Ask a Physics PhD Student | 30,000 Subscriber QnA part 1
TLDRIn this engaging vlog, the host addresses a variety of questions from the community about the experiences and challenges of graduate students. The discussion covers topics such as academic failures and resilience, the impact of smart peers, and the importance of mathematics for physics majors. The conversation delves into the process of selecting research topics, often through trial and error, and the necessity of computational skills. The students share their strategies for managing time, dealing with procrastination, and the personal sacrifices made in pursuit of their education. They also discuss the importance of a well-rounded education, including humanities, and the value of physics beyond academia. The vlog provides a candid look into the lives of grad students, offering insights and advice for those considering a path in higher education.
Takeaways
- 🎓 **Academic Failures and Recovery**: Graduate students shared their experiences with academic setbacks and emphasized the importance of resilience and learning from failures.
- 📚 **Importance of Mathematics**: A strong foundation in mathematics, including multivariable calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra, is crucial for physics majors and beneficial for further studies.
- 🔬 **Research Topics and Interests**: Choosing a research topic often involves exploration, internships, and aligning with personal interests, which can sometimes be discovered through undergraduate projects.
- 💻 **Computational Skills**: Proficiency in computation and coding is highly valued in graduate studies and research, with many students wishing they had developed these skills earlier.
- 🧐 **Challenges in Physics and Math**: Quantum mechanics and classical mechanics were highlighted as particularly challenging areas, with quantum mechanics being non-intuitive and requiring a shift in thinking for many students.
- 👥 **Collaboration and Support**: Students often seek advice and support from peers and advisors to navigate through academic and research challenges.
- 📈 **Grad School Differences**: Graduate school is distinguished by greater independence, deeper research, and a different kind of workload compared to undergraduate studies.
- ⏰ **Time Management**: Effective time management is cited as essential for balancing the demands of graduate studies, research, and personal life.
- 🚫 **Procrastination**: Even graduate students struggle with procrastination, but finding motivation and managing time well can help mitigate this.
- 🌐 **Versatility of Physics**: A background in physics can be applied to various fields beyond academia, including industry and finance, due to the versatile skillset it develops.
- 🤔 **Dealing with Failure**: Honest self-assessment, support from family or peers, and taking time for self-care are strategies mentioned for coping with and learning from failure.
Q & A
What was the main reason for the academic failure experienced by one of the grad students?
-One of the grad students mentioned their biggest academic failure was getting rejected from all the great schools after completing their masters in India, which was a significant setback.
How did the grad students handle the situation when they faced academic failure?
-The students coped with academic failure by seeking advice from others, realizing their mistakes, and using the experience as a learning opportunity to grow and move forward in their academic careers.
What is the importance of computational skills for a physics major?
-Computational skills are crucial for a physics major as they are extensively used in research and data analysis. A minor in math can also be beneficial as it covers the foundational math concepts essential for physics.
Why did the grad students decide to pursue research in their respective fields?
-The decision to pursue research was often based on personal interest, internships, or advice from professors. Some found their research topics through exploration and by following the lead of mentors in their field.
What are some challenges that grad students face during their research?
-Challenges include managing time effectively, dealing with the pressure of presenting novel findings, and the complexity of understanding and applying advanced mathematical concepts to physics problems.
How do the grad students approach their research topics?
-They approach their research topics by starting with a broad interest, conducting literature reviews, playing around with data, and gradually narrowing down to a specific research question or problem.
What is the general consensus among the grad students about the best way to choose a research topic?
-The general consensus is to engage in research projects or internships to discover interests and to see if one enjoys the process of research before committing to a specific topic.
How do the grad students feel about the necessity of a strong mathematical foundation for advanced physics?
-The students acknowledge the importance of a strong mathematical foundation, especially for theoretical physics, as many concepts in advanced physics are deeply rooted in higher mathematics.
What are some skills or experiences that the grad students wish they had acquired earlier?
-Many grad students expressed the importance of computational skills and a strong understanding of mathematics. They also mentioned the value of time management and the ability to work independently.
How do the grad students perceive the difference between undergraduate and graduate studies in terms of workload and stress?
-Grad students perceive graduate studies to involve more independence, deeper research, and a different kind of stress that comes from the need to produce original research and contribute to the field.
What advice do the grad students have for someone who is unsure if they are 'smart enough' to pursue a career in physics?
-The advice given is that physics is not just for smart people but also for those who are willing to work hard. Even if someone does not feel they are succeeding at a high level, they can still apply their physics knowledge to various fields or step down into other STEM areas.
Outlines
😀 Introduction and Poll Results
The video begins with the host, Elijah, addressing the audience with humor and introducing the topic of the vlog. He explains that the content is based on a community poll where grad students' questions were collected. The most upvoted questions and those posted first will be answered, with some to be featured in a 30,000 subscriber special video. Elijah is joined by fellow grad students to provide diverse perspectives and they start with a question about the worst experiences with academic failure and how to recover from them.
