Advice for Physics and Math major
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/sci/ I'm moving into and starting college this sunday. I'm going into a physics major and possible a double major in mathematics. For those of your majoring in them right now or have graduated, is there any advice you can give me? I mean specifically for physics and mathematics that is. I have torrented textbooks and all sorts of shit on a drive which I'm going to study with in my free time, will I even have the time or will to do this? I still want to have time for hobbies though and parties. I'm a pretty smart guy but regardless, anyone is going to have to stay on top of things for a physics major.
>>8148115
lol, read the sticky, goddamn
>>8148117
I have. I'm asking everyone personally. This is why I don't come on this board much, every single time I start a thread, no matter what's it about, I get this response.
I'm from england, but I just finished my first year studying pure physics. If american universities are anything like ours, your first year will be piss easy.
>>8148125
maybe stop making shit threads?
or lurk moar
>>8148125
Maybe because the sticky explicitly says that threads like this aren't allowed? Fuck off.
If you want to be worth anything when you graduate, learn skills to help you apply what you learn in class, i.e programming, design, get familiar with tools and machinery.
>>8148115
Make sure to do the math honors program at the university or you'll learn nothing.
https://www.math.ncsu.edu/honors/about.php
You'll probably never read those textbooks you torrented.
Don't worry about getting ahead. By that I mean don't worry about getting through your program as quickly as possible just for the sake of it. Don't take fourth year courses in second year unless you really do naturally go at that pace.
Do exactly what the curriculum says. Excel at that.
Study. I know you think you're smart and you don't need to. But it's not enough to be smart. You have to work hard.
Physics is about memorization, fringe cases, and encyclopedic knowledge. Practice, practice, practice. Know things inside out. Focus on the basics.
>>8148115
>I still want to have time for hobbies though and parties
As someone who has taken many Physics courses from NC State, I can assure you that you will not have much time for parties or hobbies.
>>8148710
>Study. I know you think you're smart and you don't need to. But it's not enough to be smart. You have to work hard.
This. Kek.
Im from Germany and A LOT people are failign university because school was rather easy and they think University is just the same. Prepare your anus anon.
Of course there will be people which are going like "I didn't study at all!" "It's so easy".
They are either...
a. Gone in 1-2 semester
b. Talking out of their ass and put in a lot of effort but are lying for whatever reasons
Atleast here in Germany degrees are rather hard if it's a proper one. Physics is considered one of the most difficult ones here.
>>8148115
I majored in mathematics. You're probably good at math, and you've probably done some calculus and are pretty good at it. That's how your first 1-2 years will be. Then math is going to change. It'll become all about constructing proofs, so be ready for that. I wasn't.
>>8148662
You can learn plenty without the honors program at state. Personally, I didn't like Paur.
>>8148115
>I'm moving into and starting college this sunday
>Taking summer classes before freshman year
>Thinks he'll have time to party with a double major.
>>8150976
You don't have to be in the honors program but you should take the honor courses/sections
>>8150988
That's the point I was making. You don't need the honors program to learn how to be a mathematician. Self-studying will take you further than classroom learning.
>>8148115
Learn how to study on your own. I'm not saying not to go to class at all, but read the book before and after lecture time to get a better grasp on the material. Also, talk to your professors. They're there to help you, so take advantage of the help they give (if you need ot).
>>8151065
>ot
*it
