Hi,
I will be attending Columbia next year. Due to personal reasons, I decided to take a gap year. So far I have learned Calc 1-3, I have done all of K&K’s exercises( and readings) except for the SR section and I am learning Linear Algebra. I am wondering if this would be enough to perform well in physics 2802 if I have no previous knowledge of electricity and magnetism. I took a course at high school that talked about E&M but it was not rigorous at all and it was not with Calculus. Should I study the material beforehand or would it be enough to take the class like that.
I think you would have trouble in the 28 series of Physics. The 16 level would probably be a better fit. The majority of the people in 28 have taken all of AP Physics C. The class is graded on a curve so you’d be at a big disadvantage. That being said if your advisor thinks you can make it you can always try and then drop down to the 16 level later (which many do). 16 level was reasonably challenging to my kid who took all of AP Physics and Multi-Var and Linear Algebra at a 4 year college as DE. The problems given as homework and for tests were all harder than the hardest level of problems given at a rigorous STEM HS program for Physics C so even though some of the topics were familiar the depth was where the challenge fell. The Professor is quite good for 16 if he continues teaching it next year. LOTS of people dropped from 16 level to 14 level too, like probably 25% during the semester, and a lot dropped to the 14 level for the next semester too. If you don’t have a HS AP Calc background they may push you to take the 14 level anyway. In any case though the advisor gave very good advice on which physics based on my kids background so trust them, they have seen it all.