is physics that bad?

[ilovestewie]

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I've heard terrible things about physics so I wanted to hear people's thoughts on this. I am taking 2 PA classes next semester and 3 "soft" classes. The PA classes are pharmacology and seminars in techniques and procedures. The pharm is essentially the same as med school pharm and techniques and procedures is a lot of stuff I already know like EKGs and IVs (i am a medic) and some stuff I don't know like Xray interp. and suturing skills. The 3 soft classes are economics and finance in healthcare, community healthcare, and leaderhsip in healthcare. I'll probably have to write a couple papers and thats all.

SO, I am considering fitting physics in there. I consider the physics prof. a friend and think I can handle it, especially with him teaching it. What does everyone else think about that course load? Is physics so bad that I should wait? I am really happy about getting the pre med stuff out of the way in case I decide to go to med school after PA school.

Thanks!

 

[MikeyLu2010]

I think the only reason why ppl think physics is hard..is because it is so hard to teach effectively..and consequently many view there are a lot of bad profs...However...I believe that if you do opt to take physics..then you should get a Princeton Review or Kaplan MCAT book...The physics book in PR...taught me more physics than my profs ever did..they present the material way more effectively..gluck

 

[Skaterbabe74]

I personally loved physics. (Hated organic tho.) I didn't find physics all that difficult but it's going to depend on a few things - whether you've ever been exposed to physics before, whether you're planning alg. based or calc based, and whether you're decent at math. I took my physics from a friend also, and he's an excellent teacher, and I think that definitely helped me. I did calc-based. I went on to tutor a girl last semester in Physics 2 from a different prof and looking at that prof's homework and exams I think I would have been lucky to get a C in that class vs. the high high B+ I got in mine.

As for piling on physics on top of your other classes: that depends on whether you are used to heavy loads or not. I know I personally can't handle 18+ credits with as much time as I need to spend working to pay the bills (I'm assuming your credit load will be something like 19 or 20 with the physics), but there are people out there that can. If you can I'd try to see the syllabi for your other classes and make sure that it's just papers, sometimes leadership classes have a ton of group work, and make your decision from there. Also, go to the library and look through a couple physics texts (ie. Tipler, or Giancoli) to get a feel for how "bad" you think physics will be.

 

[xanthomondo]

Nah, its not thatttt bad
especially if youre going to go to med school anyway that course load will be like nothing

 

[murphomatic]

Nah, its not thatttt bad
especially if youre going to go to med school anyway that course load will be like nothing

I agree. Just keep up and it's pretty straight forward

 

[ShyRem]

I thought physics was actually pretty darn easy. I will also say that no one else in my class thought it was easy, so perhaps my opinion isn't the one to listen to.

 

[LINYKid]

I thought physics was actually pretty darn easy. I will also say that no one else in my class thought it was easy, so perhaps my opinion isn't the one to listen to.

A good teacher is key, also a tune up in your math skills may help

 

[erleichda]

I've heard terrible things about physics so I wanted to hear people's thoughts on this. I am taking 2 PA classes next semester and 3 "soft" classes. The PA classes are pharmacology and seminars in techniques and procedures. The pharm is essentially the same as med school pharm and techniques and procedures is a lot of stuff I already know like EKGs and IVs (i am a medic) and some stuff I don't know like Xray interp. and suturing skills. The 3 soft classes are economics and finance in healthcare, community healthcare, and leaderhsip in healthcare. I'll probably have to write a couple papers and thats all.

SO, I am considering fitting physics in there. I consider the physics prof. a friend and think I can handle it, especially with him teaching it. What does everyone else think about that course load? Is physics so bad that I should wait? I am really happy about getting the pre med stuff out of the way in case I decide to go to med school after PA school.

Thanks!

I think it REALLY varries from school to school. My physics course was very easy. Got an A- in Physics I and an A in Physics II. But the professors always provided the formulas for our tests - I know at some other schools they may not. It made the class easy, but I was screwed for the MCAT...

 

[dr.z]

I thought physics was easy compared to rest of the sciences.

 

[CatsandCradles]

I guess it might depend from school to school and also whos teaching it.

At my undergrad, they have a physic course for biology majors that were pre-med....and that was pretty hard I was told....

...and then there was something called "real" physics for the physics and mathematics majors....and I got stuck in this group I was the only junior and the rest were freshman!!

