do i switch courses??
i need some advice. i am a chemical sciences student that takes physics as an option module. i chose chemistry as a safe choice, even though i wanted to get into nuclear engineering/physics. i didn’t have access to a teacher for leaving cert physics or applied maths, so i couldn’t do those subjects in school. my maths teachers were also non-existent, which affected my confidence, even if i caught up everyone in trinity. this made me put physical sciences as second on my CAO and chemical sciences as first (as a safe choice).
however, i really hate organic chemistry and i get nightmares thinking about doing it again later on in my degree (I’m only in first year). i like other aspects of chemistry but i don’t think i’d like to specialise in any chemistry field - not even radiochemistry or nuclear chemistry. i am more interested in anything to do with electromagnetic waves, radioactivity, radiation and nuclear engineering (i dont really have any other interests). i’ve been dreaming of working in a nuclear power plant since i was 13 and i always knew i would get a nuclear physics/engineering masters (or maybe even phd) abroad and work in that country later in life.
i think i’d rather do physics but this decision is irreversible once i make it, and i am really unsure on what to do. i also feel like i might not be smart enough for this kind of challenge. chemistry is slightly easier sometimes, but learning things off all the time is really starting to do my head in and i prefer studying for physics exams, no matter how scared i am. my tutor didn’t give me any helpful advice, and a lecturer (that was also originally a chemistry student that switched to physics) brushed me off.
nanoscience as a specialisation would be the safe choice for 3rd and 4th year, but i already made a safe choice and it is making me quite confused and stressed.
i have choice, since i can get into nuclear with a degree in chemistry, physics or nanoscience. i don’t think i’d like a nanoscience specialisation to be honest; it focuses more on materials and i HATED material physics as a class this semester. i’m thinking more and more of switching to physical sciences and then choosing the pure physics moderatorship for 3rd and 4th year.
i’ll get a masters anyways so it might not matter too much, but i still don’t know if i want to tolerate 3rd and 4th year chemistry - which could also potentially make it harder for me to get the master i want.
any advice, pretty please? :(