*EXTRA LONG POST* Chem vs. Physics: I NEED HELP

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>Bear with me. This is four paragraphs long. I know long posts tend to drive people away, but here I go... And yes, this has been some form of a catharsis :/</p>

<p>So this has been boring itself into my mind over the past few days. I'm currently a Chem major. Weeks ago, I had considered doing Chem E, mostly for the application of math (and I had almost no clue what Chem E was :P). Then I had decided to pursue Chem Bio, believing that this combines my interests in bio, chem, and physics. I also planned to take allied courses that would involve math, which later turned out to be upper div physics courses (like Physics 105). I believed that I was passionate about chemistry, being excited about physical chem (even though it's allegedly really, really difficult... and looking back, thermodynamics/kinetics weren't my favorite parts of AP Chem) and Chem C191 over organic chem and inorganic chem (lack of math's one reason for the lack of excitement). And my justification was that I was good at chemistry (highlights: stoichiometry, equilibrium, bonding), having been a/the top student in my AP Chem class (along with many others in the CoC, of course), although looking back, I dunno about the chem labs. Some chem labs were memorable for their accidents/failures (such as a burn, broken glass, or a 96% percent error). That, and my lab group was usually the last to finish, even though I sometimes wanted to finish the lab up by the time the class was over. I realize that as I am writing this, this isn't a good harbinger, as labs are pretty integral to chemistry (that, or integral to one's undergrad experience in the CoC (duh)). I guess I'm more eager about the theory behind chemistry (particularly if math is involved). That, and I kind of looked forward to doing stuff (career-wise) with... physical chemistry (like catalysts or... protein folding...)...</p>

<p>These days, I'm considering doing a physics major instead. I've realized that the chemistry classes I was eager about the most were those mixed with physics. And let's not forget how I wanted to take physics upper div courses for my allied subjects. Couple that with a passion for (using/doing, rather than proving) math (at least, up to math 54 (or maybe even math 121ab)). And looking at the (surface of some of the) upper div physics courses, they're interesting (while I look at other chem upper div courses as requirements or as stuff I read and say, "Wow, I should be interested"). Right now, I'm looking through my dad's old college physics books about classical dynamics (which involves math I haven't learned yet and the material in phys 105 and much more) and plan to look through his quantum physics book. To be fair, I haven't read any books about chemistry yet... And it's also not fair that my physics background at home is stronger than that for chem due to my dad (who once wanted to study physics... and has all of those books). Then again, I'm not the best at physics.</p>

<p>Of course, by now, you're probably thinking, "The signs are FLASHING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!!! GO WITH PHYSICS!!!" The problem? Well, let's assume I've decided to pursue physics and screw chem by taking a physics course in the fall, rather than chem 4a and c96. If I realize that my want to do physics was impulsive (seeing that this thought came recently) and that I want to do chem again, well... I'll be off the CoC chem major track, won't I? Then again, taking Math 53, Chem 4A, AND physics H7A (I have self-studied for the Physics C exams this year (better feelings for Mechanics than for E&M :P), and I have a feeling 7A may be repetitive... not to mention the challenge and the analytical thinking required of you in H7A kind of allures me) in the fall would be suicidal. And I'm not so eager about starting to fulfill lower div physics requirements in the spring, knowing that I actually could've started earlier. Is this inflexibility a characteristic of Cal?!?</p>

<p>Now, I'm not thinking about what I want to study based on how much money I want to make. Then again, I can't deny reality. There are people (such as my mom :/) who believe there will be more job opportunities if I pursue chem than if I pursue physics (and my mom believes that more and more physicists will be laid off/be unemployed... I personally doubt that...). Admittedly, there will be more job opportunities for those who've studied chemistry. Right now, however, I'm more interested in a career oriented in research/academia over industry (meaning I'm probably going to (try to) go to grad school), even though it's a long and rocky road to being a professor. Oh I dunno... I just try not to think about post-undergrad right now...</p>

<p>So yeah... I could use some help in this debate that's been going on in my head.</p>

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<p>many college students switch majors sometime during their undergrad years - some do it several times. It is part of the college experience where you find what you really care about only after taking some classes and spending time on the subjects. </p>

