What kind of (profitable) job can you get with a degree in Physics?

What kind of Engineering degree????? Aerospace,Chemical,Nuclear?

• Okay, well I am currently a senior in high school applying for college. My dream job would be to design or work for NASA. I was kind of focused on Chemical Engineering for a while, but Aerospace has seemed to bring out a new insiration in me. I think it would be amazing to design spaceships. Or just to work for them. So i guess my question is What exactly do Aerospace and Chemical Engineers do. I understand how much effort it will take to get the degree, but I love science and want to at least try to succeed at this. So I guess I want to know is what is the chance of working on designing spaceships, not airplanes, for NASA or any other scientific development, even the government. I really like science, like physics and chemistry, and I would love to apply them in my career. So what degree would be better? Aeronatical or Chemical? and if youi could, could you talk about what their jobs are made of...and what honestly are my chances of getting a job as either a researcher or constructer of spaceships and such thank you , I hope

• Answer:

  NASA is excellent about offering a variety of solid internships, and then turning those into a job offer if things go well. Take a look at www.intern.nasa.gov. There's lots. They love pulling in students, and it's really good to start getting to know people while you're in college. They will take almost any discipline of engineering, math, or physics. I interned for NASA several times. (Way cool!) And I'll tell you what got my foot in the door was my coursework in nuclear engineering. The problem, sadly, is that there are many many aero and chem engineers out there. You will surely have a shot (they pick hundreds every year), but you better really wow 'em. Nuclear engineers are a little harder to come by. I realize you're debating between aeronautical and chemical, but I just thought (since you threw it in your question) that you might really consider tacking on nuke as a minor. NASA has not abandoned advanced propulsion. Nuke is where it's at, man. :) From personal experience, I saw far more aero engineers than chemical while I interned. (I also like aero engineers a little better, hehe, because they seem to develop a broader knowledge base, whereas chemical engineers seem to only know all things chemical. But that's me.) But seriously, what really matters is to pick the one you most enjoy. Those are two pretty different areas of engineering. Take a course in each and see what really does it for ya. You have to do what you love.