<p>I'm currently a junior in high school, and I've narrowed down my choices to these two majors for college. I have absolutely no idea which to choose. I haven't been exposed to engineering much (naturally, it's hard to in high school), but based on how much I love math and science, I feel it would something I would enjoy. Physics is a passion of mine as well. I know it's hard to determine how good I will be at physics in high school, but so far I enjoy all that we learn about. Has anybody else had to make this choice? What would be my best option?</p>
<p>Also, I'm most likely going to either minor in or double major with one of the above in math. I really enjoy it, and I'm in Calculus BC right now, and understanding it really well. I think it would be a good complement to whichever major I choose, either ME or Physics.</p>
<p>Physics for the theory and mechanical engineering for practical application.</p>
<p>The pure sciences are all about theory (mostly) whilst engineering disciplines are focused on practical application and use of scientific theories.</p>
<p>That’s my problem: I would enjoy learning about both. I think it is equally interesting to undergo research about dark matter as it is to build a robot. Although I haven’t been able to experience much of either (I’m basing my love for theory on the fact that I enjoy math so much, which is entirely theoretical), I believe both would be possible as a career. </p>
<p>Physics in college is nothing like the physics one studies in high school. High school physics has a large emphasis on classical physics, which is what you’ll be dealing with in mechanical engineering. More than likely, you’ll find mechanical a lot more interesting than physics. </p>
<p>Also, you have a much, much higher probability of getting a job building robots than researching dark matter. If you decide to go the physics route, you’ll be forced to do a PhD (7+ years after high school, and possibly more if you’re interested in experiment), then you’ll find yourself doing post-docs that pay less than a street-cleaning job and moving every 2-3 years. You simply won’t ever find a permanent job as a “dark matter researcher”. Meanwhile, your peers in engineering will have finished their education after 4 years, having been promoted several times, and earning two to three times as much as you and beginning to consider buying a home and starting families, while you can barely afford to cover your rent and having no health benefits and being heavily overworked. </p>
<p>Do yourself a favor and go into engineering. You’ll be much happier in the long run. Only go into physics if you cannot see yourself doing anything else and are willing to make the above sacrifices just to be given the privilege of being the academic slave of a tenured professor. </p>
<p>The fact that you put researching dark matter and building robots in the same sentence, tells me you haven’t really devoted a large amount of time to reading about at least one of those things. Magma speaks the truth. A fellow tau beta pi friend of mine (qualifier to state we’re not-slackers) is doubling in physics while I’m only minoring in astrophysics. We both agree that while it’s fun to bull$%!t around with theoretical ideas in casual conversation, coming up with an original thought in physics is a completely different beast than simply learning some gospel truths in undergraduate courses. If you simply enjoy “learning” about physics, stick to engineering. Physicists want to discover new truths, they want to make a breakthrough. </p>
<p>Also, no offense but the math courses you’ve taken so far, as well what you’ll take your first couple years in school, don’t adequately prepare you for the ability to actually create models of new phenomena or problems. Even the undergraduate physics department at my school requires an upper level math prep course call “theoretical methods” that begins to get you in the right frame of mind.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to discourage taking coursework in college though. By all means, feel free to take some elective courses physics courses (I enjoy them) or even double major (a little more pain than I’m willing to take). I guess I’m just trying to say, unless you get “the calling,” don’t just major in physics because it sounds novel. The novelty should come from discovering something nobody else has before you.</p>
<p>Especially if he plans to go into theory. The higher level mathematics that one needs to adequately understand quantum field theory (group theory, complex analysis, differential geometry, and a little bit of topology) is a far cry double integrals of simple shapes in calc III. Even in experiment one needs a good working understanding of these branches of math in order to do a particle physics calculation. </p>
<p>Also, what he has yet to realize is that physics (even at the cutting edge) can be a lot more mundane than what the media and popular scientists would lead one to believe. </p>
<p>Magma explained the advantages/disadvantages quite well.</p>
<p>Physics is a very tough field to get into (I considered it initially). It’s a very glamorous job from an outsiders perspective, but in order to really make it into the exciting stuff, you have to endure many years of sub-standard pay and be able to move around relatively frequently. Research funding can be unreliable as well, depending on the field.</p>
