Learning a new topic in graduate school classes in Physics

[JorgeA22]

Homework Statement: My question is how do you approach a new topic in Physics?, I'm starting grad school next semester and I think that I don't have the best routine studying Physics, so I wanted to know what are your best tips to learn something new in physics?

Specially after the pandemic I had some problems and it was harder for me to concentrate and study properly, so I have some blurry memories about some basic Physics concepts.
Relevant Equations: Learning, Math, Physics

Help

 

[gleem]

so I have some blurry memories about some basic Physics concepts

That tells you where to start, the basics. Unless you never studied physics everything will be new. Physics is built upon and dependent upon previously discussed principles and techniques. Subjects have prerequisites that you are assumed to understand. Make sure you understand that material. Go back as far as necessary so as to be comfortable with the new subject.

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to PF.

I'm starting grad school next semester

Well if you got accepted to grad school in Physics, you must have done fairly well in undergrad, no? What are you specializing in for grad school?

 

[kuruman]

In grad school the responsibility of learning is placed squarely on your shoulders. If you have a good professor, you learn. If you have a bad professor, you learn despite your professor. In grad school one is expected to convert oneself from college kid to professional. How do you think that will happen to you?

The transformation has to come from within and only you can bring it about. If your routine for studying physics is not good, get rid of it and adopt a better one. If some of the physics you have seen is blurred, make sure it becomes unblurred. Your success in grad school will depend on how focused, determined and persistent you are. At U.S. universities a grade of B- is "good enough" if assigned to an undergraduate but a failing grade if assigned to a grad student.

 

[JorgeA22]

Welcome to PF.

Thank You!!

Well if you got accepted to grad school in Physics, you must have done fairly well in undergrad, no?

I've done my effort that's for sure, but also I'm positive that I could've done far better than what I did in the past, so that's where my insecurity comes from.

What are you specializing in for grad school?

That's also one of the questions that I don't know how to answer, I've been doing cosmology in undergrad, but I have a few months to see to which area I want to specialize. My pick will probably be either General Relativity or Quantum Physics. In GR I have a fair understanding of the concepts and It will be easier to deal with, but I'm also thinking in switching to the Quantum world…

The modern physics in general is my favorite area of physics.

 

[billtodd]

After I had failed achieving an MScs in both pure mathematics and Theoretical Physics (I took all the course but in physics I failed one class four times and couldn't find a thesis adviser in maths I changed several times my advisers but my Average grades in the courses and seminar was something like 95-96 I cannot remember. This coming year I am enrolling in an MSc in Electrical Engineering without thesis only 10 courses are needed for me to get the degree.
But I still remember stuff that I once learnt in both maths and physics. Though I am not from the US.

 

[billtodd]

What I am trying to advise, is for learning new subject you get a good book, if there are solutions which are known you go over them and check that their derivations are indeed sound. If there aren't you ask in forums like PF or others, and try your luck. If that doesn't work then you're on your own.