What to Expect as a Physics Gradstudent | Year 1 and 2

Andrew Dotson

12 Feb 202115:29

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video offers an in-depth look at the first two years of a physics graduate program in the United States, covering core and upper division classes, the role of teaching and research assistantships, and the importance of time management. It emphasizes the challenging workload, the value of good grades for comprehensive exams, and the gradual transition into research, including the process of selecting a research advisor and attending conferences.

Takeaways

🎓 The video discusses the expectations for the first two years of grad school for physics students in the United States.
📚 Students can expect to take core classes and upper division classes relevant to their research interests.
💡 Core classes include classical mechanics, electromagnetism (EM), quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and math methods.
🔍 Physics grad students will revisit undergraduate topics in more depth, with EM being significantly more challenging than in undergrad.
🏫 Full-time grad students should be enrolled in nine credits per semester to defer student loans and are likely to feel overwhelmed despite fewer classes.
🧪 Research and teaching assistantships (RA and TA) are common funding sources, with TAs often teaching labs or tutoring in the first year.
📝 Grad students should expect significant grading responsibilities and weekly meetings with instructors for the labs they TA.
🤝 Collaboration with peers is encouraged for problem-solving, despite the common misconception that grad work is a solitary endeavor.
📊 The workload in grad school varies by department culture, but time management is crucial for success.
💼 Students should aim to spend 15-20 hours per week on homework, with some dedicating more time due to personal study habits.
🎯 Research begins during the first two years and involves reading papers, meeting with advisors, and potentially presenting at workshops or conferences.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?
-The main focus of the video is to discuss what one can expect during the first two years of grad school for physics in the United States.
What does the term 'grad student' encompass in the U.S. context?
-In the U.S., a grad student can be someone pursuing a master's degree (master's student) or a PhD (PhD student). 'Grad student' is an umbrella term for both.
What are the core classes that every physics grad student is likely to take?
-The core classes include classical mechanics, electromagnetism (EM), quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, math methods, and possibly computational physics.
How does the difficulty of the core classes in grad school compare to undergrad?
-The core classes in grad school go into more detail than undergrad, with math methods not being much more challenging, but EM being significantly more difficult.
What is the typical workload for a full-time grad student in terms of course credits?
-A full-time grad student should be enrolled in nine credits a semester, which is the standard to defer student loans throughout the graduate degree.
What are the common means of funding for grad students?
-The common means of funding are through teaching assistantships (TAs) or research assistantships (RAs), which are funded through the department or the advisor's grants or fellowships, respectively.
What responsibilities does a TA have?
-A TA is responsible for teaching a lab or two, grading, and possibly tutoring. They also meet with the instructor on record weekly to go through the lab.
How does the speaker manage their time and workload in grad school?
-The speaker uses a planner or Google Calendar, types up assignments for better revision, and spends around 15 to 20 hours on homework weekly. They also work efficiently and sometimes give up weekends and work late nights.
What is the significance of getting good grades in grad school courses?
-Good grades can prevent academic probation, maintain scholarship opportunities, and save time when preparing for comprehensive exams, as the effort put into understanding the material during courses will pay off later.
What is the process for becoming a PhD candidate?
-After passing the qualifying exam and finishing core courses, one must take a comprehensive exam with a written and oral part. Passing the comprehensive exam qualifies one as a PhD candidate.
How does the speaker suggest approaching research during the first two years of grad school?
-The speaker suggests starting with reading papers, learning about the advisor's work, scheduling regular meetings with the advisor, documenting everything, and attending workshops and conferences.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Grad School Expectations

The speaker begins by clarifying that the video is not a sketch but a serious discussion about the expectations for the first two years of grad school in physics in the United States. They mention that they will cover core classes, upper division classes, and the general workload. The speaker emphasizes that grad students can be pursuing either a master's or a PhD, and that the first two years mainly involve classwork. They also touch on the importance of understanding the term 'grad student' as an umbrella term for both master's and PhD students.

05:02

🎓 Core and Upper Division Classes

The speaker discusses the types of classes that physics grad students can expect to take, including core classes that are common to all students regardless of specialization. These core classes are more detailed versions of topics covered in undergrad, such as classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and math methods. Additionally, students will take upper division classes relevant to their research focus. The speaker shares their personal experience with these classes and the expectation to be enrolled in nine credits per semester to be considered a full-time student and defer student loans.

10:03

💰 Funding and Workload

The speaker explains the common funding sources for grad students, which are teaching (TA) or research (RA) assistantships. They share their experience as a TA, including responsibilities like teaching labs, grading, and meeting with the instructor. The speaker also discusses the workload of grad school, emphasizing the importance of time management skills. They mention their own experience of working efficiently but still having to sacrifice weekends and stay up late to complete work. The speaker encourages students to communicate with professors if the workload becomes unmanageable.

15:04

📝 Grading and Exams

The speaker talks about the grading system in grad school, noting that it can vary greatly depending on the department's culture. They share their strategy of typing up assignments for better revision and mention that while getting a B might be easier, striving for A's is worth the effort. The speaker explains that good grades can save time when preparing for comprehensive exams and that some universities may consider passing the comprehensive exam as equivalent to finishing a master's dissertation.

