Which one of my majors should i drop?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a college student's dilemma regarding whether to drop one of their double majors in physics or applied math to pursue mechanical engineering (ME) for graduate school. The student is considering the implications of taking ME classes, the potential for internships, and the timeline for graduation.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • The student expresses a desire to take ME classes to explore their interest in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and heat transfer, despite not having taken any ME courses yet.
  • Some participants question the student's certainty about pursuing ME, suggesting that they may not have all the necessary information to make that decision.
  • Concerns are raised about the feasibility of securing a significant job during the spring term of the fifth year, especially if the student leaves a job prematurely.
  • One participant shares a personal anecdote about the challenges of taking upper-level ME courses without the appropriate prerequisites, warning that it could lead to a biased understanding of the field.
  • The student mentions having completed the prerequisites for fluid mechanics but not for heat transfer, expressing uncertainty about how to determine if ME is the right path without taking classes.
  • There is a discussion about the job market for applied math graduates, with the student expressing concerns about opportunities in engineering companies if they pursue an MS in applied math instead of ME.
  • Another participant questions why the student is pursuing physics and math if they are interested in ME, highlighting a potential mismatch in their current academic focus.
  • The student acknowledges uncertainty about their future direction, indicating that they have only recently considered ME as a possibility.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether the student should complete their double major or take ME classes. Some emphasize the value of finishing the double major, while others highlight the importance of exploring ME to make an informed decision about graduate school. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best course of action.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects various assumptions about job prospects, the importance of prerequisites for ME courses, and the student's readiness to transition into a new field. There are unresolved questions about the implications of dropping a major and the potential impact on future career opportunities.

creepypasta13
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i'm in my 4th year in college, double majoring in physics and applied math. I'm looking for applied math or mechanical engineering for grad school, probably computational fluid dynamics or heat transfer for ME

i haven't taken any ME classes, all the ME profs I asked to help research with either didnt want me or didnt respond to my emails, and i can't get an ME related internsship out of the 100's of applications I've submitted

i want to take at least 1 ME class next semester (good idea?) to get some idea if its what i want to do for grad school. problem is, if i continue my double major with physics and applied math, if i take ME classses, i won't graduate until the end of my 5th year. if i drop one of my majors, i can graduate a quarter (we use trimester system) earlier and hopefully do a full-time job during spring of my 5th year instead of taking classes

which major should i drop? I'm thinking physics, because if i don't drop it, i have to take one of the classes this spring which has a time conflict with numerical analysis. i heard from a applied math postdoc that its important to take numerical analysis to see if applied math is really what i want to do in grad school. but since i only need 4 more classes to complete the major, it seems like a waste to drop it. plus, i will feel proud to complete a B.S. in physics

but if i drop applied math, it may be harder for me to find an internship, since its easier to find a job with it instead of phyiscs as i take applicable classes, like stats and numerical analysis. I've applied to 100's of positions for internships this summer for engineering companies, and the only one i got a phone interview for was for a math/stats intern position. plus, i also only need 4 more classes for the major
 
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It is pretty unlikely that you will be able to get a significant job for just one term (that spring term of your 5th year) and if you start a good job and then walk off from it, that will cause you problems later when you have to explain why you did that. I would not put too much value in this idea.

It seems curious that you are so sure that you want to go to ME for graduate school, whether for heat transfer or CFD, when they are both outside your current majors. How can you be so certain? Do you really have all the facts here?

Looks to me like there is value to finishing the double major.
 
Dr.D said:
It is pretty unlikely that you will be able to get a significant job for just one term (that spring term of your 5th year) and if you start a good job and then walk off from it, that will cause you problems later when you have to explain why you did that. I would not put too much value in this idea.

It seems curious that you are so sure that you want to go to ME for graduate school, whether for heat transfer or CFD, when they are both outside your current majors. How can you be so certain? Do you really have all the facts here?

Looks to me like there is value to finishing the double major.

im not for sure that i want to do heat transfer or CFD. that's why i want to take classes for them next semester

is it really better to just complete the double major and not take ANY ME classes? I'm concerned about what kinds of jobs i can get with a MS in applied math
 
You are in a bind with reality.

The fact is, to take one or two upper level ME courses without the prerequisites, assuming that they are willing to waive the prerequisites for you which they might, is going to give you a biased sample. It will be biased, possible favorably, possibly unfavorably, but definitely biased.

Let me tell you a story about something that happened my first semester in graduate school. I was taking a class called Engineering Analysis, somewhat of a hodge podge of analytical methods in engineering applications. I thought it was a great course as did most of my fellow students. We had on fellow in the class, a bit older than most of us, who was on leave from the Air Force to return to school for a MS. He had a BS in physics and had planned to come back for an MS in Engineering Mechanics. He was highly motivated and had been doing technical work -- accident investigation -- for the Air Force. He died in that class because of his lack of engineering background, and eventually went for a MS in Physics because it was "saft" and familiar.

I think you run the risk of having the same thing happen. If you take an upper level ME class without the prereqs, you will find that some of the subect matter is very easy because of your math/physics background, and some of it will eat you alive because of your lack of engineering background. Is this going to be beneficial to you?

If you want to do either heat transfer or CFD, you should expect to take several undergraduate course leading up to these classes before you can really get going on graduate work. This is just the reality of things.

Now, it is up to you to decide if taking one or two ME classes at this time is really going to be beneficial, or would you be better off simply finishing your double major and then setting out on the long road to start what you think you want?
 
Dr.D said:
You are in a bind with reality.

The fact is, to take one or two upper level ME courses without the prerequisites, assuming that they are willing to waive the prerequisites for you which they might, is going to give you a biased sample. It will be biased, possible favorably, possibly unfavorably, but definitely biased.

If you want to do either heat transfer or CFD, you should expect to take several undergraduate course leading up to these classes before you can really get going on graduate work. This is just the reality of things.

Now, it is up to you to decide if taking one or two ME classes at this time is really going to be beneficial, or would you be better off simply finishing your double major and then setting out on the long road to start what you think you want?


i have all the prereqs for fluid mechanics but not for the heat transfer class. if i don't take classes in them, how else can i know if doing ME is the right thing for me? I've read descriptions of them from online, wikipedia, professors research pages. I've even looked at the textbooks
no ME profs want me to help them with research. i may not get an internship this summer. what else can i do?

i would just go to applied math for grad school, but I'm concerned about job opportunities with an applied math MS, especially if i want to work for engineering companies
 
If you want to be an ME... why are you in Physics/Math Undergrad? :confused:
 
i don't know for sure if ME is what i want to do. throughout college, i knew i wanted to do math/physics but i just recently considered ME also
 

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