Computer Science or Physics: Which Major is Right for Me?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the decision-making process for a high school student contemplating between pursuing a major in Computer Science or Physics. Participants explore various aspects of both fields, including personal interests, career prospects, and educational pathways, with a particular focus on Astrophysics and computational applications.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a strong interest in Astrophysics but feels pressure to pursue Computer Science due to their skills and interests in technology.
  • Some participants suggest considering Computer Engineering as a potential middle ground between the two fields.
  • Questions are raised about the long-term goals of the original poster and whether it is feasible to pursue both Computer Science and Physics simultaneously.
  • Concerns are voiced regarding job security and career advancement in both fields, with some participants asserting that both can provide good job security.
  • There is a discussion about the nature of Computer Science, with one participant clarifying that it encompasses more than just programming, including the study of algorithms and computability.
  • Several participants recommend looking into specific college curricula for both majors to make an informed decision.
  • Some participants advise against pursuing Computer Science, suggesting it may not be suitable for the original poster, while others argue it can be a valuable hobby.
  • A participant mentions a specific course in computational physics that combines elements of both fields.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether to pursue Computer Science or Physics, with multiple competing views expressed regarding the merits of each field and the possibility of combining them. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best path forward for the original poster.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the subjective nature of determining the "best college" and the importance of personal interests and career goals in making this decision. There are also mentions of varying curricula and the need for more specific information to provide meaningful guidance.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for high school students considering their college majors, particularly those interested in the intersections of Computer Science and Physics, as well as their parents or educators guiding them through the decision-making process.

Mike AkA Don
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As a high school Junior this year I need to decide on possible majors and schools to go to. That being said, I've always been quite the computer enthusiast with the ability to learn extremely quick while on a computer. Most people assume that I will go to school for computers and that has given me quite a lot of incentive to pursue college and a career in that area. But different types of Physics facinate me more then computers (probably because I've done so much with computers I'm just around them too much) which makes me want to get into physics. My interest is mostly in the area of Astrophysics because the different concepts of deminsions, time and space are incredible.

What I would like to know is:
1. What my best bet would be, continue with computers or hault my growth in that area and pursue physics?
2. What are the best colleges and courses?

Thanks.
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
Have you ever thought about Computer Engineering?

Physicists do take some programming classes so, in your shoes, I would study physics(extremely biased opinion). You could work with computers as a hobby or something. You could view some colleges on www.princetonreview.com[/url] and [url]http://www.collegeboard.com/[/URL]Best colleges? ehh, that would depend on what your definition of best college is.
 
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Mike AkA Don said:
1. What my best bet would be, continue with computers or hault my growth in that area and pursue physics?
What is your long-term goal?
Why can't you advance in both "computers" and "physics"?
What is it about "computers" that interests you? Are you interested in the so-called "computer science"? or "computer programming"? or just playing around with technology and gadgets?
I'd suggest looking over the curricula for "physics" and for "computer science" in a college catalog. Which you would prefer to study?
 
robphy said:
What is your long-term goal?
Why can't you advance in both "computers" and "physics"?
What is it about "computers" that interests you? Are you interested in the so-called "computer science"? or "computer programming"? or just playing around with technology and gadgets?
I'd suggest looking over the curricula for "physics" and for "computer science" in a college catalog. Which you would prefer to study?
I've had my hand in most areas involving computers; engineering, programming, IT, components; pretty much everything.

I guess I could pretty easily advance in both but I don't know which I want to pull full focus on and which to be a hobby. Which would provide better job security and advancement do you think?
 
What exactly is computer science? Is it just programming? I really like programming, but wouldn't want to do it for 8 hours a day 5 days a week, stuck in a cubicle. =/

PL
 
Heres a couple college cirriculums for computer science

http://www.cs.concordia.ca/programs/ugrad/cs/curriculum.html
http://www.uninets.net/~sarihou/curriculum.html

I'd be interested in seeing MIT and Carneige Mellon's cirriculum and course schedules before acctually deciding on that as a major.
 
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There are lots of schools that are strong in both computer science and physics. You don't have to (and shouldn't) choose what field you want to pursue as a career right now. Keep your options open, take class, see where your interest takes you.

The "best college" has an extremely subjective answer. You're going to need to give more specifics about what sort of college and experience you're looking for if you want to get meaningful and helpful answers. I did choose my school (Swarthmore College) because I thought it was the "best college" (for me!), but many other reasonable opinions vary.
 
Stephan Hoyer said:
There are lots of schools that are strong in both computer science and physics. You don't have to (and shouldn't) choose what field you want to pursue as a career right now. Keep your options open, take class, see where your interest takes you.

The "best college" has an extremely subjective answer. You're going to need to give more specifics about what sort of college and experience you're looking for if you want to get meaningful and helpful answers. I did choose my school (Swarthmore College) because I thought it was the "best college" (for me!), but many other reasonable opinions vary.
But what factors should be taken into account to find which college is best for me?
 
I'm a Computer Science and AI undergraduate at a university in the UK (Edinburgh).

There is no reason for you to not be able to do both. I know for a fact that there's a course at my university called computational physics, which is really a joint degree between computer science and physics.

What exactly is computer science? Is it just programming? I really like programming, but wouldn't want to do it for 8 hours a day 5 days a week, stuck in a cubicle. =/

No, it isn't just programming. Computer science, at it's most basic, is the study of the algorithm, what is computable and what isn't. Programming does come into computer science, but it is used as a tool like an astronomer uses a telescope.

There's a separate degree, called Software Engineering, which is more focussed on programming and engineering methodologies as they apply to computer program design. The two degrees do share a lot of common courses in the first years (teaching students how to program is shared between them etc.).

One consideration the OP may like to make is what sort of maths he likes. Computer scientists generally use more discrete maths, such as graph theory etc. although continuous maths is used a lot in computer vision and areas like that. In my experience, physicists tend to use a lot more calculus than us.

Which would provide better job security and advancement do you think?

Both will provide you with job security.

But what factors should be taken into account to find which college is best for me?

From a CS perspective, the more maths a computer science course has, the better it is. I'd also stay away from courses which teach todays trendy new language, like .net. These tend to be IT courses masquerading as computer science courses.

I hope that this has helped (I'm new here).
 
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  • #10
That was extremely helpful, I'll look into computational physics. Thanks
 
  • #11
What my best bet would be, continue with computers or hault my growth in that area and pursue physics?
You can do both. I am a computer engineer and now I'm studying physics.
 
  • #12
Stay away from Computer Science, its not the right thing for either of us haha.
 
  • #13
bhunt said:
Stay away from Computer Science, its not the right thing for either of us haha.
true but its always a nice hobby
 
  • #14
Mike AkA Don, I am from West Chester also. :)

I go to Henderson HS. Nice to see a fellow member from West Chester on PF!
 
  • #15
z-component said:
Mike AkA Don, I am from West Chester also. :)

I go to Henderson HS. Nice to see a fellow member from West Chester on PF!
whoa I go to East.. What grade are you in? bhunt goes to East too
 
  • #16
Mike AkA Don said:
What grade are you in?
12. We'll have to chat sometime. :)
 
  • #17
bhunt said:
Stay away from Computer Science, its not the right thing for either of us haha.

Do you have a reason for saying this?
 

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