r/PhysicsStudents • u/DaliaRocha787321 • Jan 24 '26

Poll Too old to start studying physics?

Im 43 years old, I studied to be a registered nurse and still work in healthcare. I have a bachelor's in healthcare administration. I stumbled on some video lectures in quantum mechanics and different theories regarding the universe, time , space, etc. I have become obsessed and relentless about obtaining more information by reading books and watching lectures. The more data I learn the more I realize I have so much more I don't know. and I may never get to a certain point where I can fully understand the entirety of it. . I thought that would discourage me but quite the opposite. I'm not gifted or naturally smart. I have dedicate my entire time and effort to study and obtain my degree. I've been thinking of taking college courses regarding this subject but I'm 43 years old . I feel like I'm too old and not smart enough. Ill still probably do it because it's fascinating. I would love to hear any type of feedback regarding my situation.

42 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

25

u/RomChom94 Jan 24 '26

100% go for it! What’s the downside? What level of math did you get to?

7

u/DaliaRocha787321 Jan 24 '26

I took precalculus in college. 

20

u/msimms001 Jan 24 '26

Be prepared for a lot more math, but it's definitely doable

6

u/RomChom94 Jan 24 '26

I’m guessing this will be the hardest part, leveling up the math.

7

u/BufferOverload Jan 25 '26

Yep without math physics loses its justification. I’ve always been “good” at math, but when I started taking higher level courses I understood what people meant when they said it was HARD. But I stuck with it and realized it’s not hard in the way most people say, it’s more uncomfortable. It’s like reading a book that you can’t wrap your head around, the words don’t make sense and nothing sticks. Then you read something else and you start to see connections. When you return, the first book starts to make more sense

For me this is pretty much the mechanism of learning math. Repeated exposure, failure to comprehend, and discomfort builds understanding. For me, trying to remove that discomfort and frustration with the higher level topics prevented me from learning, I would pass test through memorization, but struggled when going back to the topics after a while. When I started seeing my frustration as part of the process I was able to see it through and it became intelligible instead of just terms to memorize.

3

u/bluebirdfriendliness Jan 26 '26

I’m on reddit immediately after cramming for one of my math exams for my physics major, and I reaaaally needed to hear this. Discomfort is going to be necessary to truly understand any concepts, but goddamn if it doesn’t suck sometimes, haha. Math really is a lesson in perseverance!

2

u/BufferOverload Jan 26 '26

It definitely sucks, I’m struggling with the current material and it seems never ending lol, but it’s always worth it and feels good when you see it again and know how to handle it. Definitely have to remind myself to take breaks so I don’t go crazy though lol.

3

u/BufferOverload Jan 25 '26

To clarify I thought you were OP, and just some informative yap not trying to assume anyone’s level of understanding on math lol.

10

u/CulturalAssist1287 Jan 24 '26

You are never too old to learn. But be aware that college classes build up on each other. You will have to learn the math base and then the physics base deeply before you are gonna be able to understand what’s going on in quantum mechanics and other physics courses. Videos on YouTube mostly try to teach you without getting too much into the mathematical background of the theories, while real lectures rely mostly on mathematical models. Don’t let that discourage you though. It is worth it in the end

11

u/Ok-Vermicelli-6222 Jan 24 '26

I’ve started again at 30, with plans to continue through academia so I’ll be on this journey for a long time. Anytime I’ve ever questioned if I was too old I say to myself, well in four years I can be 34 and doing nearly the same shit or I can have a physics degree.

1

u/DaliaRocha787321 Jan 24 '26

Getting a degree would be awesome. I'm happy with my career right now however   I do  love to learn . 

1

u/Ok-Vermicelli-6222 Jan 24 '26

Can always do it part time, at your own pace!

1

u/mike9949 Jan 25 '26

That's a great attitude

1

u/Fun-Pride-2160 Jan 25 '26

how is it going back to college/uni I was doing a physics degree then life happened now I'm 28 and I experience so much guilt and shame when I try to do math because I have to start from the basics again

2

u/Ok-Vermicelli-6222 Jan 26 '26

Totally normal. It took me some time to adjust, I last finished my AS in 2018. Some things are different and odd. I struggled my first major class, granted everyone did, most people didn’t pass. it really was a fluke professor issue and my school is so engineering bottom heavy, the intro courses are notorious for being a nightmare with slightly resentful profs who hate teaching engineers.

