<p>The single thing I am most fascinated with are astrophysics. It bewilders me, and I love math, science, logic, stars, and learning. However, I am also a musician and have considered getting a degree in music. I am a high school junior and 3/284 in my class. Honestly, I just want to know which one would provide me with more job oppurtunities. I also want to know which makes the most sense economically. And college suggestions for each. Also, if I choose physics, would it be a good or bad idea to minor in music.</p>
<p>No direct advice to offer, but the idea that a third option would be to major in physics or some related area and participate in ensembles without a major or minor in music. I have friends with kids currently at MIT and Yale, both engineering majors, who play in audition based ensembles which gives them a satisfying outlet for their music without taking too much time and energy away form their other classwork obligations.</p>
<p>Minor in whatever you want. Nobody chooses music because it will be great economically or will provide great job opportunities because trying to pursue music alone will not be. It will be a lot of work and unless you are completely invested in it, it will not be the best choice. However, you can still go to med school or any grad school with a music degree. If you’re passionate about physics, do that.</p>
<p>There are a couple of previous threads about pursuing both physics and music in college. (Tip: Search for the word physics in the titles in this particular forum.) For instance - here’s one: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1556728-how-time-consuming-would-music-physics-double-major.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1556728-how-time-consuming-would-music-physics-double-major.html</a></p>
<p>There are lots of ways for you to satisfy both of your interests during your undergraduate years. And lots of great schools where you could do so.</p>
<p>This might be helpful for you:
[Double</a> Degrees | Peabody Conservatory](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html]Double”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html)</p>
<p>You can do a double degree, or a major and a minor, and some people will say you can do a double major, but I think that is tough. You can also do music privately (lessons) and play in school ensembles or even outside of school. So lots of options.</p>
<p>Double degree programs are usually 5 years. The ones mentioned often are Oberlin, Bard, Harvard/NEC, Tufts/NEC, Lawrence, Peabody/John Hopkins, Eastman/Rochester, Michigan (best that I can do to remember).</p>
<p>We don’t know much about what you are interested in in music, what you play, what genres, whether you have done any theory, etc. You have a great academic record, it sounds like and also intense interests. Just want to say I am sure you are going to be able to find a way to follow both your scientific interest and your music.</p>
<p>On this forum, many of us seem to express the sentiment “do what you love.” In your case, you love a couple of things, and that Peabody link may be helpful to you.</p>
<p>Don’t worry too much about career as yet. You really can study what you want to study in college, and make a living afterward. Or go to grad school, med/law/business school, do research and so on. </p>
<p>When you consider schools, I think it’s good to visit and apply to those that will cover all your options. A lot can change when you are young. Good luck!</p>
<p>p.s. I know a really talented musician who is majoring in physics, but doing a lot of music classes, extracurriculars, and also gigging- at Tufts. Great music department and great science too.</p>
<p>D had a good friend who double majored in astrophysics and acting at a prestigous school. She’s temping and waiting tables…not sure what that says, but I suspect that the science major needed an advanced degree and she didn’t have the fortitude to stick with acting.</p>
<p>BS in physics = graduate school. There are few jobs for someone with a BS in physics, so you need to decide if you are a pure physicist or more engineering. I have several physics colleagues (all with PhD) and they are talented musicians. None of them minored in music but took advantage of bands, ensembles or private lessons at the schools they attended. They all will say that music is their “escape” and helps them unwind or even “think out a problem”
So don’t give up the music. You may need it one day to figure out the formula that wins you the Nobel Prize 
Also, graduate school for science majors can be a pretty good deal economically. Many schools will have some kind of research or teaching grant money to help you pay for graduate school.
As for schools, go where you get the scholarship. Avoid debt. For a BS in physics, where your undergraduate degree is from does not matter. The graduate degree is what counts.
I have a PhD in Physiology and teach at a 2 year college. We have this discussion all the time with students looking to transfer to 4 year schools. High priced undergraduate degrees in science are not worth going into debt. Get a solid start at a state school then shoot for the stars in graduate school.</p>
<p>I have one son who is a Music Ed major and one son who graduated with a degree in Physics and minor in math. The Physics major was able to get paid research internships as an undergrad and is now in a grad program with a full tuition scholarship and a research stipend and health insurance. Most of the physics grad programs offer similar benefits. If you do chose physics, be prepared to go to grad school since there aren’t that many jobs requiring just a bachelor’s in physics. Son did look into working for a few years but most jobs in his field required a bachelors with 5-6 years experience or a masters with 2-3 years or a Phd with no experience. Astrophysics is one of the tougher fields for employment in Physics. Son was very excited about it but ended up going into nano physics instead due to the opportunities. Also, if you chose the Physics path, understand that you will need strong grades(3.3 or better), research experiences and 3 recommendations from professors for grad school admission.
On the other hand with music ed, it is possible to get a job with an bachelor’s degree. You can substitute teach, gig, teach private lessons, etc. It is harder to find full scholarship grad school positions with stipends in music.
I would recommend looking for schools where you can double major and or minor in both so you won’t need to transfer once you decide which way to go. We only looked at schools where the music ed major could double major in music and something outside of music when we were looking at schools.
