Programs Should I double major in CS and Physics?

[fissifizz]

Hello physics forums! I'm currently a 3rd year student in college studying Computer Science. I first declared Physics as my major and stuck with the course sequence until I finished the Quantum Mechanics series (so I effectively have a minor), but after that I had some doubts about my future in physics and whether I was cut out to be a researcher (although I enjoyed the undergrad research I have done).

I had some programming background, so I switched my major to CS, and as far as CS job prospects go, I have found some success with internships. But for some reason, the physics bug keeps biting me. After talking to my physics advisor, he encouraged me to reconsider a Physics PhD because it's hard to determine whether that path will suit me without having tried it in the first place. He told me that many of our school's Physics PhD students don't stay in physics, and go on to pursue jobs in technology and finance. My CS background will probably give me an edge there. So I'm thinking that if I enjoy a PhD and leave confident in my abilities to be a physicist, I could continue with a physics career path, but otherwise I could transition back to CS, hopefully into PhD level work like ML Research Scientist and/or Data Science positions.

But of course, to get admitted into a Physics PhD, I would definitely need to add the major back. I am not entirely opposed to this, but I want to be sure this is what I want to do before committing to a very grueling 3rd and 4th years of college, as CS requirements are already no joke. Additionally, my school requires double majors to write a research thesis pairing the two fields, so that would also be a large undertaking (but also has the potential to be lots of fun since there are really cool computational physics problems out there!).

What would you advise me to really think about before committing to such an undertaking?

 

[Choppy]

Sounds pretty reasonable to me. One thing to consider before embarking on the double major is what options you're giving up. Are there courses you were really looking forward to outside of your major that you won't be able to fit in when your electives are filled with core courses from the other major?

 

[gmax137]

Are there courses you were really looking forward to outside of your major that you won't be able to fit in when your electives are filled with core courses from the other major?

That's a very good question and I hope the OP considers it carefully.

 

[fissifizz]

Sounds pretty reasonable to me. One thing to consider before embarking on the double major is what options you're giving up. Are there courses you were really looking forward to outside of your major that you won't be able to fit in when your electives are filled with core courses from the other major?

Definitely a great question. The answer is yes. With what little room I had after switching into CS late, I had a little bit of room for cool electives in the social sciences that I'd definitely have to sacrifice for physics. Luckily, the academic opportunities I'm giving up are things I tell myself I can read up on in my own time, whereas for physics I really am going to need that academic record.