<p>In terms of top colleges(HYPSM)</p>
<p>So a lot of my EC's and award revolve around biology and chemistry. Examples:
-research in biochem
-volunteering in biochem related org's
-internship at another biochem place</p>
<p>But, over the last couple of months, I realized that I like physics so much more and I am most likely going to major in that. So right now, I'm a junior, and would it be bad, as in seem like a lack of dedication and interest, if I began to focus on physics. This summer I would like to take a physics class at a college or try to do some research in physics.</p>
<p>My main concern is that, I was supposed to finish my biochem paper this summer(I got the abstract down) but I would really rather shift my focus to physics.</p>
<p>Thoughts? =O</p>
<p>Yes, switching to physics from biology will definitely show a lack of interest and dedication to biology. IMO, just do what you like. A college will agree with it or not, and either way you still have a slim chance of getting into HYPSM. They don’t expect you to have the rest of your life figured out at this point, almost everyone is still figuring out their passions and future careers in high school and college. So yes, I say switch to physics.</p>
<p>How far are you into your paper? If it’s almost done you should probably just finish it, but otherwise it’s up to you.</p>
<p>Just do what you want to do! And do it for your own edification, not to get into a particular school. You are a high school student. It’s good that you’re exploring. I am not going to comment on the nuances of admission to HYPSM because I know very little about them. I can’t even remember all the initials. I had to cut and paste from the original post. But I do know that the interesting, successful, fulfilled people I know got to be that way by following their interests wherever those interests led them.</p>
<p>No school expects a student to know in 10th grade what they want to do in college, which is why you don’t declare a major until junior year. Even at HYPMS, students probably switch majors with the same frequency as the rest of the population. And STEM majors are notorious for dropping STEM entirely - see all the threads speculating on why this happens. A switch to physics is a comparatively minor change.</p>
<p>So make the switch and don’t think twice - it’s the price you pay for intellectual curiosity, personal growth and widening horizons. And it’s probably not the last time you switch your area of interest, either.</p>
<p>Following your passion pays off in the long run. Finishing up your Bio paper shows grit & integrity-- which is celebrated in admissions. You should do it - try not to make too much of a time sacrifice so you can also persue physics. You will learn something in the process so it is not a loss. It actually could be a great college essay.</p>
<p>Kids are admired for doing any type of hard work. I know of a kid who has gotten several elite internships b/c of all his part time jobs he has held down while going to school. It wasn’t his grades which were good but not top of the class.</p>
<p>You shold also try to get a summer job & turn it into a study in physics-- pump gas i.e. the trajectory of the flow of gas or something like that. :)</p>
<p>You don’t have to study biochem in college, but it’s good to have a consistent focus before college. How are you going to switch to Physics for your research. I think it’s too late for EC’s related.</p>
<p>“it’s good to have a consistent focus before college.”</p>
<p>I don’t buy this in the way it is been defined here, as biochemistry. I think you need a ‘story’ that shows some consistent themes (ie, you love science and research; you aren’t scattered all over the map with a new flavor every month), but you don’t have to stick with the same thing just because that’s where you started your intellectual journey. It shows growth and intellectual curiosity when an interest in one area leads you to explore interests in another, possibly related area, and that in turn leads you to something else. As long as you can tell your story, you are fine.</p>