I ain't joking with you there would be a 7 page exam and I was only able to answer the FIRST page ONLY. And I was not a lazy beer worshipper like many pre-meds ~ no sir I sat and studied every day in the library. There were days when I would cry and cry in the library.

I felt really bad about taking it.

 

[DrMT]

physics was by far the hardest premed class i've taken. this is probably due to the fact that i had a crappy professor (ended up with an A-). anywho, in order from the easiest to hardest, i would rate it as: biology, chemistry, and then physics.

 

[scpod]

There were only two lecturers for the Physics I and II courses for pre-meds at my alma mater. In one lecture class, taught by the Physics Chair, formulas had to be memorized, there was a strict attendance policy and you would get kicked out of the class for talking to anyone but the prof. Did I mention that there were typically 18 to 20 A's in a class of 60. In the other, students were allowed to bring cheat sheets for formulas, had take-home tests half of the time, you didn't actually have to come to class, and there were only 2 to 3 A's with a 15 point curve. The difference was that the first professor taught Physics extremely well. Everyone in the class LEARNED from him. The other was a lazy bastard who spent lots of time smoking cigarettes and saying, " It's in the book." The people in the first class performed incredibly well on the MCAT, the others are applying to med school all over again.

So much is dependent on your professor that I wouldn't dare make a decision until you investigate that.

 

[jellibelli]

understand the concept behind each physics topic, and learn how to use and manipulate the equations. if you do both, you're golden. also, doing the homework problems and asking questions during recitation (and even going to class) works!

 

[Oculus Sinistra]

Like people have said, it varies widely by school.
My success in Physics was due to two things

1) Doing all the homework problems
2) Understanding what the variables in the formulas stand for

If you know what the variables stand for, that's half the battle right there. If they give you the formulas and you have no idea what you're doing whatsoever, you can plug in the given values and hope to get an answer that correlates to one of the choices!

That's something I wish I could do in my other science classes when I wasn't sure what to do!

Anyway, don't sweat it... but do give it adequate time. You do have to put time into it outside of just reading the book.

 

[Skaterbabe74]

Yeah so much is dependent on how the courses are taught at your school, or even taught by the prof.

For example, what scpod described is the total opposite at my school. The prof's that make you memorize the equations also tend to be awful teachers and to make the material way more difficult than it needs to be. We also don't have any curves at our school. (Some of the chem classes have a bulit in modified grading system, where you can get as low as an 85 for an A- and still pass with below a 70, but that's it.)

ie. The girl I tutored last semester - her exams and homework were basically the equivalent of an upper division E&M class because her prof happened to teach a bunch of seniors the previous semester who had learned jack sh** from their Physics 1&2 prof so they all failed his E&M class. (That General physics prof is no longer at the school.) As a result, he made things way more difficult than they should have been for a general physics class. I had to ask my old prof (my friend) for help just about every week on the stuff my student was supposed to be learning in order to teach it to her, and it wasn't because I didn't learn the material well enough when I took the class. He'd often wonder where the heck her prof got his questions from because they were so insane for general physics.

The teacher I had, on the other hand, is the best teacher in the department (also teaches the Math methods, quantum, and sometimes modern courses). We all learned a ton, and at the appropriate level for a general physics course. But he did let us have a cheat sheet with anything we wanted on it - equations, problems etc. Having the cheat sheet didn't make the exams easier (ie. it wasn't a multiple choice exam where you could pick and choose an equation, plug and chug, and then hope it was close to one of the answers like oculus was talking about). You still really needed to know the concepts behind the equations, and know when to use what, but he didn't see the point in cluttering our brains with equations when you can always look those up in a book if need be. Sure you'll need to memorize some of the equations for the mcat, but you end up memorizing some of the equations anyway (like kinematics) just by working the problems. The point of the cheat sheet was so you wouldn't freak out if your mind suddenly blanked under the pressure of an exam. The important thing was to know when to use what. The ones who have taken class from the same prof I did have done very well on the MCAT, and very well in upper division physics if they take it.

So, the key is really to ask around at your school to make sure you're really getting the best prof for learning the material. He/she doesn't necessarily have to be the hardest - just the one that prepares you the best.

OP, in your case, since you're friends with the prof you want to take from you will probably have an advantage in that you are used to the way he thinks and explains things already. And you won't be shy about asking for help if you need it.

