Well, hello there. Been a while. But with accepted students weekend approaching, it becomes incumbent for me to attempt to post regularly again (perhaps by adopting Xanda's method of posting during physics lecture). So, here goes.
This semester has been moving too quickly. Already, we are looking at the end of the school year, the beginning of summer, the departure of seniors, and the influx of freshman. Final projects are looming and life is becoming a bit more stressed. But, that is to be expected. Results from midterms came back and it turns out that I will probably pass my freshman year here. Always a good sign.
Well, that was a bit somber. But, in better news, spring is actually now arriving here. It's a bit odd, because winter here doesn't mean too much. It just gets a bit chillier and the trees lose their leaves. So, the onset of spring is mainly nice because everything becomes green. For those students who are visiting from chillier locales, I hope you enjoy the weather here when you visit.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
I hope he talks about Fibonacci numbers
So, as I watch the hail beat down on my window I am consoled by some news. My professor for Linear Algebra last semester, Prof. Benjamin will be on a certain much-loved show in the near future. Watch it.
Mudd Sweet Mudd
Well, it's a new year and a new semester here at Mudd. And of course with that new semester there are new experiences. For example, monsoons. In Idaho I experienced very few monsoons. However, now that I am back at Mudd I have been afforded the opportunity to study one closely. After these last four days of studying, I am prepared to proffer a hypothesis: rain sucks. Royally.
Anywho, moving on from weather complaints. New semester means new classes. As far as topics go, I switch out an introductory Computer Science course for an introductory Biology course (which, hilariously, seems to be almost entirely genetics and evolution. That is, the parts of biology which are the least soft). Other than that, my Hum changes from the default Hum 1 to a religious studies course (Early Christianity and Theory) at Scripps. As for the rest, Physics goes from special relativity and intro to quantum to mechanics (good prof and math heavy), Math goes from Linear Algebra I to Differential Equations I (excellent prof), and Chemistry goes from one strangely organized module to another (for you prospective freshman out there: We're currently modifying the core. I'm not entirely sure what it's supposed to look like in the end, but hopefully it will be a bit less confusing for you than it is for us currently). We also pick up a physics lab which looks to be interesting. The equipment we've used is really good and the lab reports we're to write look intense (in the good-preparation-for-the-future-but-still-terrifying sense).
In other news, Mudd is starting up a program to offer over-the-phone homework help for local grade-schoolers. Sounded like fun to me, so I'm applying for a job there (which would also happen to be my first job). We start soon so you should be hearing about it in the near future.
That's about it for now. Looks to be an interesting semester!
Anywho, moving on from weather complaints. New semester means new classes. As far as topics go, I switch out an introductory Computer Science course for an introductory Biology course (which, hilariously, seems to be almost entirely genetics and evolution. That is, the parts of biology which are the least soft). Other than that, my Hum changes from the default Hum 1 to a religious studies course (Early Christianity and Theory) at Scripps. As for the rest, Physics goes from special relativity and intro to quantum to mechanics (good prof and math heavy), Math goes from Linear Algebra I to Differential Equations I (excellent prof), and Chemistry goes from one strangely organized module to another (for you prospective freshman out there: We're currently modifying the core. I'm not entirely sure what it's supposed to look like in the end, but hopefully it will be a bit less confusing for you than it is for us currently). We also pick up a physics lab which looks to be interesting. The equipment we've used is really good and the lab reports we're to write look intense (in the good-preparation-for-the-future-but-still-terrifying sense).
In other news, Mudd is starting up a program to offer over-the-phone homework help for local grade-schoolers. Sounded like fun to me, so I'm applying for a job there (which would also happen to be my first job). We start soon so you should be hearing about it in the near future.
That's about it for now. Looks to be an interesting semester!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Finals Week (Cue: Panic)
Errr... been a while, hasn't it. Sorry about that. But! Let's have bygones be bygones because ... exciting news! As you may have heard, it's finals week here at Mudd and anxiety is in the air. For the upperclassmen, it's the thought of difficult finals and long papers. For us frosh, however, it's more of a general worry for the future. With the Humanities 1 portfolios due last Friday, we have nothing left but studying and tests. These tests are our last experiences of past/fail, though, and that's a titch depressing. After a month away from Mudd (yet another sad thing) we have to come back and remember how to care about grades. We maybe have to stop goofing off and maybe start going to bed before 3 AM. Then again, maybe not. Tune in February to find out (bedtime pushed up to 2 AM?!?!).
Friday, November 6, 2009
If Atwood goes at (5/13)c and East goes at (12/13)c...
So, as you may have noticed, I have not posted lately. That is because of Mudd's time dilation, as the campus zooms past the rest of the world at 12c/13. Alternatively, it could be because there's been a bunch of homework due lately and sleep is hard to come by. This period of the semester is definitely hectic, as all courses have assignments due regularly and there are no breaks - you find yourself working week after week after week. That of course is the disadvantage of attending a difficult school: the work is difficult.
But, bellyaching aside, there has still been time for fun. And by fun I mean near-midnight runs (literally) to purchase frozen yogurt. I mean forcing friends to watch V for Vendetta on the Fifth because that is the day on which V for Vendetta must be viewed. I mean basking in the pleasure of having our all-frosh quiz bowl team beat our competition. There was indeed much work. But there was also much pleasure.
But, bellyaching aside, there has still been time for fun. And by fun I mean near-midnight runs (literally) to purchase frozen yogurt. I mean forcing friends to watch V for Vendetta on the Fifth because that is the day on which V for Vendetta must be viewed. I mean basking in the pleasure of having our all-frosh quiz bowl team beat our competition. There was indeed much work. But there was also much pleasure.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
News Flash: Fall Break Rocks My Socks
Fall Break began last Saturday and continues until today, forming some of the most relaxed (and fun) days at Mudd yet.
