r/PhysicsStudents

Hi everyone, I'm a rising junior in Physics at an R1 school, and I'm starting to think seriously about grad school, but I can't tell if what I have is actually competitive for top programs or just... okay. I have a 3.935 GPA due to some A-'s in Physics classes and an B+ in Honors Quantum Mechanics I. This B+ has made me super nervous and the next semester I took regular Quantum Mechanics II and I got an A from that. I project if I get a 4.0 for the next 4 semesters I will end undergraduate with a 3.96 GPA.

Research-wise, I've been in two quantum information science labs for about two years, plus some high school + freshman year experience in particle physics lab, but I've mostly been assisting on other people's projects rather than leading my own but hoping that shifts this year. I also applied for the Astronaut and Goldwater scholarships last cycle and didn't get either, which knocked my confidence a bit.

Now going into my third year, I am finishing up a research internship at a quantum computing company and starting to take graduate level physics classes (grad QM, AMO physics, etc). I am also wondering if I should take the Physics GRE.

A few specific things I'm unsure about:

• How much do named scholarships (Astronaut, Goldwater, GRFP) actually matter if you didn't get them?
• Is it worth taking the Physics GRE at this point, or are most programs not weighting it much anymore?
• How much does not having your "own research project" or first/second author publication matter to admissions committees, assuming the work you did in the lab itself is solid?

Ive read two different general physics books in Hallidays and Randall Knights, finished with A’s in all 3 general physics classes, and recently taken a classical mechanics course where i just barely passed. Most of my issue comes from reading textbooks like ours was Taylors book and most the time, if it wasnt something i saw in general physics, i was absolutely confused and the majority of my learning came from lectures and the very few office hours i can rarely make due to work. Also reading griffiths e&m book, for the past 2 weeks have been stuck on chapter 2. I feel like the book isnt for me and lacks what i need to learn such as explanations at almost every step being the biggest one (not necessarily showing all math steps but at least a conceptual explanation as why certain things are being done) . Are there really any books like that in upper division physics or am i just stuck

I’ve recently finished summer courses for physics 2 and calc 2, they were condensed 6 week courses. I didn’t do well enough in physics 2 to meet my conditional astrophysics offer, I also did my calc 2 final exam this morning and I’m positive I didn’t do well enough in it either.

At my uni you need a minimum mark of 60% in all your major classes to do astrophysics, though a fail is under 50%.

Im going into 2nd year and in first sem I flunked calc 1 and retook it second sem. I like the physics and I had fun in those classes, but what’s the point if I can’t do good enough to major in it?

I failed my physics 2 midterm and final, I failed my calc 2 midterm with a 28%, it’s a proof based calc 2 class. I’m starting to think I should just give up. When I was in highschool I was never good at math. The highest grade I’ve finished with in a math course was an 80% in grade 12 calculus and vectors.

I really did try my best for physics 2, I can’t tell if this isn’t for me because nothing seems for me.

I hated chem, I don’t have any biology credits, I’d just like any input on maybe how to do better or if anyone else realized physics wasn’t for them later on, what they did.

I've been interested in physics and theoretical physics since I was little, Math has always been my strong suit and it comes to me very easy (understanding concepts and implementing them) but my Highschool classes weren't able to continue into higher than geometry (English class sucks and I had to retake it multiple times to graduate). But I haven't been able to understand the difference in difficulty, Does it get easier for people who major in physics to complete advanced equations the same as for simpler mathematics? Is it an inherit grasp for math? Endless study and cramming information? Most likely different for each person, but the methods are the same right? Is figuring out Planck light travel time as easy as finding the circumference of a circle? Lots of questions sorry, but I figure where else do I ask, right?

High school dropout, 19, Can I still get into physics ? In fourth grade I had this incident that left me with serious unconfidence throughout all my academic years; i was getting awards from the principal, mathematic & academic excellence and skipped some school years until I was removed from a spelling bee I was going to win a huge award for. this sent me in rebellion against education, so I haven't gotten an A, B, C since fourth grade. Can I still go to college for physics? I finally have my life back in my hands after all these years and keep thinking about how I wasted my intelligence over a spelling bee. I'm trying to study math again independently as the local college says for physics they'll see how good my math is to determine where I go

Hey! I'm from Uzbekistan and I'm looking for someone who wants to learn physics with me from basically zero and build a solid foundation together.

I'm preparing for university and I don't want to just memorize formulas for exams. I want to actually understand physics and eventually get to a university-level understanding.

I already have a structured study plan. I've organized all the topics in Obsidian, and I'm planning to work through three textbooks:

1)Conceptual Physics - Paul Hewitt

2)Physics: Principles with Applications - Douglas C. Giancoli

3)College Physics

The idea is to go through the topics systematically, starting from the fundamentals and gradually getting harder.

I'm looking for someone who would actually study alongside me, not someone who just wants to occasionally exchange questions.

