Why I majored in physics instead of astronomy

This is another relaxed discussion video answering more questions I have been asked regarding choosing a degree major.

In essence, despite being very involved with astronomy I chose to study physics because I enjoyed the research environment more and the major is a bit easier to apply to different disciplines. A pure astronomy major can restrict you a little bit if you're not careful.

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[lancelovecraft]

I think most of us who are in physics were initially interested in astronomy. Like that was the segue into physics ironically

[CharliesGayBandYo]

I'm doing astrophysics at university, best of both worlds haha I think I prefer specialising into astro because I know I genuinely enjoy it and at the end I think I'm studying what I love rather than studying for career options and making myself look pretty for future employers.

[tristantzara]

You have the most calming voice that I ever listen

[Cocandre]

Since I'm a kid I dreamt about being an astrophysicist, when I had to choose between astronomy and physics I chose physics just to have more options. Now that I saw what the astronomers learn, I'm happy to have chosen physics. You just learn so much more (it's also harder), and you can always make a masters degree in astronomy or whatever you like !

I am about to finish my masters degree in theoretical chemistry. What got me into it was drive to understand and manipulate the world around us. I think that laws of the very large and very small scale are equaly fascinating!

[AngelJabreel]

I changed my major to Physics as well. Mostly because I had seen many of friends who had concentrations in specific sciences not able to find any decent jobs in their fields. Most of them are going back to school for their MBA. What she said about big data sets in Astronomy is fascinating. I absolutely love working with data sets. This was a very good video to have stumbled upon.

[JackRowsey]

This is interesting. My son wants to be an astronomer, but he decided to major in physics and will take astronomy as a Master’s. He’s in his 3rd year and was just accepted at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA. I just retired as a meteorologist.

[Inefprag]

You have a great passion for Math and Pysics. I wish I could talk to you in person.

[deepblueuniverse]

You're my new counselor. Thanks for sharing these experiences, the are 100% relevant and helpful to me rn.

[una_bananas]

I'm in my second year of undergrad physics in Ireland, I started first year thinking I was going to choose the astro stream but I found it didn't have much maths and it had lots of computers, so I'm now in theoretical physics which is much more maths-y and I love it!

[sanjanaghosh]

Because of you, I am not scared of physics anymore 😊

[aaronbartlett]

I was going to finish my philosophy degree this winter but I decided to add on 3 semesters and get 3 minors in physics, math, and computer science. You were a big influence in this decision!

[pahvalrehljkov]

to be honest i just came here to listen to you and relax, you calm me down and get me to find peace in my mind...

[emulate_typebeats]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I have been thinking about studying physics and your videos have been very helpful and inspiring! You are absolutely darling and I love your enthusiasm for science.

[Eudaimonia]

Just recently discovered your channel after being interested in physics recently. Well Always was a point of interest to me ever since started my engineering carreer(didnt chose physics as a path because felt my math and physics wasnt good enough) . Welp now I feel dumb after watching a few of your videos. You explain things very well and you seem to be enjoying your journey. You speak with such calm and positive vibe. You also have the whole package. beautiful and smart, keep it up.

[anightbird]

@Tibees Your voice is so calming and relaxing, I don't feel like a particular subject is too difficult when I listen to your explanations. Keep it up!

[qiqilsq]

I went through almost the exact same thing! I also always thought I liked theory a lot more but then realized how much I enjoyed hands on experimental work and how it can also involve a lot of theory and coding ^^ (I guess great minds think alike 😎)

[memoalejandro]

Astronomy is a Beautiful Career you are right many people ask themselves all this questions and is so interesting, well im about to start my studies in astronomy at Univerity I think that sometimes finding what you love and for what are you good, but its difficult to study that

[jeffapellido]

I see where you are coming from with a lot of the reasons you give, but in the end I personally always just felt a stronger passion and connection to astronomy. I still got a degree in physics as well, but once you get deeper into astronomy you get far beyond just writing code and analyzing data...even though that's still a majority of my day. You begin designing the projects and, at least in the area of astronomy I went into, doing the observations yourself. It will always feel a little bit more detached than physics lab work, but as you kind of briefly say, it will also always have more of a sense of stepping into a part of the universe no one else has ever been to before.

[sipos]

Good for you from recognising the difference between being interested in an area of Physics, and being interested in doing the work that is the research in that area. I love particle physics, and I loved doing research in it for a while, but it took me ages to realise that while I was interested in the results of particle physics analysis, and I loved software development, I don't like actually doing analysis at all. I've left research in the field to do software development professionally, and follow research in particle physics as an amateur, and that is what makes me happy, but it took me needlessly long to figure out what I wanted because I refused to separate interest in the field from desire to do the research in my mind.