physics major reddit

This is my own experience, as well as the experience of the students I have spoken to who have switched to and from physics from engineering, CS, chemistry, etc...Its an extremely rigorous degree. Alright, so I'll preface this with the fact I'm only a (now former) junior undergrad physics major at a large department at a US university (top 30 in physics) and this will be a bit of a rant, but I have decided to leave the major and my pursuit of physics. PHYSICS MAJOR, B. S. – 2019-2020 . in Physics Entrepreneurship (applications accepted on a rolling basis, apply by May 15, 2021 if you require a visa) I realize that statement was perhaps a bit extreme. Agreed. A math major with a physics minor or a physics major with a math minor? I tried to just focus on the experience of being a physics major in college. For large research universities where the funding and lifeblood of the school is supremely dependent on research, the major and dominant aspect of any application is the research history, research potential, and research funding of the applicant. Finding a professional fit is a process of self-discovery. It is creativity. Required courses for the Physics major The physics major requires the completion of 47 credits in physics Winners go home and fuck the prom queen". First of all, there is no denying that physics is difficult subject. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus. A Physics Major may be tailored to be a natural counterpart to a second Major in mathematics, astronomy, computer science, environmental science, geology or the life sciences. That depends on what kind of career you want to have, but in general: no, it's not a bad move. Alright, so I'll preface this with the fact I'm only a (now former) junior undergrad physics major at a large department at a US university (top 30 in physics) and this will be a bit of a rant, but I have decided to leave the major and my pursuit of physics. Because of flexibility in upper division physics requirements, students can plan their own upper division courses to fit their individual objectives. Admission to the major requires completion of the preparation for the major. Besides, if you study physics major, you can take more Physics lectures like General Relativity, Particle Physics, String Theory and so on. Email Dr. Sean Robinson (spatrick@mit.edu), the Physics Flex Plan Coordinator, and make an appointment to discuss how you will meet all the requirements of the Flex major. It seems like physics departments like to tout the diversity of careers their alumni have, but I think this diversity is despite their physics degrees, as opposed to the physics degree opening up all of these doors. These two fields of science and technology are both very similar, yet very different from one another. The Best Colleges for Physics ranking is based on key statistics and student reviews using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Some universities offer some math heavy options in a physics programme, so that would not be the necessary course of action. This bachelor of science (BSc) program offers a solid physics background with the opportunity to explore other disciplines. Ah yes, the never ending battle between Physics and Engineering. The aim of /r/Physics is to build a subreddit frequented by physicists, scientists, and those with a passion for physics. You won't be finding any jobs that should be easily open to you, if you were in physics instead of engineering. classical physics - our faculty and students explore the fundamental laws of nature. I love reading pop sci physics books, sitting in lectures learning the formalisms and oddities of QM, getting down with the differential form of Maxwell's eqs, or learning the really cool mathematics behind Lagrangian mechanics. However, I do agree that a physics degree is more like an art degree than it is an engineering degree. 48: This second major is not offered with a primary major in Physics or a minor in Physics. But quitting? As a physics major at Brandeis, you will be equipped with the methodological tools and conceptual insight of the field, preparing you well to pursue graduate work at universities across the U.S. and globally. You might not have the opportunity to take all these courses if you take math as major because your program would be filled with lots of math courses. But yes, of course, in a research university, the most important thing is research. Learning physics is awesome and, I think, it is not terribly difficult to grasp the general ideas in some detail. Although I relate to your frustration, you will come to realize that in life, you cannot rely on anybody to teach you stuff. There's a reason why they are hired by their research abilities -- they can get stuff done, on their own, without relying on other people. They want the best and the brightest, but they also want a huge crop of them so that they can wear them down, weed out slackers and goofs, and work the rest to death. I too fell in love with physics in my senior year, and I went on to major in it in college. Physics major and math minor I assume, you probably won’t need every class a math major offers, and the approach to solving problems is actually very different between the two. It is what I have been enjoying the most. It's become a depressing field, in my opinion, and the benefits down the road are beginning to be outweighed by risks and sacrifices demanded by narcissistic professors, university politics, and the publish-or-perish culture. Physics research is not at all the same as the classes, and you really only transfer over the way of approaching problems (ie. I think majoring in physics is kind of a waste of time unless you plan on specifically going on in physics itself. Be sure to do internships and start networking before you graduate. Completing the HW sets, doing the labs, the research, your ability to solve the problems on exams (which may be nothing like the HW). New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Physics major and math minor I assume, you probably won’t need every class a math major offers, and the approach to solving problems is actually very different between the two. If i obtain a Bachelors degree in General Physics and choose NOT to pursue a Masters immediately after what could i do with the physics degree? A lot of what one learns beyond freshman year physics while very interesting, seemed useless to me outside of physics itself if I decided to leave later on. Honestly, all but one of my physics profs have been able to teach clearly and effectively. Most of the professors assume the physics students to be self-motivated, and in my