Below are two seniors’ responses to questions about physics, classes, research, and college life. Feel free to incorporate as much or as little advice as you need!
Kevin Wen – Physics/Math, Class of 2024
Q: What made you choose physics?
I just liked physics more than any other subject in high school, so I never switched. I think the main benefit [of physics] is doing research. In math, there are not a lot of research opportunities, and in engineering there is a lot more focus on industry.
Q: What were your favorite classes to take?
IBL math classes, like Starbird Discrete [and] Keel Algebra. Really good for the math intuition in physics. I also really liked Zimmerman’s Grad Classical and Downer’s Electro (I took his Electro II but I am sure his Electro I is good as well).
Q: What would you recommend undergraduate students to prioritize when choosing courses?
I would recommend prioritizing the lower division physics that are the main prerequisites, and then Quantum I + II which are prerequisites for a lot of research. After that, I would put the most emphasis on what you want to know and what would help most with research.
Q: What was your experience doing research? What recommendations would you give to students wanting to engage in research?
I did FRI lab freshman year, but over the summer I joined Dr. Heinzen’s lab (he emailed my class looking for undergrads). I worked in this group for two years, and joined Dr. Bank’s LASE group in the ECE department. I then did an REU at OU for theoretical condensed matter, and I am still working with this group.
FRI is nice for introducing yourself to research – even if you want to do theory, it is good to have intuition from experimental work. However, do not feel bad for leaving the group – undergrads are expected to explore lab groups to find their interest. REUs: apply to them sophomore and junior year.
Q: What obstacles did you face in college, and how did you navigate them?
Well, at one point my research project was kind of getting canceled/put on indefinite hold. However, I still just kept working on my part – I guess the moral is that as undergrads you are not expected to make groundbreaking discoveries, but you should know the story of your research – how do you fit in to the bigger picture of your lab group/field of study?
Q: If you could give one last piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?
Find a good study group – hard classes are much easier if you work together on homework, and talking with friends about physics helps make sure you understand the material fully. Lastly, don’t forget to have fun – college is supposed to be fun! Hang out with friends and go outside sometimes.
Hailey Currie – Biophysics, Class of 2024
Q: What made you choose physics?
I initially chose physics for two main reasons. First, I was good at physics in high school and that was good for my ego so I enjoyed it. Second, I also enjoyed other STEM classes in high school, and the biophysics track specifically incorporates biology, chemistry, and biochemistry. It also allowed me to fit some pre-med pre-reqs in, in case I decided to pursue that (I did not).
If I had to choose a major again today, I would choose physics/biophysics again but for different reasons. Physics in college is really demanding, and I would not go into expecting it to make me feel good and smart like it did in high school. I would choose it knowing I would be challenged. You really need a growth mindset in this major, and make the choice to see struggle as a growth process, not an indication of your limits. But, I would choose physics because it would help me develop the tools to understand the world from a sort of fundamental perspective. I enjoy reasoning about complicated systems from relatively simple principles, and physics is the framework that allows you to do that.
Q: What were your favorite classes to take?
Despite the pace and all the writing, I really enjoyed Modern Lab. The experiments you do in Modern Lab are pretty neat and mostly famous physics breakthroughs that helped support and formulate the theories we know today. It’s cool to treat it as a bit of history that you can recreate.
Q: What would you recommend undergraduate students to prioritize when choosing courses?
In general, most professors are fine, but know what teaching styles work for you and make decisions about who to avoid based on that. If you do well under pressure, take profs who run a tight ship. If you prefer a more lax class and can effectively self-motivate, avoid those profs.
Don’t feel overly beholden to the classic “order” of upper division courses. Once you’re through with the lower division courses, you should mainly try to build well balanced schedules that account for extracurriculars like research. If you’re taking two hard physics classes at once, you’re not going to be able to spend as much time and brain power on your research that semester. Also, know that grades matter a little, not a lot, for grad school. Your research and letters of recommendation (ideally from research advisors) are the more important factors. Set yourself up for success in AND out of your classes when building your schedule.
Q: What was your experience doing research? What recommendations would you give to students wanting to engage in research?
If you’re interested in grad school, that’s research. It’s 100% research after your intro classes. So you better know if you like research by the time you apply. For me, when I got to spend all day every day in the lab doing research during my Summer REU, I could not have been happier with the work. I loved every second of strategizing on improving my methods, learning programming skills, and working with my research group. But if you hate it, that’s okay! Maybe it’s the specific type of research you tried (so you should try something else), or maybe it’s research in general. In either case, now that you know, you won’t waste six years trying to get a PhD doing stuff you hate.
Try to regularly check in with yourself and make sure you’re on track for the long game. If you only start thinking about REUs or grad apps when it’s time to apply, you’re probably not going to be a competitive applicant. This sounds intimidating and stressful, but all it means is: make sure you’re taking advantage of opportunities as they come if you have the bandwidth for them.
If you’re in FRI, take initiative and contribute as much as you can, and try not to wait to be told what to do. This way, you’re developing skills and independence, and your PI has good, substantial things to say about you in a letter of recommendation.
To get familiar with your field, go to seminars in your field’s research center. If there is a journal club in your field, attend when you can. If you’re not sure where to start, read your emails closely (make sure you’re on the appropriate physics and org mailing lists) and go to SPS/GMiP/ASA or ask questions in their discord servers. That is part of what they are there for!
Q: What obstacles did you face in college, and how did you navigate them?
I struggled with loneliness during the pandemic, imposter syndrome my entire college career, and a few scary and painful health episodes. My biggest advice for all of these things is build and maintain your support network, and look out for your friends. It is an active and ongoing social practice of reaching out to people and spending time with them, which can be challenging when you’re busy. But, it’s really important to have people to turn to you for support when you’re struggling, and to try to support others when they’re struggling, too.
Q: What would you recommend underclassmen to do during their first years in college?
Talk to your professors! Get comfortable (but remain respectful), greet them when you pass them in the halls and when you walk into the classroom. They are experienced physicists with a wealth of advice and knowledge that they are almost always happy to share if you are willing to ask.
Similarly, go to org meetings! Being connected to other physicists and having access to word of mouth advice and information is really important! This is how you hear about opportunities like scholarships, research positions, and workshops. The orgs also put on events that you can participate in, like the research poster forum and volunteer opportunities like UT Girl Day.
Join your class GroupMe or Discord and use it or make a private group chat with a few classmates if you prefer. Always find at least one classmate you can rely on for notes or help.
Q: If you could give one last piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?
It’s a marathon. There are a million things that you could be doing, or may feel you should be doing. You cannot and do not need to go and do all of it at once. The best strategy is to chip away slowly and consistently. While it might seem great to do a lot at once, it is better to do a few things very well than many things shallowly. Above all, look out for your mental and physical health. Good health makes everything else easier.
