Changing Major

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Currently I am in school for automotive technology (fancy words - just auto technician) but its a direction that my father didn't like. He thought it was a waste of my abilities and I entered the field to late with no experience and less knowledge.

This makes no sense at all. Too late? It's not figure skating.

My advice is if you are enjoying it keep going, get a part time job at a mechanics and end up employable. Meanwhile get some math tutoring or take a course at a community college or even just do an online or youtube course in calculus and figure out if this is going to be something you can master. In other words, dip into the math in a no commitment way and check it out while continuing your path.

If at some point you wanted to change careers at least you will actually have a career you can work part time in to fund your career change.

 

[Kenbushway]

Currently I am in school for automotive technology (fancy words - just auto technician) but its a direction that my father didn't like. He thought it was a waste of my abilities and I entered the field to late with no experience and less knowledge.

This makes no sense at all. Too late? It's not figure skating.

My advice is if you are enjoying it keep going, get a part time job at a mechanics and end up employable. Meanwhile get some math tutoring or take a course at a community college or even just do an online or youtube course in calculus and figure out if this is going to be something you can master. In other words, dip into the math in a no commitment way and check it out while continuing your path.

If at some point you wanted to change careers at least you will actually have a career you can work part time in to fund your career change.

One of the first things I did to face my fear of math was to buy Homework Helper books. I have basic math/pre-algebra, algebra, Geometry. I am grading myself, so far, I have an 89 in the basic math/pre-algebra book. There is a test at the end of each chapter and the score for each chapter test is combined to get the grade. That was actually the reason behind one of my old threads which asked for help with the distributive property. I like automotive, I will learn that everyday as I start working more on my own car (which I won't have to share much longer). I don't care about other people's cars and if I worked on cars for people it would be working on-building classics.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I don't think you have to "care about other people's cars". It's not nursing

 

[Kenbushway]

I don't think you have to "care about other people's cars". It's not nursing

True. What I mean is basically I don't want to work on other people's cars as far as fixing them goes. Other than working on classics (good luck finding that job in these times) I don't really want to work on anyone's car but my own.

 

[Pavonis]

I think you'd be better off finishing your automotive degree, getting a job with it, then furthering your education. Changing majors - to physics, in particular - doesn't strike me as a good idea for you. What makes you think you'd have more passion for physics than for fixing other people's cars?

 

[Stoo]

I have basic math/pre-algebra, algebra, Geometry. I am grading myself, so far, I have an 89 in the basic math/pre-algebra book.

I dunno how it works in the US exactly, but if you want to study physics you'll probably want high-school-leaver level calculus, on top of a solid grasp of algebra and trigonometry.

 

[Kenbushway]

I think you'd be better off finishing your automotive degree, getting a job with it, then furthering your education. Changing majors - to physics, in particular - doesn't strike me as a good idea for you. What makes you think you'd have more passion for physics than for fixing other people's cars?

I am, I have 2 more classes then I get a diploma. I don't have a passion for fixing people's cars. I like classics, I like working on my own cars. I've always had a passion for science, I just let a fear get the best of me.

I have basic math/pre-algebra, algebra, Geometry. I am grading myself, so far, I have an 89 in the basic math/pre-algebra book.

I dunno how it works in the US exactly, but if you want to study physics you'll probably want high-school-leaver level calculus, on top of a solid grasp of algebra and trigonometry.

Yes that is an area I will have to cover but thankfully I have such high school calculus book.

 

[Kenbushway]

I also have other Homework Helper math books including Trig and calculus.

 

[thestrangequark]

Ken, it sounds like your have a long way to go, but I don't think that should discourage you from pursuing what you are passionate about -- you are very young, you have plenty of time to choose what you want to do and change your mind along the way. However, I would also recommend taking a really close look at the subject and thinking about whether it really is right for you. Do you know what you would want to do in physics? Research? Teaching? Considering where you are with math, you're probably looking at a minimum of 6 years to get a Master's (probably more like 8), and that's the minimum degree you'll need to get any physics-related work. More likely, you'd need a doctorate, which would be a minimum of a further 2 years' study. This means not only do you have to work on your basic math skills (and how has everyone forgotten to mention statistics? You'll need statistics for any science, even the softies) but also your writing skills -- do you currently read any scientific journals? Because that is the level at which you will need to be writing.

I seriously considered physics myself, but, like you, the math is a bit much for me. I can learn it, but I don't think I'll ever master it to the extent that I could use it creatively. I'm opting for neuroscience instead, still mathy but math I can cope with -- I'm applying for 2014, actually (and I'll be 31 then, in case you needed more evidence that age definitely isn't a problem for you!) -- anyway, I guess what I'm saying is, you have some big hurdles to overcome and a huge amount of work ahead of you if you are serious; really think about whether this is the path for you, and if it is, then prove your detractors wrong.

 

[Pavonis]

I think you'd be better off finishing your automotive degree, getting a job with it, then furthering your education. Changing majors - to physics, in particular - doesn't strike me as a good idea for you. What makes you think you'd have more passion for physics than for fixing other people's cars?

I am, I have 2 more classes then I get a diploma. I don't have a passion for fixing people's cars. I like classics, I like working on my own cars. I've always had a passion for science, I just let a fear get the best of me.

You're not changing majors, then. You're considering another degree after you finish the one you're working on.

Still, what makes you think physics is the field for you? Why not biology, geology, or chemistry? What do you see in physics that piques your interest?

 

[auntiehill]

More importantly, what exactly are you going to do with a degree in physics? Can't you just work on cars for your job but have a hobby in different fields of science?

I can't honestly say I have a PASSION for correcting essays (that would be a tad perverted and more than a bit of an overreaction) but I'm good at it and it pays the bills. I LOVE science fiction but sadly, no one is paying me to watch Doctor Who.

eta: I am reminded of a certain David Mitchell rant:
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz2-49q6DOI[/yt]

 

[Kenbushway]

For Ga Tech they offer a physics degree (partnered with research options throughout years attending either with companies or assisting teachers) in Gases and Properties. That isn't the actual name but sums it up. I didn't want to do Chemistry because by itself it was never something that interested me like space, physics. I don't want to teach, I want to do research. I have that kind of creative mind where I could take what I learn and put it to good use. I understand it may take up to 10 years for me to get a doctorate; which would be my goal if I am able to choose another degree program to go into. College is really cheap here and there is many financial aid opportunities. I do have to admit that I write like I talk; I don't care much to put in proper language and grammar. However I've always done well in subjects like English, literature, and history. Math was the only subject I did bad in. I even got bumped into advanced literature class my 7th grade year. My high school graduation test I aced every science section even though I had only taken 1/3 of the classes. I am just a really lazy ass person. I didn't feel like trying and I definitely didn't want to face math. I just did what ever assignment that was handed to me fast and then went back to either drawing star ships I designed or reading.

 

[Pavonis]

I do have to admit that I write like I talk; I don't care much to put in proper language and grammar.

You really should consider improving your writing. Poor communications skills are a detriment to a scientist. Lazy writing gives the impression of lazy research.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Considering how he wrote when he was here under his first name this is a 100% improvement. This makes me think he can up his game in writing if he wants to, and perhaps he's perfectly capable when it's called for.

 

[Kenbushway]

Considering how he wrote when he was here under his first name this is a 100% improvement. This makes me think he can up his game in writing if he wants to, and perhaps he's perfectly capable when it's called for.

Thank you.