- #1
Tripoli
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Hello, I'm currently a sophomore in college and I'm majoring in econ. I find econ boring and I'm not motivated in my classes. To me, physics has always been a very interesting topic and I'm thinking about switching majors to it. Unfortunately, doing so would require me to take a total of 5 years to graduate (Or more, if I want to further space out the hard classes at the end). I don't know what I want to do after college and I do not currently have the desire to go for a MS/PhD were I to major in physics (and sure as hell not in economics, either). I simply want to learn about the workings of the universe because I'm curious.
I know that getting a physics degree isn't simply walking into a classroom and having Carl Sagan blow your mind. I'm aware there's lots of math and time involved and that it gets difficult in the end, but perhaps I don't truly appreciate how difficult it really is. Many physics majors talk about getting burned out in some of their classes and they certainly aren't having much fun at times. Since I don't like economics, I may have the "grass is greener on the other side" mentality.
I majored in economics because I could easily graduate in 4 years and felt that it would help me get a good job after school. This was shallow thinking obviously, but majoring in physics doesn't guarantee a good job either. In fact, physics could hurt me since it's harder than economics and I could end up getting a lower GPA which could make finding employment more difficult. The fact is, after school I need a job and I'm probably not going to be an economist or physicist.
Here's what I'm thinking about doing: 1) Major in econ/minor in physics: this would allow me to graduate in 4 years total while still giving me a taste of physics. 2)Major in physics and take longer to graduate but (hopefully) enjoy my educational experience much more than I am now w/ econ.
And 3) Get a degree in interdisciplinary physics combining econ and physics and graduating in close to 4 years (didn't work it out, but it will take less time than physics). I'm unsure about this because I don't want to teach and I'm afraid this degree would be looked down upon compared to a physics or econ degree. Here's info on it: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/umich/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=53e0d8d4b5ce9110VgnVCM1000005001010aRCRD" [Broken]
I figure I may as well continue with econ in some way (at least a minor) since I've already taken a good deal of classes in it.
Background: I took physics B AP in high school and it was by far my favorite class that I took while I was there. I have college credit for physics 1 (Newtonian motion) and still have to take physics 2 (electricity/magnetism). I have math up to calc 2. I know my current experience with physics/math is quite weak, but let's assume my interest in physics doesn't wane as I continue taking more classes. Also, my current GPA is about 3.8 and I'm afraid of bringing it down because I'm a sissy. Should I place less importance on GPA?
Hopefully I gave you guys enough info regarding my situation and that it wasn't too tedious to read. I know lots of you guys are very knowledgeable not just on physics education but also on life after college, and I would greatly appreciate your advice on my situation and options. Also, thanks for all the information that has already been posted on this site because it has been very helpful to me and many others.
I know that getting a physics degree isn't simply walking into a classroom and having Carl Sagan blow your mind. I'm aware there's lots of math and time involved and that it gets difficult in the end, but perhaps I don't truly appreciate how difficult it really is. Many physics majors talk about getting burned out in some of their classes and they certainly aren't having much fun at times. Since I don't like economics, I may have the "grass is greener on the other side" mentality.
I majored in economics because I could easily graduate in 4 years and felt that it would help me get a good job after school. This was shallow thinking obviously, but majoring in physics doesn't guarantee a good job either. In fact, physics could hurt me since it's harder than economics and I could end up getting a lower GPA which could make finding employment more difficult. The fact is, after school I need a job and I'm probably not going to be an economist or physicist.
Here's what I'm thinking about doing: 1) Major in econ/minor in physics: this would allow me to graduate in 4 years total while still giving me a taste of physics. 2)Major in physics and take longer to graduate but (hopefully) enjoy my educational experience much more than I am now w/ econ.
And 3) Get a degree in interdisciplinary physics combining econ and physics and graduating in close to 4 years (didn't work it out, but it will take less time than physics). I'm unsure about this because I don't want to teach and I'm afraid this degree would be looked down upon compared to a physics or econ degree. Here's info on it: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/umich/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=53e0d8d4b5ce9110VgnVCM1000005001010aRCRD" [Broken]
I figure I may as well continue with econ in some way (at least a minor) since I've already taken a good deal of classes in it.
Background: I took physics B AP in high school and it was by far my favorite class that I took while I was there. I have college credit for physics 1 (Newtonian motion) and still have to take physics 2 (electricity/magnetism). I have math up to calc 2. I know my current experience with physics/math is quite weak, but let's assume my interest in physics doesn't wane as I continue taking more classes. Also, my current GPA is about 3.8 and I'm afraid of bringing it down because I'm a sissy. Should I place less importance on GPA?
Hopefully I gave you guys enough info regarding my situation and that it wasn't too tedious to read. I know lots of you guys are very knowledgeable not just on physics education but also on life after college, and I would greatly appreciate your advice on my situation and options. Also, thanks for all the information that has already been posted on this site because it has been very helpful to me and many others.
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