- #1
Dabac
- 7
- 2
Hi everyone,
So I'm currently a junior studying physics and I'm beginning to have some doubts if I want to pursue it anymore. I took two years of it in high school and two years (four semesters) in college so far. Loved it, couldn't get enough of it, foaming at the mouth for more. Now I'm in my fifth semester and getting into the more challenging courses. I find myself struggling a little (which is to be expected with more challenging classes), but I've found that I am not really passionate about it like I used to be. I find a lot of the complicated math kills it for me and I lose interest in the problem or example at hand. Some of it has to do with the material itself. I am taking an intermediate level E&M as well as a modern physics class, and I really don't enjoy either. I always loved mechanics, and it clicked well for me. Even though I'm only a junior, I am a little ahead in my curriculum so I only have a handful of physics classes left. Since I only have a few major classes left it is pointless to switch my major when I'm pretty close to a bachelor's. I plan on attending graduate school.
My original plan was to go the whole nine yards and get a PhD in Physics. Between my recent loss of interest in it and reading up on the process of going through a PhD I don't think it is for me. I'd prefer a job in the industry. With that in mind does anyone have any suggestions for what to study in graduate school. I'm considering some sort of engineering (not electrical though). I took some engineering classes in high school and enjoyed it. Granted, high school engineering and masters level are two different things, but I think I'd enjoy it more than pure physics. I've read some threads on this site and others to see about going from a Physics BS to an Engineering MS and it seems quite possible, I just might need to take some undergrad courses in engineering (like design, etc.). Another option I have considered is Applied Physics. Now I've never had any experience with it so I have no idea what that would be like.
What are your thoughts and opinions? Thanks in advance.
So I'm currently a junior studying physics and I'm beginning to have some doubts if I want to pursue it anymore. I took two years of it in high school and two years (four semesters) in college so far. Loved it, couldn't get enough of it, foaming at the mouth for more. Now I'm in my fifth semester and getting into the more challenging courses. I find myself struggling a little (which is to be expected with more challenging classes), but I've found that I am not really passionate about it like I used to be. I find a lot of the complicated math kills it for me and I lose interest in the problem or example at hand. Some of it has to do with the material itself. I am taking an intermediate level E&M as well as a modern physics class, and I really don't enjoy either. I always loved mechanics, and it clicked well for me. Even though I'm only a junior, I am a little ahead in my curriculum so I only have a handful of physics classes left. Since I only have a few major classes left it is pointless to switch my major when I'm pretty close to a bachelor's. I plan on attending graduate school.
My original plan was to go the whole nine yards and get a PhD in Physics. Between my recent loss of interest in it and reading up on the process of going through a PhD I don't think it is for me. I'd prefer a job in the industry. With that in mind does anyone have any suggestions for what to study in graduate school. I'm considering some sort of engineering (not electrical though). I took some engineering classes in high school and enjoyed it. Granted, high school engineering and masters level are two different things, but I think I'd enjoy it more than pure physics. I've read some threads on this site and others to see about going from a Physics BS to an Engineering MS and it seems quite possible, I just might need to take some undergrad courses in engineering (like design, etc.). Another option I have considered is Applied Physics. Now I've never had any experience with it so I have no idea what that would be like.
What are your thoughts and opinions? Thanks in advance.