What is physics like?

[SCDP]

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For me, I'm very strong at math. Got an A in both Calc 1 & 2 and got in A in gen chem 1 and at the very worst will get a B in gen chem 2, but hopefully an A. I'm trying to decide if I should take physics before I apply(junior year) so it goes on my application, or after I apply(senior year). I want my best grades to go on my application, so I could either take physics junior year and bio heavy semesters senior year, or vice versa. It's not that I'm bad at bio, but it's a ton of studying, while math based classes seem to require less studying.

So would you guys recommend me take physics if I'm strong at math? Is physics heavily math involved?

 

[kingenamel]

Most of physics is math. If I were in your shoes I would try to leave the least intensive schedule/workload for the year you would be traveling and interviewing around.

 

[clutchfans]

If you're strong at math, it's easy

 

[Cello]

I'm taking physics this summer without being as strong at math as you are and I'm not particularly worried about. Work hard and you can make the A. I took AP physics way back in high school, and it was very heavily math involved but ours was trig based (which I find to be easy enough). I am taking trig based physics at the university because I expect it to be similar, but harder than AP was.

 

[SCDP]

Most of physics is math. If I were in your shoes I would try to leave the least intensive schedule/workload for the year you would be traveling and interviewing around.

I didn't even think about that, it must be tough doing well in classes when you're missing so many while out on interviews.

 

[kingenamel]

I didn't even think about that, it must be tough doing well in classes when you're missing so many while out on interviews.

Sometimes it can depend on your teachers and how nice they are about it. I was lucky in the sense that my teachers were ok with me missing classes and they allowed me to make up stuff that I missed. But depending on how many schools you apply to and how many interviews you receive it is a lot easer when you have an easier workload. If you are applying your junior year and you will be interviewing your senior year, it would be in your best interest to have an easier fall semester vs spring semester. I received a few post-december interviews but the vast majority of the interviews I received were for the Fall.

 

[SCDP]

What if I only take 11 credits(part-time) during my first semester of senior year? I'm thinking of just taking physics 1, biochem, and anatomy during that first semester where I would be going to hopefully, several interviews. Does part-time for just one semester look bad? Every other semester is full time, every though most of of them are in the 12-14 credit range.

 

[ahlee]

taking physics at umich with microbiology and orgo, and its not that bad. Just a ton of formula to memorize and stuff, but if you're able to configure different equations easily, then it shouldn't be too bad

 

[yappy]

Depends on your UG. Some intro physics series are KILLER while others are not too bad - figure out how it is at your school.

I really liked physics and thought it was an awesome course. First term I had a very rigorous prof and made a B. The second term I made an A with a more reasonable prof. Physics is math intensive but it's more important to understand what a formula is "saying" / "does" rather than accurately & quickly calculate functions... It's similar to statistics in that way.

 

[Illfavor]

Thinking about physics puts me on mega-tilt. What a waste of time.

 

[aqz]

Just need to get one of these:

 

[Dentalguy8621]

For me, I'm very strong at math. Got an A in both Calc 1 & 2 and got in A in gen chem 1 and at the very worst will get a B in gen chem 2, but hopefully an A. I'm trying to decide if I should take physics before I apply(junior year) so it goes on my application, or after I apply(senior year). I want my best grades to go on my application, so I could either take physics junior year and bio heavy semesters senior year, or vice versa. It's not that I'm bad at bio, but it's a ton of studying, while math based classes seem to require less studying.

So would you guys recommend me take physics if I'm strong at math? Is physics heavily math involved?

Physics is as easy as ur professor makes it boss.

 

[ChrisM07]

Physics is as easy as ur professor makes it boss.

Truth. Physics 1 was a nightmare for me. Class average of 350 some students hovered around the 50s/60s. Physics 2 was much better and more interesting in my opinion.

 

[Dentalguy8621]

Truth. Physics 1 was a nightmare for me. Class average of 350 some students hovered around the 50s/60s. Physics 2 was much better and more interesting in my opinion.

Physics 1 was definitely harder than Physics 2 at my school. Our averages in Phys 1 were like 8/20 on exams. Physics 2 was much easier.

 

[Jungerr]

The very first test in my undergraduate career was a physics test where the average was 30 something%. Nearly panicked and thought I'll never graduate from university lol.

The prof ended up boosting everyone's marks, and the class average at the end of the semester ended up being a respectable C+.

 

[BYU4you]

You always have khan academy on YouTube to help or course saver.
Physics can be easy if you understand the concepts, the math is generally basic. It's just applying in the right place at the right time.