- #1
Fyya
- 2
- 0
Hi, I am a freshman engineering major thinking about graduate school. I am also thinking about whether or not to change my major when I get to graduate school. If I change my major, I will change it to either physics, mathematics, actuarial science, or statistics. I have made a list of pros and cons of switching to one of these majors and I would like to know your opinion.
PROS:
- Since I plan to pursue a career that involves research, I think a graduate degree in physics or mathematics would be better suited for this type of work than a graduate degree in engineering.
- I don't really like to build things and I would prefer an office setting.
- I like and am good at math and physics.
- I didn't do well in the courses related to my major and I didn't find those courses interesting.
CONS:
- Most of the courses I take as an undergraduate will prepare me for an engineering career.
- Although the undergraduate engineering curriculum covers a lot of math and physics in the early years (freshman, sophomore, some of junior), we won't learn any more math or physics in the later years (end of junior year and senior year).
- I'm not sure if most graduate programs will take me based on the classes I took as an undergraduate.
I am still a freshman so I think I still have time to figure this out. In my own free time, I am studying math topics that my major's curriculum doesn't cover. Also, I am studying for the GRE. I plan to take the math subject test along with the general test.
I am trying to get research experience too.
The college I go to doesn't do GPAs; we just do weighted averages. My weighted average is an 85 (out of 100), which is a B. I got all A's in math and physics but a C in the class with my major.
My goal is to get into MIT. A lot of people from my school get in every year but I don't know anyone who's gotten into the mathematics program. But I will also look at other schools because I know that MIT is very hard to get into.
If anyone has any suggestions as to whether or not I should switch majors, how to get research experience, how to study for the GRE, what's the best way to prepare in order to get into MIT, and any other schools that I should think about, please post them here. Your advice will be greatly appreciated.
PROS:
- Since I plan to pursue a career that involves research, I think a graduate degree in physics or mathematics would be better suited for this type of work than a graduate degree in engineering.
- I don't really like to build things and I would prefer an office setting.
- I like and am good at math and physics.
- I didn't do well in the courses related to my major and I didn't find those courses interesting.
CONS:
- Most of the courses I take as an undergraduate will prepare me for an engineering career.
- Although the undergraduate engineering curriculum covers a lot of math and physics in the early years (freshman, sophomore, some of junior), we won't learn any more math or physics in the later years (end of junior year and senior year).
- I'm not sure if most graduate programs will take me based on the classes I took as an undergraduate.
I am still a freshman so I think I still have time to figure this out. In my own free time, I am studying math topics that my major's curriculum doesn't cover. Also, I am studying for the GRE. I plan to take the math subject test along with the general test.
I am trying to get research experience too.
The college I go to doesn't do GPAs; we just do weighted averages. My weighted average is an 85 (out of 100), which is a B. I got all A's in math and physics but a C in the class with my major.
My goal is to get into MIT. A lot of people from my school get in every year but I don't know anyone who's gotten into the mathematics program. But I will also look at other schools because I know that MIT is very hard to get into.
If anyone has any suggestions as to whether or not I should switch majors, how to get research experience, how to study for the GRE, what's the best way to prepare in order to get into MIT, and any other schools that I should think about, please post them here. Your advice will be greatly appreciated.