Chem Or Physics

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>okay, i will be a freshman at Grinnell next year...
HS: 10th-honors chem/geometry, 11th-honors physics/algebra 3-4, 12th-AP Chem/trig and statistics (background info)</p>

<p>i absolutely LOVED physics when i took it, and would have taken AP Physics if my HS offered it...chemistry is pretty fun, and i am good at it...</p>

<p>anyway, my question is: in college should i major in CHem or Physics?</p>

<p>My first inclination is physics, however "the rub" is that i have never taken any type of calculus class...therefore i think that physics 101 in college would be VERY difficult and i would be at a disadvantage (i am assuming it is calc based)...</p>

<p>Chem would be my second choice i guess, and i am leaning towards it (sadly) because i am afraid that i will not do well in physics because of my lack of calc study</p>

<p>Do you guys have any suggestions about what i should do?<br>
Am i incorrectly making physics into something that it is not(too difficult)? If i dont take physics first year, can i still major in it? </p>

<p>thanks</p>

2

<p>college physics will be calc based (very heavily too). You should take calc courses before deciding your major. Most science/engineering majors take general chem, calc, and physics for thier first two years. Once you get your feet wet, you can pick your major. At my university, the first physics course isn't offered till spring quarter, so you have two quarters of calc under your belt before getting started. So yes, you can major in physics without jumping right into it.
(I'm a chemistry major, so I'm a little biased towards the chemistry side. But if being in a lab for 6+ hours a week doesn't excite you, then maybe you should just be a physics major. Chemists don't typically like physics - unless they are physical chemists. <em>shutters</em> pchem is horrid)</p>

3

<p>you should do physics. you can do so much with a physics major once you get out of college, or even during college like internships</p>

4

<p>you can do a lot with a chemistry major too. All sorts of fields require chemistry.. anything from forensics, printer ink, textile dyes, makeup, pharmaceuticals, and let's not forget the all important fireworks and explosives :)</p>

5

<p>Well, I believe that physics is definitely a better choice because of employment prospects. I have seen statistics somewhere, which imply that there is a severe shortage of physics professionals. It is also true that chemistry is not that popular among the young either, but I believe the situation in chemistry is not that bad compared to physics... Well, but that's just my opinion.</p>

6

<p>If you can do physics at the college level without having to spend an INSANE amount of time studying to do well(as I do), then you should seriously consider it. I was more or less finished with chem after I completed AP, although majoring in that wouldn't be too shabby, either.</p>

7

<p>I'm a chem major but I can't stand physics...I actually like the material but I'm horrid at it and it's rather frustrating
anyway..I was active on the old forums (different username) in 2003 but found this and just had to post to say...
that you'll probably have to take calculus for either major. I know I had to take up to calc 3 and differential equations was recommended.
I have a year left after this semester (Instrumental analysis and Pchem..oh joy ;))</p>

8

<p>Counter from a physics major...
I'd say go for physics and see how it goes: chances are your intro physics course will be survivable if you just know what a derivative is (if not, if you just look at a book a little over the summer you'd definetely be fine). Plus remember that it's forever simpler to switch to chemistry from physics than vice versa, so you should probably start there if you want to keep the option open (chances are you'd need to take intro calc, chem, and physics your first term anyway).
And fyi physics majors are in labs tremendous hours a week too, not just chems, so be sure you won't mind labs in undergrad!</p>

9

<p>if u like physics do engineering physics or any other engineernig major...better job market than just physics IMO</p>

10

<p>Chemistry is the hardest subject Ive ever taken. Im barly passing chem 101 right now. It just doesnt make sense to me.</p>

11

<p>Neither. Chem/phys....yuck. (Throws up):rolleyes:</p>

12

<p>Do not even think about this until after you've gotten there and you've taken a couple of classes, talked to students in the major, and met professors. Seriously - this is not a decision that you are in any position to make now. Just go into it with an open mind and be ready to work from the get-go.</p>