<p>I will be a sophomore this fall at Texas A&M and am currently registered as an aerospace engr. major. However i was deeply interested in physics too and this summer have been working on research in elementary particles and it just deepened my interest in physics. I am currently reading intro to elementary particles by david griffiths and marvel at every new page.</p>
<p>I have always and still do want to build aerospace systems, esp space ships (i am trying to find a research project for next fall in deep space propulsion). Flying stuff capture my imagination more than anything and it was aerospace that actually got me interested in physics in the ist place. </p>
<p>I have looked at a double major in physics and turns out that i will be taking the max allowed load by the univ each sem and doing summer classes too to graduate in 5 years (2016). I am confused if the double major is worth the trouble? My financial situation is tight too and the double major increases my chances of a scholarship too.</p>
<p>I am lookin at grad school at CalTech (or any other place, but caltech is my ist love) but now i am confused what graduate course would i proceed for.
Any suggestions? should i take a minor in physics rather? if I do and want to go to grad school for physics (quantum or relativistic side), will it be possible?</p>
<p>I have a BS in civil engineering, an MA in mathematics, and a PhD in physics. It seems to be easier to do the engineering first and then get into physics grad school with some make up undergrad work. If you minor in physics, you can probably cover the required undergrad material before getting into a grad program in physics if that is still what you want when you get that far.</p>
<p>If it takes you an additional year and finances are an issue, don’t do a full second degree. The aeronautical engineering gives you a superb background in mechanics and mathematics, but for a physics program you will be light on modern physics & relativity, electrodynamics and quantum mechanics. If you can make up these deficiencies with a physics minor or simply additional elective courses, then it will increase your chances of doing well on the Physics GRE and being competitive for the graduate programs in physics that you want.</p>
<p>Another option might be an engineering physics degree (if that is available at your university). This gives you the two degrees in one and if you are really planning on going to graduate school in physics, taking a few less engineering courses might not be a big deal.</p>
<p>Good Luck</p>
<p>wow, u look like the complete package-engg, math n physics! wow! so you mean even if I minor in physics and take a quantum mechanics class, i will be ok for graduate school? is there a chance that big univs like caltech will have a prob if i apply for a different programme than my undergrad?</p>
<p>@xraymancs Yeah i also wanted to go for engineering physics with concentration in aero, but the univ does not offer any such program! :(</p>
<p>You can go either way. I know students who start in physics and then go to engineering graduate school and the opposite is true too although mechanical engineers often have challenges with E&M and electrical engineers have a hard time with classical dynamics when they come to a physics graduate program. It is all soluble with the right advising and a bit of extra work. Whether a program like Cal Tech will have a problem depends on how well you do on the Physics GRE, which they require for admission.</p>