I am almost done with the first half of my first semester at Notre Dame. The first few weeks were emotionally hard; every day, I felt like I don’t belong in my physics class. Everyone around me seemed to be in advanced math classes (I’m in Calculus I by choice) or had opportunities in high school I never had.
Now, I’m finally starting to settle in. My first physics exam went quite well (over 100%). My other exams were A’s as well. I’m currently trying to build better relationships with my fellow physics majors by regularly attending TA help sessions where we collaborate on homework.
Interestingly, many of these “elite” students seemed to be more bark than bite, as most of the help sessions consist of me explaining problem solutions to others rather than the other way around. Last week, I even gave calculus help on a problem involving differential equations to people in Calculus III, who were quite surprised that someone in Calculus I knew the material better than they (I have self-studied up to Calculus III and beyond). After spending over three hours in one week in those sessions helping others, my class was kind enough to vote me “Physicist of the Week.” Before, my instinct would be to make sure I did everything in my power to “eliminate” the competition. Now, I’m finding that helping others do well is more enjoyable (and helps me do even better because I learn more from teaching others).
I am also more confident in my choice of physics as a major as opposed to some engineering discipline. Having done more reading on what actual engineering work is like, I’ve come to the conclusion that I just wouldn’t be fulfilled doing that sort of work. Physics is broader and leaves me more options for a career path compared to engineering.
Great to hear. And it is true for all of us that we learn by teaching- and it helps others. So glad you are finding your first semester so fulfilling and clarifying.
It’s been a few weeks since I finished the year, and I remembered this thread.
Academically, things went well: all A’s. I also became involved in undergraduate research and am currently doing summer prep-work for next year.
I am especially appreciative of the university’s commitment to its students during the COVID-19 outbreak. I and many others have been provided with on-campus housing ever since the university shut down. Currently, I am still on campus and will likely spend the summer here.
The part that didn’t go so well was “major discernment.” I made little progress on that front. In the end, I concluded that due to certain circumstances I had no choice but to change my major to electrical engineering, which I did in the last week of classes. I do not know how the rest of my undergraduate career will go, as I am not particularly interested in EE. I am quite demoralized, to say the least. For now, I keep myself going by reminding myself that I can earn a physics degree at a later time.
@PrdMomto1
It’s a long story (I have literally written essays on the matter to figure things out). The summary is as follows:
While I am not entirely certain what career I would like, I do believe I would want to have a job that makes significant use of my technical education; that is, a job that regularly calls upon me to use my knowledge of mathematics and physics. Upon reflection, it seemed to me that I would be severely restricted in my ability to get into a career meeting the above criteria if I remained in physics. Our graduates tend get jobs in data analysis or software engineering, neither of which interests me on its own. There is the possibility of going to graduate school to get into something I develop an interest in later on, but the problem with that is that I cannot afford a Master’s, and a PhD may be a commitment I will not be prepared for. I believe that whether or not I get a PhD should be a decision driven purely by interest, and not by the feeling that I need to do so in order to get a job I would find interesting.
In light of the above, I concluded that I had little choice but to switch to engineering. Since I remain emotionally-attached to physics, I reasoned that I should pick the engineering discipline that is most closely allied to it, and from which I may most easily transition back into physics later on if I so desired. Hence, electrical engineering. I do obviously have an interest in the math and physics of EE, but not in the engineering part of it.
Thank you so much for updating us!
And it’s so uplifting to hear you’ve been doing so well.
Physics majors can do all sorts of jobs - how much physics it involves relates more to the job applicant. My advice would be to wait till you make a definite choice and try to have some sort of internship or externship. Your passion really seems to be Physics. It’ll be up to you to pivot to a job that involves the field.
BTW, you can get into a PHD program, get your Master’s enroute, and if you find that Physics research isn’t for you, leave with your Master’s. PHD programs won’t keep you prisoner if you don’t want to be there.
Also, isn’t mechanical engineering at least as physics-based as EE?
@MYOS1634
Unfortunately, I do not have the luxury of putting off making that decision. Waiting another semester would have put me several classes behind in a very rigid sequence. Even with my “early” decision I find myself at least one technical elective behind.
I do know that I could drop out of a PhD, and I will keep that in mind. I would be hesitant to do so in the event that I decide later on that a PhD is indeed right for me, in which case it would be held against me that I dropped out once before.
ME is heavy on physics as well, but not on physics that is relevant to physics graduate studies. MEs do not go into electromagnetism or quantum mechanics. Additionally, I have not heard of any MEs who went on to physics, whereas I know quite a few EEs who did so (including the only person to win the Nobel in physics twice). I suppose I need that precedent for reassurance.
One should not go into a PhD program with the idea of dropping out. Some programs have terminal Masters on their way to a PhD. This way you actually have a choice per se.
I always wonder that the end goal is. Usually there are many paths to get to that point. Some just take a straight and narrow road. Others take a winding road with lots of turns. But in the end are at the same place.
I majored in computer engineering which in the good old days was in the EE dept and it was thought back then that engineering was applied physics. I think your best bet would be to minor in physics so you can take those courses.
@theloniusmonk
Notre Dame does not offer a minor in physics. I will try to see if I can take at least one more physics class somewhere along the line, but there is no guarantee of that. There is often a time conflict between physics and required EE classes.
@Rivet2000
It really isn’t, at least compared to state schools. Physics and EE are particularly small majors, each with fewer than 40 students. There is usually only one section for any given class.
I understand your arguments but I think it is always wiser to stick with what you are interested in (and in your case, love). I really do. I hope you will reconsider.
@compmom
Alea iacta est.
I would not go so far as to say that I love physics (or any subject, really). I am more of a polymath who enjoys almost all learning (if being a student was a career, that is what I would do). Physics is just the subject that most satisfied and inspired me. For now, it is my goal to one day return and obtain a physics degree.
As I’ve said before, I don’t feel I have a choice here. My academic performance should not suffer much, even if I am uninterested.
@QB18ND23 You’re off to an excellent start. Keep going. Stay involved and alert for opportunities. Sometimes you just have to trust the process when a way forward isn’t clear. It will come in time.