personal experience (my undergrad and grad are big public research universities as well), physics professors are more than willing to try to teach students if they come in to ask for the help. Hey guys. Physics requires a strong commitment of time and effort. Can't speak as to the course load of physics/math double major, but I'm a theoretical chemistry PhD student and I managed to get chemistry/math double major within 4 years while working 2 jobs (take summer classes for gen ed courses if you can). I loved reading about it, learning it, and discussing it with friends, but ultimately I've decided it is not for me and I just want to share my experience with the major and why I'm choosing to leave(part of which is to further convince myself I should leave :)). Because that's precisely the motivation that you and other physicists seem to think is disingenuous (in my experience). What if you are struggling just to get by in undergrad? Remember to always back up your posts with reliable information, clear argumentation and verifiable sources. To research universities, the benefit that students get from these professors isn't good teaching, it's the opportunity to do research with them. The Physics Major in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum is a flexible program for students who plan to pursue technical or professional careers in areas requiring a sound grounding in physical science and mathematics. Thank you. I am also developing a space flight simulator phone app game, which is absolutely using what I learned from studying physics. Teaching strategies are the various techniques used by the teachers to facilitate the students with different learning styles. (Actually, there's a nice history on science book that talks about the people behind science.. and how many scientists die in misery, like Boltzmann who committed suicide because ain't nobody thought his crazy ass theories about atoms were true. It is a large research university, so the profs are hired based on their success in research. Physics GRE Flashcards! Happy hunting. I’m almost done with my freshman year of college and will soon be declaring my major. They may not be able to do it effectively for every student, but part of that is because one of the problems with physics is that the student can only be guided up a point at which the student must be the one who makes the leap and connection. You need to learn more math than the other students who want to do optics, solid state physics and so on. This makes me like physics less simply because I am not good at doing it. I don't think teaching ability is even considered when profs are hired (my department holds colloquia for potential profs which I have attended), its an afterthought. Students wishing to enroll in physics courses must obtain a C- grade or better in prerequisite courses. *Please note that Math N53 will notbe accepted. Major in phys with a minor in math. (Mechanical engineering here) I took some physics classes and it really teaches you how to think, which is what I lack in my major. Truly creative people rarely have trouble finding work regardless of the degrees they have. Beware to post if you do not know what a Lagrangian is. Is the motivation just supposed to be that it's cool and interesting? That's true, YET, you'll become physicists in the end so you should study physics. If I could upvote this one thousand times I would. Do you have any advice for a highschooler wanting to be a physicist on books to read things to do, im currently reading feynman, and my highschool physics textbooks, not pop sci. Moreover, Applied Physics major programmes are offered only in most other universities in Hong Kong. Note: All physics majors are required to fulfill three sets of requirements: Department of Physics and Astronomy Requirements, College of Science Requirements, and the University Core Requirements. Interested In Getting A Physics … That could be a career that relies on a solid understanding of the physical world, or it could be a post-grad degree in anything from architecture or film to civil or electrical engineering. After this grace period, I have indeed decided to move on. Now this difficulty does not pose too big a problem, that is if your interested enough in the subject matter. Computer science offers careers for the physics major in graphics and software, artificial intelligence, data processing and computer games. My big question to someone like you is, why should a smart person really go into physics? Teaching is important.. if those other things are equal (which they never are), but teaching is also indirectly tied to speaking, which also influences how easily those applicants get funding. A Physics Major program is appropriate for students interested in a more flexible and diverse undergraduate physics program. I’m hoping to pursue a career in theoretical physics. Where are you looking? Each role you assume teaches you about yourself, what role and professional environment best suits you. The HW, labs, tests, etc.. are generally very hard and time consuming. Post and discuss any commentaries, opinions or external links related to advanced research in physics. It is a large research university, so the profs are hired based on their success in research. I can agree with the fact that physics has definitely given me sharper reasoning and analytic skills though. If you want more specific help, you can pm me with some information about the programme and I can try to give more specific advice. I don't think teaching ability is even considered when profs are hired (my department holds colloquia for potential profs which I have attended), its an afterthought. The Physics major is designed to give students a rigorous training in physics which can be used as strong preparation for graduate school, work in the private sector, or teaching. As quoted by the famous Sir Sean Connery, ".. Okay, fine, just a slight exaggeration, but these were extremely optimistic people who ended up dropping out of the major because the romance of physics and the reality of physics don't really match up if you were raised on pop sci. Godspeed. Turned out I was totally wrong! I have a passion for learning it. But despite this, I am extremely jelouse of physics majors who can look at my hw and know how to solve it without actually knowing any context about it. It may seem that your professors owe you something, but they don't. have some prior background knowledge, reduce problem to simplest possible form, see what kind of shit you can do before you call for help). A large portion of physics graduates go on to graduate school. Top Physics Programs . Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I find no part of them enjoyable. Computer hardware is the result of applied physics. With over 2,100 different majors to choose from, selecting the best one can be daunting. Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours. I've been feeling disenchanted for a while, but I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt and get exposed to more physics before I decide whether or not to pull the plug. Physics Major Bachelor of Science. A few weeks ago, I gave a talk to the AP Physics class at my old high school about why they should all study physics in college. It's akin to trying to have a relationship if you were raised on Disney movies and thought they were anything like reality. Data analytics companies in Boston often hire physics majors because they know some programming, they know a lot of math (usually more usable math than a math major), and they are comfortable giving a meaning to large sets of data. because, as everyone has probably heard, college is not meant to be a vocational education. For Nance, she had always known Reddit as more of an entertainment source like many other social media platforms. If you are looking for a "physics" job, that is tough. This is a distinction I think prospective physics students should take into consideration when deciding whether or not they want to study it. I did a dual major with Physics and Cinema. Aba'y SAKALAM! The ranking compares the top physics programs in the U.S. Read more on how this ranking was calculated. I think your statement only works if you actually grasp the concepts that you are taught. TL;DR If you are not in dire straits for money, or have a pressing personal issue, you are making a mistake by thinking that it's your professor's duty to teach you stuff. I still work on physics to this day, but part of the problem to me and - I think - for people like OP is that Physics departments want people and they're willing to sell the major as a "versatile" career choice to make this happen. I think it would be beneficial for more authors to highlight how arduous science can be in practice, how many times a scientist can fail before getting it right, or even on the right track for that matter. For me the physics was never meant to be a career path. Honestly though, the biggest reason is that the math and programming/numerical analysis is much more enjoyable that the physics, which I would have not expected AT ALL. Choosing The Right Physics Major. I thought physics was it, I thought its what I wanted to do and I was dead set on doing it and going to grad school. If you study math major, you will take a lot of math courses that you won't need in your career. I do not regret my short time spent in physics at all, but I think I am making the right move here. I'm in OP's boat, I'm not as great as my peers in some classes which has derailed my confidence, didn't do so hot in Quantum. Posts should be pertinent, meme-free, and generate a discussion about physics. This sub does not fear maths, so mathematical physics discussions are appreciated. For every Feynman out there, how many unknown scientist toiled without recognition, in poverty and turmoil? The mark of a great physicist isn't the number of problem sets one has cranked through, or the number of graduate math classes they can vaguely reference. If you wish to dive into theoretical physics you will absolutely need solid physical basis. And so on. Or trying to have ten hour sex marathons if you thought porn was reality. Teaching strategies. What do you think would be best for preparing me for graduate school with a focus on theoretical physics? If Physics 1-2-3-4-5 is taken in place of Physics 20-21-22-23-24-25, it must be completed with an average grade of 2.70. This way, if an undergrad felt that he wasn't into doing physics research, he wouldn't go to grad school. It certainly is not a vocational degree and I certainly think college should not be just a vocational education. Not only that, I am not too good in the major, and I feel I lack the physical intuition that my successful peers have. Although students cannot declare until the lower division prerequisites (Physics 5 or 7 series and Math 1A-B, 53* and Physics 89) are finished, any student interested in the Physics major should come in for pre-major advising as soon as possible. Pre-major advising is available in 368 or 374 LeConte for all students who would like some academic counseling prior to declaring a major in physics. You’ll learn the math you need to do physics, whereas the other option you’ll learn unnecessary math and not enough physics, New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the TheoreticalPhysics community, Continue browsing in r/TheoreticalPhysics. Girlfriend, who also has undergrad physics degree, is struggling to find a job. Explaining why physics itself is interesting or talking about careers/graduate school would have… Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. It is much easier for me (maybe just less perceived difficulty because I enjoy it more) and the career prospects for a CS+math major seem to be much better, which make the degree a much better investment of time and money. Professional or amateur theories and models are welcome as long as they are backed up by actual research. Want help selecting the best match major for you? Try Majors Matcher. The thing is though, is that I think there is a difference between learning physics and doing physics. Press J to jump to the feed. There is no such thing as a "phyiscal intuition", there's just hard-workers, and persistent folk. I know physics majors who are in a math PhD and vice-versa. This is why I don't really enjoy the pop science and the pop scientists. So im a soon to be Senior in High School and i was always undecided on what i wanted to do with life until i took an Honors Physics class and fell in love with it. Physics departments can use the institute’s data to help advise students, Mulvey said. None of those pop science books and pop scientists seem to highlight how terrible scientists have it sometimes. If it weren’t for physicists, the modern world would be a very different place. The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers two undergraduate majors, in Physics and in Applied Physics. Not everyone finds it early (and some people will never see it!). I appreciate that they've made science more popular, which is good for funding, but there is so much romanticism and mysticism in what they talk about that they don't prepare unsuspecting students for the terribly hard work that comes with actually doing physics.

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