Nice to hear from you!

I've never been interested in making a lot of money, but I'm sure that's what a lot of kids my age say. Or maybe it's supposed to be the other way around... not sure. I will admit, my daydreams are pretty wild. I find myself imagining a revolution/state collapse in North Korea, followed by a period of state reconstruction. However, I also daydream about doing research at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. Irrational and unrealistic? Absolutely. That's what daydreams are good for!

I'm not even sure I'm the type of person who could do a walkabout of sorts before formal schooling. I certainly want to have an academic lifestyle, but I don't imagine it as anything luxurious. Actually, I imagine I will be a completely broke student, happily squinting at some lengthy proof. Again, pretty naive haha. We'll see where I end up in a couple years :)

You are quite welcome. Most are things I failed at, and wish I knew earlier (= experience). Dumb people don't learn from their mistakes and/or ignore the lessons. Smart people learn from their mistakes and grow. Real smart people learn from other people's mistakes.

I so wish there was an internet when I was your age!

Good advice. I never learned to use debt, the last time I financed anything was a GMAC loan on a '57 Chevy during high school, except for my homes and rental units. My last and final home I paid cash. It worked for me and a good book to read is The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.

we all should hope that Trump makes it in three weeks, for our sake during the next 4 years. After that, I think the country will sink into a socialist spiral. Maybe sooner if Harris is president (Biden is a trojan horse)

Two things as you leave the comforts and security of your family.
1-You will encounter many social choices, especially if you're away at school. If you have to think twice about doing something, DON'T.
2-The world is your oyster and dreams should be unlimited. It’s yours for the taking and anything is possible, but it takes diligent effort framed around the productive longer-range goal. What may seem unachievable needs to be broken down, one day at a time in small reachable steps. These will continuously enhance the intermediate phase of success, adjusting the proverbial sails as the wind changes, ultimately realizing that “impossible dream.” When this productivity is achieved, a sense of pride will be fulfilled promoting further accomplishments. Always give it your all, 110%, performing at your highest level, not only for your personal satisfaction, but you never know who is in the “audience.” Life is a continual growth process. It's more important to know what you don't know rather than what you think you know. Shoot for the stars and your integrity is of paramount importance as you develop lifelong relationships.

Thank you so much for this.

By the way, you don't need to worry about a big wedding from me :)

I don't know much about engineering, but I will definitely keep an open mind and look into it! I'm not completely sure what direction I would like to go in, but I love the sciences in general. Research- despite how competitive it can get- fascinates me. I'm applying to some schools with great engineering programs (it just so happens haha) so I'll cross my fingers and hope I can get in to at least one of them. From there I can see about switching majors/programs if I change my mind about physics.

Physics doesn't seem very practical, but it's so interesting to me- especially its strong foundation of mathematics. I hope I can develop a passion for it in the future and, if not, I will find another area of study :) Thank you for your insight!

I offer two pieces of advice to all young people I meet and like. Don't Smoke, Save (Invest) Your Money. I kid people that I probably still have some money from mowing lawns, pulling weeds, and my paper route.

Get in the habit of socking away money as soon as you enter "the real world" post-college. Enjoy college...it's arguably the best part of your life. Being with the wrong woman is the most enjoyable way to completely, irreversibly screw up your life.

When my dad was getting his second master’s degree at UCLA in nuclear physics in the mid 1950’s he met a classmate who was studying the gravitational fields of the moon. Job opportunities?? Then Sputnik was launched and Kennedy declared “we are going to the Moon and will beat the Russians.” The only guy who knew about the gravitational fields of the Moon got a signed blank check from NASA. My dad’s advice to me: “find a field that no one knows anything about and wait for the world to beat a path to your door.” I took his advice and I am insanely busy. It took a few years but it happened to me.

There are a few liberals here and there at Florida Tech, including a couple who teach climate change. No one here teaches reparations.

Our climate is changing. Is it a catastrophic change? No, but I definitely see a difference from 20 years ago here. The nights are a few degrees warmer because the oceans are indeed warmer.

I focus on all the things that a proper Patrick Henry University ought to include, including the appropriate philosophy for being productive.

I do have a small business that is starting to take off, so I haven't completely shrugged.

