We are star stuff harvesting star light

[lowk]

I think I am approaching one of the most fundamental choices in my life, one that may well determine an awful lot about my future. By the start of next year I am going to have to choose whether to become a biological or a physical scientist.

Comments

[pincushions]

I found the choice hard last year - and this year too really. And I was lucky that I was really only choosing the third subject (although to be honest, I suspected at the time that I was really choosing what I'd be doing in the end rather than what to do in IB).

Some thoughts that you may or may not agree with:

If you do physics, you'll probably end up doing double physics and maths. If you then decide physics isn't your thing (not within the first few lectures of term) you might be a bit stuck. I've known that happen to someone who used to love physics.

As you were telling Erica, the type of biology you're interested in isn't the kind where a physics degree will be that useful. It'll probably be a choice that you'll stick with a long time.

It may take quite a while before you can make original connections or at least, it may seem that the course is all based on memorising things rather than teaching you the process of making original connections. This is part of the reason I've switched biochemistry to chemistry. I got tired of memorising Stryer.

I'm not into the ecology stuffy but I always thought that it would be cool if I was because I want to be David Attenbrough the kind of opportunities that you can get involved in are incredible. To me going into jungles to research parrots in the summer would appeal far more than playing with a computer in a lab.

I think you came here to do physics? I think? In that case I'd probably say do biology. Or at least go and talk to someone about it to find out a bit more. I don't think you'd be wondering about it if physics was the right choice.