Which Major is right for me?

[AresX9]

Here's what I've been thinking of:

Computer Engineering (Currently focusing on, but slowly dwindling)
Physics (Specifically, Astrophysics) (HUGE focus due to Sins of a Solar Empire (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.))
Math (Since I am a math guru).

Traits:
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I am a mix of INTJ, INTP, with a hint of ISTP. I act like an INTP but my mind has INTJ behavior. Entertainment wise, it has ISTP like qualities with adrenaline-pumping stuff to the brim.

My fascination in Physics is slowly starting to rise, as my understanding for it has finally happened.

Math is just thrown in there, I don't see how I can use it in the future. Physics seems to take care of it, and makes more sense as Math is in the theoretical world while Physics is in the real world.

More information can be posted if needed, currently on a limitation of time.

[NoahAddle]

Let me give you some advice that I wish somebody had given me as far as choosing a major.

*** Start with the end in mind. ***

What kind of work do you see yourself doing in 5-10 years? What field? What applications? The fields of computer engineering and physics are vast. It would be helpful if you could narrow it down a bit.

Once you have that figured out, then try to find people who do the kind of work you want to do and learn what kind of educational/experience path they took to get there.

At this point, it should hopefully become pretty self-evident what major to choose.

All the best to you in making a decision.

[Antares]

I'd think since you listed Astrophysics as your main interest, the subject is quite theoretical as well. I would discard math and take economics or financial/business management because TJ's usually enjoy putting things in order and analyzing, so these two may be for you. However, seeing its not on your list, then I'd say discard math all together, since you can't see where you're going with it, and going into university, besides pushing your intellectual boundaries, serves a practical purpose; finding a job and living a good life. If you can't see how the latter can be achieved, then perhaps it's not worthwhile. That's my opinion. I don't see where you could go with Physics either. Ok. I actually can see what you can do, but being a scientist is a hard life; you'd need some sort of achievement or discovery to earn a good living, and even some post-doc scientists earn less than school teachers. I'd go for Physics if there are more opportunities for it, but for practical reasons, I'd choose computer engineering. It seems to me that it would be a practical, interesting and high-earning career with much opportunities.

[thegnat]

If you're a freshman, don't decide yet. See what fits you best after you take classes.

Math can be a basis for your other two options, not the main one. Unless you really like math. See what fits your interests best though.

I went into college as a chemistry major and I plan on going out as a chemistry major. I didn't expect to like the certain area of chem that I like though. I thought I'd be an orgo person and like biochem but I definitely do not like either. I really enjoy inorganic though.

It really depends on *your* interests. And what *you* like best.

[AgentofGaming]

Since I'm in 2nd year Computer Engineering maybe if I describe my courses and what you need it might help you with your choices. Feel free to ask me if you have questions.
Generally Engineering is the choice with more creation, design and applying mathematics and science to practical applications, basically you make systems. It's considered challenging.

Physics is there in the program at my university I've taken Statics, Dynamics, Electricity and Magnetism, Electric and Magnetic Fields, Circuit Theory (more of an engineering design). Introductory Electronics and Digital logic also go into a bit of semi-conductor physics.
Math is definately there, we go up to multivariable and vector calculus. You apply it quite frequently in Electric and Magnetic Fields. Not all of your math but a significant portion of it will be applied to the physics classes.

Programming Warning
However as a computer engineer expect to program a lot and delve a bit into computer hardware. That said if you don't like programming you're better off in Electrical Engineering. You'll have to program something even if you're not com eng though.

Courses
I'm not sure about describing the 3rd and 4th year courses, at University of Toronto we have a flexible curriculum that allows us to choose from 6 areas of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

