<p>I'm going to be a senior in high school and I'm not sure what I want to major in. I just finished AP Calculus BC and AP Chemistry. I haven't taken any physics courses yet (I will take AP Physics senior year), but I think I will love physics, since I love chemistry and math. So, I am trying to decide between these three majors. I would like to triple major, but that would probably be unrealistic. I may be able to double major, though. What should I major in: Chemistry and Math, Math and Physics, Physics and Chemistry, or Chemistry, Physics, AND Math?! PLEASE HELP!!!</p>
<p>A triple major in physics, chemistry, and math would be brutal. I personally would not recommend that. Aside from the introductory calculus and physics courses, and the basic general chemistry courses, there would be little course overlap once you got into upper level courses. That would be harsh.</p>
<p>A double major is very doable though. There’s really no “best” option, it just really depends on where your interests lie. Wait until you take some physics first, and then decide which fields apply to you most.</p>
<p>High school and introductory college courses can give you an idea of what subject you will like. A triple major would not likely be very doable. A double major between math and physics would likely be the most doable combination, though you could just stick with one major and take courses of interest in the other subjects.</p>
<p>Note that math and physics majors do tend to have somewhat better job prospects than chemistry majors, if it comes down to that as a tiebreaker because your interest level in each is similar. However, this appears to be because they are more easily hired into such areas like finance and computers than chemistry majors.</p>
<p>How hard would it be to double major in physics and chemistry and minor in mathematics?</p>
<p>It’s possible, but as I said above it would be difficult. Beyond the introductory physics/calculus courses, and the first year or so of general chemistry…there would be little to no course overlap. You would be taking some very difficult courses at the same time.</p>
<p>I think it would be a cool combination, but you would likely be better off just picking one or the other. Bear in mind that as a chemistry major, you would still have to take some physics classes anyway, and vice versa- a physics major will still have to take some chemistry classes usually. You could likely use elective credits to to take other chemistry/physics classes outside of your major that interested you as well. It’s never too early to get a potential plan laid out, but wait until you take some physics courses to make any real decisions. You might find that you love physics way more than chemistry, or you might find that you don’t like it as much as you thought you would.</p>
<p>This guy is crazy. Triple majoring in Math, Chem and Physics ?</p>
<p>Major in what interest’s you more. You are a senior right now, so you don’t have to choose a path right away. Why not wait till you get a feel of the first year college science and math courses.</p>
<p>I agree with XtremePower, start your first year in any of the three or a combination and see what fits you. They should all essentially be identical in the first year. Personally, I started in engineering and switched to physics with no time lost and 10 minutes of filling out paperwork. People switch around ALL THE TIME so don’t think you have to have everything set it stone when you start. I too liked chemistry in high school but realized that I liked physics much much more in college. In chemistry (at least most undergrad), you learn “how” atoms and molecules work but not always how we know “why” they work that way. That is why I like physics/math, I need to know why… and the math is just a bonus.</p>
<p>I knew somebody who triple-majored in math, physics, and chemistry. She did <em>not</em> go on to grad school because she was completely burnt-out on doing math. I don’t know what she went on to do.</p>
<p>Double-major AT THE MOST.</p>
<p>From jbrussel93’s post, it seems like physics and math would be more valuable than chemistry. If I minored in chemistry, how much chemistry would I learn?</p>
<p>Why not just go engineering and get to do all of them. 
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<p>That all depends on the school. A minor usually consists of anywhere from 12-20 hours of coursework outside of your major. A minor like chemistry would probably be closer to the 20 range. So, figure 4 hours per course, and that’s about 5 courses, give or take a course or two. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that upper level chemistry courses are going to be quite significantly harder than the chemistry in high school. If you’re trying to take upper level chemistry classes at the same time as upper level math and physics, it’s going to make for a rough time. High school chemistry is a cakewalk compared to upper level chem courses. I’ve never taken any chemistry beyond intro chemistry, and a year of general chemistry, but I see some of my friends ripping their hair out on a regular basis because organic chemistry and upper level inorganic chemistry are incredibly difficult. You’d likely be better off picking either physics or chemistry, and devoting your time to doing well in one or the other.</p>
<p>@RacinReaver: I’m more interested in pure science than in applied science.
