Programs First Year Physics at Marquette: Advice and Expectations

  • Thread starter Thread starter austim14
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Physics
AI Thread Summary
Expect a significant increase in depth and rigor in college physics compared to high school, especially if transitioning from algebra-based to calculus-based courses. Students with prior calculus-based physics experience may find the content familiar but should prepare for more complex mathematical applications. Freshmen with limited physics knowledge are generally advised to wait until they have completed more advanced undergraduate courses before engaging in research opportunities, typically around their sophomore or junior years.
austim14
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
I am going to college in the fall at Marquette University and intend to major in physics. I improved my physics grade from a b+(91%) first semester to an A (95%). I'm just curious what can I expect my first year of college? How much different is first yr physics with calc from high school physics? Can a freshmen with only a little knowledge work on research? Any advice or words of wisdom is appreciated.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If you've had calculus based physics in high-school, it is much the same. However, expect to see more depth and rigor in your college courses. If the only physics you've had is algebra based, it'll be the same concepts and such, but you'll be using better, more streamlined and descriptive form of math (all my opinion of course, but I'd say few would disagree).

Freshman with little to no college physics are usually told to wait on research. Typically you would want to wait until you're beginning your advanced undergrad courses in your late sophomore or early junior year.
 
I’ve been looking through the curricula of several European theoretical/mathematical physics MSc programs (ETH, Oxford, Cambridge, LMU, ENS Paris, etc), and I’m struck by how little emphasis they place on advanced fundamental courses. Nearly everything seems to be research-adjacent: string theory, quantum field theory, quantum optics, cosmology, soft matter physics, black hole radiation, etc. What I don’t see are the kinds of “second-pass fundamentals” I was hoping for, things like...
TL;DR Summary: I want to do a PhD in applied math but I hate group theory, is this a big problem? Hello, I am a second-year math and physics double major with a minor in data science. I just finished group theory (today actually), and it was my least favorite class in all of university so far. It doesn't interest me, and I am also very bad at it compared to other math courses I have done. The other courses I have done are calculus I-III, ODEs, Linear Algebra, and Prob/Stats. Is it a...

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
411
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
12
Views
2K
Back
Top