Undergrad Definition and 870 Threads

I was looking for some undergrad books covering topics that you would learn in a university as an undergrad in the fields of theoretical physics and theoretical astrophysics. I would also like to know what maths the books require.

Ok I have been accepted by university of michigan (ann arbor) as well as george tech(atlanta) for EE. Any advise to choose one from the other is welcome. Thanks.

Hi, I'm going to be entering my senior year of undergrad and I'm pursuing a math and physics degree. I've got a good, high GPA, and really enjoy all of the math classes I've been in. Physics, however (especially particle physics and classical mechanics) were not so enjoyable. With respect to...

Hey, In the opinions of the members of this forum, which is more beneficial in the long-run: Pursuing a masters degree (MSEE) directly after undergrad or working for a company with tuition reimbursement for about 6 months and doing it part time. I figure that the 30 credit hours needed for...

Hello all! I am a rising high school junior in Alaska who needs to start making a list of colleges to consider for undergraduate study. Here's some quick info about me: - Should have 9 AP classes by graduation (including Calc AB, BC, Stats, Physics, and Chem) - 4.0 unweighted GPA up to...

Hey all, So, if I'm an undergrad, going onto his senior year, who doesn't have any research experience or anything shiny like that, and wants to be a theoretical physicist, what should I do? Should I just suck it up and do research in a lab?

I heard it doesn't matter, but still there are differences in between schools. I was accepted into U of T Scarborough, UofT Mississauga, Queens, McMaster and Waterloo (co-op) for physics. I am interested in a math/physics major and in pursuing a career as a physicist or mathematician. Do...

Hey. As an upper level "lab" kindof class I am asked tot take either optics or electronics. To be honest, I wasn't a sucker for circuits in my other physics classes so instead I chose optics because I liked that part of my physics classes. However, would not choosing electronics put me behind...

I've been researching CMP and it looks really interesting. I'm getting to the point of where I need to decide on my major. I'm a sophomore and have most core classes done. I understand that I won't be dealing with CMP until Grad School, but what kinda classes/major would help most in CMP as an...

For example: (US's best undergrad mech. engineering) http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/spec-mechanical (US's best grad mech. engineering) http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/mechanical-engineering I really...

I was wondering if you people knew any good book for undergrad physics(mechanics,gravitation,Heat and thermo all topics covered in halliday resnick) I already have Irodov. Do you know any other book of its level. I am alos searching for a a tough undergrad books for trigo,calculus and algebra

Peace Core+ Physics Undergrad = ? Grad school? So, I am two years younger than the rest of my undergraduate peers. I will graduate from undergrad at age 19, hopefully with a decent GPA and high GRE scores (I usually do well on standardized tests), as well as research experience starting from...

hi, I am an undergrad student in India doing my second year(physics) at the chennai mathematical institute. I have done a few courses in General Relativity and Cosmology and am doing projects during this summer. I understand that most US universities are not willing to take 3 year undergrads...

I'm currently a freshman engineering student in my second semester and am currently in materials science engineering. So far I've just taken the core engineering courses such as general chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus (up to multivariable), and physics (mechanics, waves, thermodynamics...

I currently plan on graduating next fall semester, with a physics B.A. my main concern is when I plan on applying to grad school next fall for mechanical engineering, probably for a M.S. in fluid mechanics or heat transfer. Is it a good idea to do it at a different school from my undergrad...

Hello all, I am a rising sophomore at Appalachian State University, but have come to realize that the school is not for me. I have decided to transfer to ECU, which is much closer to home, for several reasons. Although ECU is a pretty good school (from what I've seen), it does have a...

I am searching for a book on optics (something that is comparable to griffiths for em) and ill be grateful for any suggestions i have studied maths to the level of mary boas and thomas and finney(calculus) what other maths is required and what books do you suggest thanks

I'm terribly sorry if this has been asked before, but at the moment I want to work in Nuclear Fusion eventually, MCF like JET etc. seems the most interesting although ICF like NIF is pretty interesting too.. However, many people change their mind over what they want to study whilst they are...

Hey all, I applied to Med School last summer, and I thought I was a much stronger candidate than I really was. Long story short, it appears I may not attend med school and instead have considered applying to a physics grad program, as my grades (and interest) in physics are stronger than my...

I need to rant about how disappointed I am with my physics department, and need some perspective, excuse yet another long rambling post. I am in intro physics, its going slow and is absurdly easy now that I got that hang of how physics problems work. There's no honors level so I am stuck...

Hi there, I imagine the answer to my question (When should I start trying to get in on some undergrad research opportunities?) is, "As soon as possible." That being said, when do most students majoring in Physics normally begin? At what point are they well-informed enough, on both the...

I will be finishing at a community college this summer and will be transferring this fall. The problem is I am not sure where I want to go, so I was wondering will the university I choose for my undergraduate studies effect my acceptance into graduate school? P.S. I plan on getting my Ph.D. in...

hello gentlmen. i am a physics/astro sophmore and i recently got hooked up in a sweet job for the summer, which is working at the observatory analyzing variable stars. it seems really cool because it seems something i can definitely do without becoming just some worthless grunt work person. i am...

At our university we use Introductory Quantum Mechanics by Liboff 4th ed. What are your opinions on that book? I write this as a physics undergrad going to take QM next spring and looking for a decent well explained QM book to study over the summer. I also have a strong math background in Calc...

1. Two carts, one of mass M and one of mass 2M, are sliding on a horizontal frictionless surface with the same initial kinetic energy. A constant force is applied to each cart in order to bring them to rest after the same distance. The less massive cart requires a larger force to come to rest...

