All I can really say, if you're struggling to motivate yourself, astrophysics definitely isn't for you. You need to get out there and find out what it is you *really* enjoy doing, what you would lose sleep over just to keep doing. Only when that finally clicks, will you know what you want to do. And from that point on, it doesn't matter if it's 'hard' to get a job in it. You will be able to motivate yourself to go for it.
Help with career choice
- Thread starter SheepBeast
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Considered ATC? Same industry as 1 with more job security, better shift structure and in most cases better pay.
http://atcocareers.co.uk
http://atcocareers.co.uk
Man of Honour
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One of the first things I'd point out is that what you do your degree in doesn't necessarily govern what options you have - a degree essentially proves that you can "learn" to a certain level and pass the relevant exams. The ability to learn is an important transferrable skill or at least it's presumed to be transferrable by most employers unless proved otherwise. Therefore if you're close to finishing your degree then pretty much whatever it is in you would be well advised to do so and aim for the best grade you can realistically get - you don't have to particularly enjoy it for the remaining time but make sure you do the work and give yourself the best chance of walking away with a decent qualification.
If you're six months into the qualification and realise that university just isn't for you then maybe the advice would be different and you should simply cut your losses and do something else but when you're near as damnit finished then just suck it up and get your degree.
As for what you should do - have you actually been to speak to the careers advisors at Edinburgh Uni? They might not give you a definitive answer but they should be able to point you towards a few options that might be suitable for you - use whatever avenues are open to you and explore a variety of choices but that does mean you've actually got to go out there and speak to them, they aren't likely to come to you.
Soldato
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You can do an apprenticeship through McDonalds
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You make some pretty good points so thanks for the post. However I think I didn't phrase the OP very well in regards to my "inflated sense of ability". What I was referring to is that if I put some time into something I get good at it very fast. My IQ is ~140 and I have many friends who are similar. I'm under no illusion I'm "superior" to anyone. Obviously there are billions of people on the planet and everybody has something they're better at than most others. The point I was making is that I have a lot of options, the only thing holding me back is that I can't decide what to really focus on (and as mentioned in OP, my less than amazing social skills). There are loads of people that are only good at one thing, but they're REALLY good at it. I'm not like that, I'm pretty decent at anything but never outstanding, because I never focus on one thing.
As for programming, I know some VB, C and Java and I really enjoy it, but obviously I'd need some more training. If I decide to go down that route I'd probably try and do a second degree in Computer Science, or something like that, but I need to get my Astro degree out the way first. (and find a way to finance said second degree)
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> Lists IQ
Online test or REAL IQ test?
Always ask this of people who claim about high IQs. You're using it to inflate yourself even if you think you are not. In addition, high IQ =/= being good at everything you do. You can be a jack of all trades, yes. However, when you say you could get *really* could at almost anything because you set your mind to it? It's doubtful.
Online test or REAL IQ test?
Always ask this of people who claim about high IQs. You're using it to inflate yourself even if you think you are not. In addition, high IQ =/= being good at everything you do. You can be a jack of all trades, yes. However, when you say you could get *really* could at almost anything because you set your mind to it? It's doubtful.
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Seriously lack of focus here. As has been said, knuckle down and get the best degree you can. If indeed everything you focus on you are good at then focus on your degree! Just because you 'can't be bothered' is very naive and you need to fix that kind of attitude asap. I know the feeling, I did a degree I didn't enjoy and was awful at but I put my head down and finished it.
What uni are you at? If your at Edinburgh then join the uni gliding club, great way to learn to fly and give you something to enjoy whilst doing your degree.
What uni are you at? If your at Edinburgh then join the uni gliding club, great way to learn to fly and give you something to enjoy whilst doing your degree.
I'm starting a new course next year in Avionic Engineering with Pilot studies. (However I probably won't pursue my piloting beyond a PPL, I'm focusing on the engineering at the moment)
My passion is always planes, technology and talking about what future discoveries there could be. I combine this into something I love both as a hobby on a computer simulation level and in the real world etc.
Do something you are passionate about. Some people just want to enjoy a simple life with a factory job and have a family.
I'm not really a sociable person, I prefer to be alone. I do not want a family and I really don't want to be stuck in Stoke for any longer than another year or two. You have to do what you want, both in life decisions that make you happy and with your studying / interests. It's hard, I know all too well but try and make links to what your real passion is for.
My passion is always planes, technology and talking about what future discoveries there could be. I combine this into something I love both as a hobby on a computer simulation level and in the real world etc.
Do something you are passionate about. Some people just want to enjoy a simple life with a factory job and have a family.
I'm not really a sociable person, I prefer to be alone. I do not want a family and I really don't want to be stuck in Stoke for any longer than another year or two. You have to do what you want, both in life decisions that make you happy and with your studying / interests. It's hard, I know all too well but try and make links to what your real passion is for.
You don't need a degree to be good at programming, especially if you have an analytical mind and a desire for learning.
Something you might not have thought of, it potentially starting your own business. Something entrepreneurial - could be tech related like an awesome app or a game or a website... or it could be something completely different.
If you want to take your programming further don't bother doing a degree in CS. The important thing is being a logical thinker, mathematically talented and willing to put up with debugging. I work with lots of computer scientists, very few of them have a degree in computer science. Most studied maths, stats, or physics.
Programming is easy and doesn't require higher education. Being a good computer scientist does require a lot more knowledge in data structures, algorithm design and analysis, architectures, but mostly lots of maths combined with logical thinking.
Also, most a astrophysicists I know program a lot.
For a good idea of what being a computer scientist is and what you will need to learn look at the MIT analysis of algorithms course.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...1ZCTDA&usg=AFQjCNEbTIXrES7H-HWSGfql8dqFswbbCg
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...1ZCTDA&usg=AFQjCNEbTIXrES7H-HWSGfql8dqFswbbCg
I'm curious. Would you consider a joint honours CS/Maths a good choice, or would I be better going for pure maths?
Soldato
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You don't need to do a second degree in Computer Science. A lot of Astrophysics degrees already involve programming elements and, or course, a lot of maths which should be enough to land you a reasonable position.
I know when I graduated (in Astrophysics) a lot of people were going straight from that into well paid jobs programming in the finance sector.
In fact whether I work we would prefer someone with an engineering, maths or science degree over a computer science degree ... ability to approach and analyze a problem and plan a way forward without as many pre-conceptions. Specific programming skills can be taught, (either self or by classes) later.
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.... the whole point of this thread was for you guys to offer other suggestions. I realise that the careers I listed don't look likely to happen which is why I made this thread. Telling me to "be realistic" is not helpful.
The things you are "good at" will make excellent hobbies.
If I were you I'd actually try a few years of working in your chosen field before writing it off.