Science degree choices-advice needed

gline

Im starting a science degree in september as a mature student in ucd, i chose the no preference option, so I have to do 1 trial semester of all sciences, then choose the path. I already know my main interest is physics though, im just not sure about the maths level required as I havent studied maths in 11 years and that was only to ordinary level and I did chemistry as physics wasnt an option in my school.

My question would be, when you are doing a degree is it always best to pick what you are interested in or to be more practical and choose something you could get a better final result? Does passion/interest count towards difficulty?

Ive asked a few people and got mixed answers. Some say just pick a path that you know you can complete due to my age and job market, others say that an interest in what you study will push you to do well in it even if it is a more difficult path? Basically i dont want to end up in something that i am just failing and on the other hand I dont want to deny myself the chance to study something that i have a deep interest in if I could do well in it. Also from what ive seen, a lot of grads dont even end up working in the field they wanted to, is this mostly down to getting bad results or sheer lack of places for phd options etc? Ideally id like to take my education all the way to research if posssible, but how well do you have to do to work in the 'interesting' fields like quantum, particle physics etc?

Im just trying to get myself on the right path from the beginning and a path that will lead to some decent opurtunities.

Any experiences with choosing, either bad or good?

dlouth15

I think a lot will become clearer after your first year when you've had a chance to explore the different subjects. Don't give up what you feel you have a passion for until you've given it a good shot would be my advice.

One question though: you wonder whether you should make choices based on practical career considerations. What subjects would you choose on this basis?

gline

dlouth15 wrote: »

I think a lot will become clearer after your first year when you've had a chance to explore the different subjects. Don't give up what you feel you have a passion for until you've given it a good shot would be my advice.

One question though: you wonder whether you should make choices based on practical career considerations. What subjects would you choose on this basis?

Probably pharma based degree for jobs.

The problem is you have to make the choice between chem/phys/bio in the second semester, so I dont have a year to choose

thecatspjs

I think you should do whatever interests you the most. If you work hard enough in physics and maths you can get yourself a good degree and go from there. At least you have a chance to do chem/phys/bio for a semester initially.
I did a similar course in DIT and went through the same dilemma. I would definitely recommend talking to your lecturers and other members of the school. It all becomes so much clearer after a few months in the course.

sarahb82

If you want to take the subject the whole way to research I would recommend you studying something you are interested in. There is nothing worse than researching something you have no interest in.

This could also change as you start your degree. I went into the four year course general science course in UCD a long time ago. I had originally wanted to study food science/nutrition and decided to just go for general science. When the time came for me to specialise I went in a completely different direction. I ended up studying chemistry and even ended up doing a PhD. I little bit different from the Food science area which I was originally interested in.

See what you enjoy studying when you are there and make your decisions based on that. I know you say that maybe you should go to an area for job prospects etc., but is there any point, (when you are making to effort to go back to study) to gain a qualification and potentially a job in something that you arent really interested in.

That's just my two cents

gline

sarahb82 wrote: »

If you want to take the subject the whole way to research I would recommend you studying something you are interested in. There is nothing worse than researching something you have no interest in.

This could also change as you start your degree. I went into the four year course general science course in UCD a long time ago. I had originally wanted to study food science/nutrition and decided to just go for general science. When the time came for me to specialise I went in a completely different direction. I ended up studying chemistry and even ended up doing a PhD. I little bit different from the Food science area which I was originally interested in.

See what you enjoy studying when you are there and make your decisions based on that. I know you say that maybe you should go to an area for job prospects etc., but is there any point, (when you are making to effort to go back to study) to gain a qualification and potentially a job in something that you arent really interested in.

That's just my two cents

thanks for the comments. I get what your saying, no point in coming all this way to be bored. Ive started some home study in physics already as that is where my interests lie, but I'll see how I get on when I get there.