TO ALL SCIENCE/MATH/ENGINEERING MAJORS..do you have time to read for pleasure?

College Life
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<p>............OR TIME TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND WASH YOUR HAIR??? OR TIME TO DO ANYTHING BESIDES STUDYING AND SOLVING SCEINCE PROBLEMS SETS????</p>

<p>I'm a sophomore, and am probably gonna major in physics or biology.</p>

<p>I'm taking 3 science classes and 1 math this semester, and I feel like this semester, I'm socially ostracized regardless of my intention. I don't go out AT ALL during the weekend, and I don't eat with friends anymore, because I always end up spending an hour at the cafeteria if I do. Gladly, I'm not tempted to go out to parties like I was last year, because I'm now more focused on studying(or getting an A and being on dean's list). </p>

<p>Although I cut off all my social activities, I always feel like I need more time to finish up the study materials. I spend time in the science labs and discussions, it is utterly ridiculous (3 hour lab for each bio and chem, and 2 hour lab for physics and 2 hour discussion for all 3 sciences). Most of the time, I'm either taking notes for my bio, or doing problem solving for physics, chem and calc III. Still, I don't get to solve all the problems assigned. </p>

<p>What I'm trying to say is that I'm sort of fed up with all the problem solvings and I feel like my emotions are so still thesedays that I don't get excited or feel rewarded or stimulated. Science courses are challenging and require time and effor commitment, so I DO GET CHALLENGED AND STIMULATED ACADEMICALLY, but MY HEART IS NOT THRILLED OR INSPIRED by solving all the math problems, by the professors, or by other classmates in sience and engineering department with HYGIENE PROBLEMS and with NO SOCIAL DESCENCY or SKILLS. (You know what type of people I'm talking about..People who are smart academically only in their own fields, but they don't know how to tie their shoes, and don't give a s.h.i.t. about politics and world news, and play computer or video games.)</p>

<p>I miss my literature and philosophy classes from last year. I miss writing papers and reading books and poetry. I miss discussions in class when I can contribute my thought and listen to other classmates. I miss drawing and painting and just being creative and artistic. I miss my French class and the professor who always dressed up fancy for 8 am class and who had a deep knowledge not only in the language, but also in French art, literature, and history. I was always enlightend and inspired by classmates, professors, and authors of numerous literatures and poetries. </p>

<p>I don't like the huge size of science classes room full of 200~400 people sitting in the auditorium and listen to professor's reading the powerpoint slides off. It's just so impersonal and emotionless. </p>

<p>Last year, I had so much to talk about with my friends or in any social scene, about art and what not, but this semester, I don't really have any topics on my mind. In a social scene, I can't really talk about how carboxyl group in polypeptide chain is bonded to other groups, or osmosis, or uniform circular motion or kepler's law or newton's law. It is so obvious that my public speaking and argumentive skills have been deteriorated and my writing skills has gotten rusty throughout the semester. </p>

<p>I can't believe I've just spent more than 15 minutes writing this, but I'm just wondering if all science majors feel like I do?? I feel like I'm floundering thesedays with no emotion or inspiration. Do you guys think the science study doesn't suit my personality? I just feel like "being a science major" equals "giving up every pleasureable activity I enjoy." </p>

<p>Any thoughts or comments on my situation would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

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<p>Honestly, it sounds to me like you’re in the wrong major. A major should be something you are interested in, enjoy, and possibly want to consider for a career. </p>

<p>I’m also taking a physics, chem, bio and calc class this semester (3 labs, multiple recitations), have a job, and still have time to go out and have fun. Physics is pretty intense, but my Physics major friends still have plenty of free time. I like studying Physics and Chem because it’s about learning concepts and applying them, rather than reading 600 pages of dense literature, memorizing it, and spitting it back in an essay. Problem sets can be pretty lengthy though, and i hear Calc III is hard. </p>

<p>Think long and hard about what you actually want to study. Different things appeal to different people - everyone in my family has studied Finance/Economics and my parents kind of tried pushing me into that, instead I ended up studying Chemistry and Neural Science and am planning on Grad school…you, on the other hand, seem to love Literature and Poetry so if you’re into that, definitely pick up an English class and see if that makes you happier. Good luck! :]</p>

