<p>Ok so I'm in a bit of a problem right now. I'm currently a freshman undergraduate at the University of Michigan in LSA, undecided. I was thinking of majoring in physics for the longest time, even before I was accepted here back in high school. However, I had planned to pursue medical school but I find myself more attracted to the idea of being a physics major and using physics to do something. As it stands right now I still want to pursue a pre-med path, the work certainly isn't difficult for me, but I want to be able to have the option of following my academic interest if I decide medical school isn't my passion. My questions are kind of broad and any constructive feeback would be appreciated.
1.) What kind of options are available to people who hold an undergraduate degree in physics in the way of the job market? what's the average/best case scenario I could find myself in financially with just a B.S. in physics?
2.) For graduate schools what are some of the best ones to study physics at and how much does it usually cost?
3.) Should I choose to continue on to medical school would an engineering degree look better than a physics degree?</p>
<p>A) You’re definitely going to have to choose one or the other.</p>
<p>B) If you really are the type of person who’s going to enjoy physics, it’s not going to be about the money made or spent.</p>
<p>C) My AP physics teacher majored in physics at UMich. He is by far the coolest person I know.</p>
<p>No offense but I don’t trust any advice about how money never matters. If there’s one thing I’ve learned attending Michigan as an out of state student it’s that money makes the world go round, and in this unfortunate economy I don’t want to come out of undergrad with a degree in something I might like but, with no opportunity to get paid for it. I would of course pursue a higher degree if I choose to get a B.S. in Physics, but as far as money is concerned I might need time to get it together for grad school. I’m sure your AP Physics teacher was exceptionally interesting, mine was as well, no offense to either of them but I don’t want to teach high school, and the fact that said occupation is the one I always hear about is what worries me. Also, you didn’t really answer any of my questions, you just gave me random and somewhat useless advice.</p>
<p>1) You have answered this yourself. You claim if you get a physics degree, you will probably teach.</p>
<p>2) Ask a professor. Cost can be found on respective college websites.</p>
<p>3) You’re asking about 3 degrees and which would get you a better job. Pre-med and engineering/physics are totally different majors. No one can tell you whether you should pursue your interest and maybe settle for living in a modest apartment or whether you should go the pre-med route. Something you have to decide for yourself.</p>
<p>4) Most of these things you could figure out yourself…why are you on CC?</p>
<p>Please read all of my post before typing a response…</p>
<p>Pre-Med is not a major. You can major in anything and go to medical school if you meet their course requirements. You need a very high GPA and excellent MCAT scores. Since engineering courses tend to lower GPA, engineers do not fare as well in medical school applications as majors with softer grading. MIT vs. Princeton is a classic example of softer grading giviing an advantage. </p>
<p>A Physics major program generally includes three of the five (sometimes six) course requirements for medical school application; year of general chemistry, year of physics (duh!), year of calculus. Organic Chemistry and Biology would need to be added. Some med schools require a semester of biochem. Check the requirements of your target medical schools.</p>
<p>What few jobs there are for Bachlor’s degrees in the “pure” sciences are generally limited to technician level work. If you have an excellent record and take a few engineering courses, higher level employment is possible. Generally an advanced degree is required by today’s job market. </p>
<p>Its a tough world. Good luck.</p>
<p>For med school, it won’t matter which you do. You have to inflate your GPA as much as is possible, that’s for sure.</p>
<p>The “best” thing for almost any physics (or math or any such “pure” subject) major might arguably to become a star professor at a top tier university. If you’re a star, you get paid. If you’re not, then as a professor/postdoc you make very minimal money. </p>
<p>Yes, money does matter, and guess what – even if you don’t care for it, it’s hard to get to the positions where you can actually USE physics. The kinds of people who tend to be able to do that are among the topmost in their undergraduate classes, and go to top graduate schools. </p>
<p>If you want to use physics, I really realistically think you should try to go to graduate school, as I can’t see there being much use for a standard physics major out there. A Ph.D. really seems necessary.</p>
<p>By the way, if you want to stand a chance of working with physics as your career, probably you should drop all medical plans. There are fierce competitors who’ve been doing crazy stuff all through their undergrad years. It’s OK if you switch with a bang, but don’t expect to get a career in math or any pure science without A) going to a good grad school, i.e. a requirement being blowing most others at your school away, B) actually doing good work in grad school.</p>
<p>I understand this post goes off into territory you may not have considered, being down this med school road, but I want to give you realistic feedback on what you can actually expect if you want to work with a pure science.</p>