Physics Beginner's Guide: Tips, Skills & Tools

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For beginners studying physics, mastering foundational math skills, particularly calculus, is essential. Resources like Khan Academy provide valuable lessons in both physics and calculus. Regular practice is crucial; solving numerous problems helps reinforce concepts and improve problem-solving skills. It's important to understand that physics can be challenging, and persistence is key. Students should expect to encounter difficulties and should not be discouraged by setbacks. Taking breaks and seeking help when needed can aid in overcoming obstacles. Consistent effort and practice are fundamental to success in physics.
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Please give me tips for studying physics, skills and tools, beginner's guide!??!
 
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Know your math. So many newbies set up the problem fine, but then struggle to get to the end of the problem because they can't solve for X, for example.

Do a *lot* of problems. Some students make the mistake of thinking that if they choose to be a physics major, then they should be just naturally good at it. Wrong. It's hard, and it takes an incredible amount of time and practice. (Sure there will be that occasional oddball who seems to just "get it" out of thin air. Disregard them; just focus on learning the stuff.)

Realize you will get stuck - often. Don't let it trouble you. Work on it for a while. If you can't get it, take a break. Move on to the next problem, and come back to the one you were stuck on later (maybe the next day). Ask for help if you need it.

Don't get discouraged.
 
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After a year of thought, I decided to adjust my ratio for applying the US/EU(+UK) schools. I mostly focused on the US schools before, but things are getting complex and I found out that Europe is also a good place to study. I found some institutes that have professors with similar interests. But gaining the information is much harder than US schools (like you have to contact professors in advance etc). For your information, I have B.S. in engineering (low GPA: 3.2/4.0) in Asia - one SCI...
I graduated with a BSc in Physics in 2020. Since there were limited opportunities in my country (mostly teaching), I decided to improve my programming skills and began working in IT, first as a software engineer and later as a quality assurance engineer, where I’ve now spent about 3 years. While this career path has provided financial stability, I’ve realized that my excitement and passion aren’t really there, unlike what I felt when studying or doing research in physics. Working in IT...

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