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Chemistry vs. Physics

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Dominato3r

Diamond Member
Which major do you guys think is better? I'm in college right now taking both chemistry and physics classes but I have no idea which path I should go down. I do definitely want to specialize/go into one of them.

I've been leaning towards the physics side because it is is something I have always enjoyed and I would kinda feel good inside completeing it... but I don't really know. The only practical jobs I'm seeing are dosimeterist or medical physicist (I would prefer working in a hospital). What else is achievable with this degree where I'd work a full time job with decent pay? Job opportunities are my main concern going this path because I've read many stories where some guy ends up teaching a highschool physics class because he use to work in a lab for $15/hr.

With Chemistry I'm specifically looking towards Pharamcist, Pharmaceutical science/chemistry opportunities. Form what I've seen the job opportunities with this are pretty good, specially working at a pharmacy... The work however kinda seems dull, but I'd be making a hefty amount of money. Pharamcists get paid very well here.
 
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if you wanna do pharm Chem is prob the better idea

I liked physics more (why i majored in it)

Work as an engineer
 
Pick the one that you enjoy the most (and this extends to the type of tasks you will be doing in a future job). Nothing sucks more than having to do something you don't enjoy.

I went with Chemical engineering because I loved Chemistry, which was a mistake because the profession hardly involved chemistry and has more to do with calculus-type math, mathematical models and working with hazardous materials in labs (all of which I hate). It did not matter that the pay was really high because I did not stay long enough in one job and eventually switched to a better-suited profession.
 
Personally I love chemistry, but it isn't for everyone. If you enjoy the fact that you can make so many compounds with it then you will enjoy chemistry.
 
i have a chemistry degree and it is worthless. Best pay i had with it was 36k. I went back to take electrical engineering and now i make a lot more money.

Chem is worthless because everyone takes it.
 
Being in the silicon industry, my vote goes to chemistry. If you have any interest in going into the industry, it would open some doors for you.

If you're curious about it, google silicon wafers, Epitaxy or Silicon on Insulator (SOI).
 
schneiderguy said:
Taylor Swift doesn't date chemists. Go with physics.
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Well if you put it that way... :hmm:

Anubis said:
if you wanna do pharm Chem is prob the better idea

I liked physics more (why i majored in it)

Work as an engineer
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So you're doing engineer work with a degree in physics... Did you have to take any extra courses/get extra training?

ShawnD1 said:
i have a chemistry degree and it is worthless. Best pay i had with it was 36k. I went back to take electrical engineering and now i make a lot more money.

Chem is worthless because everyone takes it.
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I'd rather just go to school once 😀 How long after you figured out chemistry wasn't for you, did you go back and change?
 
Dominato3r said:
So you're doing engineer work with a degree in physics... Did you have to take any extra courses/get extra training?
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Depending on the type of engineering, a lot of the basics in mechanical, electrical and, to an extent, chemical involve in-depth physics (and calculus math).
 
If you're thinking of pharmacy, it doesn't matter what major you do. You could also go into nursing or medical school if you want to work in a hospital. With all of these options it doesn't matter what major you are as long as you keep your grades up.
 
Loved Physics, hated Chemistry.

So Physics.... maybe you'll be able to contribute something to society like this guy.

4315428821_einstein6_xlarge.jpeg
 
Dominato3r said:
I'd rather just go to school once 😀 How long after you figured out chemistry wasn't for you, did you go back and change?
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2 years working. I applied on all kinds of stuff but good opportunities just weren't there. That was during a booming economy when unskilled workers were making $25/h and my job as an analytical chemist paid nowhere near that.

I went back to school and it took 2 years to upgrade to an EE degree. I'm still happy to have a chem degree because it's practical information, but chem is not a good career path.

Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. Its like physics only you can make money with an undergrad degree.
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Even if you have a PhD in chemistry, it doesn't open the door to big money opportunities. Those guys who run operations at chemical plants and oil refineries are chemical engineers, not chemists.

