The oldest textbook that I have as the original owner is "Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory and Statistical Thermodynamics" (2nd edition) by Sears & Salinger from Fall 1982. (We've both held up pretty well!)
Think twice before you start a physics degree when you have ADHD. I went through my study time undiagnosed and I just did not understand why I had such a hard time finishing my Bachelor and Master theses. These two tasks were easily the hardest thing I ever did in my life. You need to be able to sit down, start to do stuff or write down your thoughts, even if your head right now is empty or you do not yet know what comes up next. I reached out for help in general, but there is only so much that others can do. Of course I am not sure if help is more efficient when you are diagnosed. I would recommend to take those meds they give to ADHD patients in this situation, because I doubt that there is anything else that would have helped me. Also, being forced to divide my attention between so many branches of physics took a toll on me. I was told that sometimes you need to accept your ignorance to move on. However, to see through the mist of technicalities in books and lectures you must not be blind to the bigger picture. I was though, and I am afraid I still am. I just barely survived test after test. My grades deteriorated each year, because I could not really make use of what I learned prior. I did not see any order in it. I just wanted to become a highly specialized expert at something with a spiky skill set. The problem is that you can get there only two ways: Either you bring the passion for your highly specialized interest already with you when you start to study physics. Or you need to be capable to follow multiple branches of physics at once and BE PASSIONATE about them, until you are ready to settle down on something. Otherwise your ADHD will quickly turn every course into a seemingly pointless struggle. I still got a high paying job today, so nothing of this was actually pointless. Even if it was just the degree that got me here and nothing else. But if I could go back in time I would actually choose my university based on how much I could learn about thin film deposition with plasma and do certain things differently, to keep up the motivation. Oh, and I would get those meds asap.
Ive seen some physics jobs increasing, though. But this wont likely surprise all physics majors, since theyve all seen increasing investments in Nuclear engineering(for fission AND fusion) and Theoretical nuclear physics, as well as the related astrophyiscs jobs that Spacex, Blue Origin, etc, would need. A physics graduate frim my first school got a job as a Quant, which seems to be the case for many Math, Physics, or Dtatistics majors. They naturally would also want Computer Science grads for quants. Finally, it does seem as though the UK usually or ALWAYS requires a masters before entering the OHD? As you know, this is the case for a few schools in the US, but not the majority, since most will let you begin with a Bachelors.
You bring up some excellent points! The growth in physics-related jobs, especially in fields like nuclear engineering and astrophysics, is really exciting.
Going to university is not about partying! It is a time of extreme learning. Study what you love and what you have a passion for. This is what will get you through the process and get you ready for the world. Physics teaches you how to think for yourself. So if you are interested in understanding physical sciences, including engineering, study physics.
While I generally agree, the social aspects of university are key for personal and social development. The friends you make at university will last a lifetime. But yes, studies should always come first
hey i am a highschool senior from india i cant decide between engineering (mechatronics or mechanical) or physics. i need suggestions from a person who is inthat field
This September, I am going to the UK for MSc Astrophysics.. can you make a video about job growth, career options, and bright and dark sides of astrophysics. I think information from expert will assist me in deciding how I can grow efficiently in Astrophysics
Amazing video! I knew Physics was a flexible choice, but your vídeo really really helped me to broad my understanding of all the career prospects that come with it, and now I'm pretty much 100% sure I'm gonna do a Physics degree. Thanks, I wish you lots of success :)
Will start my first year in Computer science from september Really helpful advice most vidoes are focused on how to build a schedule, studies etc but this tiny tips are often ignored which may have huge impact later on
Great video, it matches my experience. My career path has been: BS physics -> MS applied physics -> materials science at a national lab -> dropped out of an applied physics PhD -> finance (first as an accountant then as an actuary).
As a stupid 17 year old who's doing A/Ls in math/physics stream and studies astrophysics as a hobby, while being a python programmer who's interested in data analytics it's LOVELY to see how all of my skills combine together in a single field!
Same issue i faced for a long time. Like everytime I start reading, I get sleepy. Reading with writing helps me but I don't feel its practical, as it kind of aligns with studying I fell. Thanks for the tips.
Not that you’re doing a bad job at it, but I just realized while watching the video that you’re not always really looking at the camera. Looking at the camera would like you know make it more personal, just some feedback cause I don’t know I just noticed it. And potentially you don’t even realize it.
I wouldn't say so. There are plenty of people all looking to be the best student they can be! If you can't find a group of productive students, try to make your own :)
Habit 1: Don't fall behind. 1:20 Habit 2: Spend time productively 3:02 Habit 3: Be surrounded by greatness 4:40 Habit 4: Be proactive: 6:30 Habit 5: Study deeply: 9:14 Habit 6: Learn to study 11:55 Habit 7: Embrace Ignorance 14:40 Love your videos by the way! ❤❤
If I do my undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, is it possible to switch to astrophysics during my master's? Thanks for the great video, Lewis!
I would say that would be quite difficult but not impossible - I’ve heard it’s much easier going from physics>engineering than engineering>physics. Without a physics background, you miss out on a lot of the fundamental concepts that are needed for an astrophysics degree. But it’s not impossible if you demonstrate a good understanding of the fundamentals and passion for the subject in your personal statement
@@LewisMCooper If you don't mind me asking, what sort of additional skills and attributes do I need to acquire and show them if I choose to go with the route that I described in my initial comment, such that I have a high possibility of getting accepted by my grad school?
Someone help me here if i did a physics degree and went into engineering why not just do an engineering degree? Also what are the pay rates in the uk for any purely physic related jobs I.e. researcher or astronomer
If you know right from the very start of your university journey that you want to go into engineering then you should probably do an engineering degree. A physics degree may offer more flexibility with what industries you can end up in though and can also lead to engineering
@@LewisMCooper the thing is I want to do physics this year sep but I feel like the jobs will pay less/low for a pure physics job and I don’t even know if there are any in the uk so my best bet would be to do engineering. Another problem is that there isn’t enough help online for people who have considered it this year in general and want to ensure they will have a secure path
While I think this method is fine if you are new-ish to a fieldll, I myself like to start with the methodology, so I can judge its quality without knowing if the results fit my bias beforehand. I think a lot of us need to become more critical when looking at research, as there's a lot of flawed methodology out there. It's important to note that I am viewing this through the lens of medical sciences, I don't know if it is as big of a deal with Physics.
Hey brother is it like uw ant to be an astrophysicist in nasa. Or like how they get job for studying about galaxies and stars?. I mean where which company or where they work can u tell plz😊
Why don't you leave your work items at work? I started doing that recently and has made my commute much more enjoyable because I no longer have to carry around so much junk that I barely use.
Good point but there’s two main reasons: 1. We have hybrid working so sometimes I work in the office and sometimes I work from home 2. At work there’s hot desking so I might be sat on a new desk each day
I didn't realize that most of your work was done on your laptop, but for some reason I did anticipate you to have a ton of notebooks! HAHAHA! + I was shocked to see how your calculator is still working despite having it around for more than 5-6 years 😮
Yeah I just really like the analogue way of writing things by hand. It allows for much more creative notes than being confined to the limits of whatever software I used to use. Also, yeah, that calculator has been through its fair share of use haha
