont have families and kids, and whilst i was in my small group of around 10 PhD students (when i was a masters student) about 4 of them came into show off their new borns, so people manage to have relationships.

Ender

Thanks for the repley's so far guys. I really appreciate it. I'm just so depressed at the moment and I have no Idea what I want out of life. Well I know I want a stable career and something that interest me. I'd love to work in an R&D deportment or something. The only non-academic careers for physics students seem to be engineering, programming (data mining ect) or finance. If I wanted to do either of those I would have taken a degree in engineering, computer science and finance respectably!

Ender I can completely relate. I had a really hard time being treated like a PhD student and was going through a lot of personal issues (being 3000 miles from home, family, friends and my girlfriend for a year, while an experience, is not something I would do ever again - this is why the post docs put me off). I have definitely realised that I need to do a PhD. I've had a "normal job" for the last 3 months and its killing me! I use non of my skills and I find my brain slowly shutting down! :(

Finally I have found out that I can do some quantum stuff in the applied maths department - so that may be an option, it not quite the theoretical physics I wanted to do but that could be a good compromise?