OP, you live in Edmonton don't you? Check out NAIT's job survey to get an idea of which fields are doing things. They give "diplomas" instead of degrees but the information is still useful. link
chemical engineering tech - $60,000 median (80% full time employed)
civil engineering tech - $46,540 median (89% full time employed)
mechanical engineering tech - $50,000 (77%)
electrical engineering tech - $48,000 (83%)
chemical tech - $41,600 (56%) D:

Keep in mind that those "chemical tech" guys work in the same places as the guys who have a 4 year bachelor in chemistry. When I worked at a drug company, it was about 50/50.
 
PieIsAwesome said:
Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. Its like physics only you can make money with an undergrad degree.
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Eh, I don't know about engineering. I'm definitely open to the possibility but it's not really on my mind. I wouldn't dislike it or anything, just not what I feel like doing.

jhu said:
If you're thinking of pharmacy, it doesn't matter what major you do. You could also go into nursing or medical school if you want to work in a hospital. With all of these options it doesn't matter what major you are as long as you keep your grades up.
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I'm pretty much thinking of a job in the medical field without having to go into nursing or med school.

ShawnD1 said:
2 years working. I applied on all kinds of stuff but good opportunities just weren't there. That was during a booming economy when unskilled workers were making $25/h and my job as an analytical chemist paid nowhere near that.

I went back to school and it took 2 years to upgrade to an EE degree. I'm still happy to have a chem degree because it's practical information, but chem is not a good career path.
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I've been hearing this a bit, with both sciences actually, regarding the entry level of pay. Was it a Bsc or Msc?

ShawnD1 said:
Even if you have a PhD in chemistry, it doesn't open the door to big money opportunities. Those guys who run operations at chemical plants and oil refineries are chemical engineers, not chemists.

OP, you live in Edmonton don't you? Check out NAIT's job survey to get an idea of which fields are doing things. They give "diplomas" instead of degrees but the information is still useful. link
chemical engineering tech - $60,000 median (80% full time employed)
civil engineering tech - $46,540 median (89% full time employed)
mechanical engineering tech - $50,000 (77%)
electrical engineering tech - $48,000 (83%)
chemical tech - $41,600 (56%) D:

Keep in mind that those "chemical tech" guys work in the same places as the guys who have a 4 year bachelor in chemistry. When I worked at a drug company, it was about 50/50.
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Nope, I'm not in Edmonton anymore. But thanks I'll check those out.
 
wtf are you gonna do with Physics?

Go Biochem--and start working your way towards biochem/Engineering.

make some god damn cyborgs, damn it! I'm tired of us not having real cyborgs by now!
 
Dominato3r said:
Eh, I don't know about engineering. I'm definitely open to the possibility but it's not really on my mind. I wouldn't dislike it or anything, just not what I feel like doing.



I'm pretty much thinking of a job in the medical field without having to go into nursing or med school.



I've been hearing this a bit, with both sciences actually, regarding the entry level of pay. Was it a Bsc or Msc?



Nope, I'm not in Edmonton anymore. But thanks I'll check those out.
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You can always do engineering later--but seriously focus on chem or biochem, with a healthy dose of calc-based physics for now.

work for a spell, then other things might seem appealing.


oh, and for medical field--Microbiology; biochem, P-chem, chem, all of those things. Physics is pretty much worthless, unless you actually do want to get into engineering--i.e, making medical devices. Even then....meh. Electrical/Mechanical engineering would probably be much more useful.

Plus, you could make kick-ass research machines. all of that is part of the medical field.
 
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If you like chem, do chem/biomolecular/biomedical engineering. You can easily do health care work or work in a hospital setting.

I interned at a radiation physics department, and there were a few guys in there with physics, biomedical, even electrical engineering degrees.
 
djnsmith7 said:
Being in the silicon industry, my vote goes to chemistry. If you have any interest in going into the industry, it would open some doors for you.

If you're curious about it, google silicon wafers, Epitaxy or Silicon on Insulator (SOI).
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Most of that is physics... condensed matter. It's physicists who grow all that kind of stuff.



OP: I did astrophysics, then did a few years of research in condensed matter for very low pay, then went and did an MBA and now work in business.

If you want a career in physics that pays more than $15/hr, then prepare for the long haul of B.Sc + Ph.D + post doc. Chemistry is probably not much different.

However, having a technical degree like that provides you with a very valuable set of skills that won't really GET you a job, but will allow you to DO almost any job.
 
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