If you are more than 50% interested in music, I would recommend auditioning at schools that will let you double major. Because most music scholarships are given to incoming freshman and you are probably immersed in music now. If you have to audition in a few years, it might be harder to get back up to your current level if you step away from music.</p>
<p>I don’t know, I think a double major in these two areas would be tough. Parents have posted on here that their son or daughter has done it, but both music and physics have intense, sequential curricula with foundational courses in the first couple of years. It can be hard to fit in all into your schedule and it is pretty intense. Maybe someone who has done it can post about the experience, on here.</p>
<p>I know things are changing, but it is still true that you can major in whatever you want, and then not work in those areas. nI other words, you can study physics and astronomy and music, because you are interested in them, and then work in a job that is entirely different. So the practical requirement to do grad school in physics is only if you want to work in physics or science. Which you might.</p>
<p>Many college grads are waiting on tables, working retail and other apparently unrewarding jobs- regardless of major. However, it seems this is a transitional stage. I know people of every generation who graduated, bartended or waitressed or whatever, and then found a job they have stuck with that used their skills. A bachelor’s degree still provides entry to many jobs: it just may take awhile to find your niche.</p>
<p>It’s a tough mix, but since you are a junior in high school, you don’t need to decide now. There are a large number of colleges where you can pursue both. You don’t need to attend a conservatory if you are still undecided. Many colleges have excellent music and physics departments.
Both are a significant time commitment, but it is doable at the start, where most college students are taking intro classes and figuring out what they like. As you progress, in both subjects, you will learn more about each and others along the way. It may never be an easy decision, but at some point your path will be clearer. </p>
<p>For now, as a junior, focus on doing well in school and music.</p>
<p>One more note on a physics degree. If you decide you would like to pursue a career in physics as a university professor, be prepared that you may or may not actually teach and that you have to provide the funding for your research and salary. I did that for physiology and realized teaching was more my style and moved into the 2 year college system. It was a better fit for raising my D.
As for music careers, I know several people with music degrees. Most of my music friends got undergraduate performance degrees rather than music ed. They got out of school “hit the streets” and performed for a few years, then went back and did a masters in music ed so they could settle down and open studios and make a living and raise a family.
So the take home message, regardless of which major you choose, be prepared that graduate school is most likely going to be in your future.</p>
<p>I just want to say that I think Scubachick shows a lot of wisdom and offers a lot of sage advice for young prospective college/music students to follow.</p>
<p>If you do double major, plan on 5 years instead of 4. Most of the schools we looked at said it would take 5 years to fit in all the classes and requirements unless you have many AP, IB or college credit for courses taken in high school.</p>
<p>See, the problem is my parents are making me know. And shatever college I go to depends on what I major in. UGA is the most economically secure because I can live at home and go to UGA and get in-state and I’m likely to get a good scholarship. And my dad thinks if I go anywhere else, I’ll be too busy working and studying, and I’ll get tired to easily (he says this every time I bring up going anywhere else.) I just, I need to know. I looked at Oberlin in Ohio and double major and my dad just got mad bdcause he thinks i just sant to goanywhere bedides where he wants me to go. I was also looking at columbus state for music, and he also thinks that’s stupid. And I just need him not to laugh at me for what I want to be. He wants me to major in music, but I want to major in physics which he thinks entirely lacks job oppurtunity besides becoming a professor, which I wouldn’t mind.</p>
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<p>There are jobs in Physics besides being a professor but you will need to go to grad school which if you keep your grades up will most likely be fully funded.</p>
<p>Are you saying your father is trying to convince you to major in music rather than physics because it has more job opportunities? If so, that’s not something we’ve heard before on this forum! If you want to major in physics, by all means, major in physics. And the Univ. of Georgia certainly offers music courses, which you could take. However, it sounds like there are a lot more issues for you and your family in choosing a college than what you’re planning to major in. You’ll need to work those out between you before you make any decisions and choices. And they’re not the sort of issues that we strangers can really help you with.</p>
<p>Your dad thinks physics is more limiting than music? Wow. With the math background you will have in physics you will be set for a wide range of grad opportunities. Ex: more physics, engineering, medicine, computer science. With a music degree, unless you pack your electives with math and science, you will be headed for a music grad school. I am the parent of a senior in the middle of auditioning for vocal performance because she loves it and cannot imagine doing ANYTHING else. I see kids in my classes everyday because their parents chose their major. Bad idea. It is your life, you choose the major. My students that are in my nursing classes because their parents make them do it are not happy and it shows in their grades. It is time for a heart to heart with the family to discuss YOUR goals and dreams.</p>
<p>What an interesting turn of events - the parents pushing music over physics! Totally agree with Scubachick. I also work at a post-secondary institution and it is so sad to the kids who are not following their dreams. If I could give a senior student only one piece of advice it would be to do what you are passionate about (and this has been said over and over on this forum). Ultimately everyone comes out with an undergraduate degree so do what makes you happy. Four years is a long time to commit to something you don’t really want to be doing OR doing double the amount (a dual degree) just to make your parents happy. Best of luck with the decisions ahead of you.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone. I mean, I am passionate about music, but it doesn’t fascinate me. I don’t have the inquiry like I do about physics. My dad made me join band, and I want it to remain a part of me, but I don’t think I would love it as much if I was forced to spend every minute living it. And my dad doesn’t get that.</p>
<p>Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk</p>
<p>Many high school students your age don’t have an idea what they want to major in, so you have time before you make a commitment. If you pick a college that offers both, then you can study those subjects and others that interest you. If you are a GA resident, then both UGA and Georgia Tech have physics as a major and also music schools.
It seems though that you have an idea of where your passion is, and it is physics. You can still double major. I think this will work itself out as you get further involved in your studies. In the meantime, apply to colleges where you can do both.</p>