<p>So it seems like I have a problem. I have heard that the physics 4 series is more oriented to the physics major while the 2 series is more towards the engineering side. However my circumstances seems to really want physics 2 instead of physics 4 series. I am a physics major and i don't know if doing so might change the content of what i have learned. </p>
<p>If I were to take the physics 4 series I hwould have to wait until junior year to even touch my upper division physics course but if I were taking physics 2 series, I could start my UD classes sophomore year, and finish by my third year. I have taken both ap physics c exams and sadly only got a 4 on both of them. Thus I am exempt from taking physics 2A and 2B but not from 4A and 4B (this leads me to think that 4a and 4b are harder...) So if I were to take the 4 series, it would be a grueling 5 course set and quite literally an extra year of my life while 2 series is only a 2 couse set. My sophomore year is literally empty right now because the course that I could be taking then is left until junior year as of now. I would really appreciate any feedback on this!</p>
<p>So my question is, can i technically take the 2 series in place of the 4 series? And if I can, will anyone(advisors, major people, etc.) mind it? Thanks!</p>
<p>It’s recommended that you take the 4 series, but the 2 series is also accepted (source: <a href=“Physics”>http://www.ucsd.edu/catalog/curric/PHYS-ug.html</a>). I personally think you should take the 4 series if you’re a physics major, since it seems to be highly recommend and because it doesn’t seem like you breezed through AP Physics, but it’s your choice. You could speak to an advisor if you’d like an opinion from someone in your department. </p>
<p>If you’re only reason for wanting to take the 2 series is that you want to graduate a year early, I would recommend taking the 4 series, unless you can’t afford to stay four years. It will give you a stronger foundation in physics, which will help you do better in upper-division courses and help you have a better understanding of the material. Also, staying the extra year will give you more opportunities to get internships and work experience, which may be easier to get as an undergraduate, especially if you have no experience. The more experience you get as a college student, the easier it will be to find a job and the higher pay you may get. If you want to go to grad school, then I’d especially recommend you stay in college for all four years and get more research experience.</p>
<p>How much calculus have you done? If you took AP Calc and got out of Math 20A and B, then you would still have to take C-D-E-F before you can take PHYS 100A. That would require the same amount of quarters as taking 4A-B-C-D that is required to take PHYS 100A.</p>
<p>Are there GEs you could take during your first two years to fill up your schedule? Other pre-reqs? What would you like to do after you graduate? Taking extra programming classes will likely be useful in the future.</p>
<p>Thanks baktrax. I have done all of 20 A-F (except 20D that I’m taking this fall). Also, I plan to go to graduate school immediately after college to earn masters + ph.D so research experience is something that I’ll probably do anyways. I planned to get a research opportunity as soon as I get to UCSD as I only seem to have room for three course in the fall… In terms of GEs, I need to complete 7 courses total to finish up my GEs. So I feel as though I could do this in a three years logically speaking(not taking into account college life yet…which is probably not the smartest thing to do but that shouldn’t hold me back an entire year)</p>
<p>P.S. the advisors for physics are currently on a 2 week break…</p>
<p>Planning to get research experience is different than actually having it, especially since it can sometimes be difficult to get meaningful research experience as a freshman. I’d still recommend taking more time to get research experience and to figure out what type of research you want to do before going into a PhD program. Not only will it make you a more competitive candidate for grad school, it will give you more time to get letters of rec, more opportunities for presentations/posters/papers, and will give you a better idea of what you want to research and where you want to go. Keep in mind that if you’re going to go to grad school directly from undergrad, you’ll likely be applying in the fall or winter of your last year. If you graduate in three years, you may only realistically have one (or two summers) of research experience. Two at most, if you manage to do research your entire freshman and sophomore years. Your sophomore and junior years–when many students get quality research and internship experiences–will play a big role in making you a more prepared and competitive applicant for graduate school. You may find yourself taking the GRE and researching programs during your sophomore year, when you’ve only had one year of college and may not have a great idea of what type of program you’d like or what type of research you’d like to do.</p>
<p>Getting a masters and then going into a PhD program after undergrad is another option, but may take more time and money than taking the extra year in undergrad to make yourself a competitive applicant and then entering a direct PhD program, unless you get into a 1 year funded Master’s program, which may be difficult.</p>
<p>I’m not saying you can’t be a competitive applicant for graduate school after three years. It’s just less likely. Don’t underestimate the value of that extra experience. Alternatively, you could also take a gap year or two.</p>