[Rhodes22-list] SVSU Fall Semester, 2003 Results

[Steve]

Excellent job, Roger.
Steve


--- Roger Pihlaja <cen09402 at centurytel.net> wrote:
> 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     
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