The discussion centers on strategies for self-studying physics in preparation for a university entrance exam in India, with an emphasis on the importance of mathematics. The participant is utilizing several advanced textbooks, including "Mathematical Methods for Physical Sciences" by Mary L. Boas and "Introduction to Electrodynamics" by Griffiths. Recommendations include focusing on foundational materials such as "Fundamentals of Physics" by Halliday and Resnick, and prioritizing understanding over breadth of knowledge. The Physics GRE exam is suggested as a benchmark for assessing readiness for graduate-level physics.
PREREQUISITESStudents preparing for university entrance exams in physics, self-learners aiming to strengthen their understanding of physics and mathematics, and educators seeking effective study strategies for advanced physics topics.
These two thoughts do not really go together.Slimy0233 said:I shall be scanning most of the things I see in the books if not study them completely. I want to have a good grasp of the concept if nothing else.
Note that Apollo 13 did not make it onto the moon. It is an example of successfully executing Plan B.CrysPhys said:"Failure is not an option.
"A successful Failure"Vanadium 50 said:Note that Apollo 13 did not make it onto the moon. It is an example of successfully executing Plan B.
Plan B would be not so top university but university which helps me get out of the country for my PhD anyway! The reason I am aiming for the top university is because the greater the reputation of the university, the greater the chance I am gonna get into a better university abroad for my PhD (because doing a PhD in India as you might know is a (more of a) nightmare acc to my peers).hutchphd said:I think the likelihood of your obtaining admission to a "top rank" university by learning the entire undergraduate curriculum in in 8 months to be very small indeed. Perhaps you should try to obtain entrance to a lesser institution for a Masters with hopes of making up these deficits over the next 2yrs +8 months? I do not know the institutional structure in India, but in the US there are many lesser institutions that can provide good pedagogy to a motivated student. Your (internal?) demand for admission to a "top-rated" or nothing seems self-defeating. One needs to work for success, not just aspire to it.
I shall do that sir. I shall heed to your advice if I fail, but I will try not to fail in the first place!Your (internal?) demand for admission to a "top-rated" or nothing seems self-defeating. One needs to work for success, not just aspire to it.
Dear sir, I am really thankful for your concern, however, I am using them as reference books. My exams don't need me to read all of them and understand every concept in the book, so I need not read the whole book, but it's good to have them anyways. I will not be completing them, but I will be using them to understand concepts my tutor didn't do a good job of explaining and for extra reading.Vanadium 50 said:So we are almost 2 months into your plan, and you have covered about half (as far as I can tell) of one book of your list of 11, and it wasn't even on your list of 7.
Do you think it's time for a new plan?
I don't know what the new plan is. I don't know what you are trying to do, probably knock some sense into me, but there is no "new plan". I do what I can do and write the exam 128 days from now.Vanadium 50 said:We've now used 4 of the 8 months. Are you halfway done? If not, is it time for a new plan?
I don't like to entertain that question. What if this doesn't turn out how I want it to be. Yeah, that's terrifying. The alternate plan is nothing. I don't know. Do a Physics MSc in NIT and then try to get into Europe for a PhD. I need your help. I can't imagine myself doing anything but physics, Physics research to be more specific and I want to do it away from India in a free country.Vanadium 50 said:Well, it;s up to you, but if the plan doesn't get you where you want to go, does it make more sense to keep it or to change it?
Hey, what would you have as a backup plan if you were in my shoes? I mean, what would be your backup plan? My father can't work anymore, his savings can sustain the family for a few years until I finish my PhD, but yeah, taking another drop year is not an option and it's not even attractive at this point.Vanadium 50 said:Well, it;s up to you, but if the plan doesn't get you where you want to go, does it make more sense to keep it or to change it?
I am reconsidering everything right now. I don't know anything anymore. I am going to share a post I made to share everything I am going through.Haborix said:Part of what @Vanadium 50 is trying to get you to do is engage with the reality of the situation. You never answered if you were roughly a quarter done after two months or half done after four months in your eight month plan (assuming there was something that qualified as a plan and not just hope). Have you taken a practice test under realistic conditions to gauge how prepared you are?