Schools How should newly admitted grad student prepare for grad school?

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Graduates preparing for physics graduate school often seek advice on effective preparation strategies. Many recommend self-studying advanced topics such as Electromagnetism (EM), Quantum Mechanics (QM), and Statistical Mechanics, especially if only one semester of each has been completed. Current graduate students frequently express surprise at the increased difficulty and heavy course loads compared to undergraduate studies. It's also noted that having work experience can enhance focus and motivation in graduate school, as it provides a clearer understanding of academic goals. Financial preparation is emphasized, with suggestions to secure a job or internship before starting graduate studies to alleviate potential financial strain. Overall, insights from current and past students highlight the importance of academic readiness, practical experience, and financial planning for a successful transition into graduate school.
mattlorig
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I graduated with a BS in physics last spring, and just finished the whole grad school application process. I now have from Dec. '04 - Sept. '05 to do what I want with my life, and I was thinking about how I should prepare myself to begin graduate school. I would particularly like to hear from current graduate students what the did (or more likely what they wish they had done) to prepare for graduate school Right now, I'm thinking of just studying EM, QM, and Statistical Mechanics on my own. I've only had one semester of each of these courses, and I think many undergraduate programs required two semesters of them.

Also, I'd like to know if graduate students were surprised by anything when they began graduate school...Really heavy course loads? Jump in difficulty from undergrad to grad courses? Any other advice would be welcomed.
 
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you are not the only one in this state of mind.I don't even have an idea of what to expect. Is the first meeting going to be with advisors.will there be any more interviews about our previous experiences or...whatever.My background is even in chemical engineering not that I'm coming from a pure Physics background. I'm in the dark here.Can anyone shed some light on this.Current/past grad students,kindly fill us in.keep us posted.Thnx.
 
See if you can get some kind of job or internship and make some money. Money will be tight in grad school, so it helps if you can save something up for a rainy day. Also, I've noticed that people who have held a real job or two have a better time focusing in grad school, as they seem to have a better idea of why they are there. I have a few friends who have never been exposed to the real world, and they are consistently the most confused and discouraged.
 
Assuming the original poster is still in grad school, he's probably in the middle of working on his dissertation right now. :wink:
 
Damn you, thread necromancy! Foiled again!
 

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