What should I do? Placement, Field questions.

[Whispered]

Hello, new member here seeking some help/advise.
It's been a long time since I've been in school, and it's been probably 3-4 years since I've taken a math class and/or science class(Since high school!, I am currently 21).

I have just been accepted to a community college, and am going to start on an AS, and then transfer to a University to finish in a Physics major degree.

They have asked me to take placement tests, and I am wondering if I should just go with my currently armed knowledge (very little, will probably not do well by my standards), or study up and get as high as I can (I am a very excellent test taker, my best trait as a student by far)


Another thing, is what area am I actually interested in?
I would like to research and be a part of spacetime, gravity, black holes, basically the universe in a physics light. Is this Astrophysics?


Thank you for your time.

 

[G01]

Hi Whispered. Welcome to PF!

My advice would be to take the placement exams as is. You may not do as well, but at least you will most likely be placed in the class that is on par with your current knowledge. If you cram for the exam, you may get a slightly better score and end up very close to, but above some cutoff. Thus, yes, you might end up being placed in a higher level course. However, will you really be ready for that higher level class?

Your best bet would be to not worry too much about it. Get a good nights sleep and good breakfast in you on the day of the exam.

As far as your interests go: Physics seems like the major for you. At this point in your education don't worry about specific areas of interest. You will need to take the same physics courses as an undergrad either way. Also, as you learn more physics and math, you may add or subtract from that list, or possible start a new list of interests entirely.

 

[Whispered]

Hi Whispered. Welcome to PF!

My advice would be to take the placement exams as is. You may not do as well, but at least you will most likely be placed in the class that is on par with your current knowledge. If you cram for the exam, you may get a slightly better score and end up very close to, but above some cutoff. Thus, yes, you might end up being placed in a higher level course. However, will you really be ready for that higher level class?

Your best bet would be to not worry too much about it. Get a good nights sleep and good breakfast in you on the day of the exam.

As far as your interests go: Physics seems like the major for you. At this point in your education don't worry about specific areas of interest. You will need to take the same physics courses as an undergrad either way. Also, as you learn more physics and math, you may add or subtract from that list, or possible start a new list of interests entirely.

Thank you for the reply G01,
I see your point in taking it as I currently am. My thought process was that if I got into a basic math class due to my scores... I might bore myself.

Also, thank you for the tid bit in similar courses. I don't know why I didn't realize it but it does make sense that most Physics majors will take the same courses of math and physics up until the end.

If that is the case, when do you really start branching out?


Thank you for your time.

 

[G01]

If that is the case, when do you really start branching out?

Grad school!

If your lucky, you'll have the chance to take some electives your senior year based off of your specific interest. This is my experience anyway.