[rainbowsss]

Are you guys as enthusiastic as when you first started of, or is it more of a future plans, complete degree mission..

I ask because I have read that at other universities , students have lost their enthusiasm for the subject compared to when they initially started out.

Ofc, I understand that this may a common occurence to many students in what ever subject as you progress through your degree...

Just particuarly interested in this in physics at Durham?

Thanks anyone, immensely appreciated .

[Rite]

Sorry for the extremely late post (Warwick students are currently in the middle of their exam period!), but I guess I can answer it now.

Personally, I'm studying Maths and Physics (so the experience might be a bit different than for a physicist) and am currently in my second year (about to finish it, actually), but I would say I'm a lot more enthusiastic about physics now than when I started!

Part of it is the fact that in the first year, I was actually starting to feel a bit disillusioned with physics because the pace was slower (relative to maths), and since (obviously) when we start university, we haven't yet covered the necessary maths (particularly vector calculus) to properly treat the subjects, a lot of the modules felt dumbed down and not very exciting, particularly in contrast to the maths that at that time was completely new and exciting and unlike what I'd seen before. As the year wore on, and especially in the second year, however, the physics modules got more interesting, and by the second year, I'm finding physics exciting again, even more exciting than before, since the more you understand something the more exciting it is when you can look at a surprising result and say "I know exactly how they came up with that result".

Don't think I'm expressing myself very clearly but hopefully this helps.

[117r]

(Original post by Rite)
Sorry for the extremely late post (Warwick students are currently in the middle of their exam period!), but I guess I can answer it now.

Personally, I'm studying Maths and Physics (so the experience might be a bit different than for a physicist) and am currently in my second year (about to finish it, actually), but I would say I'm a lot more enthusiastic about physics now than when I started!

Part of it is the fact that in the first year, I was actually starting to feel a bit disillusioned with physics because the pace was slower (relative to maths), and since (obviously) when we start university, we haven't yet covered the necessary maths (particularly vector calculus) to properly treat the subjects, a lot of the modules felt dumbed down and not very exciting, particularly in contrast to the maths that at that time was completely new and exciting and unlike what I'd seen before. As the year wore on, and especially in the second year, however, the physics modules got more interesting, and by the second year, I'm finding physics exciting again, even more exciting than before, since the more you understand something the more exciting it is when you can look at a surprising result and say "I know exactly how they came up with that result".

Don't think I'm expressing myself very clearly but hopefully this helps.

Hey, just saw your reply! I'm hoping to apply to physics next year (2013 entry) and was looking at Warwick Maths and Physics. It's a little early I know, but since you're here I may as well ask...

In the joint degree, how much choice do you have over how much of your degree is maths and how much is physics? Particularly in the third year and onward (I think the first two years are fairly evenly split?).

Thanks very much!

[Rite]

(Original post by 117r)
Hey, just saw your reply! I'm hoping to apply to physics next year (2013 entry) and was looking at Warwick Maths and Physics. It's a little early I know, but since you're here I may as well ask...

In the joint degree, how much choice do you have over how much of your degree is maths and how much is physics? Particularly in the third year and onward (I think the first two years are fairly evenly split?).

Thanks very much!

First two years is indeed pretty evenly split. Third year you have 60 core CATS (weighting given to modules, have to take 120 minimum in total but usual joint honours students like those in the maths phys course end up taking closer to 150 ) of which 45 are physics and one is maths (though it's fluid mechanics, so I personally think of it as 60 core physics CATS). What you decide to do with your remaining CATS is up to you. You can visit http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/ma...andbook/year3/ , http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/ph...h/module_pages to check out the modules (often with publicly available lecture notes) and hover the mouse over "Year X" and click on "regulation" to see the rules in detail at this link: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/ph...ach/mathsphys/ .

[Rite]

(Original post by rainbowsss)
Are you guys as enthusiastic as when you first started of, or is it more of a future plans, complete degree mission..

I ask because I have read that at other universities , students have lost their enthusiasm for the subject compared to when they initially started out.

Ofc, I understand that this may a common occurence to many students in what ever subject as you progress through your degree...

Just particuarly interested in this in physics at Durham?

Thanks anyone, immensely appreciated .

Just realised I'd forgotten to quote you.

[117r]

(Original post by Rite)
First two years is indeed pretty evenly split. Third year you have 60 core CATS (weighting given to modules, have to take 120 minimum in total but usual joint honours students like those in the maths phys course end up taking closer to 150 ) of which 45 are physics and one is maths (though it's fluid mechanics, so I personally think of it as 60 core physics CATS). What you decide to do with your remaining CATS is up to you. You can visit http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/ma...andbook/year3/ , http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/ph...h/module_pages to check out the modules (often with publicly available lecture notes) and hover the mouse over "Year X" and click on "regulation" to see the rules in detail at this link: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/ph...ach/mathsphys/ .

Thank you, very helpful indeed!

[conorordan]

(Original post by Rite)
Sorry for the extremely late post (Warwick students are currently in the middle of their exam period!), but I guess I can answer it now.

Personally, I'm studying Maths and Physics (so the experience might be a bit different than for a physicist) and am currently in my second year (about to finish it, actually), but I would say I'm a lot more enthusiastic about physics now than when I started!

Part of it is the fact that in the first year, I was actually starting to feel a bit disillusioned with physics because the pace was slower (relative to maths), and since (obviously) when we start university, we haven't yet covered the necessary maths (particularly vector calculus) to properly treat the subjects, a lot of the modules felt dumbed down and not very exciting, particularly in contrast to the maths that at that time was completely new and exciting and unlike what I'd seen before. As the year wore on, and especially in the second year, however, the physics modules got more interesting, and by the second year, I'm finding physics exciting again, even more exciting than before, since the more you understand something the more exciting it is when you can look at a surprising result and say "I know exactly how they came up with that result".

Don't think I'm expressing myself very clearly but hopefully this helps.

I'm hopefully coming in September to do straight Physics, would you mind giving us a quick idea of how full the first year timetable is? Thanks.

[DDS_NT]

(Original post by Rite)
Sorry for the extremely late post (Warwick students are currently in the middle of their exam period!), but I guess I can answer it now.

Personally, I'm studying Maths and Physics (so the experience might be a bit different than for a physicist) and am currently in my second year (about to finish it, actually), but I would say I'm a lot more enthusiastic about physics now than when I started!

Part of it is the fact that in the first year, I was actually starting to feel a bit disillusioned with physics because the pace was slower (relative to maths), and since (obviously) when we start university, we haven't yet covered the necessary maths (particularly vector calculus) to properly treat the subjects, a lot of the modules felt dumbed down and not very exciting, particularly in contrast to the maths that at that time was completely new and exciting and unlike what I'd seen before. As the year wore on, and especially in the second year, however, the physics modules got more interesting, and by the second year, I'm finding physics exciting again, even more exciting than before, since the more you understand something the more exciting it is when you can look at a surprising result and say "I know exactly how they came up with that result".

Don't think I'm expressing myself very clearly but hopefully this helps.

Hie... Am looking for warwick Physics postgrad... 2013 sept...... i actually like the univ as much as i read and went through the site... but u r der... soooo wat would u prefer... Phd Physics... how is it?? how abt international students der?? how abt schoalrships been given der for Postgrads ??