We could study the same topics, solve problems together, explain concepts to each other, discuss things we do not understand, compare our solutions, keep track of our progress and occasionally just talk about interesting physics.

You don't need to be good at physics. In fact, I'd prefer someone who's also willing to start from the basics and learn together rather than someone who's already an expert.

I'm from Uzbekistan, but you can be from anywhere. We can figure out a schedule that works across time zones. Discord/Zoom would probably work well.

If you're interested, DM me and tell me a little about your current physics level and what you're hoping to get out of studying physics.

Basically, I'm looking for someone who wants to go through the whole journey with me rather than just find a tutor.

Long story short, made mostly A’s with some B’s throughout high school and community college. Transferred to university a few states away a year ago after living with my parents thru community college. Made terrible grades, either failing or barely passing a bunch of classes, due to how much I had to work to pay the bills and how poorly I managed that added stress alongside school. That’s on me. Got a better job now where I’m working less hours for more money, and won’t have to skip classes to make shifts anymore, and I’m ready to start making good grades again. Even got A’s in my summer classes.

So far my research experience is just an astrophysics REU doing some work on telescope detectors, mostly entry level python stuff.

Will professors even accept me into their groups since I have a terrible track record at their institution so far? I have three semesters left including this fall, would it be better to prove myself with a semester of all A’s first?

Currently doing a Bachelors in Physics with Theoretical Physics. I want to eventually do a Masters in some sort of related field, but I wouldnt mind taking a year or two to just work in between degrees. what sort of entry level options do I have with just the bachelor's i mentioned? It can be in literally any field e.g. data science or finance.

I want to do a project, and I don't know the steps

It's about solving the 1D Heat Equation Using a Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN)

Can someone help ?

I am from a country where opportunities for physics research are extremely limited and and I am planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in physics. My entire plan is that after my bachelor's in physics i wanna move to the USA or Europe for further study and work as an researcher or explore other feilds that physics major can do.

As i am not from a financially stable family, I am afraid if i cant land job that somehow helps to uplifts my financial condition.

my dream is to be an electrical engineer, and for that i gave entrance exam, which is mandatory to study engineering, but unfortunately, as there we very limited seats I couldn't make it. Now i am left with very limited choices either i have to take a business degree, which is so generic course here or i have to go with physics, where the majority of physics graduates here end up becoming teachers in high school or left unemployed

Hi everyone. I’m an undergrad studying at a top-tier national university in Japan, and I'm currently at a major crossroads. I recently failed the entrance exam for a master's program in physics. The Japanese grad school admission system is notoriously rigid, relying almost entirely on a single, high-stakes written exam.

However, my actual background and ambitions are highly unconventional and don't fit well into a standard written test:

1. Theoretical & Experimental Physics: I want to pursue Experimental Particle Physics. To prepare, I’ve been independently studying advanced theory, including reading Peskin's Quantum Field Theory.
2. Hands-on Aerospace Engineering: Alongside physics, I have actively designed, built, and launched model and hybrid rockets during my undergrad years.
3. My Ultimate Dream: While I want to dive deep into experimental particle physics for grad school, my ultimate long-term goal is to found my own rocket/aerospace startup.

To hedge my bets after failing the exam, I applied for technical engineering roles at major heavy industry manufacturers (like Mitsubishi) and passed some screenings. But taking a traditional corporate engineering job feels like giving up on both my passion for deep physics and my startup ambitions.

I need some global perspective from researchers, engineers, and founders:

1. Grad School Abroad: How do international admissions committees (US, Europe) view a profile that mixes particle physics with hands-on aerospace hardware? Can my practical rocketry experience and QFT self-study help offset a failed standardized test in Japan?
2. Particle Physics vs. Aerospace: Experimental particle physics involves massive engineering (detectors, cryogenics, vacuum systems). Is a PhD in this field respected in the aerospace startup world, or should I pivot strictly to Aerospace Engineering for grad school?
3. The Entrepreneurial Path: For those in the space industry or deep-tech startups, what is the best next step for a student with this specific blend of hardware building and deep physics?

Any harsh truths, alternative paths, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I graduated in April 2026 and was looking for jobs , but most of them were teaching jobs which I'm not interested at all , i want to make a career in ml , but i don't have relevant skills and i also read somewhere that they usually hire mostly Phd's for such roles . I haven't done a single internship during my bachelor's or my masters . I know I'm lacking , but i really want land my first job in ml related role . i know some python and libraries (mostly numpy , pandas , matplotlib ) . What skills should i know ? , what kind of projects should i do to stand out ? and what kind of internships should i look for to get into this field ? . PLEASE RECOMMED ME BOOKS AND COURSES WHICH HELPED U GET A JOB AND OTHER SUGGESTIONS AND ADVICES ARE WELCOMED ! Thankyou for you're time <3