Expert: Daniel Mazur - 7/7/2006

Question
Hi there,

I'm 18 and I'm going to my second year in the Faculty of Sciences (it is 4 years) and I love Physics and Math.

Now there is a little problem: in the 2nd year we have to choose a branch and I'm a bit confused:  we have Physics Special, Physics + Math and Maths Special.

I thought about Physics + Maths but the problem is that, naturally, they lack in some courses from Physics Special (compensated by additional math).

So, which branch should I choose? Which will be more useful to my career? Deep physics with slight math or average physics with average math?

Thanks very much

Answer
Hello Sabry,

Well, I understand your dilema. Do you have any idea about, what you would like to do, after you graduate? Do you expect to be a scientist, stock market/insurance risk expert, a teacher, an industry researcher? You really should sit down first and decide, what you would like to become and then choose your special accordingly.

Another point of view might be also useful. If you love both math and physics, what do you like about them in particular? In math, do you enjoy (A)thinking of the logical structure of it, deriving implications from a given set of assumptions? Or is it (B) using the already known results, equations and procedures to tackle problems of real life? In physics, do you like more (C) solving model problems on paper or (D) setting up an experiment, doing the measurement and trying to figure out the meaning of the data?

If you like more (A) or (C), your inclinations are theoretical, you prefer working with models, with numbers and in the abstract world. If you prefer (B) or (D), you are more into experimental or application side of the sciences, facing imperfections of the real world and maybe thinking up "hacks" to computers and machines in general, so that they start doing what you want them to do.

My advice is, again, think of what you want to do in your life, make a decision and then pick the specialization that is most likely to get you there. I will be ready to help you at that stage, if you ask for it.

Good luck!
Daniel