 

[MossPoh]

I think it really depends on several factors. One is the school...My school is notoriously difficult for the first two physics levels since they are the same ones for engineers, as well as science majors and what not. Math foundation depending on the physics is another thing. Obviously if you never had a solid base in calculus to understand derivatives and integrals..just the basic stuff really then calculus based physics can be a little rough for you. Your general ability to comprehend and look for data is also pretty important. It isn't memorizing as much as it is like a little puzzle for each problem. You have to learn to think of multiple ways of finding the answer manipulating what is given to you....You can just do the same problems over and over again but then on the exam they might throw one at you that is missing a value that you normally were in the habit of using..if you studied to understand how it works all you do is pull it out from the other stuff. If you take your time and study it isn't that bad at all...if you have had ANY previous exposure it is especially easier.

 

[Skaterbabe74]

The other thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is whether the OP is planning calc-based or alg-based. That also will change how difficult the class will be somewhat. I actually took both (from the same prof) because I decided after alg-based that I wanted to minor in physics, and eventually do a grad program in biophysics before applying to med school. I didn't find either series particularly difficult (alg-based is for the bio majors, premeds, and some teachers while calc based is the one for physics, chem, and engineering although they have just added a new honors physics for physics majors) at my school, mostly because of my teacher and having had exposure in high school, and then alg-based prior to calc based. If you have a good calc background you will probably find calc-based a touch easier than alg-based (assuming you get a good teacher) becaues a lot of the stuff from physics 2 makes more sense when you include the calculus behind it.

Also I've found that those that had a tougher time with organic chem than gen chem usually have an easier time with physics. The ones that found organic easier than gen chem, on the other hand, usually find physics to be rougher. We seem to have a lot of Organic brains on sdn so some of the terrible things you've heard about physics have probably come from them. I was definitely not an Organic brain (It's taken me several tries to get thru that series - twice for Orgo 1, 3 times for Orgo 2 and still only a C+ and a C - hence the biophysics grad plan), so gen chem, Analytical chem, and all 4 physics courses I've taken were an absolute breeze comparatively.

 

[donks06]

The other thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is whether the OP is planning calc-based or alg-based. That also will change how difficult the class will be somewhat. I actually took both (from the same prof) because I decided after alg-based that I wanted to minor in physics, and eventually do a grad program in biophysics before applying to med school. I didn't find either series particularly difficult (alg-based is for the bio majors, premeds, and some teachers while calc based is the one for physics, chem, and engineering although they have just added a new honors physics for physics majors) at my school, mostly because of my teacher and having had exposure in high school, and then alg-based prior to calc based. If you have a good calc background you will probably find calc-based a touch easier than alg-based (assuming you get a good teacher) becaues a lot of the stuff from physics 2 makes more sense when you include the calculus behind it.

Also I've found that those that had a tougher time with organic chem than gen chem usually have an easier time with physics. The ones that found organic easier than gen chem, on the other hand, usually find physics to be rougher. We seem to have a lot of Organic brains on sdn so some of the terrible things you've heard about physics have probably come from them. I was definitely not an Organic brain (It's taken me several tries to get thru that series - twice for Orgo 1, 3 times for Orgo 2 and still only a C+ and a C - hence the biophysics grad plan), so gen chem, Analytical chem, and all 4 physics courses I've taken were an absolute breeze comparatively.

I totally agree about the Organic-Physics thing. After recently taking Organic, I found out that I was great at it and enjoyed it. It was much easier than Physics for me and I was an electrical engineer. I am beginning to think that I should have gone more of a chemistry avenue as an undergrad!

In response to the OP, just do algebra-based physics and study with people who can really help you. All it takes is somebody who knows what they are talking about and can spend the time to get it across to you.

 

[scpod]

One other note that no one else has mentioned...in my case most of the people who had trouble with Physics in my classes didn't have trouble with the "physics" part of it, they had trouble with the "math" part of it. If your math skills are lacking at all, then you might want to review that part of your education first. As a non-trad I hadn't had any mathematics in years and forced myself to sit through two semesters of review first. I can't say that it would help anyoone else, but it helped me for sure. At least it gave me a lot of confidence, and I'm one of those people mentioned above who absolutely loves Organic, yet I had no problems with Physics either.

 

[tch001]

Physics II was the WORSE class I have ever taken. I had no problem with the math portion of it (Calc I and Calc II were MUCH easier), I just had a really hard time grasping some of the concetps (imaginary enclosing surfaces?! what?!)

