My Chemistry Major Regrets (And Why I Picked It)
TLDRThe speaker shares their journey into becoming a chemistry major, highlighting its universal nature across STEM fields and the practical, hands-on lab work that makes it engaging. They also discuss the challenges, including the job market and the difficulty of the subject, emphasizing the importance of hard work and time management for chemistry majors. Despite the workload, they express their passion for the field and its diverse applications.
Takeaways
- 🌟 The speaker chose chemistry as a major due to its universal nature, covering aspects of both biology and physics.
- 🎓 Initially, the speaker was interested in IR and Gov but switched to science due to a love for various fields.
- 🧪 Hands-on lab work was a significant attraction to chemistry, offering a tangible and engaging learning experience.
- 🏢 The job market for chemistry majors can be challenging initially, often requiring further education for higher-paying positions.
- 🔬 The difficulty level of chemistry increases with upper-level courses, especially organic chemistry and physical chemistry.
- 💡 Chemistry offers a broad range of applications and can serve as a stepping stone to various STEM fields.
- 🧙 The speaker humorously mentions that chemistry is the closest to being a wizard due to its diverse and powerful subject matter.
- 📚 The workload in a chemistry major can be overwhelming, with a combination of challenging coursework and extracurricular activities.
- 🌐 STEM fields, including chemistry, often come with the assumption of success and good jobs, but this usually requires further education.
- 🚫 The speaker warns against expecting immediate high salaries with a bachelor's degree in hard sciences, including chemistry.
- 💥 The excitement of creating new compounds and witnessing chemical reactions is a unique aspect of chemistry that the speaker finds appealing.
Q & A
Why did the speaker choose to become a chemistry major?
-The speaker chose to become a chemistry major because they found it to be the universal science, allowing them to learn about biology, physics, and chemistry. They also appreciated the variety and the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of different fields within science.
What were the speaker's initial interests before deciding on a chemistry major?
-Initially, the speaker was interested in IR (International Relations) and Gov (Government) and thought they would major in one of those fields. They also loved science in general but had to choose a specific field for college.
What does the speaker consider as the universal science?
-The speaker considers chemistry to be the universal science because it sits between biology and physics, allowing them to learn about the fundamentals of both fields and providing a broad understanding of science.
What are some of the practical applications of a chemistry major mentioned by the speaker?
-The speaker mentions that a chemistry major can lead to opportunities in biological fields, physical sciences, engineering, and even more specialized fields like material science or quantum physics in grad school.
What is the speaker's view on the job market for chemistry majors?
-The speaker acknowledges that the job market can be challenging for chemistry majors right out of college, as high-paying jobs often require a graduate degree. However, they also note that there are many fields where a bachelor's degree can lead to employment and that gaining work experience can lead to better job opportunities.
Why does the speaker find chemistry lab work enjoyable?
-The speaker enjoys chemistry lab work because it involves hands-on activities with chemicals, creating new compounds, and observing tangible reactions. They liken it to being a wizard and find it more engaging than other majors.
What are some of the difficulties the speaker encountered as a chemistry major?
-The speaker mentions that chemistry is a difficult major, especially with the spatial thinking required in organic chemistry (ochem). Additionally, the workload is heavy, with many prerequisites in physics and math, as well as a variety of challenging upper-level chemistry courses.
How does the speaker balance their academic workload with extracurricular activities?
-The speaker does not provide specific strategies for balancing their workload, but they do mention the importance of participating in clubs and other extracurricular activities, and they advise that students should be prepared for a busy schedule as a chemistry major.
What is the speaker's perspective on the success associated with STEM fields?
-The speaker acknowledges the common perception that STEM fields lead to successful careers and good jobs. However, they caution that this often requires a graduate degree and that immediate high-paying jobs are not guaranteed with just a bachelor's degree in hard sciences.
What advice does the speaker give to potential chemistry majors?
-The speaker advises potential chemistry majors to be aware of the challenges, including the heavy workload and the need for further education for higher-paying jobs. They also encourage students to gain work experience and to pursue their broad interests in science.
How does the speaker describe the transition from general chemistry to more specialized courses?
-The speaker describes the transition as a progression from basic chemistry classes, which involve a lot of algebra, to more advanced courses like organic chemistry (ochem), physical chemistry (pchem), quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics, which require a deeper understanding and more complex problem-solving skills.
Outlines
🧪 The Journey to Becoming a Chemistry Major
The speaker shares their personal journey into becoming a chemistry major, which was not their initial plan. Initially interested in International Relations (IR) and Government, the decision to pursue science came during a summer break before college. The speaker was drawn to chemistry due to its position as a universal science, encompassing elements of biology and physics. They appreciated the variety and the fundamental understanding it provided across different scientific fields. Additionally, the practical applications and hands-on lab work were appealing, offering a sense of excitement and discovery. The speaker also acknowledges the common perception that STEM fields, including chemistry, lead to successful careers, but cautions that advanced degrees are often required for higher-paying positions in hard sciences.
🔥 The Thrills and Challenges of a Chemistry Major
The speaker discusses the exciting aspects of being a chemistry major, such as the hands-on lab work that allows for direct interaction with chemicals and witnessing reactions. They highlight the versatility of a chemistry degree, which can serve as a foundation for various fields, including biological, physical, and engineering disciplines. The speaker also addresses their regrets about choosing chemistry as a major, primarily the job market situation, which they acknowledge is a concern but not a significant deterrent due to the field's broad applicability. They also mention the difficulty level of chemistry, especially organic chemistry (ochem), which requires spatial thinking and a substantial amount of prerequisite knowledge in physics and math. The speaker warns of the potential for an extremely busy schedule due to the rigor of the coursework, extracurricular activities, and potential research commitments, but emphasizes their love for the major despite the workload.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Chemistry major
💡STEM fields
💡Biology
💡Physics
💡Lab work
💡Job market
💡Practical applications
💡Organic chemistry
💡Workload
💡Graduate school
💡Quantum mechanics
Highlights
The speaker chose to major in chemistry due to a broad interest in science and the desire to explore various fields.
Chemistry is considered the universal science, as it bridges the gap between biology and physics.
The speaker appreciates the variety in chemistry, which allows for learning the fundamentals of both biology and physics.
STEM majors, including chemistry, are perceived to lead to great job opportunities.
A graduate degree is often required in hard sciences for high-paying jobs, contrary to bachelor's degrees in fields like computer science.
Chemistry offers hands-on lab work, which is both engaging and enjoyable.
Higher-level chemistry labs provide unique experiences, such as creating fire or making substances dissolve.
Chemistry is a versatile major that can lead to careers in biological, physical, and engineering fields.
Chemistry majors have the opportunity to pursue a wide range of graduate degrees in STEM fields.
The job market for chemistry majors is diverse, but may require further education for higher positions.
Chemistry is acknowledged as a difficult major, with challenging coursework and spatial thinking required in organic chemistry.
The speaker warns that the workload in a chemistry major can be intense, with many prerequisites and general education requirements.
Balancing a busy schedule with extracurricular activities and potential research can be a challenge for chemistry majors.
Despite the challenges, the speaker loves their chemistry major and does not regret the choice.
The speaker advises potential chemistry majors to be aware of the workload and the need for time management.
The practical applications of a chemistry major are seen as a significant advantage for future career paths.
The speaker initially considered majors in IR and Gov before shifting to science during a summer break.
The decision to major in chemistry was influenced by the speaker's enjoyment of lab work and the subject's interdisciplinary nature.
Transcripts
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