<p>I want to double major in physics and biological sciences but that's probably not going to be likely considering the massive course load I'll have. I want to major in physics because I love the subject and eventually want to do research and become a professor in the future. However, I still want a good chance at finding a stable job when I get out of college and I don't think I can do that if I majored in physics. So, I also want to major in biological sciences. It's something else I enjoy and there's a chance work can be found at a biotech company.</p>
<p>Questions...
Can I still get a job at a biotech company with a major in physics and a minor in biological sciences? There's a chance I may not be able to minor in it if my counselor doesn't allow me to. </p>
<p>Should I only major in biological sciences (since physics isn't offered as a minor), get a job after college, and then go back to school to pursue my major in physics? (I already planned to go back to school anyways.)</p>
<p>Should I major in nursing to support myself financially and go back to school for my physics major? IF I get into the nursing program. It's preferable because hours are more flexible as a nurse.</p>
<p>More General Questions...</p>
<p>Does anyone know what the physics or biological sciences programs are like at UCI?</p>
<p>What jobs can I get as a physics major?</p>
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<p>Any comments on any of these questions would really help.</p>
<p>Starting Salary Statistics
Bio - $38,800.00
Physics - $50,300.00 </p>
<p>Mid Career Pay
Bio -$64,800.00
Physics - $97,300.00 </p>
<p>I think you have it backwards. The adage is that most bio majors end up as failed premed and go on to become lab assistants. Bio as a major isn’t that valuable unless you have an advanced degree. To place this in perspective, the “average” art history major earns more than a bio major.</p>
<p>Fair warning, work experience and GPA often matter more than your actual major, just letting you know. Everyone takes classes, not everyone also gains relevant experience and/or acquires leadership roles in clubs on campus.</p>
<p>Jebus, you’re all over the place here… I’ll try my best (physics major here).</p>
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No, its doable. If you have a 5 year plan, it certainly is doable. I know someone who double physics and chemistry and 4 years and someone else who doubled physics and history in 4 years. </p>
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You love physics or biology? Are you hoping to study some mix of the two (biophysics?)? If you’re hoping to become a professor studying biophysics, it’ll probably be worth the time to major in physics and just move to a biophysics graduate program. Note that the odds of becoming a professor are VERY small. Either way, if you wanted to get into the field, now would be a good time. A lot of research programs are opening up in this field and a lot of money is enabling it. </p>
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The real issue is whether you can find a stable job. I think a physics degree would help you on that front, compared to a biology degree, but that’s just my personal view.
I’ve heard of starving artists, but never starving physicists…
And if you care THAT much about a job (which isn’t irrational), major in Mech E or EE.</p>
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First, try and be a bit more specific when you say you want a job for a biotech company. Biotech companies hire accountants and janitors, so you could do that. What exactly do you want to do? Scientific research?</p>
<p>Consider majoring in physics and using your physics electives to take biology/chemistry courses. If you look at the [UCI</a> catalog](<a href=“UCI General Catalogue Archives”>UCI General Catalogue Archives), you’ll see something called the “concentration in biomedical physics”. Also, work in a biology lab of some kind and build up your lab skills through there. [Steven</a> Gross](<a href=“http://bioweb.bio.uci.edu/sgross/]Steven”>http://bioweb.bio.uci.edu/sgross/) is a great example of cross-discipline research you might be interested in. And check out people in the biomedical engineering (BME) department. </p>
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Second bachelor’s degrees are typically not a good idea. I would argue that it’s much easier to get a physics degree (esp if you have a general background the concentration would give you) and learn biology compared to being a biology major and learn physics. Keep in mind, a lot of learning will happen outside the classroom, even after you graduate.</p>
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Now you’re really all over the place. Being a professor <-> Being a lab tech <-> being a nurse. I’m not really sure what your plan is. It seems, for lack of a better word, really stupid to spend four years time learning to be a nurse then using the earning power to subsidize your physics undergraduate degree and then getting some job doing physics. Do you just want to learn physics cause its fun (phun)? or because you want to do work relating to physics in the future?
I don’t understand why you’d take the detour through becoming a nurse only to leave the field if you get a physics degree, especially if you could just start working on the physics degree to start with!</p>
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I’m a physics major and can answer all your questions. Also, consider a chemistry major. You get a good mix of some of the physics you need (quantum, thermo, etc) and the biochemistry. I don’t know how the biochemistry compares to biology, but the physical chemistry is MUCH weaker compared to physics. But if you’re just studying for fun, it may be enough. </p>
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If you learn to program, you can do almost anything a comp sci major can do. This is a really vague question though. I almost took a job doing logistics for a trucking company. Apply for jobs at defense contractors, they hire lots of math/physics people. </p>
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It’s weird being a physics major and telling people your GPA. For graduate school in physics, you want above a 3.3, ideally above a 3.6. A 3.1 is pretty ****ty. But for jobs, anything above 3.0 seems to be wonderful. Having a “wonderful” GPA and a major that scares the crap out of most people… this is what people refer to when they talk about “being in a bubble”. There’s a saying in physics, “A D in physics is an A in life!”. Most people will be amazed you even signed up for a class on quantum mechanics (never mind you got a C in it…).
And I wouldn’t use the word “work experience”. I would say “relevant experience”. If you want a job programming, contributing to an open source project is a great thing to talk about during an interview even though its not work. And working in a lab and learning whatever lab techniques is really helpful, if you want to go down that path.
Honestly, at that point in your career (post BS), no employer is going to expect you know much anything.</p>
<p>Lastly: there’s no reason you need to take physics classes to learn physics. MIT has open courseware. You can buy the various books you need to learn (Marion-Thortan for classical mech, Griffiths for E&M and quantum) and just read.</p>