I'm thinking of what course I should follow once I graduate high school next year. I've narrowed it down to two choices.

1) Physical Chemist
2) Computer Animator

I like working with programs like 3ds max to make 3d animations and stills, but I've always been fascinated with science, especially physics and chemistry. I have the requirements to get into both courses.

Just wondering if anyone out there has a job in either of these fields (or close to these fields) and could give me an idea of what you do in them.

They both sound like interesting and rewarding careers.

2 nice choices you got there :) I only had a choice to administration :(

/edit well my spelling was crap

You could maybe combine them both by doing computer animations of chemistry? :)

If you can acquire a strong background in computer programming, chemistry, and mathematics you can get a job creating software that models chemical systems. There are plenty of chemists and plenty of computer programmers out there, but very few people have the necessary skills to create software that predicts how chemicals will interact and behave. There’s a big demand for people with the right combination of skills, especially in the bio-tech industry where more and more of the new drugs are being designed on computers. One program that our lab uses often is Spartan from a company called Wave Function Technologies. You might check them out at http://www.wavefun.com/ . You can make a lot of money if you can do it. Something to think about, anyway.

yes, I'd go for what Nasor is recommending. The bio-tech industry will be very important in the future.....plus, you're lucky enough to be sitting at the generation x/y border, so when you've graduated, a nice high paying job will probably be waiting for you. Though you should go into whatever makes you happy. Chem is great. I like it too.

I'm taking computer science right now. IMO I had pretty good foresight to register for it in the first place alongside with my other courses. You had damn good foresight in comparison to me. Don't waste your opportunity. You now have the chance make it big. So go for it!!!!!

BTW, if it's one or the other, than I'd highly recommend becoming a physical chemist. But keep in mind, happiness comes first...

Make sure you take all the university entrance courses in high school, including biology. You may not think you need it in a techie field, but you might, believe it or not.

Some thoughts...
I ended up working with computers, probably since thats what I have been good at since I was 10. But I kinda wished I would have gone with a science. I started out chem. eng. but that wasn't what I had thought.
i'm not sure animation would be as fun as you think. By that, I mean its fun to do at home, but maybe a little different when its your job.
I would suggest option #1 from my own experiences....

BTW, if it's one or the other, than I'd highly recommend becoming a physical chemist. But keep in mind, happiness comes first...


being a physical chemist IS happiness!!!



and BTW, computers suck!!!!!!!!!

I am a qualified surveyor,and surgical technician,and former workaholic.I became very ill about 1 1/2 years ago and realized that there are some more important things to life than getting ahead,too many people work their whole lives toward retirement and die b4 they can enjoy it,so now I enjoy each day as much as possible,and pay less attention to getting ahead.
Many people i have known worry more about what strangers think about their"Property Display" ,above all else;this is great if you are a politician who gets a chunk of those taxes for doing NOTHING every time you aquire more property that you can be taxed for.
So what I am saying is:
REMEMBER THAT YOU WON'T LIVE FOREVER,AND IN THE END,EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AQUIRED WILL NO LONGER BELONG TO YOU,AND NONE OF IT REALLY DID ANYWAY.
AND IF YOU HAVE TO IMPRESS PEOPLE WITH YOUR PROPERTY BEFORE YOU CAN TALK TO THEM WITHOUT BEING REDICULED OR BLOWN OFF,YOU DON'T NEED THEM ANYWAY.