<p>I loved physics. I really wanted to take more physics classes but i really don't want to commit to a PH.D because i heard that's the only way for physicists to make money. Engineering is pretty dam cool too so I decided to major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in physics. I'm just wondering if there's any benefits for me getting a minor in physics?</p>
<p>You like physics. Isn’t that a reason?</p>
<p>Engineering is applied physics.</p>
<p>alchemist, that isn’t really relevant, and I am sure he knows that.</p>
<p>darkspy, you love it. That is reason enough. It could have a very minor benefit for jobs or more so grad school, but the main benefit is that you will enjoy it. I almost did it but decided to do grad school rather than tack extra classes onto undergrad.</p>
<p>here is a thought.</p>
<p>why not use the few free electives that you have (and there are typically very few as an engineer) to take classes in areas other than the sciences, such as Art History or Classics or Political Science?</p>
<p>boneh3ad is right. Being interested is reason enough to pursue a minor in physics.</p>
<p>
It’s a good idea if he’s interested in those subjects, but he says he loves physics.</p>
<p>Yes, but he will get a healthy dose of applied physics anyways. Expanding one’s mind into other areas is always beneficial. Cultured nerds are more interesting.</p>
<p>I don’t know about you but I didn’t learn anything from courses I wasn’t interested in. Expanding one’s mind in other areas is good, but would it expand if you don’t pay attention in class and do the bare minimum to pass? It can’t be forced.</p>
<p>That being said, I’ll let the OP answer what subject matter he is or isn’t interested in.</p>
<p>have you thought about engineering science mechanics? Thats very mechanical</p>
<p>I’m going to side with ken here. I got C’s in my classics classes when I took them because I just didn’t care. I can get culture through reading and music and traveling on my own time. For my educational money, I’m going to take as many classes as possible that interest me.</p>
<p>bones, sometimes you don’t know how interested you would be in a subject until you take the class.</p>
<p>Fair enough. But if I have a choice between something I know I am interested in and is difficult to self study versus something I may be interested in and I an learn by buying one good book, I am going to choose option 1 every time. If I want to explore, I will make a trip to Google or Amazon and read away first.</p>
<p>bones, I took an Art History class in college and, I tell you, there is no book in the world that would have compared to the quality of teaching that I experienced, hence learning.</p>
<p>One of the problems that I had as a Chemical Engineering student was that there were very few electives and I took Economics and Business classes with those electives (areas that I knew I would be helpful in the future for my career), leaving very little time for the “other” type of classes. However, I did manage to get in an Art History, a Politcal Science and a Classics class in there. My concentration electives were used for Polymers classes, including a couple of graduate courses.</p>
<p>So a Physics minor would essentially replace the Economics, business and polymers classes above and still leave room for a couple of “other” classes.</p>
<p>Ok, you are correct, we give permission to the OP to pursue a Physics minor, his true love in academics.</p>
<p>well, i learn physics through reading books of my own too and I’m pretty good at it. I don’t know if it’s beneficial to get a minor (career wise) and waste a little more of my college time. And yeah, the university I’m currently at required me to take classes from all the area from social science to art to world history, etc. I only have 1 elective for the major and i already used it on math. I probably will waste another year in college to get a minor in physics… does it worth it??</p>
<p>Different strokes for different folks I suppose. I wouldn’t be caught dead in an Art History class, no matter how cultured it may make me. I just honestly don’t care. Chalk it up to my 4th grade teacher force feeding us that stuff until we automatically hated it. Even after 15 years or whatever it has been, that still weighs heavily on me.</p>
<p>I was talking to my advisor before signing up for classes. I was in the same situation as the OP and decided engineering over physics. However, I asked him if there was any benefit to a minor in physics. His reply was: If you are going to be pursuing graduate school then you will find a benefit having the physics minor otherwise no.</p>
<p>aggie, don’t do it, don’t do it, you will turn into a total nerd and never get to socialize at TA&M if you minor in physics while getting an engineering degree - no babes, no football games, no parties, only studying…you will have to miss the game against the Longhorns!</p>
<p>ha!</p>
<p>Unless of course he stays for an extra semester or two…</p>
<p>HAHAHA! I will be going to football games no worries. But is what the advisor told me good advice? I mean is it that much of a benefit for grad school?</p>