The Informed Physics Student

Is it too late to start on my resolution?

Well now. Where to begin?
I've always said that indeed, students should have a guidebook of sorts when navigating the world of academia (of Acadaemia, as some might have it). This is a blog wherein I shall endeavor to post at least a tip every single day to help out students in need (dire or otherwise) of advice on navigating through the whole academic world.
Now, before you get to trusting me, my credentials:
Peter Marchetto, formerly of NJIT, now of Ramapo College. I am a Physics major (hence the name of the site) who started in on academic research back in my senior year of high school at the Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology in a research internship program at NJIT's Physics Department. I graduated AAST in 2002. After a year of this, I attended NJIT for two years, continuing as a Physics major, and in my second year, I also worked at an internship at UMDNJ in the Ophthalmology department. There I got my Human Subjects Research Certification. However, the home to both of these places, Newark, NJ grew too depressing for me, so I moved my studies to Ramapo College, in scenic Mahwah, NJ. I am currently in my last undergraduate year at Ramapo in their Physics Department, and hope to move on to grad school soon.
With that out of the way, let me give you my first tip:

Ask as many questions as you want.

No, there are no such things as stupid questions, only stupid people. Those are the people who don't ask questions. If you sit there in class not asking questions, you won't get the professor to understand that you actually either A, want a good grade, or 2, are actually interested in class material. In fact, asking questions is also a good way not only to bone up on your weak points, but to control the class if you're getting bored. Just ask a question that you think will make the professor go off on a slight tangent, or that is in their main area of interest, and you've just bought yourself a good twenty minutes, minimum, of the professor trotting out their best, most enthusiastic lecturing style.
Now, before those of you in larger lecture courses start giving me that glare nonsense and shaking your heads, consider that you can do the same thing in recitation. The TAs are overworked, underpaid, and struggling even more than you are to keep up with the class. If you allow them the luxury of knowing what you want and need from their knowledge, they, too will gladly reciprocate by becoming a font of it, and perhaps (miracles do happen) paying you back with some lenient grading on the next quiz, homework, or exam.
Additionally, don't forget to go to a professor's office hours to ask a question. Nothing says "I care!" quite like an intelligent question with a due amount of humility, and the opportunity to actually do some real teaching rather than mass lecturing (like a priest on sunday) should tickle any good professor into looking well on you.
Another reason I say this is one of dealing with the administration. Make time to go to the offices of any and all administrators (especially upper level, like your school's dean, the provost, and, if possible, the president) and ask questionsof them and their deputies about any issues you might have. Above all else, remember that you pay their salaries.

Well, that's all I can think of for now. Any questions? Leave a comment.

posted by Pete Marchetto @ 10:46 PM