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Theoretical Physics

  • 14-06-2011 9:57pm
    #1
    Aibrean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48 ✭


    Hi,
    I'm a 5th yr student and I'm currently decided on a course for third level! I like
    the sound of a theoretical physics course in Trinity. I was wondering if you had any thoughts on the course, have you done it or heard anything about it?


Comments

  • #2
    Professor_Fink
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 861 ✭✭✭Professor_Fink


    Aibrean wrote: »
    I was wondering if you had any thoughts on the course, have you done it or heard anything about it?

    I did TP in UCD rather than Trinity, but can definitely recommend theoretical physics as a course, provided you don't mind a lot of maths. I get the impression that people who study TP are more likely to go on to do a PhD or something similar than in other subjects. 6 people made it to the end of our course, without failing or transfering to another subject, but of those, 4 now have PhDs, 1 is a medical doctor, and one moved into CS and is now a googler.


  • #3
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 28,161 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    Are the PhDs all in TP?

    It's a good course. It's highly interesting and even if you don't go into further study it's attractive to employers due to its high maths content and problem solving. You need to be ready and able to knuckle down and do a lot of maths though.


  • #4
    amen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,781 ✭✭✭amen


    6 people made it to the end of our course
    out of how many ?


  • #5
    Aibrean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48 ✭Aibrean


    Sounds like what im looking for. Im doing higher maths and physics and have always had a keen interest in problem solving thats why i thought id like it. but im bit fearful that it a lot of work for what?!?! im not even exactly sure what i want to work at yet :/


  • #6
    Professor_Fink
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 861 ✭✭✭Professor_Fink


    Podge_irl wrote: »
    Are the PhDs all in TP?

    I think 2 in TP, 1 in observational astrophysics and 1 in an interdisciplinary group.


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  • #7
    Professor_Fink
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 861 ✭✭✭Professor_Fink


    amen wrote: »
    out of how many ?

    I think 12 started, but a few transfered in after first year. I think 18 people in total were in my class at one point or another, but some transfered to other courses, and a few left our year (either actually leaving or having to repeat a year).


  • #8
    Professor_Fink
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 861 ✭✭✭Professor_Fink


    Aibrean wrote: »
    Sounds like what im looking for. Im doing higher maths and physics and have always had a keen interest in problem solving thats why i thought id like it. but im bit fearful that it a lot of work for what?!?! im not even exactly sure what i want to work at yet :/

    If it interests you more than other things, then I would say go ahead and do it. Career wise its pretty good. It ticks all the numeracy and programming boxes needed for many jobs outside physics (finance, consulting, quite a few tech jobs, etc.), so you are only really ruling out directly entering a profession (e.g. medicine, law, accounting, etc.) but a number of people move into these, usually by doing a conversion course in the UK.

    On the other hand, it is very hard to move into theoretical physics coming from another background (other than perhaps a pure maths degree). So if you think you may want to be a physicist, go for it. You're certainly not making yourself unemployable.


  • #9
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Aibrean wrote: »
    Hi,
    I'm a 5th yr student and I'm currently decided on a course for third level! I like
    the sound of a theoretical physics course in Trinity. I was wondering if you had any thoughts on the course, have you done it or heard anything about it?

    Have you considered any of the Applied Physics 3rd level courses? I did Applied Physics and Instrumentation, best of both worlds really. Some folks go on to do post grad stuff in AstroPhysics and the like, most go into industry as engineers. Plenty of options.


  • #10
    Tears in Rain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 267 ✭✭Tears in Rain


    Aibrean wrote: »
    Hi,
    I'm a 5th yr student and I'm currently decided on a course for third level! I like
    the sound of a theoretical physics course in Trinity. I was wondering if you had any thoughts on the course, have you done it or heard anything about it?

    Hey, just for reference there's been a load of threads already about the course on the TCD sub-forum. Here are some, you might find the info useful. Feel welcome to post there, there's a fair few TP students active or semi-active on the forum (myself included, I'm just about to go into second year.), and we'd probably be happy to help you with any questions. Personally, doing the TP course has so far been one of the most enjoyable things in my life, and I have no regrets at all in choosing it.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=72514822
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=60366610
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=51292453
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=67456148
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=62469328
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=62256298


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