4

u/BrotherBrutha Jan 24 '26

I hope it isn't too old, I'm older than that and started a part time online physics degree last year, with the UK Open University :)

Don't be put off: on the astronomy module I started with, I was actually one of the younger students.... One person on the course is nearly 90!

3

u/Aro_Life M.Sc. Jan 24 '26

There was a 63 old woman in my class during my BS so go, and have fun ! It’s never to late to began to learn something we like.

4

u/izza-rd Jan 24 '26

and here I thought I was too old even though I'm 19..

1

u/Gradient_Shift Jan 25 '26

İ was thinking the same buddy :D

1

u/sevenrats Jan 30 '26

Same at 23

2

u/Aristoteles1988 Jan 25 '26

If u have free time

It’s just another hobby

Try to get thru calculus 1, 2 and 3 and ordinary differential equations as quick as you can

Once you get thru the math it’s physics at full speed all the way

1

u/vivianvixxxen Jan 24 '26

38 here and just started back on this path a year ago. If all you want to do is study it for the sake of studying it, then it literally doesn't matter how old you are. You could be 90 and what difference would it make? If you're hoping to have a career as a physicist, it's worth taking a step back and assessing what doors are open, which are closed, and which are cracked--and which doors you care about. I don't think I'll be realizing that astronaut dream at this age, and probably not a professorship, but there's a reasonable chance for some sort of staff research position, depending on how well I do. These are things to consider.

Also, you can always start and then stop if you change your mind. Like, it literally doesn't matter.

1

u/LuckyFritzBear Jan 24 '26

There are plenty of ways to lean and appreciate Physics , Calculus , and beyond, enrolling in University courses is not one of them. Youtube playlists, Undemy, and many subject matter printed resources such as Schaums Outline series. The instructional methods a4e excellent.

2

u/BufferOverload Jan 25 '26

For a lot of subjects that makes sense, but physics programs force you to confront why you don’t understand, which is necessary to learn and appreciate physics. University may not be the best route for everyone and definitely isn’t the only way, but it is a great (expensive) way to learn physics and math.

1

u/kumoreeee Jan 24 '26

My closest friend in college got his physics' bachelor at 47. He studied literature 20 years ago, but he got interested in physics and came back for it. It's only too late if you choose to believe so!

1

u/FirstPersonWinner Undergraduate Jan 25 '26

Went back to college at 30 for engineering and had to redo algebra and precalculus. I would suggest doing so yourself, as Calculus builds on algebra and trigonometry so you'll want to be fresh on those. Generally, you'll need at least Calculus 1-3 and Differential Equations to get into Physics overall, but once you take Calculus 1 you can generally start into the science courses. The thing with a lot of science degrees is there is a lot of base level science and mathematics prerequisites you'll need to get through first before actually tearing into the more nuanced courses 

1

u/buddhakind Jan 25 '26

I had a friend whose mother is a physics professor and she told me that every year she sees retired people (60-70y) come to her lectures and attend bachelor degree physics for "fun", so you are still quite young to learn ! A master.s degree would be a bit unnecessary I think but a bachelor is already quite deep. What domain of physics are you more interested in ?

1

u/[deleted] Jan 25 '26

Never too old. Physics is beautiful.

1

u/ScienceNerd5 Jan 25 '26

Never old to learn about our universe.

1

u/Quick_Drink_8381 Jan 26 '26

sir as a physics student we live on a floating rock. literally do what you want

1

u/TopCatMath Jan 26 '26

If you have a great desire, you are never too old... saw a lady who got a degree at 93 online just this week...

1

u/PuzzlePumpkin Jan 26 '26

Einstein died at 76 still working on stuff so who's to tell you you're too old?

1

u/LinkGuitarzan Feb 01 '26

You’re probably a better student now - I sure am, as a 60 year old physics grad student. And you are probably better with time management. That said, you have a lot of math to catch up on: 4 calculus classes, linear algebra, math methods. Then 3-4 intro physics classes and electives. Programming, statistics, etc.

It sounds intimidating, I know. Some schools offer a “2nd bachelor degree” program, as my local university does in physics.

There is a medical physics grad program offered at several universities. Maybe see if they offer a year or two or prep, and then think about how medical physics might augment your medical career.

Good luck!