Math Tripos or NatSci for Theoretical Physics?

Are you doing NatSci? Maths? Or Mech Eng... ?

[Ellipsibus are great aren't they...]

Hello,

I intend to apply to Cambridge for 2016 entry. My ultimate goal is to become a theoretical physicist, so I will need a strong foundation in both mathematics and physics.

I also love mathematics for its own sake, and I am interested in pure math subjects that might not be taught to the typical Natural Science student. For example, I doubt that real analysis, set theory, or analytic number theory are taught in the Natural Science program at Cambridge, but I really do wish to study these at some point, hopefully in a classroom setting rather than on my own. I wish that I could learn all of the stuff in the Math Tripos in addition to all the physics required to do theoretical physics.

Thus I am unsure whether to take the Natural Sciences option with a specialisation in physics or the Math Tripos and then switch to physics at some point, or the Math With Physics option.

Which option should I take in order to become a theoretical physicist with the same experience in math as someone who did the Math Tripos? If you could describe each option in detail that would also be helpful.

Thanks.

If it has to be Cambridge then Maths without a shadow of a doubt.
I am going to stir things up by saying

I general
a good mathematician can be trained to do physics, but not the other way round.

I didn't bother studying the NatSci or physics or MMATHPHYS. That's a long story and not relevant to this thread. And the ellipisis is not offensive in this context.

But you say: "I was in the same position as you at one point and that's what I did. Still applied to Cambridge Nat Sci though but the other unis I applied for the MMATHPHYS courses."

And yet you do Engineering now don't you? Did you re-apply the following year and change course? If so that's fine. It just helps us see the value and context of your advise...

[... offensive yet?]

You're right, I don't disagree. I doubt that would stir much trouble. Maybe if you said it about engineering lol.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Despite the advice given in this thread I am still very unsure as to what to do. I know for sure that I want to attend Cambridge. I want to become a theoretical physicist, so ultimately I should have a deeper training in physics than in mathematics. However I would also like to have a very strong foundation in maths. I know it will be difficult to take extra classes, given the enourmous amount of work from my main classes and the fact that there may be logistical conflicts. The option is between the Math Tripos with physics specialisation, Math with Physics, or NatSci with Physics specialisation. Can someone please explain clearly how much math and how much physics each one will have, and how flexible each one is.

The thing I don't like so much about U.S colleges is that you are required to study thing completley unrelated to your "major". For example if you wish to become a physicist you can't study only math and physics - you must also study history/philosophy/literature/economics, at least in the first 2 years of undergrad. I prefer the Cambridge system where you only study one course, except that it seems to be so rigid that one cannot even pursue 2 closely related subjects (math and physics) simultaneously.

Thanks again for your advice.

The best thing you can do is to try and get to an Open Day. We're open all day Thursday and Friday if you're free?

After having done more research, I have decided to do Math with Physics and enter the NatSci Tripos in the second year with a specialization in physics.

@Arieisit: I'm well aware of the math admissions at Cambridge. I've taken some STEP exams from recent years and I've averaged 10-11 problems within the time limit. I also took some recent Trinity Math Entrance Exams, which are 10 questions to be done in an hour, and I have been able to do all 10 within the time limit. I do math olympiads so I'm well trained in the kind of problem solving that appears on STEP...

Fixed it for you

Posted from TSR Mobile

!!!! Are you honestly trying to piss me off? Because you wouldn't like to be an active enemy of mine.

Posted from TSR Mobile

!!!! Are you honestly trying to piss me off? Because you wouldn't like to be an active enemy of mine.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Arieisit I'm not sure if you're talking to me or someone else... If you are talking to me, the answer is no, I am not trying to piss you off in any way and I'm not sure why you would think that I am.

Hello,

I intend to apply to Cambridge for 2016 entry. My ultimate goal is to become a theoretical physicist, so I will need a strong foundation in both mathematics and physics.

I also love mathematics for its own sake, and I am interested in pure math subjects that might not be taught to the typical Natural Science student. For example, I doubt that real analysis, set theory, or analytic number theory are taught in the Natural Science program at Cambridge, but I really do wish to study these at some point, hopefully in a classroom setting rather than on my own. I wish that I could learn all of the stuff in the Math Tripos in addition to all the physics required to do theoretical physics.

Thus I am unsure whether to take the Natural Sciences option with a specialisation in physics or the Math Tripos and then switch to physics at some point, or the Math With Physics option.

Which option should I take in order to become a theoretical physicist with the same experience in math as someone who did the Math Tripos? If you could describe each option in detail that would also be helpful.

Thanks.

Hello,

I intend to apply to Cambridge for 2016 entry. My ultimate goal is to become a theoretical physicist, so I will need a strong foundation in both mathematics and physics.

I also love mathematics for its own sake, and I am interested in pure math subjects that might not be taught to the typical Natural Science student. For example, I doubt that real analysis, set theory, or analytic number theory are taught in the Natural Science program at Cambridge, but I really do wish to study these at some point, hopefully in a classroom setting rather than on my own. I wish that I could learn all of the stuff in the Math Tripos in addition to all the physics required to do theoretical physics.

Thus I am unsure whether to take the Natural Sciences option with a specialisation in physics or the Math Tripos and then switch to physics at some point, or the Math With Physics option.

Which option should I take in order to become a theoretical physicist with the same experience in math as someone who did the Math Tripos? If you could describe each option in detail that would also be helpful.

Thanks.

Hello, what did you end up doing?
I am in the exact same situation, but a difference is that I dont want to become a theoretical physicist. I want to apply to imperial and warwick for mathematics and physics degree, but is that possible? How would I shape my personal statement?