I know for sure that i want to become a surgeon but I was wondering if Physics is a good major for pre med. I wish to get a physics degree in UPENN and then apply to medical school. Assuming this plan doesnt work out, what other options do I have with a physics degree? Can I get an engineering job, another passion of mine? But the main question is if Physics is a good major for pre med. I love physics and I love medicine. Is it hard to get a high GPA in Physics? thank you very much…
Well, my older D was a physics major who went to med school. (She’s now a resident at top program in her specialty.)
You can major in any academic subject and go to med school. Physics is as good as any. Several of D1’s residency interviewers commented on her major. (Mostly along the lines they don’t ever see any female physics majors.)
If you don’t go med school, but want to stay in healthcare, you can go into medical physics (requires at least a MS). You could also go into biostatistics or epidemiology with a MPH. Biophysics is very hot area right now if you decide to pursue physics grad school.
You can do programing, data analysis, technical financial analysis, risk analysis and management ,
You can go to grad school in engineering (which will require that you take 3-5 undergrad engineering pre-reqs your first year of grad school). Some engineering firms may hire a physics major straight out of undergrad if you have a strong background in circuits (and hands on experience) or some other physics sub-area. I know for fact that Intel hires physics majors to work in their fabrication facilities. The National Labs also hire physics majors to work as research assistants in physics and engineering.
You can teach. (High school, but possibly also at a community college. D1 taught mathematics at a community college for about 6 months before she started med school.)
One of D1’s classmates went into meteorology and now works for the National Weather Service developing weather prediction models. Another physics major works for a major airline developing flight scheduling models (world’s biggest traveling salesman problem). Still another is co-founder of a small engineering firm working in explosive materials.
Your math background and any programming skills you develop as part of your major will be your greatest asset for getting jobs after undergrad if you choose not to go to grad school.
How hard is it to get high GPA? That really depends on you, your work ethic and math aptitude.
Other employers of straight out of undergrad physics majors–cell phone and wireless providers. (Load calculation for antenna placement). Electric power companies. (Managing power loads/lines). I’ve even heard of one who went to work the local government doing traffic flow planning.
If you love physics and will get a super GPA, then go for it.