<p>I saw a thread about honors math and I was wondering about honors physics. I just recently got accepted to Michigan, and I would assume that I will get into the honors program too. I would like to know more about the physics there. The difficulty, the courses, can/do most people double major or have a minor. Any physics majors, why did you choose michigan?</p>
<p>on that same note I would also like to know how hard is it to get accepted or can you take placement exams or what happens. If I went to U mich I would really like to do honors phys but I have lower than average SATs mainly english and not as good GPA due to humanities. I am confident in my ability in physics though. I would also like to know the rigour and that kind of thing for the honors physics. Thank you for anyone who posts</p>
<p>I'm not a physics major, but from what I hear the department is pretty damn hard. Many pre-med students opt to take it at other schools and transfer credits for first two intro courses (I think 120/121). I think getting another major in physics, if you're in engineering, would be an easy task since they're are many prerequisites for the program. It would probably take a few additional classes much like Math is for engineers.</p>
<p>I was actually looking to go more of the theoretical physics track is that what the honor physics gives or is it an engeneering physics?</p>
<p>Don't listen to Jimmy's hearsay from pre-med students. They often aren't interested in physics and in my experiences, often lack the critical thinking capabilities required for higher-level physics (my lab partner this semester was pre-med, and she had no clue what she was doing. Same goes for most of the pre-meds in my lecture). Also, 120/121 is not even a course. The super intro is 125 (algebra-based). Some take 140 (calc-based) which is not much harder and requires little calculus. I have taken Honors Physics I (PHYSICS 160) and it was by far the easiest class I had at Michigan. I got an A+ and a 100% on 3 out of the 4 tests (including the final) without really ever attending class. The test averages were like 82% or something, but consider that's mostly cuz of the pre-meds.</p>
<p>To ares: if you're interested in majoring in physics, I'll go ahead and assume you've taken and gotten a 5 on both AP Physics C tests. In that case, you'll start out in PHYSICS 340 which I've heard isn't all that hard. However, as you go on and take classes like 390 (quantum mechanics) and 401 (intermediate mechanics) the classes get pretty tough and Michigan's reputation in physics is pretty good. My roomie, a USAMO qualifier, had some difficulty in 401 this past semester (he's a freshman). Since I am not a physics major (I'm a math major) I mostly know the kids who are double majoring in math and physics, and there are quite a few of them. As to how many double major, I believe it's quite a few, mostly overlapping with math though, since 2 semesters of physics is a prereq for a math major and physics classes count as "cognate courses" toward achieving a math major (and math up through Diff Eq is required for a physics major, so many figure they will just double major in math). Many physics majors choose Michigan a) for the money, or b) because its honors math program is really amazing and provides a really good background for more theoretical physics. Any of you guys who read Hawking/Greene/Witten know how important theoretical math is to high-level physics. Michigan's physics program itself is top 15, so it's good but not outstanding. </p>
<p>To cyprus: There are many people who aren't in the honors college that still take honors physics courses. Honestly, honors physics courses aren't too much harder than the normal ones, and there's more grade inflation. So just ask for an override from your advisor and you can take honors physics. Honors physics is more theoretical than it is engineering-related. There are really only two "honors physics" courses, and those are 160 and 260 (just mechanics and e&m). Beyond that, the only thing that would make physics "honors" would be if you pursued an honors degree, which includes writing an honors thesis in physics, which is bound to be pretty theoretical. That's really the only thing that separates regular from honors physics as far as I know.</p>
<p>Hope that answers most of your guys' questions. Keep asking if you have more.</p>
<p>Ive gottan a 5 on the B, and im inthe C right now, and hopefully will get 2 5's.</p>
<p>chibearsfan17,
do u have a 4.0 so far? and do A+'s actually show up on WA?</p>
<p>cherrybarry: no I do not have a 4.0 (physics lab partner...really dumb....long story....again, that's why I don't like premed students. They killed my GPA), and yes A+'s do show up on WA. That's how i know i got one, lol.</p>
<p>ares: You'd do well to get 5's on those tests, because that's all they accept, even though the classes aren't that hard. It's good to get ahead. If, however, you'd like a VERY easy A, then just take 160 or 260.</p>
<p>A+'s = 4.3's right?</p>
<p>Is it impossible to triple major in math/physics/eecs?</p>
<p>Chibearsfan, your PM is full.</p>
<p>Thx for your info.</p>
<p>No, A+=4.0 still. I believe the triple major is possible. You'd actually have to make a complete mock schedule to figure that out.</p>