Ohio State: Choose Physics Concentration for Sophomore Year

[NegativeProbability]

Hello,

I am starting my sophomore year at Ohio State university this upcoming Fall. I was recently trying to come up with a class schedule that fits my needs. Unfortunately, my school has many options that are really confusing to choose without consulting an expert, so I figured someone here might help me.

My school offers two physics options(concentrations), Applied option and Advanced option. Here are sample schedules for both options:
Advanced:
http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/undergrad/Advanced_Option_Semesters.pdf
Applied:
http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/undergrad/Applied_Option_Semesters.pdf

Both the applied and advanced option have the same core courses. In addition to the core courses, the advance physics option includes Phys 5501H, Phys 5401H, Phys 5600, and Phys 5300. The applied option won't include Phys 5401H, but it will include one of the following courses:
Phys 5501H, Phys 5300, Phys 5600.
In addition to that, the applied option will require 15-18 additional credit hours in an area of interest.
Phys5501 is the second part of Q&M sequence(with Phys 5500 being the first part).This is also the case with Phys5401H which is the the second part of E&M course sequence(Phys5400 being the first part).
Currently, I am not sure if I will stick with physics in the long haul. I feel like I am leaning toward the applications of physics. Therefore, I was wondering if I choose the applied physics option and focus the additional 15 credit hours on engineering(Mech E, EE, or material science) courses would it make it easier for me to switch to engineering graduate school and what courses should I take? Also, would the applied physics option harm my chances of getting into physics graduate school since it lacks some of the courses mentioned above(specifically Phys5501H and Phys 5401H)?Here are the courses' description from Ohio State's website:

1. Physics 5400
Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism
Introduction to the description of electrostatic fields; dielectrics; boundary-value problems; magnetic fields of steady currents; induction; Maxwell's equations; plane waves. Math prerequisite: Calculus 3(Vector Calculus)

2. Physics 5401H
Honors Advanced Electricity and Magnetism 2
4 credits.

Plane waves, plane waves in matter; physical optics; coherence, interference, diffraction, and dispersion. Prerequisites: passing Phys 5400

3. Physics 5500
Quantum Mechanics
4 credits.

Introduction to quantum mechanics, including its historical background, the Schrodinger equation, solutions of one-dimensional scattering and bound state problems. Math Prerequisites : Differential Equations Intro class and Calculus 3

4. Physics 5501H
Honors Quantum Mechanics II
4 credits.

The Schrodinger equation in three dimensions, angular momentum, the hydrogen atom; time-independent perturbation theory.time-dependent perturbation theory, scattering theory and the Born approximation, multi-electron atoms. Prerequisites: Passing Phys 5500

5.Physics 5600
Statistical Mechanics
4 credits

Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics; applications to noninteracting classical and quantum systems. Interacting systems, special states of matter, critical phenomena and phase transitions. Math Prerequisites : Differential Equations Intro class and Calculus 3

6.Physics 5300
Theoretical Mechanics
Development of Lagrangian mechanics, inertia and stress tensors, rigid body rotations and introduction to the mechanics of continuous media. Math Prerequisites : Differential Equations and Calculus 3More details about the course description can be found at
https://physics.osu.edu/undergraduate-semester-courses

 

[Vanadium 50]

my school has many options that are really confusing to choose without consulting an expert

Do you have an academic advisor? What did he or she say?

 

[NegativeProbability]

Unfortunately, I have not fully enrolled yet since I am currently waiting for the orientation. So I do not have any advisor assigned.

 

[Vanadium 50]

So what's the hurry then? Deciding on which courses you will take three years from now can surely wait until you've met with an advisor.

 

[jtbell]

I agree. The two options have you taking the same courses for the first two years. I don't know how the academic bureaucracy at OSU works, but you probably don't need to declare officially which option you've chosen, until the end of your second year. You probably don't even need to declare your major until then; that's how it is at the college where I work.

 

[berkeman]

For administrative reasons, this thread is now locked.