I guess I should just double major in math and physics and forget about chemistry. :*(</p>
<p>At the school I go to, chemistry majors take calculus 1, 2, and 3, plus differential equations (plenty of math). They also take three semesters of physics. I believe it is similar at most schools. If you wanted to pick one major that would allow you to study all three fields, it would be chemistry. My recommendation if you want to do a dual major would be chemistry and physics. Physics majors take plenty of math courses.
I absolutely love being a science major in college. I get to see how math ties into physics, which ties into chemistry, which ties into biology. In high school, the four fields are taught as separate entities. In college you see how all the fields significantly overlap each other.</p>
<p>Just finished my sophomore year as a biochemistry and molecular biology major.</p>
<p>At most schools, physics majors end up having to take almost as many chemistry courses as a chemistry major would physics courses. Most schools want at least a year of general chemistry out from physics majors. So in reality, majoring in chemistry wouldn’t really be “covering more ground.” It would be covering roughly the same amount of ground, with a different focus. You’ll have to take the basic calculus/diff EQ sequence for both majors. Beyond those few courses though, there would be basically no overlap. Physics majors would typically have to take more math than a chemistry major would. Beyond calc I-III and Diff EQ, physics majors usually need to take linear algebra/abstract algebra, and usually a few other math electives that will be beneficial for upper level course work. </p>
<p>Also keep in mind that many schools have different “specialized” curricula within a given major, and double majoring often isn’t an option for people in a specialized curriculum, and those who do want to double major may have to take a more basic “science and letters” type curriculum, that doesn’t go as in depth into the given field. In other words, you would be sacrificing the depth of your physics major in lieu of chemistry courses, or vice versa.</p>
<p>Comfortablycurt is dead wrong about physics majors taking almost as many chemistry courses as chemistry majors. Physics majors takes two courses general chemistry (which all science and engineering majors take). At my school, a chemistry major takes 16 chemistry courses, which last time a checked is a lot more than two.
Physics majors take 15 physics courses and 7 math courses
Chemistry majors take 3 physics courses and 4 math courses (if they start out college on-level).</p>
<p>I didn’t say physics majors take almost as many chemistry courses as chemistry majors take. I said that a physics major is going to take almost as many chemistry courses; as a chemistry major will take physics courses.</p>
<p>i.e. A chemistry major will usually take the university physics sequence, and a physics major will usually take the general chemistry sequence. It’s a difference of 1 course. Sometimes the third part of the physics sequence is broken into two smaller courses though. To say that a chemistry major will get more exposure all around though isn’t quite accurate. Physics will get you more exposure on the whole typically, because of the greater mathematical rigor of the major.</p>
<p>Just a thought…have you considered astrochemistry? It’s a relatively newer field that’s at the crossroads of chemistry and astronomy/astrophysics. You’d get to utilize math, physics and chemistry within it though. I don’t know of any universities that offer an undergrad program in astrochem, but it’s an idea to keep in mind for grad school.</p>
<p>Sorry comfortablycurt, I was really tired when I was reading your post and I misread it. But yeah, you have to decide what exactly interests you most. If you decide on physics, you will get some general chemistry (unfortunately very little organic chemistry and biochemistry, which I think is the most interesting chemistry). If you decide on chemistry, you will get general physics, and learn to do basic physics calculations. If you decide on mathematics, you will get no chemistry, and a couple physics courses.
Just plan on going to graduate school if you want to get a good career.</p>
<p>I would do physics with minors in chemistry and math or physics with a chemistry concentration (many schools have this sort of option) and a math minor (or major if you really enjoy math). It is pretty easy to go from physics to chemistry for graduate study, I know several people (students, professors) who have done this and have been very successful.</p>
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<p>Quite alright, it was kind of a strangely worded sentence. You’re absolutely right though. The best advice you could get at this point is to simply wait and see what interests you the most. As I already said, you might find that you don’t like physics as much as you thought you would. Or you might find that you love it far more than you love chemistry.</p>
<p>It wouldn’t be impossible to double major in physics and chemistry, but it wouldn’t be too advisable either. Either one of the two makes for a complex major on it’s own, and the two combined would make for a very rough time, plus it would take away time that you would otherwise have for exploring different elective credits within a single major.</p>