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<p>I agree with Alix. It doesn’t really seem like science is your thing. I’d suggest looking into more literature or philosophy classes, which seem to be more up your alley. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks Alix, but I must point out that I’m doing fine on exmas in science classes, it’s just that I don’t really enjoy them.
My dad is a mechanical engineering professor at another university, and when I talk to him about my situation, he always tells me that most of the science majors do not actually enjoy the jorney while they study the materials, but they feel rewarded and never regret afterwards when they get a job easily with high salary than other humanity majors do.
Everyone in my family has studied chemistry, pharmacy, physics, engineerings, and when I talk to them, they also tell me that they didn’t really know why they were majoing in science, but they are now satisfied that they earn more money than their friends back in college who majored in lituerarue or english or history, and who are now teaching at elementary school with mediocre salary. </p>

<p>It is really sad, but I guess I’m materialistic, and who isn’t in this world? Honestly, I don’t know what people do to earn high salary with literature degree, UNLESS you’re an award winning writer or New York Times senior journalist. (I’m just generalizing here.)</p>

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<p>I like my classes this year, as they are smaller and more discussion involved. But there is still a ton of work, even more than before.</p>

<p>I don’t have time to read for pleasure, but do have time to take a shower. ;D</p>

<p>I’m doing the science thing because I want to work in health care. Do I like learning all of the bones of the human body? No. Its boring to me. But its a step closer to the position I want… which has nothing to do with money, as I don’t equate money with happiness. I’d be fine with a “mediocre” salary, but whatever floats your boat I suppose…</p>

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<p>Thanks…
Right…I guess the delayed gratification(by earning more money with science degree) is always greater than the instant gratification(by switching to literature major now and enjoy art)…
But how long do I have to deferred the gratification???
I feel like the word “carpe diem” isn’t for me. My heart is always in the future.</p>

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<p>I’m always thinking about the future too, but rather thinking money, I think happiness. My dad has a job he hates. I would never be happy that way. Though I think I have all the capabilities in the world to be a doctor or vet, I don’t think it would ever make me happy. Its something that should be considered, I mean I think I might have more fun being a photographer, but money has the potential to make things miserable if there is a lack of it. I tried to find a happy in between. Working towards fixing the health problems through education is something I am very interested in and will pay enough for me to live happily. But I’ve never been into big houses, cars, or the latest gadget. So none of that stuff would make me happy anyway.</p>

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<p>Even if you’re good at Physics, it doesn’t mean you should study it. I was always really good at English, and all my English teachers in HS/college said I should become an English major, but I honestly hated their classes. </p>

<p>Science majors don’t really pay that well - what can you do with a Bachelor’s in Bio, Chem, Biochem, Neuro, Physics, Environmental Sci, etc? To get into those fields, you need a Grad degree. Engineering is profitable, but can you do that with a Physics degree? A lot of Physics majors simply go into different fields, because they don’t want an advanced degree. Economics/Business majors probably make more on average, and have an easy time in college.</p>

<p>What you major in doesn’t really make a difference for most jobs. Employers want someone who’s competent and has a Bachelor’s, they often don’t care what it’s in. English majors go into marketing, publishing, literature, journalism, teaching, editing, etc. There’s so many options, and English wouldn’t be such a popular major if you couldn’t get a job after. Just think about your options, maybe talk to an advisor or something too.</p>

<p>S0ad makes a good point too; my whole family is in finance or corp law and most of them hate it. My brother teased me about being a science nerd, but he doesn’t even like the field he’s going into (getting a sweet job with daddy :)) My dad initially didn’t get why I wanted to work harder for less money, but I pointed out to him that he donates a chunk of his salary to medical research, because even he gets that’s the crap that matters.</p>

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<p>Well I’m an engineering major so I don’t have time to read all of that so I’ll just base this from the title. I go out for drinks every weekend and chill with friends and stuff a lot during the week. Read for pleasure? no but I watch a couple shows/games. I think I’ll try to get all of my reading done during the summers. It all comes down to time management. Don’t sleep too much or waste a lot of time and you’ll have time to do what you want.</p>

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<p>I’m a bio major and I totally underestimated the time that it consumes. And to top it all off, I’m a slow person in general because I like to be precise & accurate. So yes, that means labs take extra long. I would love to give up my chem lab completely because I really could use that time to just prepare for the actual class. Truthfully, I’m not a real fan of the sciences but I need to major in something… :stuck_out_tongue: wow that’s a horrible reason lol. </p>

<p>I too love reading and no I haven’t had any time for that. I definitely shower and brush my pearly whites every day though…currently I have been aiming to get to the gym once a day too.</p>

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<p>I am a double major in engg and a science, and I can honestly say yes, I have time to hang out with my friends (maybe not as much as I’d like), go out on weekends if i want to, read for pleasure, and catch some games or shows/movies/performances every week, while holding 2-3 jobs. And no, I don’t have glaring personal hygiene issues.</p>

