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Dangerous Dan
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I'll start out by describing my situation at the present. I'm in my fourth year of undergraduate studies, pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Computer Science. I'd consider myself to have a fairly strong academic profile. My math/science GPA is great, my overall GPA is still good, though not as good (Damn Econ... I could always rationalize both supply AND demand going up, so I never did too well in that subject - I guess most people don't shop like I do...). I'm willing to talk to specific numbers if hairs must be split. I have a fair amount of research experience; I've done a year in solid state chemistry (largely computational, a few syntheses to confirm program outputs) and I'm currently working on an undergraduate thesis in the creation of an artificial photosynthesis membrane (much more lab work). I've got my name on one publication, and will hopefully have another before I graduate. I've presented at CERMACS and local research forums.
So, on paper, things are going pretty well. As it turns out, however, my interests have started to shift, or, perhaps more aptly worded, progress. The reason I've become interested in physics in my later years of school was the same reason I chose to major in chemistry: In short, I love understanding the building blocks.
Physical chemistry and personal study introduced me to notions that led to my interest in particle physics. I'd be happy to expand upon exactly what fascinates me about it, but for the purposes of this topic, suffice it to say that I'm considering applying to some graduate programs in physics. Graduate studies in physical chemistry may suffice, but it seems to me that nitty-gritty research in elementary particles is the purview of physics; while the research of physical chemists is fascinating in its own right (often lots of spectroscopic analysis of short-lived states/molecules), it's less along the lines of something I'd personally wish to become involved with (truthfully, along with a shift in academic interest, I'm also beginning to grow tired of the sort of labwork that accompanies 'wet' chemical research - again, this is a matter of personal preference; I have nothing against the field).
I'm wondering how viable this transition is. I've heard of more drastic leaps (history --> physics, etc.), but I'm also farther away from physics than a mathematician or, in some ways, an engineer. As far as coursework goes, I've taken more mathematics than is required of a chemistry major here (calculus, ODE's, PDE's, linear algebra, discrete structures), this a result of general interest and computer science coursework. I've taken the physics required, which is a year of general physics (I did well, for what it's worth). I've also taken the chemistry department's course on quantum mechanics, which, while I'm certain is less mathematically rigorous than a physics course in the same, has familiarized me enough with the subject that I'm comfortable navigating literature and calculations in that area.
This is getting long-winded, so I'll finish up, though I'm happy to expand upon anything I said here. Has anyone gone through a similar change themselves, or, in general, does anyone have any advice/tips to offer about coming to physics from a different field of science?
(It's going to take me 2/3 of a 5th year to finish up the minor; I haven't yet taken the GRE; that will be this year - I'm planning on taking the general, chemistry, and physics).
So, on paper, things are going pretty well. As it turns out, however, my interests have started to shift, or, perhaps more aptly worded, progress. The reason I've become interested in physics in my later years of school was the same reason I chose to major in chemistry: In short, I love understanding the building blocks.
Physical chemistry and personal study introduced me to notions that led to my interest in particle physics. I'd be happy to expand upon exactly what fascinates me about it, but for the purposes of this topic, suffice it to say that I'm considering applying to some graduate programs in physics. Graduate studies in physical chemistry may suffice, but it seems to me that nitty-gritty research in elementary particles is the purview of physics; while the research of physical chemists is fascinating in its own right (often lots of spectroscopic analysis of short-lived states/molecules), it's less along the lines of something I'd personally wish to become involved with (truthfully, along with a shift in academic interest, I'm also beginning to grow tired of the sort of labwork that accompanies 'wet' chemical research - again, this is a matter of personal preference; I have nothing against the field).
I'm wondering how viable this transition is. I've heard of more drastic leaps (history --> physics, etc.), but I'm also farther away from physics than a mathematician or, in some ways, an engineer. As far as coursework goes, I've taken more mathematics than is required of a chemistry major here (calculus, ODE's, PDE's, linear algebra, discrete structures), this a result of general interest and computer science coursework. I've taken the physics required, which is a year of general physics (I did well, for what it's worth). I've also taken the chemistry department's course on quantum mechanics, which, while I'm certain is less mathematically rigorous than a physics course in the same, has familiarized me enough with the subject that I'm comfortable navigating literature and calculations in that area.
This is getting long-winded, so I'll finish up, though I'm happy to expand upon anything I said here. Has anyone gone through a similar change themselves, or, in general, does anyone have any advice/tips to offer about coming to physics from a different field of science?
(It's going to take me 2/3 of a 5th year to finish up the minor; I haven't yet taken the GRE; that will be this year - I'm planning on taking the general, chemistry, and physics).