Undergrad Definition and 909 Threads

Hey all, I applied to Med School last summer, and I thought I was a much stronger candidate than I really was. Long story short, it appears I may not attend med school and instead have considered applying to a physics grad program, as my grades (and interest) in physics are stronger than my...

I need to rant about how disappointed I am with my physics department, and need some perspective, excuse yet another long rambling post. I am in intro physics, its going slow and is absurdly easy now that I got that hang of how physics problems work. There's no honors level so I am stuck...

Hi there, I imagine the answer to my question (When should I start trying to get in on some undergrad research opportunities?) is, "As soon as possible." That being said, when do most students majoring in Physics normally begin? At what point are they well-informed enough, on both the...

I will be finishing at a community college this summer and will be transferring this fall. The problem is I am not sure where I want to go, so I was wondering will the university I choose for my undergraduate studies effect my acceptance into graduate school? P.S. I plan on getting my Ph.D. in...

hello gentlmen. i am a physics/astro sophmore and i recently got hooked up in a sweet job for the summer, which is working at the observatory analyzing variable stars. it seems really cool because it seems something i can definitely do without becoming just some worthless grunt work person. i am...

At our university we use Introductory Quantum Mechanics by Liboff 4th ed. What are your opinions on that book? I write this as a physics undergrad going to take QM next spring and looking for a decent well explained QM book to study over the summer. I also have a strong math background in Calc...

1. Two carts, one of mass M and one of mass 2M, are sliding on a horizontal frictionless surface with the same initial kinetic energy. A constant force is applied to each cart in order to bring them to rest after the same distance. The less massive cart requires a larger force to come to rest...

My daughter is graduating from grade 12 this June and is considering studying physics at university. She has applied to Western, Queens and UBC. Which of these would be the best choice? Or, would you suggest anywhere else? She also does very well in Math, Chemistry, French, and History. She is...

Hello there I've heard that undergraduate course in Physics/Maths/Eng in universities in UK and US differ in a few ways. I could search through the websites of renowned Universities of both these countries, unfortunately, I have a big exam coming up soon, and do not have much time to do this...

I had been doing advanced math and physics courses in high school, but chose to do liberal arts in college. Got my degree about a year back. Did the switch because I wanted to explore the arts. But now all I want to do is to do physics/math again (specifically, my interests lie in mathematical...

hi, have just received offers from both imperial and durham for a masters in physics. can anybody give me any advice on which to pick? to me it seems very much a choice between the better institution (icl) and the lifestyle (durham) any feedback from people who have studied at either would...

Hi, I am in college and intending to go to grad school after I finish my undergrad degree. However, I've been wondering if it would be feasible to take a ~4 year break in between for personal reasons. I recognize that some sort of review would be needed before I resume my education, but to what...

i have just finished my undergrad in physics with dismal scores. i really wanted to study physics. i found it exciting and still do. but exams are a real hardle for me. i just have a phobia for them. now i am entering my grad school and for the first time after starting physics i am doubting my...

For an undergraduate resume, my school's advising suggests using a category such as computer skills and listing everything you're familiar with - the example is "ms office, unix, matlab, C" etc. My question is, how much do I need to know to of something consider it a listable skill? Example - I...

Hi All, I've got a Computer Science undergrad from top 20 US university. I want to move into nanotech research. My CS degree was done through an engineering program. My GRE scores are good (1400+), but my GPA suffered a bit during my last year do to a family trauma (from 3.5 to 3.0). I have...

Hello. I took sophmore honors electromagnetism and honors multivariable calculus and I got a C+ in the first one and a B in the second one. I was really worried in em because i thought that maybe i should change my physics major. I tanked the first two tests but then busted my *** and was...

I am a first year physics student going into my second semester. Plan is to take 3 semesters of calc. and differential equations. I was going to take linear algebra this up coming semester but it was canceled dew to lack of interest can anyone recommend some other important maths to take?

... Did any of you check out physics grad levels books at your college library that contained the physics topics that interest you, and did any of you fully understand what the authors were discussing in the physics grad level books as undergrads? Or did you run into sections of the book where...

is it posible to graduate in astrophysics after undergrad in mechanical engineering, this is what I've currently planned and I'm already one semester into my engineering undergrad course. is it necessary that i switch or is it possible to study some of the fundamentals of astro on my own and...

Other than "Fundamental of Physics" by Halliday, Resnick and Walker, I'd like to know a few more good texts used in 4-year undergrad degree? I'm doing EE right now and I'd like to study Phsyics on my own. thanks.

Please don't shove that US News list in my face, I've seen it enough times. I want people who have witnessed it first hand to gimme advice. How well does it prepare you for grad school Physics? How about the Honors program?

Hey all! Just made a PF account and have this question on my mind... So I'm going into my 2A semester in January (because I'm in co-op and so I don't have the traditional schedule), and I completely messed up my first year at University. The reason was because I had to take 3 non-math...

Quick question regarding undergrad research: Background: If i decide to major in physics to get the degree done in a reasonable time( aboout 2.5 years ) I would be unable to to do any summer REU as I would be taking courses. There is no Ph.d. in physics program at my school, and no...

I can just go to UT here in Austin, Texas and graduate in 3 years (2 if I really work hard) and pay a very very very low tuition fee. Is it worth it to choose one of those big name schools like Harvard or Stanford over UT for me? I am looking towards doing biotech, neuroscience, engineering...

Right now, I'm in the third year of my degree in Computer Engineering. Though I'm extremely fond of my subject, I've realized that for far too long, I've neglected one of my first loves - physics. I genuinely miss the fun I used to have solving complex physics problems. So now, having mastered...

