I am a student at top target who is split between physics academia and investment banking. I spent much of college working in astrophysics research, but this summer I'm an SA in IBD at a top BB/EB, which I have also grown to enjoy. Assuming I get into a top physics doctorate program, which path should I pursue for the best future opportunities?
| +67 | Are we doomed with this debt? | 52 | 6h |
| +59 | Girlfriend found my UBS badge. I told her I was cheating. | 5 | 12h |
| +21 | What portable monitors are you guys actually using and would recommend? | 4 | 1d |
| +11 | Anyone still having issues with Microsoft Outlook? | 2 | 1d |
| +7 | Jensen Huang resignation | 11 | 7h |
| +6 | Honeymoon Length | 6 | 3d |
| +5 | I want to work for Google | 1 | 1d |
| +3 | Jam Band Debate | 0 | 1d |
| +1 | The Hottest New Lucrative Career that Makes you Billions | 1 | 19h |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Go IB and never look back. I say that as someone working on a Phd Econ themselve's and just hired a a Physics PhD as a senior consultant so she could get out of academia.
Remember that scene from Margin Call about being an actual rocket scientist? Take the bread and the lamb spread and don't just tote guns, but do actually make number runs. Go on and tell us how you drop shit like a pigeon instead (trust me, it's so much more worth it).
The only correct answer is poopymonke
And also IB
Do you want money or do you want further knowledge in something? The reality is that academic doesn't pay the bills in the same way IB does. Even getting an astrophys degree and getting a teaching job or a role at JPL won't really yield you the same career potential a path in finance will.
Either way, you seem like a smart person who can do both so it's really a matter of how you view your life panning out in the next few years / decades of your life.
FWIW, some phys phds get roles at hedge funds if they have a quant angle to play but it doesn't sound like astro specifically fits that bill.
Placeat sint ut expedita dolores. Totam odit voluptate et voluptatibus dolorum incidunt. Ea ullam maiores vel blanditiis soluta modi necessitatibus. Possimus quia quod adipisci. Ut provident modi voluptas sunt velit odio.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Veritatis aut molestiae rerum et. Vero magni dolores cumque magnam consequatur non corrupti similique. Aspernatur consequatur quaerat maxime officia aut aut consequatur repudiandae. Vero aspernatur dolores aspernatur minima sed voluptas fuga.