🎓 Academic Failures and Recovery
The group shares personal stories of academic setbacks, such as receiving a low grade, being rejected from schools, and publishing a paper without a research advisor's approval. They discuss how these failures impacted them and the strategies they used to overcome these challenges, including seeking advice, changing majors, and realizing that failure is a part of the learning process.
🧐 The Intimidation of Following Great Minds
The conversation shifts to the feeling of intimidation when pursuing grad school in physics, considering the achievements of past great minds like Newton and Einstein. The students agree that while it can be humbling, it is more inspiring than intimidating and serves as motivation to push the boundaries of current knowledge.
📚 Recommended Math Courses for Physics Majors
The group discusses the importance of a solid math foundation for physics majors. They recommend a minor in math to cover essential topics like multivariable calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra. They also touch on the relevance of more advanced math courses for those interested in theoretical physics and the importance of understanding math as more than just a tool.
🧲 Choosing a Research Topic
The students share how they selected their research topics, often through internships or conversations with professors. They emphasize the value of exploring different areas to find a good fit and the necessity of being adaptable and open to learning new things throughout the research process.
🤔 Skills and Passion for Physics
The discussion delves into when the students realized their passion for physics over other subjects and the challenges they face within the field. They talk about their personal experiences, the influence of family, and the non-intuitive nature of certain physics concepts, such as quantum mechanics.
📈 The Physics GRE and Study Strategies
The group exchanges advice on preparing for the Physics GRE. They share their experiences, emphasizing the importance of understanding fundamental concepts, practicing problems without a calculator, and using resources like the 'Conquering the Physics GRE' textbook and the Cambridge Handbook of Physics Formulas.
🕒 Time Management and Personal Sacrifices
The students discuss the personal sacrifices they've made due to the demands of grad school, such as less time for hobbies and exercise. They highlight the importance of time management and the need to prioritize tasks effectively to balance academic commitments with personal well-being.
🌐 International Perspectives on Grad School
The video includes an international perspective from students who have moved to pursue their education. They talk about their experiences adjusting to a new academic environment, the challenges of being away from home, and the benefits of studying abroad.
🤓 Self-Doubt and Career Paths in Physics
The group addresses the fear of not being smart enough to continue in physics research and the implications of this on career choices. They offer reassurance that hard work can compensate for perceived lack of innate intelligence and that the skills acquired in physics are transferable to various fields.
📉 Coping with Failure and Lack of Motivation
The students share their strategies for coping with failure and staying motivated. They emphasize self-compassion, seeking support from friends and family, and allowing oneself to feel demotivated at times without pushing too hard to be constantly productive.
🤔 The Role of Math in Physics and Academia
The conversation explores the significance of advanced math in physics, the role of theoretical physicists in academia, and the necessity of teaching and research. They discuss how math often precedes and is fundamental to solving physics problems and the various career paths available to those with a physics doctorate.
📚 Book Recommendations and the Importance of Math
The video concludes with book recommendations for thermodynamics and astronomy, and a discussion on the importance of math in the field of quantum field theory. They also touch on the practical applications of the complex math encountered in physics and the various ways in which physics knowledge can be applied.
👋 Closing Remarks
The host thanks the viewers for their time and the participants for sharing their experiences. He mentions that they will continue the discussion after tutoring and possibly divide the video into parts due to the length of the content covered.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Academic Failure
💡Graduate Student
💡Research Advisor
💡Theoretical Physics
💡Quantum Mechanics
💡GRE Physics
💡Procrastination
💡Time Management
💡Differential Geometry
💡Nuclear Astrophysics
💡Monte Carlo Simulation
Highlights
The discussion explores various experiences of graduate students with academic failure and their strategies for bouncing back.
The importance of time management and seeking advice from peers and advisors is emphasized in overcoming academic setbacks.
Graduate students share their worst academic experiences, including getting poor grades and facing rejections from top schools.
The conversation highlights the value of perseverance and learning from mistakes in the academic journey.
Students discuss the challenges of publishing research papers and the consequences of not involving research advisors.
The significance of computational skills for physics majors and the benefits of a minor in math are discussed.
Different approaches to selecting a research topic in grad school, including internships and personal interests, are shared.
The necessity of a strong foundation in mathematics for theoretical physics is debated, with a focus on higher mathematics.
The discussion touches on the decision-making process behind choosing a university for higher studies, considering factors like rankings and familiarity.
The challenges of adjusting to grad school, including increased independence and the pressure of producing original research, are covered.
Personal sacrifices made by students in pursuit of their education, such as reducing hobbies and extracurricular activities, are mentioned.
The dialogue addresses the question of whether it's necessary for a theoretical physicist to work in academia, with opinions on alternative career paths.
The importance of understanding complex mathematical concepts in physics and their real-world applications is discussed.
Students share their views on the role of general education and humanities in fostering well-rounded individuals, despite the rigors of STEM fields.
The conversation explores the concept of 'wetness' and the philosophical nature of the question 'is water wet?'.
The necessity of differential geometry in grad school for those interested in theoretical physics or mathematics is highlighted.
The discussion wraps up with thoughts on the significance of strange math in physics and the practical applications of theoretical knowledge.
Transcripts
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