Any Advice On My College Major and Path?

[zionri2]

I need some advice on my major. I attend an early college high school where I will graduate with my associates degree and I want to go into either physics or aerospace engineering and I’m leaning more towards physics but everyone is telling me to do aerospace because of the job market but I don’t know if I want something more tangible like engineering. I really enjoy physics, mathematics and philosophy and like asking the why behind the things people do. I’m thinking of doing physics and applied math double major or physics and a math minor and definitely want to get masters and PhD. I’m interesting in astrophysics, engineering maybe or theoretical physics. But I know that astrophysics has a lot of coding and I’ve never coded before and I don’t know if I’d enjoy it since I never really learned how to type on a keyboard properly and the concept of coding doesn’t necessarily sound amusing. Any tips on which I should do and the job market would be great. Also, any tips on getting a good gpa in college and things like note taking, what supplies I may need if I do physics vs engineering and any other general tips about college?

 

[CrysPhys]

Before I weigh in, I'd like to get some more background information, since you stated that you are enrolled in a special high school program in which you will be graduating with an associate's degree. How much college-level physics, math, other science (such as chemistry and biology), and engineering (if any) courses will you have taken? Are there pre-set arrangements with particular universities that will allow you to enter as a junior? Or at least place out of certain general-education requirements? Are you planning on shortening your bachelor's program to less than 4 yrs, or are you willing to spend (up to) a full 4 yrs?

 

[zionri2]

I’d say I’m willing to do either to be honest. The school lets us enter most colleges in the state as a junior. We take a humanities course, 2-3 English courses, Spanish 1 and 2, calculus 1 and 2, 2 or 3 history classes, and chemistry, and some college require public speaking so I think I’ll be taking that. We also take health. I think there’s more but I’ll find that out my second semester of senior year. I ended up telling my college liaison that I wanted to do aerospace but I never really confirmed that with my self but they said the classes for aerospace and physics are the same at the early College.

 

[Muu9]

If the classes for aerospace and physics are the same, then you shouldn't feel the need to decide now. Which grades of highschool are you in now? What level are you at with math, and what level are you at with physics?
Which state are you in?

 

[zionri2]

Well my school doesn’t offer physics, I took ap precalc and a high school physics class last year. I’m currently a junior but I have to take precalc algebra and precalc again for college credit. I don’t know why since ap precalc is an ap class but I think there’s curriculum is different for precalc trigonometry compared to the trig you learn in ap precalc I think it’s more in depth. Right now I’m self studying calculus 1 and 2, and college physics 1 Although I’ll take 1 and 2 next year anyway. I’m in North Carolina.

 

[CrysPhys]

I’d say I’m willing to do either to be honest. The school lets us enter most colleges in the state as a junior. We take a humanities course, 2-3 English courses, Spanish 1 and 2, calculus 1 and 2, 2 or 3 history classes, and chemistry, and some college require public speaking so I think I’ll be taking that. We also take health. I think there’s more but I’ll find that out my second semester of senior year. I ended up telling my college liaison that I wanted to do aerospace but I never really confirmed that with my self but they said the classes for aerospace and physics are the same at the early College.

Well my school doesn’t offer physics, I took ap precalc and a high school physics class last year. I’m currently a junior but I have to take precalc algebra and precalc again for college credit. I don’t know why since ap precalc is an ap class but I think there’s curriculum is different for precalc trigonometry compared to the trig you learn in ap precalc I think it’s more in depth. Right now I’m self studying calculus 1 and 2, and college physics 1 Although I’ll take 1 and 2 next year anyway. I’m in North Carolina.

I'm confused about your academic setup (high school and early college). I'm used to programs in which you graduate high school after grade 12. An associate's degree with the intent to transfer to a bachelor's program would typically then take an additional 2 yrs. How many years does your high school/early college program take? And it's not clear to me when and how many college-level physics and math classes you will be taking (not self study)?

 

[zionri2]

I'm confused about your academic setup (high school and early college). I'm used to programs in which you graduate high school after grade 12. An associate's degree with the intent to transfer to a bachelor's program would typically then take an additional 2 yrs. How many years does your high school/early college program take? And it's not clear to me when and how many college-level physics and math classes you will be taking (not self study)?

So my school takes 4 years, the freshman and sophomore year is spent getting most required high school classes out of the way and taking one college class each semester. We have 4 classes each semester and maybe an additional college class depending on a persons interest. The college side starts junior year and senior year. During junior and senior year you take all college classes related to your major and gen Ed’s. Some people stay to do things like hvac and other stuff. I’m not taking any college classes on physics and the highest math I’ll take is calculus 2. I had an option to do calculus 3 and differential equations my senior year but it costed money.