How do I become a competent PROFESSOR? How do I become a competent SCIENTIST? Will I ever make IT?

Question

I'm an undergraduate college student, majoring in Physics and specializing in Medical Physics. I'm not a genious, I'm just an average joe but love doing physics stuffs (In fact, lots of my fellow students are smarter and brighter than me!). My IQ is fluctuative, ranging from 128 to 150.

Academically, my GPA right now is about 3,69 out of scale 4. But outside the academic, what qualifications should I fulfill as a scientist? Outside science, I have some keen interest in English and History and my hobbies include writing and singing.

Sometimes, I hear some voices in my head like "You won't make it. You have no talent at all! You can not win! Whadda loser!" and I feel like I'm not as good as the others....

Answer 1

In the US, pedigree for a University job is important. If you go to grad school at the "right" school, it will help you later on.

The "right" schools depend on what you're studying, but in physics, you do alright at MIT, CalTech, Columbia, Harvard, Stanford, UChicago, Cal Berkely, Rice.

There are other programs that are fine, but if you find a research topic at one of these schools, go for it. That is a helpful first step toward becoming a professor.

After that, you'll get guidance from your adviser as to a good path.

Answer 2

Competency is debatable. Some people are good at one thing, and not at others. You need to find what you enjoy and try to make a good living with it, or make it your hobby. Enjoy the ride and don't stress. Everything is evolving as it should.