Thinking of learning more?
Why not do a double major in physics and...
What else can you study?
Literally anything you want to!
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Does it have to be in STEM? No!
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Does it have to have lots of overlapping coursework? No, but it may take you longer to graduate.
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Do you have to decide to do a double major right away as a freshman? Also no, but there may be a time limit to when your last opportunity is to add the second major to your transcript.
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I personally studied Physics and Astronomy, which had quite a bit of overlap course-wise, making my life slightly easier (by a very, very small amount). Each major had their own separate junior/senior level classes, and two different options for my senior lab class (I chose the astronomy version, which also counted towards my physics degree). I added the astronomy degree during the second semester in my sophomore year.
One warning I have is that some schools have junior/senior courses that are on a 5 semester rotation (one of these semesters they don’t teach any classes). This means that not all of the classes are offered every semester, so if you don’t realize this, you may have to stay an extra year to take the last class in the set and to complete your requirements. Just pay attention to the schedule, and if you’re really not sure, ask an older student.
How does this work?
Your first step is to get approval from your “home department”.
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At some schools, there might be a GPA cutoff, so make sure that you fit that criteria. I don’t think you’ll be able to argue your way out of this.
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Then, take your signed form to Administration, and they’ll approve it. I’ve never had any issues with them not approving things like this. However, before you make your decision to add on another major (especially if it's later in your undergraduate career), make sure that you actually have enough semesters left to complete the second major. This change may take just a few weeks or as long as a semester to actually appear on your transcript, so don’t fret if the change isn’t immediate.
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Adding a minor follows pretty much the same procedure as above. Just less required courses to take to complete it, and a little bit less commitment in general. Something I've been asked quite often is if having a minor helps your chances of getting into a graduate program. I can't say for certain if it helps, but it certainly doesn't hurt. However, think of a minor as just some extra knowledge that you have, which may or may not end up being useful to you one day.
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Along with a double major, I also completed a minor in music. So, will this enhance my physics career in any way? Probably not. Did it give me a different group of friends during undergrad that I wouldn't have met otherwise? Absolutely. Does it give me something interesting to talk about now besides physics? Yes.
Some Reminders...
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If you declare your second major or minor and the course requirements overlap quite a bit, make sure that you actually complete all of the requirements, as it's easy for both you and your department to miss something.​
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Clear up what your senior thesis requirements are. You might be fine with just one thesis, or like me, you might need two separate theses!
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Know your limits. If having a second major is becoming too overwhelming for you, it's okay to re-adjust. Maybe instead of a second major, complete a minor in that subject instead, or even take a few courses as electives.
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Scholarships. You might only be awarded a certain amount of scholarship/grant money if you're considered a full time student (generally 12+ credits) for your first major only. This definitely depends on what type of aid you're getting, but read the fine print. For physics especially, you can't take 5 physics courses at once because they build on prior knowledge, so for me after my first semester of junior year, I was no longer considered a "full-time student" in physics. Just something to keep in mind!