My First Year fall 6 core courses: Calculus A (limits, differentiation, integration), Discrete Mathematics (now replaced with Chemistry), Statics, Programming (C++), Engineering Strategies and Practice (teamwork, English, design), A special seminar about the 6 areas.
First Year Winter: Calculus B (advanced integration, series), Dynamics, More Programming (now replaced by linear algebra), Electricity and Magnetism, More Engineering Strategies and Practice
Second Year Fall: Calculus III (multivariable Calculus, line/surface/volume integrals, Curl, Divergence), Linear Algebra & Differential Equations (now defunct, I don't know what they replaced it with), Circuit Theory, Digital Logic, Engineering Communication and Design
Second Year Winter: Electric and Magnetic Fields (The magic 4 Maxwell's Equations w/ painful integral calculus), Computer Organization, Signals and Systems (math), Introductory Electronics, Engineering Communication and Design (this one is programming in teams)
3rd/4th year: I chose mostly from areas 5/6 Computer Hardware/Software

As for Career Outlook
Not sure about where you live either but we have a shortage of Information Technology workers here, software is always looking for more people. Also computers are sort of everywhere: cars, microwaves, phones, hospital equipment etc. You can practically work everywhere.

Anyways get a feel for what you like first. There's nothing worse than discovering you're in the wrong program midway.

[Santana28]

i have the same problem. i plan on returning to school this fall and i'm still unsuire of which major to choose.

I'm interested in Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and modern languages... maybe a little Political Science thrown in for fun.

Most schools that i'm interested in don't have a Criminology major - just a general Criminal Justice major which has elements from all of the subjects i listed above.

The problem is, i want to do EVERYTHING. I have no idea how to narrow down my list to one or two majors. I was thinking of taking Psychology with a Criminal Justice/Criminology minor, or vice versa... this sucks!

[terencec]

being a scientist is a hard life; you'd need some sort of achievement or discovery to earn a good living, and even some post-doc scientists earn less than school teachers. I'd go for Physics if there are more opportunities for it, but for practical reasons, I'd choose computer engineering. It seems to me that it would be a practical, interesting and high-earning career with much opportunities.

Being a scientist is a hard life, even those have some sort of achievement or discovery. Einstein was quite poor. Post docs make so little money. They make less than a new high school teacher. It is not worth the time and money to get the degree unless one loves it so much. Unless being a very good scientist, one may be out of work since the demand for scientists is quite low.





terencec added to this post, 14 minutes and 13 seconds later...


As for Career Outlook
Not sure about where you live either but we have a shortage of Information Technology workers here, software is always looking for more people. Also computers are sort of everywhere: cars, microwaves, phones, hospital equipment etc. You can practically work everywhere.

Anyways get a feel for what you like first. There's nothing worse than discovering you're in the wrong program midway.

I am not so sure about what you said. There may be shortage for underpay IT or the companies want more Indian to come so they claim IT shortage.

Computers may be everywhere but they do not need to be programmed in US. If I redo my degree, I will go for Analog design, the demand is high and the pay is very good. There are very few Analog designers, one can find a job easily. The job security is high since Analog companies have very high profit margin (higher than Digital companies e.g. Intel).

[AresX9]

If you're a freshman, don't decide yet. See what fits you best after you take classes.

Math can be a basis for your other two options, not the main one. Unless you really like math. See what fits your interests best though.

I went into college as a chemistry major and I plan on going out as a chemistry major. I didn't expect to like the certain area of chem that I like though. I thought I'd be an orgo person and like biochem but I definitely do not like either. I really enjoy inorganic though.

It really depends on *your* interests. And what *you* like best.

In my necks of the woods, I'm known as the tech guru. People come to me to fix their tech problems and/or receive recommendations. I have a really good reputation on it. Most of my experience is in PCs.

I'm a Junior in High School, BTTW.

Since I'm in 2nd year Computer Engineering maybe if I describe my courses and what you need it might help you with your choices. Feel free to ask me if you have questions.
Generally Engineering is the choice with more creation, design and applying mathematics and science to practical applications, basically you make systems. It's considered challenging.

Physics is there in the program at my university I've taken Statics, Dynamics, Electricity and Magnetism, Electric and Magnetic Fields, Circuit Theory (more of an engineering design). Introductory Electronics and Digital logic also go into a bit of semi-conductor physics.
Math is definately there, we go up to multivariable and vector calculus. You apply it quite frequently in Electric and Magnetic Fields. Not all of your math but a significant portion of it will be applied to the physics classes.