<p>If Physics is really your passion, but you also would like to live a comfortable lifestyle, consider going into engineering research (PhD).</p>
<p>Wow, that’s a lot that I hadn’t considered before. Thanks for the information everyone! I think as much as I enjoy physics, mechanical engineering would be a better option. I’m sure I’ll be using plenty of physics anyway. </p>
<p>I’ll also either major or minor in math, and so I’ll be on a really good start towards that in conjunction with my engineering major. Thanks!</p>
<p>I don’t know about the ones above but I am a physics “major” of sorts. More accurately, I have been a physics professor at Illinois Tech for 30 years. I have taught physics majors and engineers and I have one son who is a scientist and another who is an Engineer. My research is in experimental materials physics and x-ray physics and my current research involves the fundamentals of fuel cells and batteries.</p>
<p>Engineering is a good career and there are plenty of jobs for those who graduate with a B.S. It is somewhat harder to get a job with a B.S. in physics simply because employers often do not think about hiring a physics major. However, a physics major can compete and do the engineering jobs quite well because they have a broad perspective. A physics degree consists of studying mechanics, thermal and statistical physics, electrodynamics, and quantum mechanics. The first three of these touch Mechanical, Chemical, and Electrical Engineering and most engineers don’t really study quantum mechanics at all. In addition, physics majors have labs in circuits (digital and analog) and modern physics and optics and courses in scientific computing and programming so it is not all theory. A physics major is a generalist with the flexibility to move into a number of directions and learn a new field.</p>
<p>All this is not to disparage engineering. I have found that students who are interested in engineering often have very different points of view than physics students. it is important that you find the path that fits you best.</p>
<p>If you want to do a Ph.D. and be involved in a research career, then the differences between engineering and physics are relatively small. Of course you can be a theoretical physicist but most of us are experimentalists and we know a lot about engineering because we design our own experimental equipment. I find that what I do and what my engineering colleagues do as far as research is concerned is not too different and we often collaborate on projects. A Ph.D. in any field is going to take you a number of years and not pay too well so you need to be sure that it is the right choice before starting it. You are still in high school and you cannot know this yet. i encourage you to discover what a career in engineering might be and look at the options for physics outside of theory and then make a decision. In physics you will not really choose your specialization until after the first year of graduate school.</p>
<p>@rkepp12: Glad to hear you found my above post helpful. Also, you might not want to do anything more than a minor in mathematics if your aim is for it to be helpful in your engineering studies and career. I can imagine most mechanical engineering jobs (especially robotics) wouldn’t require anything more advanced than ordinary differential equations. Only do a major in math out of pure interest and not the hope that the higher level stuff will be useful to you in your daily work as, simply put, it won’t. Also, avoid the classes the emphasize proofs, results, and theorems. These classes tend to have “analysis” in their names.</p>
<p>As for your second question, I’m a senior math and physics double major. </p>
<p>It probably is dangerous to generalize on the basis of an inadequate sample size. However, I know some engineers, and I would say that they do not have a lot of intellectual curiosity. They use physics as a tool to create things, but don’t have a lot of curiosity about physics. They tend to be very hands on, and in their spare time are more likely to fix mechanical devices than read books…</p>
<p>@xraymancs That was very helpful. Thank you. The tough thing is that all the information you told me sounds appealing; that is why I’m having a hard time deciding this. Whatever I end up doing, I will for sure pursue some kind of graduate, whether it is a PhD (more likely with physics) or just a master’s degree (with engineering). I will do much more research on both of these subjects and try and find out which would be the best fit for me. Thank you again!</p>
<p>@Magma55 I would definitely double major with math out of pure interest. Call me crazy, but I really like doing all of the proofs and learning how everything is connected. But I will do a math minor at the very least.</p>
<p>Don’t make plans based on the “for sure” pursuit of a graduate degree. Many people who think that end up changing their minds before they reach that point and you really are in no position to be making a decision on graduate school at this point. Whatever you choose, make sure it is something you will be happy studying and doing as a career should you decide against graduate school later down the road.</p>