Student Life

[evilgerbil]

I'm a student again! It seemed like just yesterday that I got laid off and on a whim, filled out an application for CSULB. And now I am there. Wewll, not now as in at the moment. Things have definitely changed. The class notes are in Powerpoint format (on by the way, why would someone do that, and count on everyone having PPT, rather than export them in a format everyone can read with a FREE reader, like .PDF?), announcements are posted online on a bulletin board, you really need to have email, people's cell phones going off in class, needing to buy a special code with the textbook because the homework is all submitted online. Weird. One of the biggest things it the budget deficit. Teachers are not allowed to make photocopies, hence us having to download and print everything from home. Classes are large according to other students. I know there are more than 150 in my chemistry class because that's what the lecture hall holds and there are people standing, but it's not like the multiple hundreds in even my art history class at UCLA. It's very tough to get into classes, so I hear. Classes are full and it's nearly impossible to "crash" them. I've overheard people who want a full course load say they could only get into 2 classes. Then there are the furloughs. How am I supposed to do my lab if it falls on a furlough day when faculty is not working? I'm only taking two classes right now, having taken the third in the summer. The book for one of my classes is sold out and they don't expect it in until next week. I don't think I can order it online because there's a very specific code for an online component, where I submit my homework. The bookstore is a mess. There were only three cashiers in the whole place, and only one where you could pay by credit card. The line rivaled the line at Amoeba for a free Flight of the Concords show, i.e. a couple hundred at least. At UCLA, the bookstore was a lot bigger, and it was set up like Fry's Electronics, with tons of cashiers. You also can't take your bags in, so you have to stand in another line to deposit and then claim your backpack. The chemistry class is going to be a complete review, not just of high school, but of 8th grade Intro Physical Science. I had to take it because when I looked at the placement test, 80% of it was material I'd have to study a lot for. The test and this class have little in common, despite having to pass the test to skip the class. Math is another thing. My department advisor suggested Precalculus for a refresher, and I see now that is a mistake. I thought I needed to practice my trigonomotry, and I do, but that is not in this class at all. That is a separate class for those going on to major in math or physical sciences. This would be an easy A, but I think I will go insane having to "learn" rational exponents and completing the square for 4 months. My plan is to talk to the teacher of the one Calculus class that fits into my schedule and explain my situation. Bring transcripts if needed. I took calc. in high school, then three quarters in college. I don't remember a lot of it but I still know my derivatives and I can work my way around a circle in radians and tell you the values of trig functions of values in radians. My going into precalc. was based on needing to review conic sections and graphing things like cosecant. I think I am more advanced than I gave myself credit for. Chemistry lecture is a bitch. I have an 8am class, which means I need to be ON THE TRAIN AT 4:47AM at the NoHo Red Line station. No can do, buddy. I've been going to the 11am lecture instead, but it would be great if I were officially enrolled, and had lab on Monday or Wednesday instead of Friday. If I can get rid of my Friday lab, I'll skip Friday lecture, read the notes myself and do things like work instead of commuting 5-6 hours.

That's about all to report there. I'm exhausted already and wondering when I can move to Long Beach. Jeff and I need to talk more about that. It looks like he isn't going to lose his job/have to quit, and with my initial freakout about moving in together, I don't know if that will work. To say my amount of free time is less than before is an understatement. All is well.

LAB GARB SALE - Fall 2009
SAACS will be selling these items outside the Peterson Hall - 2 Chemistry Stockroom (PH2-214) from September 1st - September 10th.

Sales will be at the following times ONLY!
Tuesday, September 1st 10:30 AM to 12 Noon
Wednesday, September 2nd 10:30 AM to 12 Noon
Thursday, September 3rd 10:30 AM to 12 Noon
Wednesday, September 9th 10:30 AM to 12 Noon
Thursday, September 10th 10:30 AM to 12 Noon

All sales are final. CASH only!
No checks or debit/credit cards accepted.

NEW ITEMS
Stealth Goggles $ 9.00
Classic Goggles $ 7.00
Lab Aprons $ 3.00
Lab Coats $18.00
Organic Chemistry Lab Notebooks $ 5.00
General Chemistry Study Guide $15.00
Organic Chemistry Study Guide $21.00
Molecular Model Kit $20.00

USED ITEMS (limited supply)
Lab Aprons $ 1.00
Lab Coats $10.00
Goggles $ 2.00