I loved ochem though, so I guess I just have one of those "organic not physics" brains

 

[BradenDO]

Physics II was the WORSE class I have ever taken. I had no problem with the math portion of it (Calc I and Calc II were MUCH easier), I just had a really hard time grasping some of the concetps (imaginary enclosing surfaces?! what?!)

I loved ochem though, so I guess I just have one of those "organic not physics" brains

Really? I liked Physics II a lot more than Physics I. For some reason it was easier to understand circuits and all that jazz. The entire class had the solutions manual for the homework, though, so maybe that's why I liked it more! 😉

 

[KeyLime]

I think it REALLY varries from school to school. My physics course was very easy. Got an A- in Physics I and an A in Physics II. But the professors always provided the formulas for our tests - I know at some other schools they may not. It made the class easy, but I was screwed for the MCAT...

This happened to me also. I got a high B+ both semesters, and I loved my prof. However, the prof provided a formula sheet for all the tests, so I didn't have them memorized for the MCAT. I wish that I would have tried to learn the formulas a little better so the physics on the MCAT wouldn't have killed me.

I didn't think that it was too bad, and I have always been pretty math-phobic!

 

[MSc44]

I've heard terrible things about physics so I wanted to hear people's thoughts on this. I am taking 2 PA classes next semester and 3 "soft" classes. The PA classes are pharmacology and seminars in techniques and procedures. The pharm is essentially the same as med school pharm and techniques and procedures is a lot of stuff I already know like EKGs and IVs (i am a medic) and some stuff I don't know like Xray interp. and suturing skills. The 3 soft classes are economics and finance in healthcare, community healthcare, and leaderhsip in healthcare. I'll probably have to write a couple papers and thats all.

SO, I am considering fitting physics in there. I consider the physics prof. a friend and think I can handle it, especially with him teaching it. What does everyone else think about that course load? Is physics so bad that I should wait? I am really happy about getting the pre med stuff out of the way in case I decide to go to med school after PA school.

Thanks!

I would save it till you can spend the most time on it. It also depends on what kind of mind you have if your good at math u should so ok.
I hate math. I ended up getting the lowest grade in a science class ever in both physics, which was only a B+ but still i hated it. If i had to do it again i would have taken it with a much lighter load then i did

 

[dtrain5]

The professor is by far the most important variable in the physics curriculum. I was lucky, and had what I would consider one the best physics teachers in the nation. Talk to other students that have had the professor and ask for their advice. Obviously you are going to have to take it now or later, and with your current schedule, I would think it would be no sweat.

 

[Gmw1386]

I'm taking calc based physic and I'm pretty screwed. But it really depends on the person taking it and the prof. All my professor does is show how one equation is derived from another and does NO practice problems. I think I'm going to take one of those previous poster tip and go buy myself a physics review book because my notes are pretty useless and the text isn't that good either. So in my opinion unless you know you're a physics type of person or you know the prof. is good don't take it.

 

[LJoo83]

it really isn't that horrendous. physics is everyday phenomena placed into simple, algebraic equations. i would recommend you at least take college algebra to understand basic math rules and such.

i had a horrible professor because he was new and still learning how to teach. but, i read the book, understood how to create derivatives from the equations given, and learned what the symbols in the equation stood for. then apply some logic and you're good to go.

taking lab simultaneously helped as well because you got to place abstract ideas into a hands-on environment.

overall, i really liked physics.

good luck.

 

[Skaterbabe74]

it really isn't that horrendous. physics is everyday phenomena placed into simple, algebraic equations. i would recommend you at least take college algebra to understand basic math rules and such.

i had a horrible professor because he was new and still learning how to teach. but, i read the book, understood how to create derivatives from the equations given, and learned what the symbols in the equation stood for. then apply some logic and you're good to go.

taking lab simultaneously helped as well because you got to place abstract ideas into a hands-on environment.

overall, i really liked physics.

good luck.

Now see labs at my school are pointless...especially for alg-based. Or they were when I took them anyway because they used to have alg-based and calc-based in the same lab, and we'd often cover material in lab way before or way after we did it in lab. The calc-based students don't take the 2nd lab until physics 3 typically so when they were studying optics in class we did it in the lab. Well for the majority of us, the alg-based students, we didn't cover optics until the very end of the semester so we did our first lab without any background at all. And this was often the case - plus the labs had a lot more calculus in them than the alg-based students were required to know since they had to be sufficient for both curriculums.

Thankfully, now they've divided the labs up into alg-based, calc-based, and honors.