Im a senior doing dual enrollment, and I don’t like physics (or any science really). I got back a midterm tomorrow and I got a 32/40. I did good on my first mid term but that was easy. This is an intro physic class, and doesnt involve calc. The next level physics class is calc based physics 1 (mechanics). I know that class will be much harder, and I know that most students end up dropping it. If I cant even get an A in intro to physics, how will i do in calc Based physics? My major in industrial engineering and I got into UIUC, purdue, and sjsu for that. I also applied Electrcial engineering to some schools. I hate science in general, but like math. Is engineering the wrong choice for me?
If you hate it with a dying passion then just wait until your passionate hate dies and continue learning physics
@Frazzled503 not helpful. do you know how much physics a typical engineering student would go through? It wouldnt be more than a year right?
For IE, you will need to take a year of engineering physics, but also probably materials science, thermodynamics, statics and dynamics, chemistry, computer science, etc. Maybe you should look at the degree plan at the universities you are considering, and the course descriptions for required courses and electives. Engineering may be the wrong choice.
We don’t know, but I suspect you don’t either. Engineers at work do not sit around and solve homework problems the way they did in school. Much of engineering (for example EE) in college is more about providing the foundation for understanding the subject than training in actually doing it. Until you talk with some actual engineers and figure out whether what they do for a living is right for you, you won’t know if its right or not.
I am an Electrical Engineer and you take Physics as a basis…but I never have to figure out the friction of a block going down a plane. The beauty of engineering is you can focus on what you are interested in. For electrical engineering we had to take a course on the physical properties of materials related to electricity, so that is more closely related to physics/chemistry, but other than that you don’t really do much physics. What you do do is solve problems mathematically given theorems and formulas and data, which you do in physics. So it depends what you don’t like about Physics.
Tell us more about what you dislike about physics. You might not like the other engineering classes either.
Well i love math, but i like physics less. I’m expected to do 1 and 1/2 years of physics. If you hate science, you probably wont like chem either. I’m required to take 1 year of that. I’m half way into my spring semester and my classes are already 2/3 of the original size. My guess is that if you hate it, you’ll be part of the 1/3 who leaves.
@colorado_mom well, actaully i made this thread for a stupid reason. I was sad that i got a 32/40 on my midterm, so I wanted to rant. The only thing I hate about physics is that I make really stupid mistakes sometimes… I’m more of the person that likes to figure out how to set-up complex problems. I often make mistakes with details, so that’s why I hate physics. For some reason, I don’t make as many silly mistakes i nmath as physics. Does being an engineering involve close attention to detail?
@finallyfree I would think it does. I get where you’re coming from with the stupid errors - those are what really annoy me too. When I took my first Calc I test, I made so many stupid errors it was ridiculous. Really, you just have to learn to check your work, with your calculator if you can, every step of the way. It’s hard, especially if you’re rushed. But you may not be that bad at physics concepts, just preciseness. The latter can be learned, trust me.
If you hate physics with a dying passion then going into any science, computer science, and engineering program is not right for you. Perhaps going into business, humanities, and social science might be a better choice. If you choose pure math you will run into some science but maybe you should go into economics, you will take the least science and quite a bit of math.
@xRobertx dont be absurd. major in the humanities? just watch aaron clarey and youtube, and my reasons will speak out for themselves. also, i made this thread as a rant, and I feel better now.
Yeah, I was a bit reluctant typing humanities but there has to be at least a few people finding jobs even if it’s not directly in their field. I just don’t want you to suffer through all the physics and chemisty that you have to endure majoring in electrical engineering. How are you with computer science because you will have to take a few classes in that as well? Also once your past calculus and the sciences the engineering classes like statics and dynamic will be similar to taking physics all over again.
I didn’t like physics too much either, but it was something I eventually learned to appreciate. Unless you really, really don’t like it or you are incapable of doing well, give it a chance.
There are schools with computer science majors (not in engineering divisions) that do not require physics or other science for the major. The same goes for math and statistics majors.
Industrial engineering mostly emphasizes math and statistics to solve optimization problems and the like, but still has some requirements in physics and physics-based engineering subjects.
ff - If getting less than an A puts you into rant mode, you may not like Engineering.
@colorado_mom lol i know thats true. the thing that bothered me though is that this wasnt even calc based physics. it was an intro to that class. i know accepting lower grades is something im gonna have to work on.
I actually had an easier time with calc-based physics. There are too many things which are heavily mathematically rooted that you just have to take by faith in lower level physics.
HS Physics may be a little difficult just because the concepts are ‘new’ to you, you made ‘stupid’ mistakes, and you got an 80 on the mid-term and you are use to better grades.
In engineering, you will have this happen.
As you overcome your issues and your grades improve, you may also feel a sense of accomplishment.
HS physics was DD’s course that needed a lot of concentration. Now in engineering school, physics with calc is covering a lot of material (a chapter and questions for each class period); her calc II class seems to go along w/o the level of effort.
The first year college courses can have you directed a lot of different ways, depending how you will feel at that point in time. You may see a particular major is better suited to you.
Let time tell after you have put in good effort and also thought about your career choice/options as you enter college. Don’t jump out of it until you have given the ‘college try’ if you believe you are suited to handle the coursework.
Considering my username, I am compelled to tell you that physics is amazing and you should reexamine your life choices.