<p>It all comes down to time management. Do your work, do it efficiently. Ask for help if you need it. Work in groups. Yes, sometimes you’ll have to turn down more appealing things occasionally in order to work or study, but it evens out in the end. If you don’t like science … why bother studying it? Do you think that the supposed higher paying job you have coming will overcome the fact that you will probably not like said job? Can you put a price on your happiness?</p>

<p>One thing you might consider is picking, now, physics or bio. Then, you won’t “have” to take classes in the other, which will open up your schedule for classes you might enjoy more, on the humanities side of the spectrum. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>sounds like you chose the wrong major. I actually enjoy all my engineering classes and can afford to do whatever I want throughout the week if I just spend a good amount of my free time studying. I blaze all throughout the day and go out on weekends too.</p>

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As someone has pointed out, you don’t get a great job out of college with a BS degree unless its in engineering. Especially bio… To many pre-meds pick bio, don’t make it into med school, and then thrash around trying to find a job and bidding wages down.</p>

<p>You should know that the math/science classes you are taking now are not at all representative of what the day-to-day life is like for those working in science or engineering. In fact I suggest that you visit your career center and ask to be put in touch with some alums working in jobs you are considering. Many colleges offer programs to do this; you meet for coffee or chat on the phone or even shadow them for a day on the job, its a chance to find out what the career is like.</p>

<p>But… even though the day-to-day life isn’t like school, the people in the field came up thru the same program you’re doing now. If you don’t like the people around you know, you should think carefully before you embark on a career where you’ll spend 35 more years among the same kind of people.</p>

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<p>Time management.
I am a sophomore Aeronautical Engineering major, taking 6 classes, and manage to have a life. I play on the varsity lacrosse team. I play club hockey. I drink on the weekends. </p>

<p>If you don’t like your major change, but other than that you really need some time management skills.</p>

<p>Try making a schedule at the beginning of the week. I do mine every sunday afternoon. Write down everything that is due for that week and plan out when you will do everything. Even with an engineering course load it should not take you that long to do you work. I usually work for 2 hour every night, if i have a test, it takes more time, but 2 hours on average.
Also try to get work done during the day in between classes. I get all of my history reading done then(stupid elective).</p>

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<p>It depends on what I’m studying, for me. I’m an astronomy geek and want to do astronautical and “astrobotics” engineering as a career. However, my college doesn’t have the above majors, so I’m in ME. If I had all astro- classes, I’d study non-stop and do it for fun.</p>

<p>But I don’t.</p>

<p>However, I was skimming through an engineering society magazine one day and found a quote from a renown engineer that read something like “the undergraduate coursework is the hard part. Doing the actual engineering is the fun part.” (or something like that). I always keep this folded up in my calculator (…nerdy, yes.) so when I’m ready to throw some textbook out the window, call it quits and change my major to English… to keep trucking through it, because clearly, I’m not the only one who has felt this way. But the end is well worth it.</p>

<p>Try to find something to inspire you to keep going. For me, it’s my little two-liner quote.</p>

<p>To answer the original question: I purchased a bunch of for-pleasure books from Amazon and they’re all sitting untouched on my bookshelf. But, I do take out a lot of space exploration books out from the library and read those for pleasure.</p>

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<p>Uh I am a humanities major and I don’t have time to read for pleasure. I have a ton of non-class related books and I have finished 0 since the beginning of the school year. </p>

<p>So it’s not just the science kids…:/</p>

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<p>^^ Yeah, I have like 6 textbooks per class to read this semester.</p>

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<p>thanks everyone for feedback.
i think i’m going to take a break from physics and take one economics class next semester to see how i like the field. i was never exposed to economics field, so i’m really curious.</p>

<p>Conclusion of mine:taking 3 sciences+Calculus III = NEVER a good idea.</p>

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<p>Well, taking Bio, Chem, Physics and Calc all at the same time is a heavy load. If you are going to an intense school, it’s even more difficult.</p>

<p>You could step down to an easier school. My nephew did that - he says his current school is 90% as difficult as the original, ranked one. It made his load more manageable.</p>

<p>You could plan to take more than 4 years to graduate, spread the hard courses out, and make sure you take one humanity per semester. I worked hard in Eng. school, but I always had a humanity or social science in the schedule to keep my sanity. It was in those classes that I did most of my reading.</p>

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<p>No. 10 char</p>