<p>If you take courses needed for your possible majors, while you are not sure of which you will finally pursue, you will have minimum backtracking when you change. Just build up the multiple lists of classes for the next year or two, merge them and generally the ones that overlap are the highest priority right now. Sometimes you just have to spend time on a class that only fits one major, since it is a prereq for others that need to be taken soon, but there is a fair amount of flexibility possible in sequencing. More flexibility with L&S than for CoC or COE, admittedly. What I am trying to say is that this doesn’t have to be an immediate and permanent decision. Switching majors and even colleges is possible. Some directions are harder, such as L&S to COE, but if you get admitted into the harder side, then you have all the options open to you in the next year to two.</p>

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<p>I would go along with the chem track for a semester and see how things go. You don’t need to do the H series to major in physics, and the Chem 4A might come in handy even if you end up doing physics.</p>

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<p>Here’s my suggestion: Take Chem 4A and Physics 7A or H7A in the fall for sure. If you’re still in doubt, you can stick with the chem track, since CoC has much less flexibility in scheduling (i.e. if you’re off by a semester…you’re screwed. All of the lower-div CoC chem courses are offered only once a year, so you can’t take classes off-season.) On the other hand, the physics major is in L&S, so there’s considerably greater flexibility in terms of when to take classes and what classes to take.
Physics H7A is much harder than 7A in terms of material, but the curve is more generous. If you decide to take H7A and 4A first semester, I’d recommend an easier class such as an AC to bring you up to the 13-unit minimum (counting the 1 unit from C96, which is a waste of time but required). Math is offered every semester and over the summer, so it can be delayed, since you’re already ahead. Though if you decide to take Physics 7A instead of H7A, you could do math, physics, and chem first semester and have those be your only three classes. It’ll be tough, but you’ll have to take math, physics, and chem together with another class second semester anyway, so you may as well get a head start while you’re at only 13 units.
So no matter what, take physics and chem first semester to help you decide.
I’ll also add that the physical chemistry classes at Cal teach quantum mechanics, not “catalysts and protein folding,” which you’ll probably skim over in Chem 4 and have more to do with biochem anyway. I suggest you read the College of Chemistry Announcement carefully: <a href=“http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/undergrad_info/publications/chem_09_10.pdf[/url]”>http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/undergrad_info/publications/chem_09_10.pdf&lt;/a&gt; since this tells you about the different majors in the College of Chemistry and gives descriptions of all the classes in the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering departments. You’ll probably also find these links useful:
[url=<a href=“http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/USLI/chemistry/]UC”>http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/USLI/chemistry/]UC</a> Berkeley, College of Chemistry<a href=“Chem%20and%20Chem%20Bio%20Learning%20Goals”>/url</a>
[url=<a href=“http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/USLI/chemical_engineering/chem_e_learning_goals.html]UC”>http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/USLI/chemical_engineering/chem_e_learning_goals.html]UC</a> Berkeley, College of Chemistry<a href=“Chem%20E%20Learning%20Goals”>/url</a>
Since you say you are interested in biology, science, and physics, you may consider majoring in Chemical Biology or Chemical Engineering with the Biotech concentration. The Chem and Chem Bio majors are more geared toward grad school, while many Chem E majors jump straight into industry, though you could pursue grad school or industry from any of these majors. You still have some time to make up your mind about these and physics. Good luck.</p>

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<p>Well, you’re going to be a freshman next year so you have sufficient time to figure this out. Apart from what everyone before me has said, I suggest you go talk to GSIs (Graduate Student Instructors) and professors about how they picked their majors, what they loved, career paths, getting into grad school, research etc. Of course, you will often get answers like “I picked this major because I was good at this subject,” but you’ll also get replies where said GSI/prof describes how they had to pick between two favored majors and why they ended up picking the one they did. You basically have until your junior to figure out what it is you definitely want to major in, but even after that if you think you made the wrong choice you can attend graduate school for the major you forsaked. </p>

<p>Just curious, are you sure you aren’t just interested in math alone? You keep bringing up how important math is to you but you always describe it in terms of its application to physics and chemistry.</p>