Not learning anything in physics

[Columbia09]

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So I'm taking physics one and two at a local college this summer and I'm not learning anything ! The professor is unable to explain the material in an understanding manner and I feel this will hurt me for the mcats. Did any of you take physics over the summer and had the same issue? It's a four week course (eight weeks overall) so everything is crammed. Any advice on what to do ?

 

[Moose A Moose]

I took physics Ii before physics I, with physics I being a summer course. For me, the intensity level between the two was definitely noticeable. I loathed my summer semester in physics and really didn't get much out of it. If you don't focus on, and revisit, the material- a lot- once MCAT time comes you can bet that it will be an issue. Nothing to worry too much about. Just do the best you can now, and accept you'll be spending more time than you'd like in the future solidifying concepts in Newtonian mechanics and the like.

 

[Starry]

If I were you, what I would do is start learning the material on my own alongside the course. I recommend an AP Physics book (yes, an AP exam prep book for high school students) and read through it + WORK PROBLEMS!!!!!!

Then, move on to MCAT problems (you can never start too early!) and if you find any concepts that you have trouble on, brush up on them or look up Youtube videos on the concept. For example, I had trouble with lens (convex, concave, real vs virtual, whether it would be up down or whatever) and looking up additional info on the Internet REALLY helped.

I found physics and chemistry to be highly similar in that they have tons of mathematical problems with applied concepts mixed in.

FWIW, I made an 8 on the PS section of the MCAT my first try, and then rose to an 11 my second try. No prep courses, just studied. 😀

 

[coolingglasses]

Summer classes ftl. You're gonna have to put in some elbow grease and learn this stuff on your own.

 

[Zonagirl]

Khan academy physics videos on YouTube... For free!!

 

[Goro]

Youtube and Khan Academy are your friends.

So I'm taking physics one and two at a local college this summer and I'm not learning anything ! The professor is unable to explain the material in an understanding manner and I feel this will hurt me for the mcats. Did any of you take physics over the summer and had the same issue? It's a four week course (eight weeks overall) so everything is crammed. Any advice on what to do ?

 

[Dreamstoo]

So I'm taking physics one and two at a local college this summer and I'm not learning anything ! The professor is unable to explain the material in an understanding manner and I feel this will hurt me for the mcats. Did any of you take physics over the summer and had the same issue? It's a four week course (eight weeks overall) so everything is crammed. Any advice on what to do ?

Have my physics 2 exam tomorrow and I would proudly admit that my TA taught me more than my professor did in the hour review session we had. Every time I used to go to the professor, he used to explain everything in calculus while all of our exams were purely algebra (only calculus used for concepts which was a very small portion of the exam: 20% and only like 5% involved calculus which could be done in the head).