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I am interested in becoming a geophysicist. I am currently doing my undergraduate degree in the UK but have not chosen a specialisation. Is it better to specialise in Earth Sciences as an undergrad or go with Physics?

I like quantitative fields but I feel that undergraduate Earth Sciences does not offer such quantitative aspects. I also really like physics but feel that applying it in the context of the earth is really interesting. As becoming a geophysicist would probably require me to go to grad school, would an undergrad degree in Earth Sciences or Physics better prepare me to study Geophysics in grad school?

Ryan
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  • What kind of geophysics are you interested in? The best, but maybe excessive, would be to study both simultaneously but thoroughly. – Antonio Dec 12 '17 at 04:31
  • It depends entirely on the course options. At my university there is a fourth year geophysics option which is best taken from a physics background, but this may well be different where you are studying. – bon Dec 12 '17 at 11:38
  • I think it is too early to tell which areas of geophysics I would like to go into but I just like the idea of being able to make quantitative predictions instead of letting my quantitative skills go to waste. – Ryan Dec 12 '17 at 21:48

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I would recommend to do an undergraduate in physics.

I work at a department of Meteorology. When faculty hire a new PhD student or postdoc, they often prefer those with an undergraduate in Physics than with an undergraduate in Meteorology. The Physics degree gives a better preparation for doing science. It has more maths and physicists are more likely to have some programming experience than meteorologists. For most scientific positions, such programming experience is highly valuable. It appears the meteorologists are more likely to end up in jobs like weather forecasting or energy trading, rather than science.

Although this experience may be quite localised, a physics undergraduate degree does give you a more generic background. It's easier to catch up on the specifics of geophysics when you have a physics background, than the other way around.

gerrit
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  • Would you say that a Physics is more a rigorous as hard science than Earth Sciences / Meteorology is and is therefore seen more favourably by any employers looking for quantitative skills? – Ryan Dec 12 '17 at 21:51
  • @Ryan The scientists in the meteorology department here appear to have that view, judging from their PhD/Postdoc hiring decisions. I don't know if that generalises to other Earth Science / Meteorology courses and / or to other employers, but I can imagine it might. – gerrit Dec 12 '17 at 22:03
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How flexible is your degree? I would suggest doing earth sciences with as many quantitative electives as possible. In grad school, you will have the chance to make up for any missing knowledge or skills you have, either by self study or by taking courses.

Gimelist
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  • I have to choose after my first year. I study in a British university and I can't do electives. Once I commit to it, I will spend the rest of my undergrad life study that and only that. My university is already very unusual in allowing a range of "modules" in the first year. – Ryan Dec 12 '17 at 21:44
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    Go for physics then. As gerrit said, it's easier to learn the "geo" in "geophysics" than the "physics" after your undergrad studies. – Gimelist Dec 13 '17 at 01:43