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Thomas Nguyen

Science Ambassador
Thomas Nguyen
phuocnh21@arizona.edu

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Major & Minor
Major: Astronomy and Physics
Minor: Mathematics

Hometown
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

What made you choose your science major at this school?

  • Lots of opportunities to be involved in undergraduate research at an early stage and lots of fundings for research

How hard were the intro science classes compared to high school?

  • I took AP classes in high school so the intro classes here were pretty easy for me

Do professors actually teach, or are most classes taught by TAs?

  • I would say an equal share between the professor and the TA. Some of my professors let the TAs teach a few classes if the topic was related to the TA's grad research

How easy is it to get help if you’re struggling in a science class?

  • For Astronomy and Physics, there are a lot of resources like Physics TA's consultation room and Astronomy tutoring from TAs room, etc., apart from the common resources like Think Tank or BASC

When can students start doing research (freshman year or later)?

  • There are some professors accepting freshmen, but in my opinion, sophomore is more ideal as you should have introductory knowledge about the field and some skills to actually do the research by then

How did you get involved in research or labs?

  • I went to my introductory astronomy professor's office hours and asked him if he is taking undergraduates, and I got a brief project before getting a longer follow-up one that I am working on

Are research opportunities competitive or fairly accessible?

  • Many Astronomy and Physics professors are always looking to take undergraduates in their labs, so it's fairly accessible. Some opportunities like Space Grant by NASA are a bit more competitive, if you want to try.

Do students get paid for research or is it mostly for credit?

  • Both. Astro & Physics students can both get credit and get paid for doing research (depending on the advisor as well, definitely reach out and ask!)

What does a typical week look like for a science major?

  • For me, doing research and working on assignments take the majority of my time. But there's always time for you to enjoy your life as well (e.g. joining clubs, exploring Tucson, etc.)

How much time do you actually spend studying?

  • Around 20 hours

What’s the hardest science class you’ve taken—and why?

  • Theoretical Mechanics. My professor's teaching style did not fit for me, so I had a hard time navigating that class. The class itself is also hard.

What do you wish you had known before coming here?

  • You can get involved in research as early as freshman year! I used to think that you have to wait until the last semesters of undergrad to do research!

What clubs and/or organizations are you involved with?

  • Astronomy Club

What are your future plans after graduation?

  • Either continue in academia by pursuing a PhD in Astronomy or doing post-bac then going to graduate school. I haven't decided where to do my PhD yet.