manderguy

I don't know about other people's impressions, but I think many scientists and science oriented people start out wanting to know everything about the natural world.

Your academic path will probably help you narrow your career interests. Over time I think you'll find yourself drawn to one field or another. As you progress through undergrad and take the broad scope of science classes that most science majors require, you'll probably find yourself drawn more towards one field than another. By the time you hit grad school you'll be in a field and be narrowing your interest to a particular set of questions as you gain more depth in the field.

Of course, this is a sampling of my own meandering path and the observation of some others. I'm sure there are scientists who knew exactly what they wanted to work on while quite young.

I second the math suggestion and would add stats as well (you'll probably need a couple semesters for a BS anyway). That should give you a firm grounding for most sciences.

At some time, if you think you made the wrong choice, you can always change. Even faculty have done this. The process of getting advanced degrees in any decent science program will prepare you think critically, analyze data, etc.; in short, do science. And while different fields have different ways of asking questions, and different ideas about what constitutes a suitable answer, you'll be able to pick that up quickly. Don't worry.

js_africanus

That is one big reason why I think that math is such a big deal at this point. It gives such a good grounding, it keeps you smart, and it can be applied in many fields. If science ain't your gig, a good math background will open up lots of lucrative opportunities in business, for example.

Shadowy Man

And remember, in the first year of college, the various sciences tend to have the same requirements in terms of classes.

So you'll have at least a year to really decide without setting yourself back any time.

Enai

Seconded. Physics pretty much explains the way the world works, and that makes it interesting to me. Of course it can also be applied to make actual cool gizmos (lasers, for instance).

But seriously, just go and shop around to see what you like. Consider engineering, too. It's seldom offered in schools (at least in germany, where I live) but it's a profession which is very much in demand and also scientific. You'll know what you want someday.

Enai

Malagasy Rain

I just noticed that and I'm slapping myself. Forgive me, great Darwin and Mendel.

On a serious note, my eyes are pretty much set for physics for an advanced degree as of now.

Phaycops

You're only in 11th grade; don't make any sort of concrete decision now, because you'll probably wind up changing your mind. Most colleges you can go into as a freshman "undecided," and take a bunch of low-level prerequisite courses to sort of get your feet wet.

Also keep in mind that just because you choose to study one topic doesn't mean you can't continue to learn about other things throughout your entire life.

Malagasy Rain

Of course. I'll always study a field that's different from what I'm concentrating on as an extra-curricular. I'll study analytical calculus when I'm majoring in physics/astronomy.

jj

Hear, Hear. I'm a retired senior researcher, without even a PhD, who has his training in EE, but whose most useful results are in human hearing, filter design, and MP3 coding.

Get a good background, and you'll be able to move to what makes sense.

xorbie

Yeah, seriously. This insults all the real sciences out there.

And also I would look into a major in computer science and math, because computational sciences are becoming more and more useuful, and the ability to do crazy computations is more and more helpful in biology and physics, for instnance.

nermal

Just take as many AP courses as you can, do as well as you can, and enter a good college without declaring a major (or declare yourself as a math major--you can change it later.) Take your required courses for the first 3 or 4 semesters, and stack up the math classes. By your junior year you should have some physics, math, and biology or chemistry under your belt.
Along the way you'll meet people majoring in many different disciplines, and some will pique your interest. You'll research those areas, and you'll find something that completely inspires you.
Just one more thing: Don't make the mistake that so many science majors make, and ignore the arts courses. Take some challenging English courses with emphasis on writing. These will give amazing returns.

Ed