I want to go for a Msc in Astrophysics but dont have the sufficient skills

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges faced by an individual aspiring to pursue a Master's degree in Astrophysics despite feeling inadequately prepared in university-level physics and mathematics. The scope includes personal educational background, self-study strategies, and potential academic pathways.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about their lack of foundational knowledge in physics and mathematics, questioning whether it is too late to pursue a career in astrophysics.
  • Another participant suggests enrolling in a bachelor's degree in physics to build a complete foundation, questioning the notion of age as a barrier to restarting education.
  • The original poster mentions age and resource limitations as significant factors in their decision-making process regarding further education.
  • Discussion includes the potential of self-study to cover necessary fundamentals for a Master's in astrophysics, with inquiries about the time required for such an endeavor.
  • Participants discuss the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) as a potential resource, with questions about its coverage of mathematical physics relevant to astrophysics.
  • There is a request for clarification on whether AIMS offers the necessary mathematical fundamentals for a Master's level in astrophysics.
  • One participant notes the diverse fields within astrophysics, suggesting various areas of interest such as cosmology and stellar astrophysics.
  • The original poster expresses a desire to explore deeper aspects of the big bang theory, indicating a need for specific mathematical and physics tools.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best path forward for the original poster, with differing opinions on whether to restart a degree or pursue self-study. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the adequacy of AIMS for the necessary preparation in mathematics and physics.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the specific content and structure of programs at AIMS and how they align with the requirements for a Master's in astrophysics. There are also concerns about the time commitment and resource availability for self-study.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering a career in astrophysics who feel underprepared in foundational mathematics and physics, as well as those exploring educational pathways in STEM fields.

abbeynewton
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Hello everyone. I have a challenge that has been bothering me and i would welcome any advice i can get right now. I have a BSc in Industrial Physics with applied Geophysics option. The problem is i don't know have a full knowledge of university physics and mathematics...am not even sure of my calculus but i love astronomy...it had always been my dream to be an astrophysicist...but i don't have the sufficient knowledge of university maths or physics to even attempt the physics GRE. the reason is that my foundations where not treated properly...in first year and i just had to cram my way through just for the grades (and i took some courses for granted) so i have scrappy knowledge of everything.

Right now i am doing Matrices in Linear algebra...i don't know complex variables...i don't know differential equations, i have a scrappy knowledge in calculus...i don't know taylor series...fourier series...and all the advanced maths course from 2nd year up. As for physics..i don't know classical mechanics...i have a little knowledge of quantum...and absolutely nothing on Electrodynamics.

So the question is can i still cover all these before the next graduate school entrance year and how long does it take to cover all these...should i start all over again as an undergraduate...or should i just forget about being an astrophysicist. i really love astrophysics...i read any publications i can get my hands on the latest in the subject..but i don't have the knowledge to understand them. So pls, is it too late for me?..
 
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abbeyNewton said:
Hello everyone. I have a challenge that has been bothering me and i would welcome any advice i can get right now. I have a BSc in Industrial Physics with applied Geophysics option. The problem is i don't know have a full knowledge of university physics and mathematics...am not even sure of my calculus but i love astronomy...it had always been my dream to be an astrophysicist...but i don't have the sufficient knowledge of university maths or physics to even attempt the physics GRE. the reason is that my foundations where not treated properly...in first year and i just had to cram my way through just for the grades (and i took some courses for granted) so i have scrappy knowledge of everything.

Right now i am doing Matrices in Linear algebra...i don't know complex variables...i don't know differential equations, i have a scrappy knowledge in calculus...i don't know taylor series...fourier series...and all the advanced maths course from 2nd year up. As for physics..i don't know classical mechanics...i have a little knowledge of quantum...and absolutely nothing on Electrodynamics.

So the question is can i still cover all these before the next graduate school entrance year and how long does it take to cover all these...should i start all over again as an undergraduate...or should i just forget about being an astrophysicist. i really love astrophysics...i read any publications i can get my hands on the latest in the subject..but i don't have the knowledge to understand them. So pls, is it too late for me?..
Hi.
If you really want to become an astrophysicist, I'd suggest you to enroll into a bachelor degree in physics. You seem to be honest and from what you've described, you wouldn't have a complete first year of a B.S. in physics.
I don't know you but why do you think it would it be too late for you to restart a degree?
 
fluidistic said:
Hi.
If you really want to become an astrophysicist, I'd suggest you to enroll into a bachelor degree in physics. You seem to be honest and from what you've described, you wouldn't have a complete first year of a B.S. in physics.
I don't know you but why do you think it would it be too late for you to restart a degree?

i think its because of the age...and the resources...am in Africa...Nigeria to be precise...and i want to do my education in the US because there are no good universities offering astrophysics here...that is why am asking if i was to do self study of all the fundamentals for masters in astrophysics...how long is it going to take...restarting is going to take like 4 yrs (am 23 now) and resources are limited so i need a way i can maximize both resources and time..
 
abbeyNewton said:
i think its because of the age...and the resources...am in Africa...Nigeria to be precise...and i want to do my education in the US because there are no good universities offering astrophysics here...that is why am asking if i was to do self study of all the fundamentals for masters in astrophysics...how long is it going to take...restarting is going to take like 4 yrs (am 23 now) and resources are limited so i need a way i can maximize both resources and time..
You may wish to explore opportunities at the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences.
http://www.aims.ac.za/
http://www.aims.ac.za/en/about/aims-students/current-students

About AIMS - http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/ngt1000/aims.pdf
 
thanks...but does AIMS cover all areas in mathematical physics...and a mathematical fundamentals needed for masters level astrophysics...because checking through the only ones relating to physics are statistical mechanics and harmonic analysis...
 
i need a program that deals with the necessary skills in maths and physics for masters in astrophysics...for at most a year
 
abbeyNewton said:
thanks...but does AIMS cover all areas in mathematical physics...and a mathematical fundamentals needed for masters level astrophysics...because checking through the only ones relating to physics are statistical mechanics and harmonic analysis...
AIMS is affiliated with several universities, e.g., University of the Western Cape. There are opportunities in astrophysics.

http://www.uwcastro.org/category/events/seminars/aims/

http://www.aims.ac.za/en/research-centre/research-centre/astrophysics-and-cosmology

What area of astrophysics is of interest. It is a diverse field. One could pursue cosmology, stellar astrophysics, planetary science, solar system dynamics, galactic dynamics, . . . .

One could observational research and/or theoretical research.

One needs a good foundation in mathematics, e.g., understanding and experience with multivariable calculus, particularly partial differential equations and systems of ODEs/PDEs.
 
so can AIMS teach me the maths fundamentals i need to know for astrophysics??...or do they teach masters level maths
 
as for the area of interest...am not really sure yet..but am thinking cosmology/stelar astrophysics...i want to go a bit deeper into the big bang theory... i feel there is something missing and i wish to explore it... but i just need the necessary maths and physics tools
 

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