🔬 Research and Collaboration

The speaker discusses the research aspect of grad school, emphasizing that students will start with reading papers and learning about their advisor's work. They mention the steep learning curve of research papers and the importance of regular meetings with the advisor to understand expectations and progress. The speaker also talks about the benefits of working with others on assignments and the availability of workshops and conferences for grad students. They share their experience as an RA and the expected time commitment for research.

🎉 Conclusion and Future Discussions

The speaker concludes the video by expressing hope that the information was informative and mentions plans to discuss expectations for the third and fourth years of grad school in future videos. They encourage viewers to share their perspectives on grad school experiences in the comments section and sign off until the next video.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Graduate School

Graduate School refers to the stage of education beyond a bachelor's degree, where students pursue a master's or a Ph.D. in their chosen field. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses the expectations and experiences of physics graduate students in the United States, focusing on the first two years of their academic journey.

💡Core Classes

Core Classes are fundamental courses that every graduate student in a particular field is required to take, providing essential knowledge and skills relevant to their area of study. In the video, the speaker mentions that all physics graduate students, regardless of their specialization, will take the same core classes, such as classical mechanics, electromagnetism (EM), quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and mathematical methods.

💡Teaching Assistant (TA)

A Teaching Assistant (TA) is a graduate student who assists a professor in teaching undergraduate courses, often by leading discussion sections, grading assignments, and providing tutoring. In the video, the speaker shares their experience as a TA, emphasizing the responsibilities of teaching labs, grading, and meeting with the instructor to prepare for classes.

💡Research Assistant (RA)

A Research Assistant (RA) is a graduate student who works on research projects, typically under the supervision of a faculty member. The RA may be involved in conducting experiments, analyzing data, and contributing to scholarly publications. In the video, the speaker explains that RAs are funded through their advisor's grants or fellowships to conduct research, and they transition from being a TA once they secure a research advisor.

💡Funding

Funding in the context of graduate school refers to the financial support provided to students to pursue their studies, which can come in the form of scholarships, grants, or assistantships. The speaker discusses two common types of funding for physics graduate students: teaching assistantships (TAs) and research assistantships (RAs), highlighting the responsibilities and expectations associated with each.

💡Time Management

Time Management is the ability to effectively plan and control how much time is spent on specific activities. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of developing time management skills for success in graduate school, as students are expected to juggle coursework, research, and other responsibilities. The speaker suggests using a planner or a digital calendar to stay organized.

💡Workload

Workload refers to the amount of work or the quantity of tasks that a student is required to complete within a given period. The speaker discusses the heavy workload of graduate school, sharing personal experiences of spending significant time on homework, exams, and grading as a TA. The speaker also notes the importance of balancing this workload with personal priorities and well-being.

💡Qualifying Exam

A Qualifying Exam is a test that graduate students must pass to demonstrate their mastery of foundational knowledge in their field before they can proceed to more advanced studies or research. In the video, the speaker describes their experience with a qualifying exam in physics, which covered undergraduate-level material in subjects like electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and classical mechanics.

💡Comprehensive Exam

A Comprehensive Exam is a broad, in-depth examination that assesses a graduate student's overall knowledge and understanding of their field of study. In the video, the speaker explains that after passing the qualifying exam and completing core courses, students must take a comprehensive exam, which includes both written and oral components, covering all graduate-level courses they have taken.

💡Research Advisor

A Research Advisor is a faculty member who guides a graduate student's research project, providing direction, supervision, and support. The speaker emphasizes the importance of selecting a research advisor early in the graduate program and maintaining regular communication to ensure clear expectations and progress in research activities.

💡Conferences and Workshops

Conferences and Workshops are professional gatherings where scholars present their research, share ideas, and network with others in their field. The speaker mentions that graduate students have opportunities to attend these events, which can be funded through grants or other sources, and are important for professional development and staying current in their research area.

Highlights

The video discusses expectations for the first two years of grad school for physics students in the United States.

Grad students in the U.S. can be pursuing either a master's or a PhD degree.

The first two years of grad school primarily involve taking classes, including core classes that all physics grad students take.

Core classes include topics like classical mechanics, electromagnetism (EM), quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and math methods.

Grad students are expected to be enrolled in nine credits per semester to be considered full-time and to defer student loans.

Grad students often start as teaching assistants (TAs), responsible for teaching labs or tutoring, and later may transition to research assistants (RAs).

The workload in grad school can be overwhelming, with students spending 15 to 20 hours per week on homework.

Grad students are encouraged to develop strong time management skills and use tools like planners or calendars to stay organized.

Qualifying exams test undergraduate-level material and are a prerequisite for taking the comprehensive exam.

Comprehensive exams cover all graduate-level material and are both written and oral, with the oral part focusing on a research proposal.

Good grades in courses can save time when preparing for comprehensive exams, as the material is fresher and notes are more legible.

Research during the first two years involves reading papers and learning about the research area, with regular meetings with the advisor.

Students should document their work thoroughly, as it can be useful for future papers and for studying.

There are workshops and conferences that grad students can attend, with funding often available for travel expenses.

Part-time or full-time RAs spend 10 to 20 hours per week on research, but additional voluntary time may be spent depending on interest.

The video provides a realistic view of the challenges and workload of the first two years of grad school in physics.

The speaker shares personal experiences and offers advice on how to navigate the grad school journey effectively.

Transcripts

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