Introductory Physics Classes Can Make or Break Students’ Persistence in the Field

hile the absolute number of undergraduates majoring in physics has increased in the last decade, the data paints a complex picture of students' paths.Introductory physics classrooms are often packed, but only a fraction of those students go on to major in physics.Of those that do, many will eventually switch majors-at a higher rate than students in similar programs, like engineering or computer science. What gives?AIP found that the women who were interested in majoring in physics believed they would do just as well in physics as their male counterparts.