Do not let people deter you or dissuade from your goals or dreams. I was recruited out of the U.S.M.C for my technical expertise in systems' diagnosis and repair. As I realized I was going to need that degree, I applied to pursue the Electrical Engineering route only to find my path blocked. One of my mentors saw the situation and asked me if I liked Physics. From that step on, I have not only enjoyed my profession but have been able to enjoy my path for ove 50 years now. If you find something you enjoy, it is not hurting anyone but is a helpful, then go after it no matter what your peers will say!

Hopefully your school is not taken over by crazy liberals more interested in reparations and climate change than actual learning. Best thing you could do is teach your students that they can trust technology and their ability to understand it and use it in their own lives. I left MIT years ago with one thing really- the idea that I was capable of understanding anything and solving any problem if I kept at it long enough. I have used that every day since, even though I dont really remember a lot of the practical things they taught.

Now they do climate change and raparations and "looking good" by being politically correct. Too bad.

Dont bother with college. You will learn little except the evils of student debt firsthand. I went to MIT for mechanical engineering. Back in the day (1966), jobs were plentiful if you could show that you were one of the 10% that got into a prestigious school like MIT. I had over 20 job offers upon graduation. Today, seeing as though so many go to colleges, you wont get automatic acceptance into the job market like before. Plus, there are a lot of other ways to actually gain the skills you would need in your chosen profession. Check out the youTube videos from the famous physics professor at MIT (before they blacklisted him for some supposed texting encounter with a foreign female living outside the country). I think his name is Lewin. That was from a bygone era, as now MIT is filled with liberals more concerned with reparations for the blacks and climate change than actually learning about the world and life. Thats my two cents.

Hate to say it but engineers rule!

I was a Physics major, contrary to many of the points here it is an excellent major. When talking to one faculty member in a dept where I was considering a Comp. Sci./AI Ph.D, he remarked that Physics is a great education, as it's based on a kind of pyramid of ideas that you move up, providing excellent intellectual discipline. You can take EE/CS/other related courses, but you'll have a very solid factual and intellectual foundation.

Choose and education and job that you enjoy. You will spend about one third (one half of your waking) life on it.

Don't waste a pile of money on a big wedding. Spend the money on your honeymoon, and have the people there that you will enjoy sharing the event with.

If you are a smart guy (sounds like you are), never accept an answer you don't understand. If someone can't explain it to you in terms you understand, they are the one's that don't understand the concept.

qhrjk - I've wondered about you!

Re: your question: my grandson just started his first semester as a physics major, and so far he reports it's "easier than he thought it would be." I'm not sure whether that's good or bad, but he IS highly motivated and he is NOT a partier. I am optimistic, but also aware of the comments of others saying it might not be the most practical major.

I am sure you'll read them carefully. If I were you, I'd also listen very carefully to jbrenner....to have a professor of his caliber would be a distinct advantage! I'm jealous!

As far as I know, physics majors have only two occupations: deep-space astronomy and cryptography. And neither of those fields is easy to get into as a profession.

I'd echo some of the others here and suggest a double-major, with the other being an engineering field which will crossover nicely. One of my brothers-in-law got an undergrad in astronomy or geology (maybe both) and a masters in information systems. Unsurprisingly, he now works for Exxon.

Keep an open mind about the teachings from your HS and college professors. Accept the fact that many have a serious liberal lean and teach from this perspective. There is more to education than what many teachers would prefer for you to learn and being here at the Gulch is a great step in that process. I think in this current environment it will do you no good to argue but having an open mind also requires one to have open ears allowing crap to flow in one and right out the other when necessary.

I teach chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science and engineering, and how to make things. That is my shrug job.

You ought to come to Florida Institute of Technology and take part in my nanotechnology minor program. https://www.galtsgulchonline.com/post...
You are why I advertise in the Gulch.
Consider me to be like Quentin Daniels, the professor from Utah Institute of Technology, except that I am from Florida Tech nstead.

Your career choices are somewhat limited with that particular major. Follow the advice of the guys who have been there. Be happy.

Figure out what inspires you then focus on that.
Think carefully about taking on debt.
Be kind.

When you think or daydream of your future where do you see a passion?
Have you had enough exposure to anything that may become a passion?
To what level do you wish to explore a lifestyle versus a career?
If you had the support to go walkabout and explore would you enjoin this before formal schooling?
Are you going to spend you time making a living or making a Life?

I know...I'm a s**t! LOL!