University of Kwazulu-Natal

Anyone Else Feel Lost Doing Grad Classes Physics

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
anyone else feel lost doing grad classes physics

Last time I wrote a blog about my academic life, back in November, I was going through a major crisis – by which I mean a crisis about my major, not a major crisis... I wrote: I think my being a physics major has hinged on me really enjoying physics classes, and I’m just not sure how true that is anymore. I think, in a vacuum, I love physics. But I don’t live in a vacuum, and it’s stressful to waste energy and time on something that isn’t really important to me at the moment. Course 18C seems to be calling.

At the time, I was feeling incredibly stressed and lost in 8.033, Relativity, a notoriously difficult class.⁠01 though most physics classes are notoriously difficult Not too long after writing that blog, though, I had... Or, more accurately, we moved on from special relativity to general relativity, and all of a sudden I was reminded of just how incredibly cool physics can be. I distinctly remember telling anyone who would listen that I’m studying black holes in class, and we’re doing math, and there’s thing called a metric, and with a metric it’ll be like you have... – there’s a black hole and it’s right there in my pset, how cool is that?? I just know my friends thought I had gone insane, when just a week beforehand I had been talking about how I’m set on switching majors.⁠02 actually my friends are probably used to my... After the semester ended, I was left in an interesting place.

I had taken one math, one physics, and one CS class ( 18.600,⁠03 Probability and Random Variables 8.033, and 6.006,⁠04 Intro to Algorithms respectively), and done relatively poorly in all of them. Part of this was because all three of the classes were difficult, but it mattered also that I couldn’t find the time to focus on three technicals at once. I want to commit to never again taking three such hard classes at once. This hurts, in itself, because there’s this common narrative at MIT that three technicals and a HASS is a standard schedule, and anything less is less rigorous than average. It hurts, also, because there are so many classes I’m curious and would like to take. A lot of these classes do fall within the realm of 18C.⁠05 Mathematics with Computer Science, the other major I'm considering The truth is, though, that an undergrad plan studying all of the fields...

I need to choose something to focus on in order to not completely destroy my mental health; double-majoring is out of the question. With all that in mind, I went into winter break and IAP knowing I needed to make a decision about which major I will pursue and stick with it. The title of the blog spoils it, but I chose to stay a physics major. Ultimately, it mostly came down to the difference in the sheer number of classes I would need to take to get an 18C degree as compared to a physics degree. This semester, I am taking 8.04⁠06 Quantum Physics I and 8.226.⁠07 '43 Orders of Magnitude' which is a sort of humanities-for-physicists class From here, there are only a couple more strict physics requirements left:... This is so mind-bogglingly few classes that I realized it doesn’t make sense for me to not finish a physics major, especially in favor of a major where I have somewhere between 5 and...

I’m planning on returning to college to finish a bachelors in physics, then go onto grad school to pursue a doctorate. For those who either are or had been in grad school for physics, I have some questions: I heard the majority of physics grad students get stipends, as there are so many research assistants and teacher’s assistants needed for the field. Is that the case, and if so, what would you say the percentage is as to how many get stipends? Between classes, studying, and being an RA or TA, is it very time-consuming, or do you have any free time evenings and/or weekends? (If you completed the doctoral) How easy/hard was it to find a job afterward?

I really want to do this, and I’m trying to get an idea of what to expect in the years to come. Anyone who can give me feedback, I’d greatly appreciate it. You’ve graduated from undergrad, celebrated your achievements, and are now stepping into the world of grad school. But then reality hits: grad school is a whole different ballgame. If you’re feeling like grad school is much harder than undergrad, you’re not alone—it’s a common experience. But why does it feel so much tougher?

And, more importantly, how can you manage the transition? I’m going to break it all down for you. After completing my PhD, I realized that understanding the differences between undergrad and grad school is the first step to thriving. In this post, I’ll explain why grad school feels so much harder and share practical tips for managing the transition. Let’s dive in! One of the first things you’ll notice in grad school is that the structure you had in undergrad is gone.

Remember those neatly organized schedules with clear start and end dates for assignments? In undergrad, you’re given a syllabus that lays out exactly what’s expected of you. In grad school, it’s different. You’re expected to take more initiative, set your own deadlines, and manage your time independently. I’ve spoken with so many grad students about their first semester. Often, they would be given a big paper or research project to complete by the end of the semester.

There was no “due date” like they were used to in undergrad—just a vague deadline for the end of the semester. They thought they had plenty of time, so they kept pushing the project aside until the last minute. Big mistake. By the time they realized they were behind, they felt like they were drowning. How to manage it:Grad school requires a different approach to time management. Instead of waiting for a professor to give you deadlines, create your own.

Break down big projects into smaller tasks with mini-deadlines.

People Also Search

Last Time I Wrote A Blog About My Academic Life,

Last time I wrote a blog about my academic life, back in November, I was going through a major crisis – by which I mean a crisis about my major, not a major crisis... I wrote: I think my being a physics major has hinged on me really enjoying physics classes, and I’m just not sure how true that is anymore. I think, in a vacuum, I love physics. But I don’t live in a vacuum, and it’s stressful to was...

At The Time, I Was Feeling Incredibly Stressed And Lost

At the time, I was feeling incredibly stressed and lost in 8.033, Relativity, a notoriously difficult class.⁠01 though most physics classes are notoriously difficult Not too long after writing that blog, though, I had... Or, more accurately, we moved on from special relativity to general relativity, and all of a sudden I was reminded of just how incredibly cool physics can be. I distinctly remembe...

I Had Taken One Math, One Physics, And One CS

I had taken one math, one physics, and one CS class ( 18.600,⁠03 Probability and Random Variables 8.033, and 6.006,⁠04 Intro to Algorithms respectively), and done relatively poorly in all of them. Part of this was because all three of the classes were difficult, but it mattered also that I couldn’t find the time to focus on three technicals at once. I want to commit to never again taking three suc...

I Need To Choose Something To Focus On In Order

I need to choose something to focus on in order to not completely destroy my mental health; double-majoring is out of the question. With all that in mind, I went into winter break and IAP knowing I needed to make a decision about which major I will pursue and stick with it. The title of the blog spoils it, but I chose to stay a physics major. Ultimately, it mostly came down to the difference in th...

I’m Planning On Returning To College To Finish A Bachelors

I’m planning on returning to college to finish a bachelors in physics, then go onto grad school to pursue a doctorate. For those who either are or had been in grad school for physics, I have some questions: I heard the majority of physics grad students get stipends, as there are so many research assistants and teacher’s assistants needed for the field. Is that the case, and if so, what would you s...