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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

A question from DD: which science degree?

58 replies

GnomeDePlume · 25/02/2017 22:22

DD is in year 12 and looking at degree courses. She is studying Maths, FM, Physics, Chemistry. Currently predicted grades are A*, A, A, B. Maths is without a doubt her strongest subject.

She loves being in labs and understanding how and why things work. What she loves about physics & chemistry is that it isnt all known, that there are still lots of things to discover.

So the question is: which science degree? Head would say maths, but her heart says physics or chemistry.

Which degree will help her into a science career the best?

Oh, and she doesnt want to teach (honestly, god love her, but you wouldnt want her teaching kids)

OP posts:

annandale · 26/02/2017 15:02

That Headstart link is brilliant

Original poster

GnomeDePlume · 26/02/2017 15:22

I have just looked at the headstart link and will pass it on to DD. Thank you for that.

The problem she is having with the chemistry is that the teaching is being a bit inconsistent. Lessons are getting cancelled with little or no notice and little or no guidance on what to read to catch up the lesson. It's a consortium 6th form with students being bussed between three towns and this seems to be contributing to the inconsistency.

All comments are really appreciated and are being shared with DD.

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EnormousTiger · 26/02/2017 16:02

Perhaps look at what science career she might want. I do a lot of IP law and we hav a good few ex scientists who even have PhDs who move into qualifiying as solicitors because the pay can be so dire in science (I am not saying it is always bad but it can be)., Pay however might not matter to her. if she's good at maths and interested in pay however what about a banking career or a quant?She could even run her own fund and keep you in lifelong champagne - they really need good maths people.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 26/02/2017 16:20

Physics, without a doubt. So useful for employability. I have several Physics degrees and loved it all. I have had two cracking careers off it. It is fascinating and also there are few women physicists and we need more!

user7214743615 · 26/02/2017 16:48

Perhaps look at what science career she might want.

But it's very hard to understand science careers until you have actually studied science. Much better to go for the subject you like the most and see where it leads you. A science degree from a good university can lead into careers in finance (if that's what you want) and into well-paid/interesting careers directly using the science too.

BTW a maths degree is certainly not essential to become a quant. A pretty standard path these days is maths-heavy first degree (i.e. physics and engineering are fine) followed by Masters in appropriate mathematical finance area or even PhD in appropriate maths modelling area.

Original poster

GnomeDePlume · 26/02/2017 16:57

She wants to work in research in one of the energy industries. This morning she was talking about hydrogen fuel.

OP posts:

ErrolTheDragon · 26/02/2017 18:25

I'd guess that could be approached from all sorts of directions - materials science/engineering (membrane technology is a key part, I believe); civil engineering maybe (infrastructure requirements for new fuel ) ; mechanical/ automotive eng... you might want to start a thread with something specific in the title to see if there's anyone knowledgeable in the field because only some of what's involved is pure science, I think.

She sounds like being a quant isn't something she'd touch with a bargepole (sorry, can't resist a pun)

Original poster

GnomeDePlume · 26/02/2017 19:11

No, at the moment she seems destined to be a scientist. If she stays in the UK she will likely be as poor as a church mouse but blissfully happy! Scientists do seem to be quite badly paid even in industry in the UK.

OP posts:

80schild · 26/02/2017 19:18

DH physics teacher (and has physics degree) and he says physics. Out of the sciences it is the most mathematical and also will help her into a proper career.

Daffydil · 26/02/2017 19:27

I did a physics degree (well, astrophysics) and there was a huge amount of maths in it. We were doing maths courses right up to the fourth year, where one maths course was compulsory before we could go on to the 4th year relativity course.

People from my degree course are working in research (one did a PhD in Cambridge on very hands on almost engineering stuff and now works at a uni in America), IT, finance, defence, at CERN. One has been running an observatory in South America. Another went on to do a seismology PhD. Several are teachers. One became an actuary.

VeryPunny · 26/02/2017 19:36

Don't rule out chemistry. In fact, it's probably the one that offers you the broadest options. Theoretical chemistry is basically maths with a side of physics, physical chemistry underpins vast swathes of materials research essential for modern power (batteries, photovoltaics etc, catalysts for hydrogen generation...) and a lot of the biology labs I have worked in have been staffed by physics or chemistry graduates. I did chemistry and am an academic scientist now in a field which has only a very little to do with chemistry!

Also, I don't agree that scientists are poor. Industry scientists can be very well renumerated, I make a comfortable living as an academic scientist and there's money in patents etc.

user7214743615 · 26/02/2017 20:10

She wants to work in research in one of the energy industries.

But it's probably hard to understand what this means with only school experience.

And as pp wrote, "energy" is a big theme, which can be approached from a multitude of directions.