Right now, I'm in the third year of my degree in Computer Engineering. Though I'm extremely fond of my subject, I've realized that for far too long, I've neglected one of my first loves - physics. I genuinely miss the fun I used to have solving complex physics problems. So now, having mastered...

Hello everyone, To make a long story short. I was an engineering student, but due to some reasons I didn't continue in it anymore, and did pursue another passion: Political Science. I still have my passion for natural sciences, in particular physics and biology (I love math, so much) I'm...

I'm thinking about majoring in ME for undergrad and pursuing physics in grad school since I want to be a physicist. I don't want to major in physics for undergrad because I've heard that job opportunities are extremely slim for students with bachelor degrees in physics, and in case if I can't go...

Hello I am currently a pure math major at a top level university, and I am basically committed to attending grad school. I am in my junior year right now. I am planning on taking several graduate courses as electives during my senior year. My question is whether I should apply to grad...

Another question: A lot of people have discussed the idea of a year off between undergrad and grad. school. My question is, would it be looked upon negatively if during my 1-2 years off I did something not directly physics? I'm considering doing a Master's in the Philosophy of Physics, which...

hi all. I'm a junior physics major and i recently have felt like I've hit the total burnout stage of being a physics major. for my electromagnetism class i spend between 20 and 30 hours per week outside of class on the homework (usually 5 or more problems from griffiths) plus reading (with...

Aiming for top chemistry grad school-- what to do about undergrad? Hello, let me fill you in on my situation: I am a senior in high school with 2 years of chemistry research experience in a university lab, the first author of a publication in a good journal, etc. and I have decided that I would...

How competative is this scholarship? What is the level of knowledge needed for undergrad research for math. For example, if I wanted to do abstract algebra, would the dummit and foote book be enough to start looking at research or is a much deeper knowledge required? (masters level). Are there...

I go to a smaller, teaching university, and do not have much opportunity for research at my own school. I do have one professor doing actual research and have been working with him for several semesters now. I also have had 2 REU's. To summarize my experience: 1. 2 REU's with the same...

Recently I've been asked to help someone out with their undergrad physics, I'm assuming non-calculus to minor calculus based. Since it's fall it's probably classical mechanics, which I'd love to help but they are long distance so I wouldn't be able to spend time with them. Is there any...

Hi This is my first science subject ever, and I am having difficulties so I would love to have all the help I can get please. My assignment is about Lewis structures and empirical formula for the following Homework Statement 1.potassium iodine, 2. calcium flouride, (these two are...

I don't know if the US has programs like that but we have them here at ANU (Aust) http://studyat.anu.edu.au/programs/4714HBENG;overview.html" http://studyat.anu.edu.au/programs/4660HPHB;overview.html" I'm thinking of transferring to the Science one if I can get in. Do you think it'll...

Maybe this is a no brainer but I figured I'd ask... I've heard both sides from many different people...some say universities encourage undergrad students to apply elsewhere for grad school, thus if you are going to say, UC Berkeley like me and apply there for grad school as well, it will be...

I've been looking on the net and can't seem to find any. Do any of you know about possible grants?

I am just coming into Year 13 in the UK and I need to choose which universities to apply to, at AS Level I got 5As in Maths, Further Maths, Bio, Chem and Physics so I have a free choice as far as entry requirements go with the exception of places like Oxbridge and maybe even Imperial where there...

Hi, I was wondering how many different underground research a BSc in Physics student should have completed by the time they graduate? I have 2-yrs left of just physics classes and I'm not sure if I'll be able to do any more than one that is required for my graduation, as I do have a job as...

and at what age did you complete your undergrad and grad degrees and phD if you did it? I have a feeling that after one reaches thirty one cannot progress further... since most famous researchers were still young while making their greatest discoveries... anyways, my feelings aside... I...

Hello all, I have been trying to get an undergrad research position for some time, and have now got two offers at once! They are disparate fields and I want to do them both! Reasons I want to do them both are - One is theoretical and one is experimental and I want to try both of those...

Hi all, long time reader first time poster I am in a bit of a dilemma I am a physics and math major who wants to be a mechanical research engineer. My end goal is to pursue a PhD in mechanical engineering with a specialty in energy. My problem is education is fully funded by my physics...

Something with advanced classes as well LOADS of advanced research opportunities. I actually plan on a double major of Physics and EE or Computer Science. I am from the US and I would like to eventually go for my PhD hopefully at a top grad school. Then I would either like to work at a...

I'm a high school student, and I want to learn as much as I can about physics before getting to college. It would be great if I could cover everything that the average physics undergrad student learns before going to a university. So far, I've read: Fundamentals of Physics -...

I've been certain for the last couple years that I wish to pursue a career in research. I'm interested in the spectroscopy of proteins as a means of understanding biological mechanisms. The problem is that I would like to avoid a triple major if possible. Currently, I'm a community college...

I'll be a freshman in the fall studying physics, math, and astronomy. A guy from my old HS is a master's degree student at my university, and he hooked me up with a job in an experimental particle physics lab. Basically he said that it's up to me to talk to grad students and professors and...

Hi, I am currently an Aerospace Engineering student at UT-Austin and this summer I was accepted to transfer into the Mechanical Engineering Department. Here is my problem, I have been interested in aviation since I was a 10 so the ASE degree should be perfect for me but I am afraid the ASE...

UK Physics Undergrad - does it matter which uni? I'm want to study physics at uni next year and am still trying to decide which uni is best for me to go to. I want to stay in the West or East Midlands (family reasons). 1) Does it really matter which uni I go to, as long as i get good...