[Rhodes22-list] SVSU Fall Semester, 2003 Results

[Roger Pihlaja]

Thena,

Thank-you.  Yes, I think the Fall Semester, 2003 was probably the most
difficult of the three semesters from an academic point of view.  There will
be a lot to accomplish during the Winter Semester, 2004; but, it will be
personally very interesting because it will be related to my projects.  Some
of it will be traveling because it doesn't appear the SVSU library has
access to the right kind of data bases for the literature & patent searching
I need to do for my projects.  I will probably need to travel down to
Michigan State University in E. Lansing, MI as well as Wayne State
University and the Detroit Public Library in Detroit, MI.  The Detroit
Public Library has an especially good capability for patent searching.
Fortunately, I won't have classes on Fridays and my father lives in Sterling
Hts, MI about 20 miles north of Detroit.  Thus, it's all very doable.  If my
end game plan works out as I hope, this semester will set me up for my new
career and business or at least teach me what I did wrong.  So, I don't mind
all the traveling. long hours in the library, and hard work.  Seeing as how
I caused all of this occur, I have nobody to blame but myself.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: "Thena Carville" <thenacarville at worldnet.att.net>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 6:19 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] SVSU Fall Semester, 2003 Results


> 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
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>