Computer Science or Physics Degree

ArmyofHarmony · 12 Jun 2006 at 23:40

2 years ago i was about to pick computer science, then I randomly picked Physics last minute.

Physics degrees are a lot of hassle, you'll probably get a crap timetable, crap exam times etc etc... homework in when nobody else has.

ie. My exams dont finish till friday, everybody else was done ages ago :9

anyway, physics is probably a better option

Arcade Fire · 13 Jun 2006 at 00:07

Visage said:
Plus there's nothing more guaranteed to get a lady into bed than a quick chat about time dilation - you'll be in sex heaven while lesser men are mincing around doing High-5s.....

If only it was time contraction and length dilation - at the speed I go, the ladies would be screaming in pleasure.

Inquisitor · 13 Jun 2006 at 00:11

Fusion said:
Considered Theoretical Physics?

How does that compare to a standard Physics course? Ideally, I'd like to learn about things like relativity, quantum theory, string theory etc. (which I assume is what theoretical physics is), as well as advanced mathematics. I'm not hugely interested in the traditional mechanics, electronics etc. side of physics.

ArmyofHarmony · 13 Jun 2006 at 00:13

Theoretical basically means you dont have to do much practical lab (which i hate)

Its more maths based i guess, from what my friend tells me (who does it at imperial)

Arcade Fire · 13 Jun 2006 at 00:14

Inquisitor said:
How does that compare to a standard Physics course? Ideally, I'd like to learn about things like relativity, quantum theory, string theory etc. (which I assume is what theoretical physics is), as well as advanced mathematics. I'm not hugely interested in the traditional mechanics, electronics etc. side of physics.

You want to do a maths degree, and specialise in applied maths. There are very, VERY few physics degrees that will let you study general relativity at any level of sophistication, and none that will let you study string theory.

calnen · 13 Jun 2006 at 00:44

Arcade Fire said:
You want to do a maths degree, and specialise in applied maths. There are very, VERY few physics degrees that will let you study general relativity at any level of sophistication, and none that will let you study string theory.

True. At Durham, General Relativity is an optional module in the fourth year, and I gather its one of very few places that teach it at all. If you do the theoretical Physics course, you end up doing a lot of the maths department's modules just because that level of maths just isnt needed for most of Physics. (Well, at least not undergrad Physics.)

daz · 13 Jun 2006 at 01:32

General relativity is an optional third year module here... you have to have done certain maths courses so that you can deal with tensor mechanics etc.

I am 2nd year Physics with Comp Science here... keeps my options open, but the physics is bloody hard compared to the comp sci. Comp sci is something that you can be good at, or at least pass to a decent level (2:1) with enough hard work. Maths and physics (in my opinion) require a certain amount of innate talent that if you haven't got it, you haven't got it... no matter how long you look at the notes or practice the questions, there are some things that you may truly never get your head around.

Inquisitor · 13 Jun 2006 at 11:15

daz said:
General relativity is an optional third year module here... you have to have done certain maths courses so that you can deal with tensor mechanics etc.

I am 2nd year Physics with Comp Science here... keeps my options open, but the physics is bloody hard compared to the comp sci. Comp sci is something that you can be good at, or at least pass to a decent level (2:1) with enough hard work. Maths and physics (in my opinion) require a certain amount of innate talent that if you haven't got it, you haven't got it... no matter how long you look at the notes or practice the questions, there are some things that you may truly never get your head around.

This is mainly why I'm thinking Physics or Maths would be better for me; I've always been good at grasping concepts in these subjects and find them both really interesting, whereas doing Computing at A-level was a bit of an eye-opener and has made me think twice about wanting to do CS at uni.

Vonhelmet · 13 Jun 2006 at 12:37

Just do whatever you enjoy. Chances are you'll end up doing a finance job in the city at the end of it, so you may as well enjoy the course while you're there.

Pumpkinstew · 13 Jun 2006 at 13:34

You'll do very little 'headline' Physics as part of your course, by which I mean things like QED and String Theory, the vast majority is nuts and bolts stuff like optics, electromagnetics, statistics, and mathematics. Normally with the word 'applied' in front. Quantum Mechanics is much less fun than it sounds anyway.

In the end I loaded up my last two years (I was Mphys) with computational physics and medical physics electives and tried to avoid as much of the nasty algebra as possible. Personally I found the practical lab work (fiddly optics stuff with lasers :cool:

) to be a godsend because it had a big percentage of the final years marks and I scored pretty highly.

Physics may offer a slightly wider range of possible careers after graduation than computer science, although a lot of employers only make the distinction of a 'numerate degree' and go by application form and interview.

Beyond the degree phase there are plenty of areas of Physics research where hefty computing power is employed and often multidisciplinary teams of programmers and physicists are employed.

In short choose the course you have the most enthusiasm for as it will dominate your life for at least three years. If you think you've got it wrong at the end you can always do a 1 year masters and requalify.

ic1male · 14 Jun 2006 at 13:46

You can always change courses at anytime before the 2nd year starts if you really feel you made a wrong decision.

I've got my place at Shef starting 2007 (BA Chinese/Japanese) - looking forward to having no money (!) but lots of fun.