I'm going to start physics undergrad next year. How should I prepare this summer so I don't embarrass myself as a freshman?

Practice your math skills - algebra, geometry, trig, calculus.

>>16696390
Best advice, 99% of people when they struggling with physics, they're actually struggling with the math part.

>>16696387 (OP)
Don't do the problems for L 1.1 and L 1.2, just read that portion. Do everything else. If I were you though I'd start doing the calculus portion of the textbook.

>>16696387 (OP)
Find the solutions online to past homeworks and past exams for all your classes, use that to study off of.

>>16696387 (OP)
master saying
>would you like fries with that?

I would seriously consider getting a degree in business administration instead of physics because of the job outlook.

If you still decide to study physics you can always join the military as a officer, just make sure you run a 8 minute mile. Of you can join a alternative teaching certification program to become a school teacher with your degree and you can start working as a school teacher.

>>16696387 (OP)
Take a maximum of 10,000iu of vitamin d3 everyday morning starting as soon as possible and start taking a maximum of 3 grams of beta alanine every day as soon as possible.

Both increase dopamine in the brain which allows you to focus for longer periods of time. Don't go above the dosages I reccomended per day.

>>16696419
Unless you're skin is Vantablack you don't need so much d3

>>16696415
>>16696416
Is it that bad?

>>16696479
You're ignorant, not your fault because you haven't tried looking for a job with a bachelor's in physics, so you don't know how difficult it is to find work with a degree in physics.

You are not employable for anything with a 4 year degree in physics, not even as a lab technician. You got 4 options of employment alwith a 4 year degree in physics.

First is becoming a military officer after employment. Second is becoming a school teacher through a alternative teaching certification program. Third option is going to law school and becoming a lawyer. Fourth option is getting into graduate school and getting a PhD in physics, but even with a PhD in physics you are not guaranteed a job, which is why so many physics PhD students are depressed, because they can't find work with their degree.

If I were you and you still want to get a degree in physics, I'd make sure im running 8 minute miles everyday so after I graduate I join the military as an officer.

>>16696422
Ignorant detected

>>16696492
I want to go to grad school but is there any way to go into finance if shit hits the fan

Out of all the courses that break new undergrads the main one is Electrodynamics. It's the first time that many students realise just how big the difference is between school and university level physics and how much they lack the mathematic foundation required. So brush up on your calculus, inside and out, and get started on vector calculus early.

>>16696479
I have no idea what that other anon is talking about. They may be right about pure physics jobs or academia but simply have a physics degree gets you in the door for more interviews than almost any other degree. The skillset learned it applicable over a huge number of industries.

>>16696525
Don't lie

>>16696515
Switch your major to finance

As a freshman you will do AP level math and physics. If you are actually this focused and considerate you could tear through the material at an accelerated pace. I knew someone who did exactly this and then went to work on fusion research.

Don't waste your opportunity, a lot of your classmates will be wasting their time drinking alcohol or other diversions, many will be filtered out completely. If I could go back in time, I'd religiously avoid all intoxicants/fornication and focus 100% on my studies. Learn from my mistakes.

>>16696479
https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/college-labor-market?mod=livecoverage_web#--:explore:outcomes-by-major
Physics has the 2nd highest unemployment rate of any major, including people with graduate degrees and doesn't even pay that well

>>16696387 (OP)
I like the Griffiths ED book.

>>16696525
>clueless inexperienced retard giving advice/input on something he doesn't know about
average /sci/poster

>>16696416
>I would seriously consider getting a degree in business administration instead of physics because of the job outlook.
Topest kek.

>>16696630
Everybody likes Griffiths, it's one a handful of near-universally liked textbooks.

>>16696588
why you lying?

>>16696588
that doesn't answer my question

>>16696387 (OP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giBXFmyfUiU
Don't believe the retards itt

>>16696479
You sound like OP. Am I wrong?

>>16696387 (OP)
Your Physics classes won't actually get difficult until end of your 2nd year. Until then, you'll probably be doing something between University Physics and Griffiths in terms of difficulty. You'll be able to get A's in those classes without much effort as long as your IQ is above 110.

Each semester after your 3rd, Physics gets twice as difficult as the previous. For most students this is either or both of the following:

a.) Their math skills are lacking (most undergrad programs don't adequately prepare you for the math.) So to fix this, over the next 2 years (and really for the rest of your career), hunker down and get really good at math (algebra, geometry, calc, vector calc, linear algebra, PDEs, ODEs, and complex analysis). A good sign is being able to do every problem in the book >>16696408 recommends. I actually used this book to learn much of my math a couple years ago after my prof recommended it.

By sophomore year know: Geometry, Calculus, Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra (as deep as math majors know it, just figure out what they're learning. The Linear Algebra class for engineers is typically shit), Complex analysis, ODEs + PDEs


b.) Their Physics fundamentals are lacking. Focus on the fundamentals.So many students fall behind because it's easier to plug and chug for you first year or two without giving much of a shit about understanding instead of focusing on the underlying foundations you need to build on later.

Take your time. Enjoy it. Study hard. Don't fall for the textbook memes these retards shill. Take baby steps, you have a year or two before it gets rough. If you focus on your foundations and math skills for the next couple of years, you'll be coasting with A's while your peers are being eaten alive by Sakurai. It's a marathon not a sprint.

Qualifications: Rising 4th year Physics major at T15 school w 3.943 GPA. Taken entire undergrad sequence and am onto graduate level classes. Boy do I love talking about myself on social media.

What the fuck is up with the rising X shit Americans have started labelling themselves with. "I'm a rising highschool student trying to status strive my way to blah blah blah" man shut the fuck up

>>16698275
Seethe faggot.

>>16698273
Second this. Great advice. Make sure to get involved in research freshman year too, don't worry too much about feeling "useless", professors will have a use for you no matter ur current skill level.

>>16698279
Never fucking respond to me ever agin you victim

>>16698279
Why don't you tell us some more about whats going on at school pal

>>16698275
i have no clue what it's supposed to mean, it sounds stupid as fuck

>>16698311
>>16698311
Because Americans live in an anti-society they all develop malignant narcissism that precludes them from saying normal things like "I'm nearing the end of my studies"

>>16696387 (OP)
Go through this https://sheafification.com/the-fast-track/
Saved my ass unironically. I only managed to understand GR and differential geometry thanks to the books listed there

First of all, you need to drink.
Get your alcohol tolerance way up, start bulking. Aim for around 5 beers within an hour.
Then, go out and talk to some women, you dom't want to be a shutin loser do you?

Physics is the easy part, but to live a fulfilling university life, you need to be able to party.

>>16696387 (OP)
Do some roids and get jacked.

>>16696387 (OP)
As other have pointed out in more detail, it all boils down to: just study lol
You gotta know your math and you gotta know your physics, also that math for physicists book is only good if you have some background in math, wouldn't recommend it to someone who just took defferential calculus or even worse only precalc.

>>16696387 (OP)
Any recommendations for science books? Please post

>>16697010
Really?

>>16696387 (OP)
Literally just start reading. Don't think too much about which books to read, just start reading something and slowly you'll get an idea of what a good book is

>>16696390
Agree with this too, learn how to do approximations properly, get a good feeling about all mathematical objects and operations. Linear algebra is important too,