Math or Physics: Which Grad School Path Should I Choose?

[bluelikejazz]

Hello There!

I am currently an undergraduate student at a state university in Pennsylvania. I went originally to study secondary education mathematics, however after meeting other education majors, and everything that encompassed the 'education major' I learned I was far more intelligent than any of my classmates, and I had far more of a passion / love for math.

So quickly I switched to a pure&applied track within Mathematics with a Physics minor, this happened all within freshman semester. Now just finishing my 3rd semester, I'm beginning to love Physics more than I ever imagined; I still love math, but there is something truly invigorating about physics that draws me in much more than math, well at least more than the pure math. Since the start of college (after dropping education) I knew I wanted to get an advanced degree.

My question is: For a student, even in my position (just finishing 3rd semester), I am beginning to question whether I should go to graduate school for Physics or Math. I know it's still early, but I'm just curious if anyone out there has had a similar situation and what they did and how they feel it affected their career and whether or not they feel it was a good decision in hindsight.

 

[fasterthanjoao]

My question is: For a student, even in my position (just finishing 3rd semester), I am beginning to question whether I should go to graduate school for Physics or Math. I know it's still early, but I'm just curious if anyone out there has had a similar situation and what they did and how they feel it affected their career and whether or not they feel it was a good decision in hindsight.

Most people probably have a think about it in one way or another, after all it is natural to wonder about your future.

It's part good, part bad. It's a good thing to plan - and you can use goals as a motivating factor to take part in extra acitivities, summer research, keep your grades good etc etc. The thing you want to be weary of when considering grad school just now is committing. It happens a lot with undergraduates - that is, people will take a class in something, or read a pop sci book about, say, cosmology. The student will then use this short experience to decide that they want to study cosmology. Some of these people will then neglect some subject electives purely based on how close or useful to cosmology it might be, when really the best thing to do (unless you're absolutely sure) is to try to keep your education well-rounded so you have as many options as possible.

 

[bluelikejazz]

fasterthanjoao -

Thanks a bunch. Yeah I'm trying to keep my options open as much as possible; I'm taking a variety of math courses (both pure and applied focus) and the physics program has a good mix too.

Thanks :)