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March 29, 2024, 02:46:36 am

Author Topic: Physics/Maths  (Read 7898 times)  Share 

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Lasercookie

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Physics/Maths
« on: August 09, 2011, 11:16:31 pm »
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Recently I've gotten interested in doing either Physics or Mathematics at university. I'm also considering doing engineering (probably electronic). Of course, a double degree of science and engineering would be ideal, but I would like to consider the situation that I don't get a 90+ ATAR to get into most double degree sci/eng courses.

I'm interested in finding out more information about these courses, who offers the best course,  etc..
Currently, pure mathematics or physics sounds intriguing to me.
Or can I choose to do sequences in both pure mathematics and physics?

The PhB course at ANU sounds the best, but I seriously doubt I could get the score needed to get in.

Courses I've thought about so far are:
BSci at Monash (ATAR score: 78) - Heard their Physics course isn't the greatest, but I'm confident I could get into this course.

BSci at ANU (ATAR score: 84ish) - They have two different BSci's one is 'advanced' (again, doubting myself), do you still do the same classes if you take the regular Bachelor of Science?

BSci at Melbourne (ATAR score: 85ish)

BSci (Physics)/BEng (Electronic) at RMIT (ATAR seems to be about 75) - Their physics course doesn't seem to be as good.

Also interested in what kind of career a degree in physics or maths could lead.

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Re: Physics/Maths
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2011, 11:34:00 pm »
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Hey mate, I don't know too much about other uni's but let me provide you with some perspective with pure maths/physics at Monash. BSci at monash is generally a good course, pure mathematics is quite enjoyable, lecturers ain't the greatest nor are they the worst, but either way if you are passionate enough then you should like it. Physics on the other hand is a total disaster if you choose to do it, I accidentally picked physics in my first year at monash cause we have to do a compulsory minor sequence, and although i was never that interested in physics, doing it at monash actually made me hate it. It was SO bad, lecturers, labs, online quizes, it was the worst. Prepare to suicide if you decide to do physics at monash. Regarding careers, becoming a professor is the obvious one, or you could go into research if you're good/passionate enough. The pay isn't exactly the highest, but hey if you enjoy what you are doing, then by all means go ahead!
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Re: Physics/Maths
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2011, 11:44:53 pm »
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our physics lecturer told us that physicist is actually amoung the high end salary (on par with engineering), and i have to agree physics lecturers are shit holes(except kevin, the best lectuer you will ever meet anywhere). If you wanna do pure maths/physics in uni then prepare to self study, lectures dont actually help all that much
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Re: Physics/Maths
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2011, 04:17:38 pm »
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Thanks for the responses :)

Does anybody know what the situation for mathematics/physics is like at Melbourne (or any other universities)?

appianway

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Re: Physics/Maths
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2011, 04:49:06 pm »
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Melbourne is decent for physics. To be honest, I'd try and stay away from Monash - its physics department isn't amazing (unless you really want to go for the engineering side of things), and it's not well known for pure maths. It's amazing for chemistry though, if that piques your interest. I can definitely say that maths and physics at Monash do NOT seem to be as rigorous as maths and physics at ANU and Melbourne. I did UMEP physics at Melbourne, and a semester in the PhB program at ANU (feel free to message me about it), and the courses were much stronger and much more proof oriented than what I heard about the courses at Monash. Sydney is also well known for physics. UNSW and Monash are more engineering-y.

The BSc students at ANU take exactly the same classes as the PhB and Advanced Science students, but don't have as many opportunities to do research. If you get good grades in the BSc or the BSc (Advanced), you can transfer into PhB. If you've got substantial accomplishments in science (olympiad awards, either at international or national levels), they might waive the cut off slightly (my friend who got just below 98 with an IChO medal is doing PhB).

Career options for physics include research, academia, defence force sort of stuff, further study (engineering, law) and finance. Apparently physics majors are loved by financial firms in the US. Mathematicians can work in finance, financial engineering, logistics, research, any form of mathematical modelling... there's also a lot of options.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2011, 04:51:03 pm by appianway »

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Re: Physics/Maths
« Reply #5 on: August 12, 2011, 12:31:58 am »
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appianway pretty much hit all the right notes. As a round figure, about 2/3 of physics graduates end up in some advisory position in the financial sector. Apparently the logic behind it is that they are trained to analyse things more critically and are able to look at a problem from different perspectives. All the knowledge about finance and economics can be acquired through time and experience working there, but the analytical skills can only be gained through proper education.

If you want to stay within Victoria, then Melbourne should be the only option. Its physics department is amongst one of the best in the world. Maths is so-and-so. If you want to do engineering, then should look at what Monash has to offer.

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Re: Physics/Maths
« Reply #6 on: August 12, 2011, 04:36:56 pm »
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appianway pretty much hit all the right notes. As a round figure, about 2/3 of physics graduates end up in some advisory position in the financial sector. Apparently the logic behind it is that they are trained to analyse things more critically and are able to look at a problem from different perspectives. All the knowledge about finance and economics can be acquired through time and experience working there, but the analytical skills can only be gained through proper education.

