- #1
FermiParadox
- 10
- 0
I'm going to Texas Tech University (if anyone else is thinking about it, do not go to this school) I'm currently enrolled in Physics II and Calculus III. I'm making A's (well, at least close to that) in both. Here's my problem:
The amount of actual 'calculus' that we use in the course is elementary at best. It's as if the course was designed to provide the barest bones, generalist overview of electromagnetism even when it's completely and utterly unnecessary. Why even take the classes? Yes, yes, 'concepts', 'problem solving skills', etc. Except I don't actually develop either of those. The problems that we're assigned - we're using Giancoli, and that's where all of the problems are from, although I also own Halliday & Resnick. The problems from Giancoli are mostly just find the right formula and go go go - not much problem solving there. The problems from Halliday & Resnick can be very challenging but it's difficult to work up the inspiration to work on very challenging problems that are only given cursory coverage in the text.
I think that's one of the fundamental problems with that particular book; the examples given in the beginning are not enough to solve most problems. I'm of the opinion that the more example problems are given, the better, because there are such a sheer number of possibilities (what if we have a rotating charged rod that's underwater? What's its torque?!) that it's virtually impossible to account for them all. But I'm getting sidetracked here.
The point is this: I want to learn physics. Real, honest to God physics. I want to learn what Newton discovered, not some watered down version spoonfed to me by the faculty at a "party school" that hungrily devour whatever scraps of resources are tossed their way, most of those scraps coming from the College of Engineering all whilst we sit in the College of Arts & Sciences, forced to take electives that mean nothing to us and devoid of funding for research that goes beyond the computational. I can handle advanced math. I love advanced math. I am far more interested in theory than in "application" - oh, yes, the makings of a real breadwinner - and I don't understand why we're all forced to sit in a lab for four hours so we can get "research experience" (yeah right, by the way. A college lab is nothing like actual research and I can say this as someone who has never actually done any research).
I want to get a doctorate (computational physics woooo) but frankly I'm considering switching to computer science (which is in the College of Engineering, has better funding, better resources, everything) because I don't know if I can take this anymore. Does anyone have any similar experiences, or some advice to share? I hope the enormous rant didn't scare anyone away - I know it's disjointed and covers a ridiculous number of topics and concerns, but frankly, I just kind of want to air my grievances and also need some help coming to terms with what I want to do with the rest of my life.
The amount of actual 'calculus' that we use in the course is elementary at best. It's as if the course was designed to provide the barest bones, generalist overview of electromagnetism even when it's completely and utterly unnecessary. Why even take the classes? Yes, yes, 'concepts', 'problem solving skills', etc. Except I don't actually develop either of those. The problems that we're assigned - we're using Giancoli, and that's where all of the problems are from, although I also own Halliday & Resnick. The problems from Giancoli are mostly just find the right formula and go go go - not much problem solving there. The problems from Halliday & Resnick can be very challenging but it's difficult to work up the inspiration to work on very challenging problems that are only given cursory coverage in the text.
I think that's one of the fundamental problems with that particular book; the examples given in the beginning are not enough to solve most problems. I'm of the opinion that the more example problems are given, the better, because there are such a sheer number of possibilities (what if we have a rotating charged rod that's underwater? What's its torque?!) that it's virtually impossible to account for them all. But I'm getting sidetracked here.
The point is this: I want to learn physics. Real, honest to God physics. I want to learn what Newton discovered, not some watered down version spoonfed to me by the faculty at a "party school" that hungrily devour whatever scraps of resources are tossed their way, most of those scraps coming from the College of Engineering all whilst we sit in the College of Arts & Sciences, forced to take electives that mean nothing to us and devoid of funding for research that goes beyond the computational. I can handle advanced math. I love advanced math. I am far more interested in theory than in "application" - oh, yes, the makings of a real breadwinner - and I don't understand why we're all forced to sit in a lab for four hours so we can get "research experience" (yeah right, by the way. A college lab is nothing like actual research and I can say this as someone who has never actually done any research).
I want to get a doctorate (computational physics woooo) but frankly I'm considering switching to computer science (which is in the College of Engineering, has better funding, better resources, everything) because I don't know if I can take this anymore. Does anyone have any similar experiences, or some advice to share? I hope the enormous rant didn't scare anyone away - I know it's disjointed and covers a ridiculous number of topics and concerns, but frankly, I just kind of want to air my grievances and also need some help coming to terms with what I want to do with the rest of my life.