Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

I'm better at cosmology than math, but I like math more, but cosmology is more practical. Which should I get a PhD in?

That other question got me thinking. IDK how wise it would be to get a PhD in both. Clearly I love math more than anything else in the world, but cosmology is equally fascinating (I just don't take it to the level I take math). It's also more practical in terms of direct usage, whereas lots of math is studied "because it's there," when the types of math I enjoy only have a little bit practical usage outside of physics. I really think that, even though it will be *really* tough, I have to get a PhD in both math (specifically topology and/or chaos theory) and cosmology (and QM, if I can). At this point, the only thing holding me back from being as smart as I could be is my horrible memory and this ADHD, which I hope goes away when I'm an adult. Hopefully these should improve and I can get working on some crazy new technology/theory :P
m108rfd
You declared about yourself "the types of math I enjoy only have a little bit practical usage outside of physics." However, I believe that you ought to give applied mathematics a try in some form, at least as a free elective course.

Many university students are like you and are at least somewhat undecided in their first year. If that is the case, make strong use of that first year to make strides in getting non-major requirements out of the way, perhaps taking a course in writing and a course in literature. Also, that first year can be good for taking courses to help get any foreign language requirement out of the way. Perhaps you will find out in that first year that university is not for you, or perhaps you will make up your mind about cosmology versus mathematics, or perhaps you decide to focus on a two-year degree in applied mathematics or computer science, and then get a couple of years of working experience before deciding whether to go further in university.

If you can, buy any textbooks a few days in advance of the start of the semester in order to be able to at least partially pre-read them, and perhaps get in some practice on problems posted at the end of the first chapter in the case of mathematics and physics courses. The extra time provided by getting your books at least a few days in advance will be a partial workaround your "horrible memory", and the increased familiarity of your environment from having those books for at least a few days before the first day of class will allow you to partially avoid the problems of ADHD. New memories are formed in various pathways taking up small regions of the brain that are each perhaps a cubic millimeter in volume. Where these pathways cross near each other, "retroactive interference" and "proactive interference" can result, somewhat akin to the construction phase of building a new overpass for a new superhighway that crosses over a pre-existing superhighway. We all know what construction can do to traffic patterns. Getting your books a few days early will give an efficiency benefit to your brain, the same type of efficiency benefit that a shopping trip will receive if one gives the construction crew a few extra days to get their job done before taking a rare trip to a favoured but distant shopping mall. This is also good advice even for someone with no memory problems and no ADHD. If you have occasionally watched a somewhat modern war movie, this method of operation is a version of what is referred to as "getting good intel".

As far a making good grades, the number one rule is "Do the homework, do the homework, do the homework." With many instructors, some test question are copied verbatim from homework assignments. A small fraction of instructors will use a sampling from their previously given homework assignments for all of the test questions.

I wish you well in your university studies. Part of university in addition to learning the course content is learning how to learn. Also, as a bonus, a few people also learn a little bit in university in terms of being able to apply knowledge in an interdisciplinary manner.
TetrisGuy · 26-30, M
Hmm... you've given me new hope ^_^
Yes, I'm quite fascinated with some branches of "applied mathematics" such as statistics, but I hardly consider statisticians as mathematicians, as they're about as much of mathematicians as accountants are, haha.
I guess you're right. I probably should increase the dosage of my Vyvanse, and really put my head in the game.
m108rfd
I will now give you a little bit more hope, in the form of scientific study advice.
When studying for a test, sometimes walking around a bit, for example getting up to walk from one side of the room to the other and then back to your seat, can be helpful. See https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=www.bbc.com+in+order+to+learn+use+your+body for more details. It has been known for more than 20 years that many people need to move around once in a while in order to be reasonably functional in their ability to learn, and it has now been found that occasionally moving around is at helpful to almost everyone in the process of learning.
Although not mentioned in the bbc.com report, there are at least two ways that moving around helps in learning. One way is that circulation is restored to parts of the body that eventually experience reduced circulation due to sitting in the same position for many tens of minutes. Natural, healthy impulses to restore that circulation come into play, and eventually get to the point that repressing those impulses eventually takes enough attention to substantially reduce learning efficiency. The other way that occasionally moving around helps in learning is that a 30-second to 5-minute break to move around gives the part of the brain that stores long term information something of a rest, as well as giving one an opportunity to self-test what has been stored in somewhat long-term memory and what has not.
Ideally, although this cannot always be done, schedule classes so that they are not back to back. Review of information in the 40 to 60 minutes before a test is of great help, and in literature classes involving short stories (where quizzes are often given at the beginning of class on the day's reading assignment), reading as much of the assigned piece of writing just before class as possible is of great help.
TetrisGuy · 26-30, M
The thing is, breaks make my brain atrophy a little bit. :I I have to do it all at once :/
xtaldart
Cool ambitions. If you pursue theoretical physics or cosmology you any way end up tussling with maths. Well the deeper you go every thing just converges into another form of Maths. Math is a tool and you any way will have to develop your own version if you have to make a break through in cosmology or theoretical physics. well its your choice :)
xtaldart
The problem with theories is it remains in limelight only till something better comes. Chaos theory is just a theory.... the mistake will be to consider it to be perfect and churn up mathematics to fit around it. We need more radical approach. Even maths should be considered on as tool, which we have to reshape on the way. So figuring out Chaos theory will only make you famous for while, unlike Newton or Pythagoras :) ... but admire you enthusiasm.
TetrisGuy · 26-30, M
It's sort of like the theory of gravity. We know it's there. But we aren't sure how it works. :V Chaos theory is what they even say is the next biggest thing. It's not my quote. I forgot who said it. But they say the person that figures out mathematical chaos will be the next biggest mathematician of all of history. When I say Newton, I meant his math work, not his science work :P
xtaldart
Isn't it obvious that we are never going to figure it out with the mathematical language we use today. That's the major flaw. It's like trying to shrink the Universe to fit our limitations than growing up to the nature's intricate dynamics. That's why I feel we never going to untangle the order knitted deep in universal fabric. Yup, I believe it's not going to be a huge task at figuring what we deem as Chaos theory, its only a matter of finding the right angle to cut into it. What's going to be challenging is trying to accommodate what we find there into our common scientific notions. I don't think scientific community would afford themself the freedom to embrace something that radical.
noabit
Well, we are still waiting on cold fusion and Nasa's quantum engine still needs work
TetrisGuy · 26-30, M
QM is very interesting to me, but I couldn't see myself doing it on its own. Perhaps its math (some of the most complicated math in existence--therefore the sexiest, if not the most complicated. Makes "rocket science" look like kindergarten math) but not on its own.
BarvoDelancy
You will likely change your mind on your degree many times.

 
Post Comment