If you want to stay within Victoria, then Melbourne should be the only option. Its physics department is amongst one of the best in the world. Maths is so-and-so. If you want to do engineering, then should look at what Monash has to offer.
Hmm... I guess it kind of makes sense for physics graduates to end up in finance then.

dc302

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Re: Physics/Maths
« Reply #7 on: November 02, 2011, 01:29:10 am »
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In Melbourne, you can do a Mathematical Physics major, which is basically half a pure maths major and half a physics major. Or you can choose to do a Physics major with a maths diploma, which is essentially the same as doing 2 majors, but over maybe half a year longer than the standard three years. Currently I'm finishing my pure maths major (was thinking about physics too until I decided it wasn't my thing), and I have to say it is pretty interesting. The lecturers are all quite good so I think you'll have a great time if you truly enjoy maths (but note that the maths you learn in high school is pretty much nothing like the maths you will learn in 2nd/3rd year uni).
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appianway

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Re: Physics/Maths
« Reply #8 on: November 05, 2011, 03:31:30 pm »
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Oh and also, I was speaking to a junior here who's an economics major, and I told him I was considering not being a physicist, and he said to do a physics major instead of an economics major - apparently people think you're smart or something if you can pull it off. That might just be in the US though.

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Re: Physics/Maths
« Reply #9 on: November 05, 2011, 03:34:50 pm »
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In Melbourne, you can do a Mathematical Physics major, which is basically half a pure maths major and half a physics major. Or you can choose to do a Physics major with a maths diploma, which is essentially the same as doing 2 majors, but over maybe half a year longer than the standard three years. Currently I'm finishing my pure maths major (was thinking about physics too until I decided it wasn't my thing), and I have to say it is pretty interesting. The lecturers are all quite good so I think you'll have a great time if you truly enjoy maths (but note that the maths you learn in high school is pretty much nothing like the maths you will learn in 2nd/3rd year uni).
Thanks dc302, I've looked a bit into mathematical physics, sounds interesting. I think I've pretty much decided I want to do a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne or Monash now. Which one I'll pick will probably come down to which university is more convenient. I'm still sort of leaning towards Melbourne though, mainly because I keep hearing good stuff about their physics lecturers (though apparently Monash is putting in changes with their physics course over the next few years).

Oh and also, I was speaking to a junior here who's an economics major, and I told him I was considering not being a physicist, and he said to do a physics major instead of an economics major - apparently people think you're smart or something if you can pull it off. That might just be in the US though.
I've heard stuff like that from a few people in Australia as well. I don't know anyone who has actually gone down that path, but something like you learn the skills to be able to easily adapt or something random like that.
« Last Edit: November 05, 2011, 03:38:10 pm by laseredd »

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Re: Physics/Maths
« Reply #10 on: November 05, 2011, 03:39:29 pm »
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In Melbourne, you can do a Mathematical Physics major, which is basically half a pure maths major and half a physics major. Or you can choose to do a Physics major with a maths diploma, which is essentially the same as doing 2 majors, but over maybe half a year longer than the standard three years. Currently I'm finishing my pure maths major (was thinking about physics too until I decided it wasn't my thing), and I have to say it is pretty interesting. The lecturers are all quite good so I think you'll have a great time if you truly enjoy maths (but note that the maths you learn in high school is pretty much nothing like the maths you will learn in 2nd/3rd year uni).
Thanks dc302, I've looked a bit into mathematical physics, sounds interesting.

Oh and also, I was speaking to a junior here who's an economics major, and I told him I was considering not being a physicist, and he said to do a physics major instead of an economics major - apparently people think you're smart or something if you can pull it off. That might just be in the US though.
I've heard stuff like that from a few people in Australia as well. I don't know anyone who has actually gone down that path, but something like you learn the skills to be able to easily adapt or something random like that.
Thats what the maths department people told us at Monash Open Day. (Not sure wether this is just to get you into maths or not but) they said that they have banks e.t.c taking math graduates over those who just graduated with a commerce degree since the way you are trained to think and respond to situations are better suited, you can interpret large amounts of data quickly e.t.c.

But then we can't always trust everything we hear at open days.
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Re: Physics/Maths
« Reply #11 on: November 06, 2011, 12:07:36 am »
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Maths and philosophy majors are usually considered the most analytical and logical thinkers. The banking/commerce sector tend to like these majors.

Mathematical physics is a bit of a joke in Australia. I would recommend taking it only in conjunction with pure maths.
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Re: Physics/Maths
« Reply #12 on: November 06, 2011, 09:27:07 pm »
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Maths and philosophy majors are usually considered the most analytical and logical thinkers. The banking/commerce sector tend to like these majors.

Mathematical physics is a bit of a joke in Australia. I would recommend taking it only in conjunction with pure maths.

Agreed, I don't think it should even be a real degree in Melbourne, since they have no integrated subjects--just cut and paste subjects from the maths and physics departments.

Also, if anyone did decide to do a maths major to try and get a banking/commerce job, I would at least suggest for them to do breath in finance or something, especially if you're looking for an internship.
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