First principle: DON’T PANIC!

A new stage of life, everything so exciting and new, living alone for the first time, becomming independent, finally studying at a big university, what’s fun. 

During this process, some will encounter problems they have not experienced before. These can be different things, whether it is private life, familiy or study.  In general it can be said, that many students doubt their decision during the time. Doubts are normal, you are not on your own! Whether it is a specific module with an exam you did not pass or feeling overwhelmed by the content within the first weeks. 

DON’T PANIC!

Exams can be repeated and ususally content only settles with time. That’s an experience you’ll make yourself in higher semesters. Important is to manange the study start, since it affects many aspects of life. 

Since the Bologna-reform many critizise studiabillty, especially on the study start of degree programms in physics. The „Konferenz der Fachbereiche Physik” (Conference for Departments of Physics) states for Physcics in Germany (without 2-subject-bachelors) a dropout rate of 25% for 2011 (2010: 29%, 2009: 27%, 2008: 29%, 2007: 28%).

DON’T PANIC!

There are many exciting working groups for physicists and EP-students. Among them are the excellence cluster „Hearing4all”, which does research on Accustics and Hearing, as well as different experimentalist, e.g. on wind energy and theoretical groups on Quantum Biology. You can inform yourself on the website of the Institute.

You are in a lecture and don’t understand everything first time?

DON’T PANIC!

First semester have intitally quite the high treshold to ask questions ins lectures and even tutorials. These are specifically made to ask questions. So, ASK QUESTIONS! Every lecturer and tutor will be happy. Don’t expect the perfect answer immediatly. Even professors don’t know everything and sometimes need to look something up. As soon as you haven’t understood it entirely: SAY SO! You are in a lecture with approximately 100 other students, the probability that more than only you did not understand is, is quite high. Ask for an alternative explanation, if you can’t ask specific questions. But give your lecturers some feedback, as often as you can. 

Exams are nearing and you wonder how you are supposed to memorize so much stuff in such a short time?

DON’T PANIC!

Learn in groups, help your fellow students, ask higher semesters, ask you lecturers, ask US! Studying physics can be done alone and once you ask for help, you will receive it.

You notice something in terms of study that can be improve? Come to us then, talk to oneanother, talk to your lecturers, be active and engage, design your study yourself! School is over, the force is with you. :) 

Second principle: AKS QUESTIONS! 

But that’s something you already know. :))

P.S.: Always remember DON’T PANIC! You are physicists, we find solutions for problems, we never even knew.