- #1
tburke2
- 6
- 0
I am in my third year of ungrad physics and am preparing to take the physics GRE. I've never really memorized formulas or needed to regurgitate anything besides the most basic mathematical axioms. I have learned physics almost completely intuitively, I have a pretty bad memory for exact formulas or equations. I try to explain a concept in words and relate it to earlier concepts and justify why. When calculations are needed I usually just re-derive the equation or look it up if I'm feeling lazy. This has worked very well for me so far (sometimes I just have to accept ideas in things like quantum or relativity without understanding why) but I'm running into a real problem preparing for the PGRE. I have about as many formulas memorized as a high schooler taking basic physics and I certainly don't have enough time to derive or even really think about the questions. Does anyone have any suggestions? I feel like memorization is not the way physics education should be approached but I doubt grad school admissions would be sympathetic.