Programming Warning
However as a computer engineer expect to program a lot and delve a bit into computer hardware. That said if you don't like programming you're better off in Electrical Engineering. You'll have to program something even if you're not com eng though.

Courses
I'm not sure about describing the 3rd and 4th year courses, at University of Toronto we have a flexible curriculum that allows us to choose from 6 areas of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

My First Year fall 6 core courses: Calculus A (limits, differentiation, integration), Discrete Mathematics (now replaced with Chemistry), Statics, Programming (C++), Engineering Strategies and Practice (teamwork, English, design), A special seminar about the 6 areas.
First Year Winter: Calculus B (advanced integration, series), Dynamics, More Programming (now replaced by linear algebra), Electricity and Magnetism, More Engineering Strategies and Practice
Second Year Fall: Calculus III (multivariable Calculus, line/surface/volume integrals, Curl, Divergence), Linear Algebra & Differential Equations (now defunct, I don't know what they replaced it with), Circuit Theory, Digital Logic, Engineering Communication and Design
Second Year Winter: Electric and Magnetic Fields (The magic 4 Maxwell's Equations w/ painful integral calculus), Computer Organization, Signals and Systems (math), Introductory Electronics, Engineering Communication and Design (this one is programming in teams)
3rd/4th year: I chose mostly from areas 5/6 Computer Hardware/Software

As for Career Outlook
Not sure about where you live either but we have a shortage of Information Technology workers here, software is always looking for more people. Also computers are sort of everywhere: cars, microwaves, phones, hospital equipment etc. You can practically work everywhere.

Anyways get a feel for what you like first. There's nothing worse than discovering you're in the wrong program midway.

According to the US Department of Labor, there's Computer software engineers and Computer hardware engineers. See here:To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

My expertise is in hardware. I've messed around with programming via PC gaming modding, such as GRAW 1 & 2, and the Source engine, which is the engine that Half-Life 2, Day of Defeat: Source, Team Fortress 2, Portal, etc. are based on. I've looked at a tad of Crysis code as well. Beyond that, I have no experience with programming.

Let me give you some advice that I wish somebody had given me as far as choosing a major.

*** Start with the end in mind. ***

What kind of work do you see yourself doing in 5-10 years? What field? What applications? The fields of computer engineering and physics are vast. It would be helpful if you could narrow it down a bit.

Once you have that figured out, then try to find people who do the kind of work you want to do and learn what kind of educational/experience path they took to get there.

At this point, it should hopefully become pretty self-evident what major to choose.

All the best to you in making a decision.

I see myself working for nVidia or Intel/AMD, designing processors and/or video cards. Shrinking die sizes while keeping the high performance chipsets pushing the limits of the current generation of transistors during that time period.

For Physics, it's all about space exploration. Build the ships, explore unknown space, etc. Unless a major tech breakthrough comes out to allow the E=mc^2 equation to be used for propelling ships to explore space while keeping communications with Earth possible, it's not going to happen within my life time.

[Jgib5328]

Go econ or finance. The coursework for the classes are science, except we don't do labs, but we still have use the same type of thought processes in our coursework, plus finance majors have to take a lot of mass courses, and a lot of the work is math related too. Plus it is where the money is.

[AgentofGaming]

Being a scientist is a hard life, even those have some sort of achievement or discovery. Einstein was quite poor. Post docs make so little money. They make less than a new high school teacher. It is not worth the time and money to get the degree unless one loves it so much. Unless being a very good scientist, one may be out of work since the demand for scientists is quite low. It kind of sucks that if it doesn't make money people don't want it. Then again engineers like Nikola Tesla got really poor in the end too.


I am not so sure about what you said. There may be shortage for underpay IT or the companies want more Indian to come so they claim IT shortage.

Computers may be everywhere but they do not need to be programmed in US. If I redo my degree, I will go for Analog design, the demand is high and the pay is very good. There are very few Analog designers, one can find a job easily. The job security is high since Analog companies have very high profit margin (higher than Digital companies e.g. Intel).
I suppose you're right. The news says demand went up 300%, but the companies are probably looking to import people from India. My professor said software engineers are safe though, since designing software is far more harder than troubleshooting it.