Agree with another pp that pay for scientists is not necessarily poor. I wouldn't call myself as poor as a church mouse on a salary around six figures - and I could easily earn more if I took on more consultancy work, did less academic research.

Original poster

GnomeDePlume · 26/02/2017 21:03

At this stage DD is exploring her options so I am less worried that she doesnt have a concrete career plan yet. At this stage it is about keeping doors open.

I know that it is perfectly possible to make a good living in a science career. But I do know that many science careers seem poorly paid relative to the level of qualification and experience.

OP posts:

isambardo · 26/02/2017 21:09

She sounds like me, I opted for an engineering degree but honestly if I could turn the clock back now I'd opt for straight physics or maths and physics. It seemed so daunting back then but so fascinating now.

Original poster

GnomeDePlume · 26/02/2017 21:16

The degree which has really caught her attention is chemical physics with a year in industry at Bristol. Initially she was looking at chemical engineering but has since moved away from that idea.

This was all so much easier with DD1 who knew from the off which course she wanted to do (biochemistry) and what she wants to do afterwards.

OP posts:

Original poster

GnomeDePlume · 26/02/2017 21:19

She was at an open day yesterday and was a bit concerned that there seemed to be a lot of push to go into teaching around the straight science degrees.

OP posts:

ErrolTheDragon · 26/02/2017 21:57

That may just be because there's a shortage of science teachers.

DH and I are both physical chemists (not sure how, if at all, that differs from chemical physicists...) - from a quick look at some of the bristol spec it looks good.

Not knowing what you want to do after a science degree isn't a bad thing. I did chemistry because it was just so darned interesting, I hadn't a clue where it would lead. Actually, I once told a friend that I thought I'd do a job which hadn't been invented yet and it turned out I was right!That's the thing about science and engineering- some of what's going to emerge in the next 5 or 10 years is predictable, but who knows what else there will be?

catslife · 27/02/2017 12:14

The degree which has really caught her attention is chemical physics with a year in industry at Bristol.
I have some experience of this course OP, it would be too identifying to say what but please pm me. I think it's possible to switch courses at the end of the first year and do either Physics or Chemistry instead of Chemical Physics if your dd changes her mind at a later stage.
See link for other unis offering this course www.whatuni.com/degree-courses/search?subject=chemical-physics.

EnormousTiger · 27/02/2017 12:20

Investment in oil in Kazakhstan - there can be a lot of money in oil and gas and some graduates including with masters then go into advising due to their background in investment into those areas but then there am I again advising on the ways you can make a lot of money as a scientist interested in oil and gas.

Teaching is very hard work (although we certainly need good science teachers in schools) and some graduates just fall into it because of not thinking what else they might do.

Original poster

GnomeDePlume · 27/02/2017 13:00

Thank you very much indeed catslife I will talk with DD when I get home from work and PM you a bit later if that is okay?

EnormousTiger certainly there are well paid science jobs out there. However both my DBs had science careers in the civil service and both stayed on fairly low salaries relative to experience and qualification. Of course that is in large part because both were comfortable and didnt want to lose their pensions (which they are now enjoying in their mid 50s).

My other experience was of scientists working for a large FMCG company. Because of a civil service like grade structure the only way to progress salary was to move into management rather than actually 'doing' the science.

OP posts:

ErrolTheDragon · 27/02/2017 13:29

It's ok Tiger - when the OP's DD goes to uni open days - whether in physics, maths or engineering- there will almost certainly be pie charts showing how many of their graduates go into financial type careers.

EnormousTiger · 27/02/2017 13:57

I did know someone who did their masters or PhD in something to do with oil and gas and made quite a bit of money out there in the Russian type areas where there is oil advisign on where to invest and they were very good at it because of their science background. We need a lot more womn in that oil and gas sector by the way, far too man men and not surprisingly it tends to be better paid than many areas women go into (as ever). Good place to find a husband actually - Aberdeen off shore oil industry too due to many more men than women.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/02/2017 15:11

I'm not disagreeing, tiger, if that's what floats someone's boat... just kind of sounds like the OPs dd might have other priorities. many people with really good science/tech backgrounds are certainly needed in that sort of area. DH used to sometimes despair of some of the city 'analysts' who would visit the company where he was technical manager, ask some scientifically illiterate questions and as far as he could make out, make a favourable report or otherwise based on the quality of lunch.

Original poster

GnomeDePlume · 27/02/2017 21:28

Hi catslife, I have PMd you.

OP posts:

childmaintenanceserviceinquiry · 27/02/2017 21:36

Plenty of investment banks looking for strong scientists as banks move into vertical integration of products and managing physical risks and settlements for clients. Also change in technologies eg move to renewable energies, requires investment to get the business going. So knowledgeable scientists very much in demand.

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