Blog | Admin | Archives

First Day Frenzy

Through diligence last night I was able to get my sleep schedule under control for the start of classes today. The day was a somewhat eventful, though short because of there being no BioEn 305 lab today. On my way to class, my bike betrayed me and sent me sprawling onto the pavement in a most unpleasant way. Bruised and dirtied but otherwise unharmed, I continued on to my first class of the day, my Bioengineering Physiology and Transport lecture.

I already like the teacher more than I ever did last quarter’s physiology teacher. I get the feeling that the material will be less rote memorization and more applied memorization. Sure, memorization is still involved, but at least I feel it it useful in this case. Also, the teacher this quarter seems much more organized, so I think the “need” for surprise extra lectures (that I was unable too attend due to work) will be eliminated. After class, I talked briefly with Alice, waved to Dennis and Christine, and rode off to my next class.

Next came Operating Systems. The class should be interesting and informative, as all CSE classes seem to be. After a one hour break spent in the computer labs with Jason and Felix, I headed to my Software for Embedded Systems class, another one that promises to be interesting and informative, even if I already have some experience in the area. There, I met up with Weija, a friend from several quarters ago with whom I had lost touch. It turns out she spent the last two quarters at an internship with Intel, which explains why I never saw her. To achieve her graduation date, she is signed up for 5 CSE classes this quarter, and a total of 24 credits. I hope she drops at least one, because otherwise I am sure she will suffer in a multiplicity of ways.

I noticed that one of those five classes Weija was signed up for was a class I had been looking into, Software Engineering. Since it fit my schedule, I decided to tag along and see how it was. I was excited to see a lot of my CSE friends in the class, I was also well aware of the fact that taking it would push me to 20 credits, which I feel I could not successfully attempt while still working to any significant degree. Also, I have heard from numerous sources that winter quarter of the junior year is the toughest of the Bioengineering curriculum. So, I reluctantly but wisely decided to avoid adding the additional class. Especially with the Titan Robotics Club ramping up for another FIRST robotics season (despite my lower level of involvement), I am sure that I will have enough to do this quarter.

2 Responses to “First Day Frenzy”

  1. Stickman Says:

    I’ll be taking 20 credits this semester (starts on the 8th). But that’s all I’ll be doing.

    I can say from personal experience that it’s possible to take 22 credits and hold a B average. At least if that’s the only thing you do. But that was first semester freshman classes, so it’s probably not the same thing.

    They told us at DigiPen about a scientificly proven method for memorizing anything for the rest of your life.

    First, review it the day you learn it. Make sure you can recite it from memory. (And not read it, then say it back immediately. You know how memorization works)

    Second, review it the next day.

    Third, review it five days later.

    Fourth, review it 10 days later.

    Last, review it 20 days later.

    If each time you “memorize” it again, you will have that piece of information memorized for the rest of your life. If you can plan your schedule well enough to be able to do study like that, then you win. If not… well, get a list and study all of it every day, and each time they give you something you need to memorize, add it on. And make sure that after the semester’s over, the things you learned at the end you keep going over for another 20 days.

  2. Ryan Says:

    At BYU, I usually took 17-18 credits, the maximum allowed without special exemption each semester. I was able to handle that along with getting good grades, but only because I wasn’t working (or rather, maintaining my scholarship was my job).

    I’ve worked ever since I started at the UW, and doing so is a lot different. I seem to be able to get good grades on occasion (the last two autumn quarters, for example). This is only because I stayed on top of most of the material the whole quarter, and especially this last quarter, because I had good partners that took up the slack when my other classes took me away for a while (Thanks Jason & Christine!).

Leave a Reply