What am I supposed to do to be better than what I am now?

  • Thread starter Thread starter astrophysics12
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
Aspiring physicists often face challenges in problem-solving, leading to self-doubt about their abilities. To improve in this area, consistent practice is essential. Engaging with a wide range of problems is recommended, as repetition can enhance skills. Resources like "How to Solve It" and Paul Zeitz's book, while focused on mathematics, can also provide valuable strategies applicable to physics. The consensus emphasizes that tackling difficult problems regularly is key to building confidence and competence in the field.
astrophysics12
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
I want to be a physicist. It has always been my dream, but I am having doubts about my ability.

I am preparing for a few competitive exams to get into good colleges offering Int-PhD. I found that I am unable to even solve some of the problems. It becomes obvious when I see the solution. Is there any way to improve in solving problems?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Solve problems.
 
johnqwertyful said:
Solve problems.

Or, to paraphrase Adm. Halsey, " Solve problems, solve problems, solve more problems!"
 
There are books about problem-solving, like How to Solve It or the one by Paul Zeitz, although they are for math, rather than just physics.
 
I'll second (or third) the advice above. I used to be terrible as solving those difficult problems (still am) but did improve greatly by trying to work on a lot more of them.
 
Thanks a lot. I will try solving difficult problems.
 
I’ve been looking through the curricula of several European theoretical/mathematical physics MSc programs (ETH, Oxford, Cambridge, LMU, ENS Paris, etc), and I’m struck by how little emphasis they place on advanced fundamental courses. Nearly everything seems to be research-adjacent: string theory, quantum field theory, quantum optics, cosmology, soft matter physics, black hole radiation, etc. What I don’t see are the kinds of “second-pass fundamentals” I was hoping for, things like...
TL;DR Summary: I want to do a PhD in applied math but I hate group theory, is this a big problem? Hello, I am a second-year math and physics double major with a minor in data science. I just finished group theory (today actually), and it was my least favorite class in all of university so far. It doesn't interest me, and I am also very bad at it compared to other math courses I have done. The other courses I have done are calculus I-III, ODEs, Linear Algebra, and Prob/Stats. Is it a...

Similar threads

Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
18
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
408
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
14
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
3K
Back
Top