Re:"Generalism" is why I like experimental physics (Score 1)

That's why I studied physics as well. I also found that the skills of a physicist as problem solver and reductionist are applicable to a number of fields outside of academic research as well. I worked as an in-house consultant for a law firm specializing in reverse-engineering devices in product liability cases, and it was a blast. I made a lot of money for ten years, and then bailed out when working for attorneys got to be too annoying. While I teach at a four year college now, I still do some consulting work, and find my training and education as a physicist in general have served me well in my career. Even though I was a computational theoretical physicist, I always kept one foot in a lab, just to keep my hands dirty, and to satisfy my inner tinkerer. Leaving grad school never stopped my learning, in fact I found that graduate study taught me that my education will never be a static thing. I think the misery the author of the article found arises from students' expectation that an advanced degree translates into financial success. If someone told you getting an advanced degree will somehow fulfill you personally, or because you're going to make a lot more money because of it, you will be sorely disappointed.