My Electronics professor also mentioned what you're saying about analog. Apparently all the electronics engineers left analog for digital and now they need analog designers.

In my necks of the woods, I'm known as the tech guru. People come to me to fix their tech problems and/or receive recommendations. I have a really good reputation on it. Most of my experience is in PCs.

I'm a Junior in High School, BTTW. That can be helpful, have any technician certificates yet?



According to the US Department of Labor, there's Computer software engineers and Computer hardware engineers. See here:To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

My expertise is in hardware. I've messed around with programming via PC gaming modding, such as GRAW 1 & 2, and the Source engine, which is the engine that Half-Life 2, Day of Defeat: Source, Team Fortress 2, Portal, etc. are based on. I've looked at a tad of Crysis code as well. Beyond that, I have no experience with programming.

Yeah sorry about using my set of definitions, I live in Canada. In my university VLSI, and electronics falls in Electrical Engineering and overlaps with Computer Engineering. Computer Engineering meanwhile is broad it can be electrical engineering with some computer science thrown in or it can be full software engineering.
Electrical and Electronics engineers usually handle the semiconductors, electromagnetic fields, electronics fabrication and the hardware down to the physics level.

Hmm a fellow gamer. Well I've found that C++ programming helped me a bit with making scripts for Oblivion mod. I haven't gotten deep into programming mods though.

Well programming really depends on the person, some people find it harder than others. Well usually if you like logic/methodical/sequential thinking you'll have no trouble writing programs.


I see myself working for nVidia or Intel/AMD, designing processors and/or video cards. Shrinking die sizes while keeping the high performance chipsets pushing the limits of the current generation of transistors during that time period.
You know before ATi buyout they had their headquarters here. AMD, IBM seem to come to my university a lot.

[cda]

If you do not know what you want to do, but need to go to college then go in as an undecided major and take college requirements. Go to academic clubs related to the fields you are interested in (math physics and programming should have some open workshops), once you get the information you need then chose your major.

[Gabrielle]

If you think Physics is in the real world, think again. My lecturer has a Ph.D in Astrophysics and quoth he, "all I do is sit on my ass and twiddle with equations". I'm doing Quant right now (because I'm a masochist) and what do I do? "Sit on my ass and twiddle with equations". Physics is quite unrealistic, almost as unrealistic as math. All of a sudden a horse is a sphere to simplify our lives. Heh.

If you want something "real" that involves Physics and Mathematics, go into Engineering. If you want to make a living with Physics most likely you'd need a Ph.D, especially in the States - I can't really think of a lot of careers that one can do with a MSc or BSc in Physics. Basically you'll end up as lab technician, which means that you're just a handyman while Ph.D people or dumb undergrads get to accidentally break the equipment, or a career in teaching. You'd need a Ph.D (most likely) to get into research. And even then most of them don't do cool stuff, they just sit in front of the desks and fiddle with equations; Astrophysics isn't the main Physics trend at the moment, because with String Theory the trend shifted to Nuclear/Particle Physics.

To even earn a small reputation you need to be more than extremely good - a few of my acquaintances are working with Nobel-prize level hotshots and here's what I've learned, A, they're so addicted to Physics that's all they do, B, they have no social life whatsoever and are most likely Aspie, C, they're bloody brilliant - I certainly can't work at that level (and that's why I gave up a career in Physics).

So... Physics and Math will hardly earn you a living. Hence, I suggest you go with Engineering.

[Zilal]

The science thing... depends on what kind of science you're doing. I'm not sure I know anyone who studied physics and actually has a job in that area, but I'm surrounded by successful chemists, biologists, geologists, etc. Big demand now for pharmaceuticals, invasive species control, all kinds of water issues, oil and mineral issues.

[Tenacious B]

It's pretty hard to find work as a physicist outside of academia and the national labs, and you'll need a PhD.

On the other hand, a BS in engineering will usually put food on your table. Electrical, computer, and mechanical tend to have the most jobs (when searching with specific names), but many companies are really just looking for people who can think, they will teach you the details of the job. If you want to go into engineering I would suggest to pick the particular field you find most interesting, not the 'hot' major of the month. Getting an engineering degree is a lot of hard work and will consume the majority of your time (if you want to do well), so make sure to pick something you like. If you are bright and capable you'll be able to get a job regardless of the label on your diploma.

