<p>So here's the thing. For the past two or so years, I have been saying that I will be a Biology major with a minor in Music, and then go to Medical School. I still love Biology, but recently I have taken up an interest in theoretical physics and quantum mechanics and I'd like to learn more about that and the basics behind that. However, my math and physics background have been extremely limited because I have been focusing so much on history and language arts. </p>
<p>Here's a background of my science and math courses in high school:</p>
<p>Freshman Math: Honors Geometry
Freshman Science: Pre-AP Physical Science (1 Semester was Physics, the other was Chem)
Sophomore Math: Algebra II
Sophomore Science: Pre-AP Biology
Junior Math: Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry
Junior Science: Honors Chemistry
Senior Math: College Algebra (1 semester course - I needed my other semester to get my health cred.)
Senior Science: AP Biology</p>
<p>With no significant math/physics background, would it be okay for me to major in Physics or would you say I should stick with Biology?</p>
<p>Will you be ready to take calculus when you enter college or university as a freshman? That is generally necessary to start off the prerequisites for physics courses (which can involve a significant amount of math).</p>
<p>Even better is if you can take calculus senior year in high school. (What is “college algebra”? It seems like you have taken the usual courses – geometry, algebra II, trigonometry / precalculus – to make you ready to take calculus as a senior in high school.)</p>
<p>University-level physics often recommends a background in high school physics, though it is not strictly necessary. It looks like this was included in the science course you took freshman year.</p>
<p>I have not taken Pre-Calculus, only Trigonometry. There is a Pre-Calculus course but I couldn’t fit it into my schedule for next year because I have to get my health credit. I’m generally pretty good at picking up math, but my school is so “liberal artsy” that English and the Social Sciences are kind of the focus. I only have very basic physics from my Freshman year course, but I have studied a bit of physics on my own through reading and such.</p>
<p>I would totally do more physics. It gets pretty brutal pretty fast (like within two semesters). Take physics in college to see if you really like taking physics! You can take it as elective for general ed.</p>
What’s taught in pre-calc that is not covered in trigonometry and advanced algebra? If you have covered basic functions (trig functions, exponentials, logs), you should be good to take calculus. Pre-calc sometimes covers other topics like complex numbers, vectors or limits, but they will all be introduced from scratch in the appropriate math classes in college.</p>
<p>Oh and I wanted to second ucbalumnus: if you can take calculus as a senior, even just for a single semester, go for it! A first exposure will make the transition to college calculus and college physics much easier.</p>
<p>I only came into university with eleventh grade physics (originally intended to major in math). I took a intro to physics I and did very well and took intro to physics II. By then, I had enough credits to declare a double major in math and physics. In fact, I did much better in the class than those who came in with grade 12 physics. </p>
<p>However, I suggest you try doing the Open course-ware to see if you actually enjoy physics. It isn’t as glamorous as the media and celebrity scientists portray it to be, and much of first year physics (especially kinematics/dynamics) can become mundane really fast despite building a solid foundation for those upper year classes.</p>
<p>Have you taken the SATs yet? Unless your SAT I Math score was 700 or higher, majoring in Physics in college is going to require a great amount of effort on your part to have a reasonable chance of success.</p>
<p>Well, let’s be honest. You ARE slightly behind in the mathematics side of things. This is not going to kill your chances in physics, but it is going to mean that you would need to work a lot harder initially. Having just an introduction to calculus in high school is very beneficial. </p>
<p>Right now, I am reading your post and you mention that you have an “interest” in theoretical and quantum mechanics. Where does this interest stem from? How far have you gone to look into this interest? For someone who has taken 1 semester of a high school physics course in their life, I have to question how strong this interest really can be.</p>
<p>Lastly, before you dive deep into saying you want to be a physics major, I would definitely take the first two courses (Mechanics and E&M). I find that physics unlike many subjects, requires you to be of a very particular breed. Some people have the mindset, some people just don’t no matter how hard they try. So I’d give it a try to see if you really do like it. It took me two semesters in college to find out that this was where I belong.</p>
<p>@aGGieENGiNeeR My mom has been reading a lot of books about the law of attraction, and the scientific explanation of the law of attraction stems from quantum. I’ve been very skeptical so I’ve been digging in to try and understand my mom’s interest in the law of attraction which has led me far down the rabbit hole. My interest is very limited.</p>
<p>Look here for Berkeley Math department guidelines on math placement if you have not had calculus in high school. In particular, try the on-line placement test. If it green lights you to Math 1A (the freshman calculus course for math, physics, and engineering majors), then you are likely already calculus-ready.</p>
<p>I know, but I wasn’t claiming to believe it. I was just simply stating that since my mom does, I’ve been seeking answers, which has led me to quantum. That’s how my interest started.</p>
<p>no one really had lots of physics background when they enter college. i will be taking my first course senior year but it doesn’t matter because such is common for high schoolers.</p>
<p>not to thread jack. But im a sophomore chemistry major switching to physics in the fall. My only physics course i have taken is an algebra and trig based course. Mathematically im ok, i have calc 1+2, multivariable and taking differential equations in the fall. My school recommended i take an honors physics 1 course. How hard is it going to be for me with not a big background in physics? Are there any good supplemental texts?</p>
<p>Was your physics course a high school physics course, or a university physics course for biology majors and pre-meds? In any case, first semester physics typically assumes no more than high school physics (if that), and your math background should help.</p>
<p>In the 12th grade, my fall-semester math course was Trigonometry and my spring-semester math course was something called “Analytic Geometry”. I did not have (nor take) AP Calculus credits. I did take Physics in the 11th grade and planned to take advanced Physics in the 12th grade but not enough students signed up so I went and took the Chemistry course.</p>
<p>Still…</p>
<p>My fall-semester freshman math course was Calculus & Analytic Geometry I and I ended up a math major. I could have been a physics major just the same as the first two years are the EXACT SAME for either the math or physics major (at Michigan State).</p>
<p>Side note: I did take Modern Physics (after Physics I, II) and Computational Physics as electives since the Computational Physics course was really a “blow off” (read: easy elective for easy grade of “A”) since I already had Numerical Analysis I & II and there was a bunch of overlap (ha ha ha ha ha).</p>