[Rhodes22-list] SVSU Fall Semester, 2003 Results

[Thena Carville]

Roger,
That was awesome...you make us all proud...I know it was hard work and the
pressure must have been intense at times (for such an old dude)...time to
kick back and relax for a few days before you really start digging in for
next semester...you have really earned a little "relaxation bonus" after
this semester...this one was to be the most difficult semester, wasn't it?
Thena



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roger Pihlaja" <cen09402 at centurytel.net>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 2:55 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] SVSU Fall Semester, 2003 Results


Hi Everybody,

Well, I just got my report card on-line for the Fall Semester, 2003.  I
ended up with 5 A's, 1 A-, and 1 B+ for an overall 3.824 GPA.  That's not
too shabby for an old nerd, especially considering the heavy class load.
The B+ was in Solid Mechanics and was the 2nd highest grade in the class.  A
lot of the students in my Solid Mechanics class will be retaking the class
next semester because it's a required core curriculum class for all
engineering majors.  In order for the course to count towards their major,
engineering students must pass Solid Mechanics with at least a C at SVSU and
nearly 50% of the class didn't score well enough!  My problem with Solid
Mechanics was I never did remember enough of my Calculus, Differential
Equations, & Statics from college classes taken 30+ years ago to get
sufficiently fast at doing these problems to ace the exams.  Therefore, on
the exams, I always ran out of time.  I had a 98% average on the graded
homework in that class, when I had time to think about the problems and work
thru the Calculus, Statics, & Differential Equations.  Based upon my
homework grades, I think I actually understand and know how to apply the
subject material pretty well.  I'm just not real fast at working out the
problems.  It's a classic case of test taking ability vs. real world
ability.  Fortunately, in a real world job situation, this shouldn't matter.

The A- was in Dynamics and was the highest grade in the class.  Dynamics is
another required core curriculum course and close to half the students my
class will be repeating it next semester.  Actually, Dynamics was one of the
prerequisite courses for Solid Mechanics, which was also part of my problem
with Solid Mechanics.  I had to get special permission to take both courses
concurrently, a practice I definitely would not recommend!

A more reasonable total class load or simply not taking both of these
courses at the same time would have made a huge difference. But, I need to
be finished with my BS mechanical engineering degree in a year or less, so
there was no choice.  Ah well, I'm still in the game and still committed to
seeing this adventure thru to the end.  Boy, am I ever glad this semester is
over!

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilbrium
__________________________________________________
Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list