I'm finishing up an ms in aerospace, if you have any questions about engineering and school just drop me a line.

[AresX9]

Bumping this thread as I'm finally reading the works of Michio Kaku. What an amazing mind, and he's inspiring me to do a lot of scientific research on the things that he's discussed.

This is another ginormous arrow pointing towards being a Physics major. What Kaku states about Moore's Law seems to be the truth. Within 20 years or so, Silicon Valley will collapse. The Heisenberg uncertainty principle kicks in. I know I sound like I'm regurgitating Kaku's words, because he introduced the concept from as far as I know.

I haven't researched into how a Computer Engineer uses his career, but I bet that the physicist needs to come up with a usable form of quantum computing before the Computer Engineer is able to use this new tech and adapt it to consumr use.

[eternaltriangle]

This is another ginormous arrow pointing towards being a Physics major. What Kaku states about Moore's Law seems to be the truth. Within 20 years or so, Silicon Valley will collapse. The Heisenberg uncertainty principle kicks in. I know I sound like I'm regurgitating Kaku's words, because he introduced the concept from as far as I know.


That is good thinking - my advice to people is to develop the most general skills possible, rather than go into a "hot topic". In my program (political science) there are a lot of people who are developing area focuses in the middle east and learning Arabic. I personally think they are stupid, and should think about whether the middle east is likely to be a hot-spot over the next 40 years. You will see a lot of people that were "Sovietologists" that got utterly burned by the collapse of the USSR, and never published again (some had tenure, so they just became dinosaurs.

A route you can go with physics that has a great deal of job security is academia. True, professors do not make a great deal of money (for physics I would guess assistant professors make about 60,000/year, associates 80,000 and full professors 100,000, assuming a fairly generic research university - you can check how much they make at each university in the US here: To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.). The upside is that you get to focus on what you like - research - and you have a great deal of job security (after you get tenure, which typically takes place about 5 years after you are hired). Moreover, academia is very flexible in time and space: you teach some classes (the amount of time it takes to teach a class is so very negligible), but get summers off. You have to do research, and keep getting published, but if you love physics that shouldn't be a problem. Demographically, academic posts should be easier to get in the near future because: a. the glut of professors of the baby boom generation will start retiring (if you are a junior in high school, you can be on the academic job market in 9 years, the same year folks born in 1952 hit 65 and become professors emeritus), while at the same time more people are going to university than used to (I suspect this process, through credential inflation, will continue - with some negative effects, but that is another story).

My father is a nuclear physicist (he has an MSc in physics). I don't entirely understand what his job entails, but he works for the nuclear power utility in Ontario. His job seems to involve a lot of different tasks - he designed software for fuel databases one year, he was part of a problem-solving team another (he is the absolute worst at explaining things). He retired (at 55), but was re-hired as a consultant (making twice his previous salary, plus his pension) because there aren't enough young people going into physics (my cohort all went into computer engineering, and got burned by the tech crash). Of course, they also hire some engineers to do his job.

If the money question is important to you, here is another website with some comparative information. I am not sure about their sources or anything.
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eternaltriangle added to this post, 31 minutes and 41 seconds later...

I should add, physics and engineering are not mutually exclusive if you go to graduate school. I know a guy who did engineering science (that was my alma mater's elite engineering stream) in undergrad, who is doing research on lasers.

[vkut79]

I'm in my freshman year of college right now, and I'm planning to study molecular biology or biochemistry in graduate school, where I will get my PhD. Then I plan to get a job in the industry, where I'll probably work for a while, and then see how that works out for me. I'm not really interested in working in academia, although there are definitely advantages to that. Scientists don't make a whole lot of money (in the opinion of a lot of people here it seems), but that doesn't really matter to me that much. Money isn't a huge deal. Actually both of my parents are industry scientists, and their income level is significantly more than I personally feel I would need. I'm absolutely positive that I want to work as a scientist because I like science work/research much more than anything else that I have encountered.