7 Reasons to Choose Chemistry as Your Major
Are you trying to decide on a major? Do you want to choose one that will keep your options for the future open, provide a substantial income potential, and be interesting at the same time?
If so, consider chemistry. Chemistry is one of those fields that has wide-ranging applications in lots of different industries, from agriculture to medicine. If you want to learn more about why you should choose this field of study, read on!
1. Chemistry Will Challenge You
Chemistry is a challenging subject that requires discipline, hard work, and practice. It takes time to understand the concepts and learn them well enough to apply them in your projects. If you are not willing to put in the effort to get through a difficult course, then you shouldn't take chemistry as your major because it will only make things more miserable for you.
But, if you can stick it out through the tedium and confusion, chemistry might just be for you. And if you’re struggling with chemistry, don’t worry. There are a plethora of online resources that can help you hone your chemistry skills. You can learn more from chemistry note banks at https://www.sweetstudy.com/note-bank/.
2. Chemistry is a "Central Science"
Surprised? Most people don't realize chemistry is the foundation for all other sciences. The truth is, you can't study biology, physics, or astronomy without first studying chemistry.
Even if you're more interested in one of these other fields (or even an entirely different field), it's still beneficial to have at least some understanding of chemistry, especially since many medical schools require applicants to have taken at least two semesters of college-level organic chemistry before admission.
3. Chemistry Is a Part of Our Everyday Lives
When you think about the chemistry in our everyday lives, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s the white powdery substance that is used to clean everything from your car windows to toothpaste. Maybe it’s the shiny metal wires with colorful plastic-coated ends that make up your computer keyboard and mouse. Or maybe it’s the smelly but powerful stuff that helps put out fires.
Chemistry is everywhere! It's in our food and clothing, fuel, plastics, and electronics—even technology like computers and smartphones. Chemistry is also part of many jobs, including firefighters (they use chemicals called foams) and construction workers (they use concrete made with cement as well as paints).
4. Chemistry Research Opens Up Many Different Careers
Some people think that a chemistry major is only useful for those who want to be chemists. But the truth is that chemistry research is used in many different careers, including medicine and agriculture. For example, pharmaceutical companies use lots of chemistry techniques when they develop new drugs.
Many of our modern medicines come from plant extracts like aspirin or morphine. And since plants contain so many different compounds, it's important to understand how they work together as well as individuals before we can start using them medically (or eating them).
Chemistry research also helps us understand how things grow better in agriculture: If you're growing crops on a farm or keeping animals on your property as livestock or pets, you must know what kinds of chemicals are present in the soil and water supply so that you can control them appropriately. Otherwise, some plants might grow more quickly than others!
5. There Are Many Types of Chemistry You Can Study
It's important to note that there are many types of chemistry you can study. For example, a chemist who specializes in organic chemistry might be more interested in exploring the chemical compositions of living organisms and how they interact with their environment.
A chemist who specializes in inorganic chemistry may choose to focus on developing new materials or understanding what goes on inside Earth's core through geochemistry.
Some chemists may choose to study the physical properties of matter, such as density and phase changes; other chemists will focus on the chemical interactions between different species, such as acids and bases; even others might choose to study how these interactions affect biological processes like photosynthesis or respiration. And all this is just scratching the surface, there are so many different fields within chemistry!
You can also decide how you want to pursue your studies: You can work at a lab for an organization like NASA or Google (or any other company), and help people by providing them with information about chemicals that might harm them (like warning labels), teach high school students about basic concepts related to chemistry (and much more). The possibilities are endless!
6. The Job Market for Chemists Is Strong
In the United States, chemists are in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the employment of chemists will grow faster than average at 6% through 2024.
This growth is expected because chemistry is a foundational science; as new technologies are developed, more and more jobs for chemists will be created. Fields such as medicine and engineering rely on chemistry to develop new products and processes, so if anything about these fields changes or expands, it will create a need for more chemists.
Chemistry is also an important industry in terms of GDP, the total value of goods produced and services provided within an economy over a specific period, and employment growth: In 2016 alone, US chemical manufacturing contributed $800 billion worth of output along with 1 million jobs across all industries.
7. You’ll Make Lasting Friendships
Chemistry students are usually very social, open-minded, and hard-working. They tend to have an innate curiosity and a love of learning, which can make them good problem-solvers in any situation. Chemistry majors are also known for their intelligence and creativity.
Chemistry majors tend to end up with the best jobs after graduation because of their skills in research and analysis; the field is so broad that it encompasses everything from engineering to law enforcement.
Choosing a Fruitful Major Is Important for Your Future
Your major choice has a big impact on the rest of your life. The most obvious reasons include the fact that many jobs require certain degrees or at least coursework in specific fields. A chemistry degree opens doors to jobs in pharmaceuticals, medicine, and research—fields that pay well and offer good benefits.
If you're interested in any of these fields, there's no reason not to choose chemistry as your major! But even if you're not interested in one of these specific career paths, it's still worth considering why you'd want a chemistry degree.
Your major choice can have an impact on whether or not you get into grad school or law school (or any other graduate program), which could then lead to better job opportunities down the line.
These are just a few of the many advantages that those who pursue chemistry as their college major get to enjoy. If you're passionate about science and enjoy the challenge of solving problems, this could be the perfect major for your future career.
