Is Physics the Right Major for Me?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the considerations and concerns of a student contemplating whether to declare a major in physics. It explores the perceived difficulty of the physics curriculum, the size of the student cohort in the major, and the implications of these factors on the student's decision-making process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about the small number of second-year physics students at their university, questioning whether this indicates a higher difficulty level in the major.
  • Another participant shares their experience of taking physics classes with very few students, suggesting that small class sizes are not uncommon and should not deter the student from pursuing physics.
  • A suggestion is made to meet with a physics professor or an upperclassman to gain insights into the physics major and its challenges.
  • It is noted that science majors may generally have fewer students compared to humanities majors, which could influence perceptions of difficulty and cohort size.
  • One participant encourages the original poster not to be discouraged by fears of difficulty, sharing a personal anecdote about overcoming apprehensions regarding challenging math courses.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the implications of small class sizes for the difficulty of the physics major. While some provide reassurances based on personal experiences, others acknowledge the concern raised by the original poster.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects varying experiences and perspectives on the challenges of pursuing a physics major, highlighting the influence of institutional factors and personal anecdotes without resolving the underlying concerns about difficulty.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering a major in physics or related fields, particularly those concerned about class sizes and academic challenges in STEM disciplines.

mermer
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Hello,

It's almost the end of my first year of university... and it's time to choose a major. I'm doing a bachelor of science, and I can say that things haven't been to bad. Last semester I had a GPA of 3.8 and things are looking pretty good for this semester.

Anyway, I should declare a major soon, but I'm lost when it comes to doing so. I'm considering medicinal chemistry, chemistry and physics. However, all my thoughts go back to physics - one way or another.

The thing keeping me from picking physics is the fact that at my university, there are only 7 people now in 2nd year physics. SEVEN! In other majors, there are 15 times that many people. Does physics just become insanely hard to follow in upper years?

I would call myself a hard working student, but I'm just scared thinking about next year. What if I find myself one month into my second year of physics, completely lost in the material?

Any feedback would be helpful.
 
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mermer said:
The thing keeping me from picking physics is the fact that at my university, there are only 7 people now in 2nd year physics. SEVEN! In other majors, there are 15 times that many people. Does physics just become insanely hard to follow in upper years?

Welcome to the forum, mermer!

How large is your university? Seven seems about normal. I'm an undergraduate senior attending a medium sized university (~25,000 students) and I'm taking one physics class that only has two students (counting me!) and another that has four. This is just an anecdote, but the point is, don't let this scare you. Physics does get more difficult, but not that much more difficult. There are many other social factors that result in many prospective physics majors opting for related degrees like engineering or computer science. There are probably quite a few topics about this on these forums if you're interested.

But anyway, you've come to the right place! There are some great people around here that can help answer your questions.
 
If you're not sure what the physics major is like, it would probably be good to arrange a meeting with a physics professor and/or an upperclassman physics major. They will be able to answer a lot of your questions and give you a feel for the physics major at your school.
 
I think science majors tend to have fewer people than the humanities, but it depends on the size of your school and its specialties. My college only has about 1,400 undergrads, and there are four math majors in my year, for example. I think dedicateddan's advice is good--you should talk to students and/or professors in the department.

I would also encourage you not to get scared away by perceived difficulty. I was always really scared of continuing in math because everyone told me linear algebra was very hard, but I did make my way through it and I am so glad I didn't give up.
 

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