To many Princeton students, the prospect of majoring in math, chemistry, physics or molecular biology is a daunting one. Chemistry, like other non-humanities majors, is far from a gut department, Brian Greenwald '04 said. Citing "advanced quantum or advanced thermo" as the hardest departmentals he has had to take, Greenwald noted, "Those p-chem courses are hardcore."
Partially as a result of such "hardcore" courses, the math and science departments traditionally attract a much smaller pool of majors than the "Big Four" — history, economics, politics and English.
The chemistry department typically has between 25 to 32 majors, according to undergraduate administrator Kirsten Erwin, although she noted that "the current batch of senior [majors] only numbers 11. Even Dean Hargadon couldn't explain that one."
But associate professor Michael Hecht, who serves as a departmental representative, cites the commonly held explanation for this trend. "It is perceived by some people that there are other majors at Princeton that require less work than chemistry," he said.
Molecular biology department representative and professor Jean Schwarzebauer said another popular reason for students' avoidance of majoring in the sciences is the time-consuming nature of the laboratory requirements.
Yet Princeton students are not all simply trying to avoid a heavy workload and all-nighters in the lab by majoring in the humanities. As math department representative Simon Kochen explains, even those who are willing to commit extensive amounts of time cannot necessarily become math majors.
"I wouldn't say anyone can do it. You have to have some talent in the field," he said.
Certainly not everyone possesses sufficient talent to breeze through MAT 317: Complex Analysis with Applications, MOL 348: Cell and Developmental Biology or CHM 403: Advanced Organic Chemistry. The large sizes of the introductory science classes and increasingly smaller enrollments in these upper-level courses seems to corroborate the view that many students "max-out" their math and science abilities.
Though there are currently 198 students in organic chemistry, the department of chemistry has only "28 junior majors, which is in the usual range," Erwin explained. Thus, only 15 percent of those students who survive organic chemistry generally go on to major in the department.
Yet Hecht points out that a lack of sufficient ability in chemistry is not responsible for the low percentage, since many of the students enrolled in intoductory classes "never plan to major in chemistry. They are taking it because they are premed or need it for engineering or for a bio degree."
Peter Meyers, physics professor and departmental representative, observed a similar trend, where introductory physics classes have about 300 students, intermediate classes have about 50 students and only about 20 end up majoring in the department.
He accounted for these dwindling numbers by explaining, "Most of the 103 and even most of the 105 students are engineers, not prospective physics majors.
Of the estimated "50 to 100 students seriously considering physics as a major," Meyers said that "some . . . find other things they love . . . [and] I'm afraid that many think that they can't do it, when in fact they can. They underestimate how hard it is for other students and think they compare badly to those who just put on a better show."
Sophomore recruitment
Many of the departments are currently engaged in new recruitment methods to convince students that they can, in fact, endure the challenge of majoring in math or a science. The math department was "just awarded a 'Sophomore Initiative' . . . to help departments that have smaller enrollments as opposed to the 'Big Four' departments," Kochen said.
As part of this initiative, the department is considering plans to create two separate programs within the department — one for pure and one for applied mathematics — in the hopes of attracting more students to the field, he said.
The chemistry department is going to "have many more slots" available for students to work in research labs over the summer early in their undergraduate years. Moreover, the department is also "trying to talk to newly admitted students and encourage them if they have an interest in chemistry to come to Princeton," Hecht said.
The molecular biology department is also trying to give prospective majors exposure through lab work over the summer, Schwarzebauer said.
Similarly, Meyers said the physics department designates a faculty member — currently associate professor Steve Gubser — to answer prospective majors' questions. The department also employs many underclassmen considering the major in labs over the summer, Meyers added.
New science sequence
Additionally, many math and science professors are optimistic that next year's new Genomic Center-sponsored four-course, four-department, experimental science sequence for freshmen and sophomores will encourage students to major in their departments. "Whether it will make more chemistry, biology, physics majors — I have no idea. But it is an additional way of introducing science to people in college and that can only be a good thing," said Hecht, who will be teaching in the sequence.
Science majors speak out
Despite the challenges of pursuing scientific study in college, many students at Princeton have found the experience to be extremely rewarding.
"It's been a real roller coaster ride, majoring in physics here at Princeton," said Ursula Pavlish '05.
"There are the unbelievable lows when I'm staring at a page of equations for hours on end, not understanding the subtle logic," she said. "[But] the highs come when comprehension finally hits and I am able to appreciate the physical world more fully."
Math major Dan Fishman '04 said he chose math for two reasons — the challenge and the ladies. "Someone once told me that math is hot," he said in an email. In addition, he said it "really teaches you how to think . . . [and] offers the advantage of working with the best in the field and learning from a most interesting group of faculty and students that I would have never met."
Moreover, there's another little-known advantage to majoring in math — the jokes.
"There is something attractive about jokes that only a handful of people can understand," Fishman added.
In addition to the esoteric jokes, majoring in math also prepares students to do just about anything come graduation.
"I was surprised myself to learn that to get into law school and to get into medical school you are actually at an advantage majoring in math," Kochen said.
A wide range of options are available to math and science majors upon graduation, and Sarah Kapnick '04, a math major, is no exception.
"I'm going to work . . . in investment banking for two years and then . . . I may go get an MBA with a masters in applied math or atmospheric/oceanic sciences, or I may go get a Ph.D. in atmospheric or oceanic sciences, applied mathematics or finance," she said.
Perhaps such opportunities are the least of what math and science majors deserve as a reward for their over-fulfillment of what many simply think of as the QR requirement.
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