- #36
Thai
- 27
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Thank you. I've concluded that taking the math first and staying one semester ahead in the math is going to be best for me. So, in that case, wouldn't a math major be in order over a physics major?
What kind of answers should I look for?MidgetDwarf said:At this point you are only looking for answers that will validate your choices. Moderators please lock thread.
No.Thai said:Thank you. I've concluded that taking the math first and staying one semester ahead in the math is going to be best for me. So, in that case, wouldn't a math major be in order over a physics major?
Maybe premature conclusionedit: Then after seeing post #38, "on the other hand,...?"MidgetDwarf said:At this point you are only looking for answers that will validate your choices. Moderators please lock thread.
..., on second thought,...?Thai said:What kind of answers should I look for?
Based on your conclusion, I can't help but wonder if you understand what a major is.Thai said:Thank you. I've concluded that taking the math first and staying one semester ahead in the math is going to be best for me. So, in that case, wouldn't a math major be in order over a physics major?
symbolipoint said:No.
Why? Right now I think I want to be an astrophysicist and want to head for that, but stay as general as possible in case I change my mind in the future. Doesn't a math major do that better for me right now than a physics major?symbolipoint said:No.
I think a major is the primary discipline in higher education, and that since physics uses math, a math major should be the primary discipline for me before I become committed to a discipline. I don't have any experience in any of this and that's why I'm looking for input.vela said:Based on your conclusion, I can't help but wonder if you understand what a major is.
Right now I want to be a professor of astrophysics. I'll be starting higher education in fall 2023. I'm wondering what major I should declare just in case I change my mind later to some other career. Why wouldn't I start with a math major and study physics along the way since math is the tool of physics and math is more general than physics?symbolipoint said:..., on second thought,...?
You're wondering what to do among Mathematics and Physics courses for an interest in Physics or Astrophysics, and you are figuring you might want to become a professor of Astrophysics or Physics.
Start with studies for major field of Physics. Along the way study more than just the minimum Mathematics officially listed for whatever program you enter for study. Certainly begin some of the necessary Mathematics before the first required Physics course.
What I said in post #41 is probably the best general advice for you.Thai said:I think a major is the primary discipline in higher education, and that since physics uses math, a math major should be the primary discipline for me before I become committed to a discipline. I don't have any experience in any of this and that's why I'm looking for input.
Thank you for the advice. Are you advising that I major in physics and take math along the way. If so, how do you think that leaves more options open to me later if I change my mind about becoming an astrophysicist? Why don't you think majoring in math and taking physics along the way would be a better option for me at this point?symbolipoint said:What I said in post #41 is probably the best general advice for you.
Physics as a major field uses Mathematics both as a language and as a tool (or set of tools).
Majoring in math doesn't mean you're going to take a few math classes until you decide what to do. It means you're committing to a program of studying mathematics over four years. You are committing to a discipline, not leaving your options open.Thai said:I think a major is the primary discipline in higher education, and that since physics uses math, a math major should be the primary discipline for me before I become committed to a discipline. I don't have any experience in any of this and that's why I'm looking for input.
Thank you for reminding me about the undeclared major option. What a relief! (What I meant by 'committed' was that I think a math major leaves me with more options than a physics major if I were to declare a major. No?)vela said:Majoring in math doesn't mean you're going to take a few math classes until you decide what to do. It means you're committing to a program of studying mathematics over four years. You are committing to a discipline, not leaving your options open.
You probably have the option not to declare a major right away. I would suggest you delay choosing a major until you've had a chance to study various subjects in college and can then make an informed decision about what field interests you most.
Not really. When I was in college, the math classes physics majors and math majors had to take the first two years were very similar: calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra. Physics majors would have also taken introductory physics while most math majors would not. Near the end of the sophomore year, if a physics major decided to change to math, he or she would have already satisfied the pre-requisites for upper-division math courses and could take them on schedule the following year. On the other hand, a math major, having avoided intro physics, would not be able to enroll in many upper-division physics courses. They would have had to go back and take the three semesters of intro physics.Thai said:What I meant by 'committed' was that I think a math major leaves me with more options than a physics major if I were to declare a major. No?
vela said:Not really. When I was in college, the math classes physics majors and math majors had to take the first two years were very similar: calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra. Physics majors would have also taken introductory physics while most math majors would not. Near the end of the sophomore year, if a physics major decided to change to math, he or she would have already satisfied the pre-requisites for upper-division math courses and could take them on schedule the following year. On the other hand, a math major, having avoided intro physics, would not be able to enroll in many upper-division physics courses. They would have had to go back and take the three semesters of intro physics.
Thanks. I'm not seeking guidance. I'm seeking food for thought.CrysPhys said:OP: If you want to keep your options as open as possible, you should major in religious studies. When you need to make a decision, you can seek divine guidance. The evolution of this thread indicates that human guidance isn't sufficient for you.
Two years ago, my school district gave me a full psychoeducational assessment. I was found to be strong in all areas, highly creative, and outside the curve on fluid reasoning for 9th graders. I am now in 11th grade and starting higher education next fall.Vanadium 50 said:Oh, you're all just jealous because you didn't score "off the charts" on some on-line test of "fluid reasoning". Probably too buys with, I dunno, actual careers, in physics.
I know there is no turning back. I'm just trying to reduce obstacles.PhDeezNutz said:OP it seems like you want the perfect answer ahead of time to account for all the things that could happen. None of us (including yourself) can tell the future perfectly and how our interests may change.
It seems like you want a perfect roadmap to account for all contingencies. Such a thing has never existed for ANY human being EVER.
Dabble in both fields and then decide.
I’m not trying to condescend but if you wait for the perfect plan life will pass you by.
Aside from psychological, personality, temperaments, and "psychoeducational assessments", you are the person who should (hopefully) best understand yourself, the real you. What are your interests? What are you skills? At grade 11, you have some time for deciding. Meanwhile, you believe (and are likely correct) that you are interested in Astrophysics.Thai said:Two years ago, my school district gave me a full psychoeducational assessment. I was found to be strong in all areas, highly creative, and outside the curve on fluid reasoning for 9th graders. I am now in 11th grade and starting higher education next fall.
This is key. After 58 posts, we still have no inkling of why the OP wants to become an astrophysics professor. Typically in threads of this nature, the OP would have posted something along the lines of:symbolipoint said:What are your interests?
Which means nothing in the grand scheme of things, if you cannot interpret the simple responses in this thread.Thai said:Two years ago, my school district gave me a full psychoeducational assessment. I was found to be strong in all areas, highly creative, and outside the curve on fluid reasoning for 9th graders. I am now in 11th grade and starting higher education next fall.
Thread is paused for a bit. I will try to rescuscitate it with IV fluids, but no promises right now...Thai said:Two years ago, my school district gave me a full psychoeducational assessment. I was found to be strong in all areas, highly creative, and outside the curve on fluid reasoning for 9th graders. I am now in 11th grade and starting higher education next fall.
Update -- it sounds like you have plenty of time to decide which course to pursue. Keep talking to your local school counselors and advisors, since they will know you the best. Best of luck; the thread will remain closed. Thank you everybody for the good quality advice to the OP.Thai said:Thank you everybody. I've decided to not declare a major and play around a little longer.