Question by Vitaly: I am terrible at Physics, but I would love to major in Computer Science.?
I love computers and programming and all. The technology and the way things work with a computer language is just amazing. I am an incoming freshman this fall and wondering, physics…My worst subject in my whole history of schooling! I had a B allllll year during my senior year. Absolute terrible….But math is all good to me. Calculus, I can do it! But Physics…what do you all think? Any stories you have or people you know that do not like physics but still came through with computer science major?
Best answer:
Answer by Matt Hintzke
Do you actually not like physics? Or are you just not good at applying the math you learn to real world physics problems? If that is the reason then I would stick to it, because physics is hard, I am a Mechanical Engineering major (and actually might switch to CS myself) and I have to take the exact same physics classes that CS majors do. My advice would be to continue trying and eventually I am sure your brain will just “click” one day and you will understand it better. Plus, a B is not bad at all. I myself hate chemistry, but had to take a year of it my freshman year which was terrible, got two C’s. Both were the worst grades I have ever gotten in school. So stick with it and you will be ok.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
I love physics and I am currently a programmer. They have much in common since they both involve problem solving and very conceptual thinking.
There is nearly no physics in Computer Science. Yes, they might make you take a physics class, but that’s mainly because the major is often in the engineering school and the engineering school in general thinks its students should know physics. They will also at some point probably teach you about how semiconductors work, and that depends on physics, but you can also forget about that after that one class as it doesn’t apply to any of your other studies or to your work in the field.
You don’t even really have to know math to do Computer Science, although they will require you to take some courses in that too. But do you think I remember how to do calculus? Only the very most basic. I would say the math mindset has a lot in common with Computer Science, though. Math is basically algorithms. E.g., to solve a system of linear equations a) get the coefficients of one variable to match by b) multiplying or dividing both sides of one equation by the same number, then c) subtract one equation from another, etc. You need to be able to recognize when it’s time to use the algorithms, and even more in Computer Science than in math you sometimes need to invent your own algorithms. Computer Science has a little in common with physics, in that to do both you need to come up with a “model” for the problem, but I’d say it has more in common with math.
You don’t have to get an A in your physics class. Just pass it. You should go for it.
What even is your question?
If you want to be an undergrad in Computer science, why in the hell are you worried about physics?