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I'm currently a freshman student a local community college, where I'm taking some liberal arts classes to transfer to a university. I've taken AP Chemistry, AP Calculus, and Physics in high school, and I liked them all. Because of this, however, I'm at a crossroads as to what I should major in. After thinking it over for the past few weeks, I can't decide what I should major in. I like physics a lot because I think it's beautiful how physical phenomena can be represented mathematically...it just blows my mind. With a physics degree, I would have a lot of opportunities. I could go to graduate school and study the different fields of physics, or get a masters in engineering if I wanted a more applied job, or I could go into law, or medicine.
The downside, however, is that I'm not sure how interested in theoretical physics and electronics. My school's physics program requires that I take a semester on quantum mechanics, and a semester of digital and a semester of analog electronics, and a semester on linear algebra. I do not find quantum mechanics and electronics to be interesting in the least bit, and I don't particularly like what little linear algebra I've been exposed to. Another important downside is the difficulty of the subject. As of now, I'm interested in medical school. Although it could be argued that the difficulty level between physics and chemistry is more of a personal issue, I'm going to go with the popular notion that physics is more difficult. With a lower GPA I may not get into a medical school, or even be accepted into a graduate school program, which would be very bad, as I've read that job prospects for physics students aren't particularly good.
On the chemistry side, I've heard that it's easier to get a higher GPA in chemistry, which would be important for medical or law school if I chose to attend either. With a chemistry degree, I could get a job directly out of school if I chose to do so. I could also continue my education with graduate school, but my options are more limited. I couldn't, for example, decide to study plasma physics with a bachelors in chemistry.
I guess the trade off is:
physics - more interesting, harder, less jobs with bachelors
vs
chemistry - little less interesting, easier, more jobs available
Like I said, I still can't really decide on either. I'd very much appreciate some insight from a different perspective.
edit:
Another thing I forgot...a physics major requires more credits when I fit in pre-medical courses. Physics + pre-medical is 110 credits, while Chemistry + pre-medical is 100 credits.
The downside, however, is that I'm not sure how interested in theoretical physics and electronics. My school's physics program requires that I take a semester on quantum mechanics, and a semester of digital and a semester of analog electronics, and a semester on linear algebra. I do not find quantum mechanics and electronics to be interesting in the least bit, and I don't particularly like what little linear algebra I've been exposed to. Another important downside is the difficulty of the subject. As of now, I'm interested in medical school. Although it could be argued that the difficulty level between physics and chemistry is more of a personal issue, I'm going to go with the popular notion that physics is more difficult. With a lower GPA I may not get into a medical school, or even be accepted into a graduate school program, which would be very bad, as I've read that job prospects for physics students aren't particularly good.
On the chemistry side, I've heard that it's easier to get a higher GPA in chemistry, which would be important for medical or law school if I chose to attend either. With a chemistry degree, I could get a job directly out of school if I chose to do so. I could also continue my education with graduate school, but my options are more limited. I couldn't, for example, decide to study plasma physics with a bachelors in chemistry.
I guess the trade off is:
physics - more interesting, harder, less jobs with bachelors
vs
chemistry - little less interesting, easier, more jobs available
Like I said, I still can't really decide on either. I'd very much appreciate some insight from a different perspective.
edit:
Another thing I forgot...a physics major requires more credits when I fit in pre-medical courses. Physics + pre-medical is 110 credits, while Chemistry + pre-medical is 100 credits.