possible to teach yourself?

Substance D

Hello,

Currently im a 2nd year physics major, I'm an ok student, I could probably work harder for my marks. I was thinking about doing a major in Mathematical Physics because of the extra math classes it involves that sound interesting, but to do this, it would involve around 2 more years of just math classes basically. I was thinking about the extra time and $$$ involved in that and was wondering if I could just teach this stuff to myself, since I basically do that already with most of my math classes because I have a hard time following my prof. I'm basically interested in Number Theory, Differential Geometery, Topology, Non-Linear Dynamics/Chaos Math... I was wondering if anyone has taught any of these subjects to themselves just for the fun of it? Its obviously hardwork and i'm of average intelligence, just wondering if anyone else was in the same boat.

Thanks!

mgb_phys

Yes, but it's going to take longer than it would with a professor, tutorials etc to help explain it to you.

Substance D

Yeah, thats for sure. I guess I've also being somewhat disapointed in my math profressors lately because I just end up teaching myself the entire course it seems, and making zero reference to any of their notes.

Chris Hillman

The whole point of being in school is to take advantage of the expertise of the faculty (and sometimes graduate students or even other undergrads if your school is very good) to learn the most in the least time, and to learn it as well as possible. So I'd urge you to either focus on improving your grades in the courses your already taking, or to decide to get serious about studying and increase your course load and redouble your effort.

Sounds to me like you may not be taking advantage of office hours. If that is so, you should reform immediately! College is a once-in-a-century opportunity to really learn a lot and to make something of yourself intellectually; if you are not devoting your full attention to getting the most out of the experience you are cheating yourself.

JasonRox

I'm in the same boat.

Chris does have a point too though.

Gib Z

I would recommmend not teaching yourself everything, go take a proper course and teach yourself the holes from the course. Most of what I know is self taught, and I have tonnes of holes that wouldn't be there if I was allowed to enter higher level courses.

Kummer

Most of what I know is self-taught, so there really is nothing amazing about teaching youself. All you need is motivation.

Chris Hillman

I agree of course that above a certain level, most of what we know is self-taught. That's just the natural consequence of achieving a certain level of expertise! But let's not lose sight of the point that the OP is not yet an expert but hopes to become one. I insist that he will maximize his chances by taking his formal coursework much more seriously and applying himself harder, taking advantage of office hours, the math and physics research libraries at his uni, inexpensive access to computer software like Mathematica, Maple, Matlab, and other resources offered at his university.

Substance D

Its kind of a class by class thing, I know with my physics profs, I've done great in the class and learned from their notes and have had conversations with them etc. I guess its just this one prof I have right now has been disheartening to me, ive talked to him and borrowed some of his textbooks, so I wouldnt say im wasting my experience because I generally am trying, I guess what worries me is that in order to take some of these higher level math classes I would have to re-take some other math classes for no credit, so thats a lot of extra time and money, and yes I know school is a once in a lifetime chance etc, but those are real factors to include

Count Iblis

Teaching yourself should work ok. if you are disciplined enough. When I was at university I studied most of the courses on my own. I noticed that I did far better at exams in the subject I had studied myself. I did less well at the courses that I followed at university.

I don't know what the rules at your university are, but we were allowed to sit exams for any subject...

Gib Z

Personally, when given the option, take the course, because during the course, nothing is stopping you from learning the content ahead and by yourself. The advantage of taking the course is the obvious teaching experience of the teacher, who most likely knows the content extremely well, and will be able to give better insights into the topic that he/she has acquired from teaching it for years and years, than you can from learning it for the first time for yourself.

Count Iblis

It really depends on the student what is better. In my case, I was used to studying myself. In high school I was far ahead and I studied math from university books. So, I guess that I'm not so good at sitting in a room and listening to a lecturer....

Substance D

I'm curious if anyone here knows any one in the science field(physics is what im interested in) who had to learn a branch of math or something on their own for work?

Chris Hillman

Every researcher has to teach himself/herself/itself stuff all the time. But UG students should take advantage of the opportunity to learn how to do that efficiently from faculty who are well practiced in this art.

IMO, this thread is marching in circles. Does this discussion have a point and if so can someone tell me what they think it is?

Substance D

I'm not trying to disrespect the faculty or anything, I really wish someone would understand my situation of not wanting to spend the extra few years and thousands of dollars for classes that I may not be good at...but anyways. Thanks for all your replies, and sorry for wasting your time Hillman ;)

Chris Hillman

I'm glad you've kept your sense of humor. Speaking for myself, I do sympathize, but it is especially when you are "not good at" T that you most need the help which faculty can provide! If I could offer a better solution than "soldier on", I would!

I am sorry that you are feeling frustrated with some of your math courses right now, but at some point, math courses have already been made as easy as we can make them, given limits on resources (especially faculty time) and given the relentless pressure (in part from students who wish to get out as quickly as possible!) to compress the curriculum to a far more compact form than is consistent with good pedagogy. I hope you have a good Thanksgiving (if you are in the U.S.) and feel better after the break.

Crosson

Definitely teach it to yourself, the math department does not cater to physics majors, and so you would find the majority of those classes irrelevant for your future in mathematical physics. Instead you should teach it to yourself in your spare time, graduate quickly in whatever non-mathematical physics major you have already started. If you went to a average graduate school, you would never miss having taken official versions of those math classes.