My daughter is graduating from grade 12 this June and is considering studying physics at university. She has applied to Western, Queens and UBC. Which of these would be the best choice? Or, would you suggest anywhere else? She also does very well in Math, Chemistry, French, and History. She is...

Hello there I've heard that undergraduate course in Physics/Maths/Eng in universities in UK and US differ in a few ways. I could search through the websites of renowned Universities of both these countries, unfortunately, I have a big exam coming up soon, and do not have much time to do this...

I had been doing advanced math and physics courses in high school, but chose to do liberal arts in college. Got my degree about a year back. Did the switch because I wanted to explore the arts. But now all I want to do is to do physics/math again (specifically, my interests lie in mathematical...

hi, have just received offers from both imperial and durham for a masters in physics. can anybody give me any advice on which to pick? to me it seems very much a choice between the better institution (icl) and the lifestyle (durham) any feedback from people who have studied at either would...

Hi, I am in college and intending to go to grad school after I finish my undergrad degree. However, I've been wondering if it would be feasible to take a ~4 year break in between for personal reasons. I recognize that some sort of review would be needed before I resume my education, but to what...

i have just finished my undergrad in physics with dismal scores. i really wanted to study physics. i found it exciting and still do. but exams are a real hardle for me. i just have a phobia for them. now i am entering my grad school and for the first time after starting physics i am doubting my...

For an undergraduate resume, my school's advising suggests using a category such as computer skills and listing everything you're familiar with - the example is "ms office, unix, matlab, C" etc. My question is, how much do I need to know to of something consider it a listable skill? Example - I...

Hello. I took sophmore honors electromagnetism and honors multivariable calculus and I got a C+ in the first one and a B in the second one. I was really worried in em because i thought that maybe i should change my physics major. I tanked the first two tests but then busted my *** and was...

I am a first year physics student going into my second semester. Plan is to take 3 semesters of calc. and differential equations. I was going to take linear algebra this up coming semester but it was canceled dew to lack of interest can anyone recommend some other important maths to take?

... Did any of you check out physics grad levels books at your college library that contained the physics topics that interest you, and did any of you fully understand what the authors were discussing in the physics grad level books as undergrads? Or did you run into sections of the book where...

is it posible to graduate in astrophysics after undergrad in mechanical engineering, this is what I've currently planned and I'm already one semester into my engineering undergrad course. is it necessary that i switch or is it possible to study some of the fundamentals of astro on my own and...

Other than "Fundamental of Physics" by Halliday, Resnick and Walker, I'd like to know a few more good texts used in 4-year undergrad degree? I'm doing EE right now and I'd like to study Phsyics on my own. thanks.

Please don't shove that US News list in my face, I've seen it enough times. I want people who have witnessed it first hand to gimme advice. How well does it prepare you for grad school Physics? How about the Honors program?

Hey all! Just made a PF account and have this question on my mind... So I'm going into my 2A semester in January (because I'm in co-op and so I don't have the traditional schedule), and I completely messed up my first year at University. The reason was because I had to take 3 non-math...

Quick question regarding undergrad research: Background: If i decide to major in physics to get the degree done in a reasonable time( aboout 2.5 years ) I would be unable to to do any summer REU as I would be taking courses. There is no Ph.d. in physics program at my school, and no...

I can just go to UT here in Austin, Texas and graduate in 3 years (2 if I really work hard) and pay a very very very low tuition fee. Is it worth it to choose one of those big name schools like Harvard or Stanford over UT for me? I am looking towards doing biotech, neuroscience, engineering...

Right now, I'm in the third year of my degree in Computer Engineering. Though I'm extremely fond of my subject, I've realized that for far too long, I've neglected one of my first loves - physics. I genuinely miss the fun I used to have solving complex physics problems. So now, having mastered...

Right now, I'm in the third year of my degree in Computer Engineering. Though I'm extremely fond of my subject, I've realized that for far too long, I've neglected one of my first loves - physics. I genuinely miss the fun I used to have solving complex physics problems. So now, having mastered...

Hello everyone, To make a long story short. I was an engineering student, but due to some reasons I didn't continue in it anymore, and did pursue another passion: Political Science. I still have my passion for natural sciences, in particular physics and biology (I love math, so much) I'm...

I'm thinking about majoring in ME for undergrad and pursuing physics in grad school since I want to be a physicist. I don't want to major in physics for undergrad because I've heard that job opportunities are extremely slim for students with bachelor degrees in physics, and in case if I can't go...

Hello I am currently a pure math major at a top level university, and I am basically committed to attending grad school. I am in my junior year right now. I am planning on taking several graduate courses as electives during my senior year. My question is whether I should apply to grad...

Another question: A lot of people have discussed the idea of a year off between undergrad and grad. school. My question is, would it be looked upon negatively if during my 1-2 years off I did something not directly physics? I'm considering doing a Master's in the Philosophy of Physics, which...

hi all. I'm a junior physics major and i recently have felt like I've hit the total burnout stage of being a physics major. for my electromagnetism class i spend between 20 and 30 hours per week outside of class on the homework (usually 5 or more problems from griffiths) plus reading (with...

Aiming for top chemistry grad school-- what to do about undergrad? Hello, let me fill you in on my situation: I am a senior in high school with 2 years of chemistry research experience in a university lab, the first author of a publication in a good journal, etc. and I have decided that I would...

How competative is this scholarship? What is the level of knowledge needed for undergrad research for math. For example, if I wanted to do abstract algebra, would the dummit and foote book be enough to start looking at research or is a much deeper knowledge required? (masters level). Are there...