Is it common to prefer physics research over coursework in the U.S.?

[Geremia]

It it normal to like physics research better than solving problems for coursework? Is physics coursework in the U.S. is too problem-solving oriented? Thanks

 

[hadsed]

Heh. I hate my mechanics class that I'm in right now, and I'm not doing terribly well in it so far. I'm also doing research.. which I absolutely love. What I realized is that research is sitting down and really figuring out a problem, knowing everything about it, etc. Solving book problems comes down to a mechanical step-by-step process which, in my opinion, sucks. I hate it. That's why I love physics research, but not physics courses.

 

[DrManhattanVB]

i hate my university physics courses, because of how tedious the lab is, how boring the professor is, how the homework is all online, and the material is sometimes beneath me.

the research I've participated in was enjoyable though

 

[Phyisab****]

Seems pretty normal to me. Getting paid to do research is only like 100 times better than paying somebody to assign you problems from a book. In some ways it's also easier. You're trying to do something real, so it's less about trying to figure out how to best please some grumpy old guy and more about actually getting stuff done.

Of course, you have to acquire the skills to do research somewhere :)