>>12403807>Physicists don't make that much money, which is unfortunate IMO.i should have added that physicists that go into engineering are aces that are heads and shoulders above their peers and go on to make startups (where the money is, as long as you don't fold). in some ways i wish i had been able to go the physics PhD route, but as an EE I think I ultimately have better (and not necessarily disjoint) prospects
as a ugrad, if you get a nice scholarship, it may be an attractive option. just don't go into a mountain of debt for your education, it's just not worth it. ugrad institutions are largely interchangeable, so there may be a better choice that isn't as sexy looking (for instance, Urbana Champagne is cheaper and is probably the better STEM school. granted, it's a flat hellscape in the middle of nowhere)
the situation is different for grad school because you really want to find a group that does work you are interested in.