I'm a physics major; should I double-major in math or computer science?

I was considering doing all 3, but man, no...





I may go to graduate school afterward (in maths?), since I eventually (may) want to become a professor.


But I've heard that physics majors can work as engineers right out of college.





I'm just generally unsure.





If I don't go to graduate school, which would enable me to get a higher-paying job (yea, I'm that shallow), a double-major in math or computer science?

I'm a physics major; should I double-major in math or computer science?
If you are a good mathematician, no need to go for something as trivial as computer science.





"But I've heard that physics majors can work as engineers right out of college."





Hardly. A lot of physicists work as engineers (like me) but we don't do it right out of college. We work as engineers in fields for which we managed to acquire a lot of experience either in research labs, at universities or companies which gave us the chance to grow into a certain line of work. As engineer you get your job offers because of your experience, not because of your major. A physics major alone does not buy you anything. You also need some practical exposure either on an experiment or program.





With a mathematics major you might be able to get into the financial field (you would have to work on stochastics, game theory and related modeling techniques). With computer science you would have a much broader exposure. The money is probably the same, unless you can manage to make it into investment companies like a friend of ours. Then it is A LOT more.
Reply:All 3, you are looking to add more years to your undergrad then it would take to get a Masters . Pay scales usually increase with the highest degree, not the number of BS degrees.





If you are looking for cash, get an MBA, if you want to be a prof. see which field has profs that pay the highest. My guess is that computer science will pay higher.
Reply:That question is primarily about you, and secondarily about your school. We know neither. I took the computer path, and ended up switching my major from physics to electrical engineering, My MS was in EE and computer science. Yet, I now wonder how my life would have been different if I had stayed in physics. After 'retirement', I do a lot of reading in physics, and very little in EE or computer science. Go figure.





Talk to your advisors and others about who you are and what your school offers, and less about pay. You will usually be more satisfied, and will usually accomplish more, and will usually be paid more if you emphasize what interests you and what you are good at.
Reply:Just follow your heart.


Money is not as important as happiness.


So choose the one which makes you feel comfortable.


This is just my opinion.


Even if you choose the one that you don't like, try hard to do better whatever it takes.Don't give up.


Good luck.
Reply:I'd say Computer science. I am a computer science major and I know that some of the highest paying jobs are in the video game industry. With a degree in physics and computer science, you'll be one of the minority to be able to program the physics engines for upcoming video games. With the onset of multi-core processor technology, physics engines, although already highly advanced, stand to become even more in depth and important to new video games.





You'll get enough of math in physics and computer science and learn the implementation as well as the theory.





Good luck!
Reply:I did my undergrad in math and physics. Then I got a PhD in math. It's great experience to really get the math down, and it really helped me to more readily understand a lot of complicated physics.





However, I now find that I am unemployable. Professor jobs are few, and the field is so competitive. I've been taking adjunct jobs at community colleges for very little pay.





You cannot get into any math field (finance, etc.) with anything less than a PhD. And even then it's hard. Your PhD would have to be in math finance, actuarial, or whatever field that you choose.





Go with computer science. You have a lot better chance of finding a decent job that way.