Advice needed on which class to drop

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The discussion centers on a 4th-year Physics student seeking advice on which challenging courses to drop due to an overwhelming workload. The student is currently enrolled in five classes: Computational Physics I, Optics, Solid State Physics, Electricity and Magnetism II, and an Electronics Lab. They express a preference for not dropping Electricity and Magnetism II and find the Electronics Lab manageable. The consensus among respondents suggests dropping Solid State Physics, as it involves complex concepts like Group Theory, which the student is not familiar with. The student acknowledges the difficulty of this decision, as they have an interest in the subject and a good rapport with the professor, but recognizes that dropping it may be the best option given their career plans in optics and potential job opportunities in Photonics. Additional opinions are welcomed, indicating an openness to further discussion on the matter.
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Hey guys!

I am a 4th year Physics university student and I wanted some advice on what class(es) I should consider dropping. I am taking too many challenging courses and I really do need to drop one or two classes. Here are the list of classes that I have and a short description (and a personal aside) of each:

Computational Physics I
A review of computational methods for differentiation, integration, interpolation, finding zeroes, extrema, etc. proceeding to a concentration on numerical solutions of differential equations, basic spectral analysis, numerical methods for matrices and Monte Carlo simulation applied to problems in classical and modern physics.
*I like coding but apparently a lot of work (average of ~7-9 hours a week outside of class).

Optics
Includes reflection and refraction at interfaces, geometrical optics, interference phenomena, diffraction, Gaussian optics, and polarization.
*Not a big fan of lectures in this class and there isn't a textbook that we're following.

Solid State Physics
Includes crystal structures, lattice vibrations, and electronic properties of insulators, metals, and semiconductors; superconductivity.
*First homework assignment uses a lot of Group Theory that I am not familiar with.

Electricity and Magnetism II
Includes Maxwell's equations; electromagnetic waves and their interaction with matter; interference, diffraction, polarization; waveguides; and antennas.
*Would rather not drop this class

Electronics Lab
Analog and digital electronics for scientific applications, including the use of transistors, FET's, operational amplifiers, TTL, and CMOS integrated circuits.
*Seems like an easy class so far.

(I am also planning on doing research related to optics.)

I'm leaning towards NOT going to graduate school, but I haven't completely ruled it out. I kind of want to get a job after undergrad and I heard that Photonics might be a field where I might be able to find a career. With all this in mind, which 1-2 classes would you guys suggest that I consider dropping?

Thanks in advance!
 
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I think your best bet is to drop Solid State Physics and take it up in grad school if you do decide to go.

You kind of implied this by saying how some classes look easy and that you plan to do work in optics.

This leaves Solid State Physics hanging out there.
 
Gotcha. I had a feeling that it would make the most sense dropping that class. It's a shame because I'm really interested in that class and I like the professor but it's probably the best for me not to take it. Thanks for your advice!

Any additional opinions are welcome!
 
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Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...
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