Q&A for How to Become a Theoretical Physicist

Learn, from the very basics upwards. You can get books or use internet resources. You'll probably have some classes in school, and you can study physics in college, then pursue a specialty within in in graduate school. It will take many years before you get anywhere close to what you're asking. And just so you know, it's impossible to become an expert in every single area of physics - there is just far too much knowledge out there in this day and age for one person to obtain. You can gain a pretty good understanding of all the branches, but eventually, you will have to choose a specialty to delve into more deeply.

No, you just need to be knowledgeable about it and hardworking.

That's up to you to decide. Whatever interests you deeply is worth studying.

Preferably, a PhD in physics - although it is possible to do so with a masters degree in physics or science.

Start with classical (Newtonian) mechanics; most high school textbooks have all the fundamental topics you would need to know to build the foundations. You should also get a mathematics textbook as you will need to be 'fluent' in algebra.

Not all the way. Sting theory has yet to be proven, and some of the math is not solved yet. There are things unsolved in physics, such as how much radiation a wormhole has. Even though string theory is called a theory of everything, that just means it combines all known forces of the universe.

Study physics and qualify for the NET exam.

It is not impossible to learn all the branches of physics, but it is better to pick a single branch and focus your efforts to mastering it. You can learn general overviews about each of the branches, but when pursuing a degree, major in an area of physics that holds your interest the most.

Look at texts that specifically describe theoretical physics or books that outline the careers of famous theorists. Also, consider reading books by Stephen Hawking, who is a renowned theorist in the field. "A Brief History of Time" or "The Grand Design" are popular books to read to obtain general knowledge on the field.

No; anybody can be a theoretical physicist. You only need to be interested in the subject and determined to work hard.

Start by looking at theoretical science programs at universities within your state, as those may offer scholarships or grants for staying local. Most large state universities will offer some form of theoretical physics. Then, expand your search outward. Some excellent theoretical physics programs are offered at University of California, Berkeley; Princeton University; Harvard University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and the California Institute of Technology.

It depends on where you live, but in most cases, yes, you can, especially when the university you're applying to has an entrance exam. In those cases, school grades become less important.

Talk to your counsellor about the courses you can take in the future. Since you’re just starting out in high school, the best thing you can do is get to know science and math very well (although first year high school sciences aren’t very helpful.) Start reading about theoretical physics and think about the courses you can choose once you’re in a higher grade. (You will be able to take more intense math courses and multiple science courses.) Try to do extension courses with a local university too, these may increase your overall score but even if not, will improve your understandings immensely.

You must take classes that involve mathematics, chemistry and physics as this subjects provide the foundational knowledge that you must acquire in order to enter college or even university.

Wikipedia can be good for looking over basics, but remember it is an encyclopedia written by various people from different backgrounds. You might want to borrow or buy some basic physics books written by experts, so you're able to start by reading actual books, rather than an encyclopedic wiki.

If you want to learn practical physics, popular science books like "A Brief History of Time" will probably not help that much. Some good algebra-based physics textbooks are "Conceptual Physics" by Paul G. Hewitt and "Physics: Principles With Applications" by Giancoli, which can both be understood by a high school student (assuming you're good at math). A good calculus-based textbook is "Fundamentals of Physics" by Halliday, Resnick and Walker, which is used in a lot of undergraduate courses and will require you to learn some advanced math.