<p>I'm in high school and am currently deciding which subject to pursue. I really want to compete in one of these fields on a national level by the end of my junior year(olympiads and such), so if I want to withstand a chance, I have to only focus on one. I was wondering if you guys could give me a brief philosophy of each subject if that is possible.</p>
<p>I originally thought I would go to physics because I am curious in how the universe was made, how nature works, and all those fundamental questions that physicists are searching for. But as I look through both chem and physics books I am equally amazed and interested. </p>
<p>I am also contemplating a major in one of these subjects.</p>
<p>Sorry if this is a crude approach to my problem, but I was wondering, since my interests in the fields are equal, if there is any way to assess any "natural talent" in the fields? </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Perhaps your first few university courses in both subjects will help you decide which you like better. Both majors will require the same introductory math and physics courses; chemistry will require introductory chemistry courses (physics may at some schools).</p>
<p>If you are equally interested in both subjects, choose physics. Job and career prospects are much better for physics than chemistry, though partly or mostly because finance jobs (looking for people good at math) and some engineering jobs take up the surplus of physics graduates who do not get physics jobs.</p>
<p>If you find chemistry fascinating, consider chemical engineering, which has much better job and career prospects.</p>
<p>Physics does not come “naturally” to many people. It is hard to gauge your potential in physics unless you have had a course in it because for some people this science just does not click while for others it will be slightly easier to pick up. Physics will take a lot of devotion of time. The best way to learn physics is to work problems (and I mean a lot of problems) in order to reinforce your knowledge of the theory. If you can’t work the problem, then you are missing a key part of the theory behind it. Also, and this is my opinion, physics makes more sense with working knowledge of calculus. </p>
<p>Chemistry came easier to me, but after taking AP Chemistry I realized that I just simply did not enjoy the subject whatsoever. This subjects left a lot of questions of “Why did something do what it did?” unanswered. Physics answered them. So, chemistry is really only dependent on algebra as far as math is concerned (at the general intro level of college). Chemistry will demand you to understand theory just as about as much as in physics. If you are strong in math, I would say chances are you will be fine in chemistry, but don’t try to gauge natural talent here. Some people are great in math and can struggle with chemistry (some of my friends did). </p>
<p>Overall, you can’t really gauge naturally talent in these sciences. Good math skills are a must. A willingness to work and learn is a must. Interests will only get you so far. You gotta have desire and find a passion, something you can only find by diving into each subject and finding which one is for you. I’d say take a class in each if you can.</p>
<p>thanks for all the feedback</p>