<p>I just made the decision last night, after receiving financial aid information, to attend UR! I'm incredibly excited, and I can't stop thinking about the different paths I could take with my education. Because there are a lot of things I'd like to learn, and because I don't exactly know which direction I want to go after school, I'm thinking about triple majoring. My major passion is physics/astronomy, so i know that's going to be one of my majors. The other two that I'm thinking about are CS and BCS. CS and Physics are pretty tough majors from what I hear, and I really don't want to study all day every day. I also plan to focus intently on physics research, so I'll have a packed schedule no matter what. I know the UR curriculum is flexible, but is it flexible enough for this?
Also, just some more detail about myself: I'm pretty intelligent, but I'm not a genius. I am passionate, though. Lastly, I am not naturally hyper-talented at math, so, considering I'm majoring CS and Physics, this could be a problem.
I would certainly appreciate any information that could be given regarding any of those three majors.</p>
<p>Though possible, it would be difficult to triple major in any three majors on campus. A select few students triple major each year, but combing Physics, CS, and BCS will be a significant challenge. During your first two years you will have many opportunities to validate your strengths and weakness and your likes and dislikes so that you can choose which of your interests you would like to pursue long term. A double major is very common, but a triple major is very difficult to accomplish, though not out of the question entirely.</p>
<p>Just some quick links to all the program requirements. Because you will have to fulfill them all.</p>
<p>computer science [The</a> Undergraduate Program](<a href=“http://www.cs.rochester.edu/undergrad/#CoreBS]The”>http://www.cs.rochester.edu/undergrad/#CoreBS)</p>
<p>Physics [Physics</a> and Astronomy : Undergraduate Bulletin 2009-2011 : University of Rochester](<a href=“http://www.rochester.edu/bulletin/academics/departments/PHY/requirements/]Physics”>http://www.rochester.edu/bulletin/academics/departments/PHY/requirements/)
scroll to B.S. requirements</p>
<p>BCS [Physics</a> and Astronomy : Undergraduate Bulletin 2009-2011 : University of Rochester](<a href=“http://www.rochester.edu/bulletin/academics/departments/PHY/requirements/]Physics”>http://www.rochester.edu/bulletin/academics/departments/PHY/requirements/)</p>
<p>obviously an advisor will give you the best advice about the workload and fulfilling requirements</p>
<p>Triple majoring as a physics plus something else major is going to very difficult. Physics has lots of concurrent math requirements. (In fact, at many schools a physics major requires at least a math minor.) Math requirements for both physics and CS are going to eat up lots of the ‘free’ space in your schedule. Plus you will still have to fulfill clusters in humanities and the social sciences in addition to the requirements for each of your majors.</p>
<p>D2 is a double natural science major. She’s found it impossible to schedule all her required science classes (and labs) plus her clusters and still graduate in 4 years without overloading for at least 3 semesters. Plus she came in with advanced standing in at least one her majors (math) so she even got a bit of head start there.</p>
<p>It’s much easier to double/triple major at UR if your majors are in different areas. (i.e. not all in the natural sciences, or all in the humanities.)</p>
<p>Also–a word of warning as the parent of a physics major and spouse of a physicist–if you seriously plan on a physics major, it helps to be comfortable with mathematics. You don’t need to be a math genius or anything, but you need to be comfortable with doing lots and lots of challenging math.</p>
<p>I think you ought to pick 2 majors off your list of potential majors, preferably two that complement each other-- physics & CS or CS & BCS— those have the most obvious overlaps. If you choose complementary majors you can use some of your required classes to ‘double dip’–count towards the degree requirements for both majors. D2 has done this with her double majors. However, there is a limit to number of ‘double dips’ you’re allowed. Check with your majors’ departmental offices for details.</p>
<p>While it’s good to consider various options & opportunities at this point, so you can decide which prereqs to take, remember that you don’t actually declare majors until the end of your sophomore year. If you’re anything like most kids, your ideas will change between now and then! </p>
<p>Congrats, calm down & don’t worry, and just take advantage of everything Rochester has to offer!</p>