About Being a Physics (and Possibly Math) Major.?

Question

I need some advice on do's and don't's for my coming freshman year.

I really want to major in physics and I'm really considering math, too.

I just want to know if any of you have a few pointers to help me get as much out of these four years as possible.

Answer 1

My advice: take it easy in the first 2 years of university. Most grad schools only look at your last 2 years. Do physics, it is more multidisciplinary and more fun, however also somewhat of a chastity belt when compared to other majors. So join clubs in the first 2 weeks of school (ie one sport club and one other random activity club). Spend the first 6 weeks of school without opening a textbook. Make sure you meet tons of people. Then cram the remaining months really hard and learn the material. The "study a little every day" is a great theory. In reality, just make good friends in the first few weeks and the studying will be easy. Oh, the most important thing: don't panic! If you find things getting out of control, just make a list of things you need to do and do them. This strategy got me through many all-night cram sessions.

Answer 2

As one who has just retired (please see my profile) from many years in the "business" I feel I can speak with authority.

My first inclination would be for you to "double-major".  The other possibility would be to major in one of your choices and minor in the other.  Math is the "language" of science...especially physics.  Physics is applied math.  So, as a result of personal choice, I would suggest majoring in physics and minoring in math....if you decide the major/minor route.  

Things to consider....

It is easier to get a position in the physics arena than the math.

Research opportunities in the private sector and in government are greater in the physics area.

Physics departments are often smaller than math departments and this makes one-on-one work with faculty more attractive.

Physics majors have a greater choice of sub-disciplines to work with (i.e. nuclear, astronomy, earth-space science, biophysics, physical chemistry, etc. etc.)

As a freshman, hold off deciding until after you have had intro courses in each department.  That way you can see how well you do.  Remember, it is rare for a college student to stick to his/her major throughout their college career.  You may "bomb out" in both of these areas and decide on a major you can be more successful with.  Keep your options open until you are encouraged by your advisors to declare a major/minor.  Good luck!

Answer 3

Some things I wish someone had told me as a freshman math major:

1. Learn to know and love calculus.   Calculus was the one part of math I wasn't good at (I much preferred symbolic logic, recursive function theory, etc.) ... but being a math major is like 80% calculus.  Not that it would have changed my major ... but I think I would have learned to enjoy it more.  (I finally figured it out, and learned to *love* it about my Junior year.)

2. Learn to manipulate those symbols.  Don't worry so much about what they *mean* all the time ... that only matters at the beginning and end of the problem.   But when doing the calculations, learn to just manipulate the symbols using the rules.  (I called it "turning the crank.")  

3. Brilliant people are not always great teachers.   I had some great professors, but with some professors I learned more from the TAs (grad students).   Be patient with them.  Teaching requires social skills, which a lot of brilliant mathematicians don't have.  

But the one thing they *all* had (which you need to catch) is the love of the subject.  They wouldn't be there if they didn't *love, love, love* mathematics, or physics (or any subject).

4. Study a *little bit* every night ... rather than a LOT before exams.  Even if just copying over your notes, making a couple of index cards, anything.   It makes studying for exams *so* much easier.

... And here's one for physics:

5. Units, units, units.   When doing problems using physics equations, don't leave out the units.  Keep them there throughout the calculation ... so you know whether your supposed to be multiplying the kg*m/s*s by m/s, or dividing.  The same applies to chemistry.

Good luck!  We need more women in both physics and mathematics!