To begin with, on Saturday I went to Six Flags with a bunch of friends and we had a blast (which only cost 15$ apiece thanks to the CAP subsidy). I personally recommend Goliath but any of those coasters could rock the socks off of nuns. Disneyland pales in comparison - Six Flags crushed it easily. And the rest of the weekend has mainly been reaction. Which is definitely for the best, as most Mudd weekends are homework and panic filled, albeit just as fun usually.
One thing that Fall Break signals is the end of the half semester, meaning that I change humanity and math classes, and change subjects in physics and chemistry to quantum mechanics and structure, respectively. And now that I have taken classes at Mudd for about a month and a half, I think that I can make some evaluations. The main observation is that classes here are good. I am really impressed by the number of teachers here who are really enthusiastic about their subjects. And before you go "so what," you really need to know that it's difficult to not learn from a teacher who is excited for class every day and willing to put a lot of time into preparing for their classes. Even those teachers who I consider worse than other I would not call "bad." It's good enough that I'm really excited for my new humanities course (which is being taught by my awesome computer science teacher and a physics teacher who is reputed to be good as well). But, must go to bed now. I need enough sleep to do a good math final tomorrow (yay for take home tests).
To begin with, on Saturday I went to Six Flags with a bunch of friends and we had a blast (which only cost 15$ apiece thanks to the CAP subsidy). I personally recommend Goliath but any of those coasters could rock the socks off of nuns. Disneyland pales in comparison - Six Flags crushed it easily. And the rest of the weekend has mainly been reaction. Which is definitely for the best, as most Mudd weekends are homework and panic filled, albeit just as fun usually.
One thing that Fall Break signals is the end of the half semester, meaning that I change humanity and math classes, and change subjects in physics and chemistry to quantum mechanics and structure, respectively. And now that I have taken classes at Mudd for about a month and a half, I think that I can make some evaluations. The main observation is that classes here are good. I am really impressed by the number of teachers here who are really enthusiastic about their subjects. And before you go "so what," you really need to know that it's difficult to not learn from a teacher who is excited for class every day and willing to put a lot of time into preparing for their classes. Even those teachers who I consider worse than other I would not call "bad." It's good enough that I'm really excited for my new humanities course (which is being taught by my awesome computer science teacher and a physics teacher who is reputed to be good as well). But, must go to bed now. I need enough sleep to do a good math final tomorrow (yay for take home tests).
Friday, October 9, 2009
The Most Mathemagical Place on Earth
As I write that title I realize it applies more to Mudd than its intended referent.
But before I explain that, some back story. I was occupied for the majority of this weekend with some crazy fun events. The first of which was Gay Days at Disneyland. Although I don't plan on discussing my sexuality much on this blog, I am compelled to inform you all that Disneyland is actually quite fun still, despite (or because of?) extremely awkward questions from certain Australians. The second event was my first college level quiz bowl tournament ever! Which was crazy difficult and crazy fun simultaneously. The questions here are much more difficult than those at the high school level, but that also makes the successes much sweeter. However, I think that difficulty increase puts off quite a few people, as the quiz bowl here is much smaller than I would have expected (last year there were only two people from the entire 5 Claremont Colleges for the majority of the tournaments). But we frosh are determined to revive the club, so those prospective students should look out for a rejuvenated quiz bowl ready to rock!
As for the rest of the week, it was mostly entangled in homework. But fear not! I am beginning to see how the "communal working" bit of Mudd's pamphlets functions. There is more a less of a system where a homework party develops in my suite's lounge (Atwood's lounges are becoming increasingly useful) and we actually do work at a decent pace, all while distracting one another with hilarities. Who knew that it was actually possible. I believe it requires some diabolical witchcraft (AKA mathemagic?). Until next time, then!
Edit: Three minutes after I posted this, we "showered" one of my suitemates, providing an opportunity to explain a delightful tradition here at Mudd.On your birthday you are forced to receive a shower at the hands of your friends - after removal of electronics and homework. This does a good deal to relax all parties involved.
Also, I would love questions regarding Mudd! Please send me questions at: akohn(at)hmc.edu
But before I explain that, some back story. I was occupied for the majority of this weekend with some crazy fun events. The first of which was Gay Days at Disneyland. Although I don't plan on discussing my sexuality much on this blog, I am compelled to inform you all that Disneyland is actually quite fun still, despite (or because of?) extremely awkward questions from certain Australians. The second event was my first college level quiz bowl tournament ever! Which was crazy difficult and crazy fun simultaneously. The questions here are much more difficult than those at the high school level, but that also makes the successes much sweeter. However, I think that difficulty increase puts off quite a few people, as the quiz bowl here is much smaller than I would have expected (last year there were only two people from the entire 5 Claremont Colleges for the majority of the tournaments). But we frosh are determined to revive the club, so those prospective students should look out for a rejuvenated quiz bowl ready to rock!
As for the rest of the week, it was mostly entangled in homework. But fear not! I am beginning to see how the "communal working" bit of Mudd's pamphlets functions. There is more a less of a system where a homework party develops in my suite's lounge (Atwood's lounges are becoming increasingly useful) and we actually do work at a decent pace, all while distracting one another with hilarities. Who knew that it was actually possible. I believe it requires some diabolical witchcraft (AKA mathemagic?). Until next time, then!
Edit: Three minutes after I posted this, we "showered" one of my suitemates, providing an opportunity to explain a delightful tradition here at Mudd.On your birthday you are forced to receive a shower at the hands of your friends - after removal of electronics and homework. This does a good deal to relax all parties involved.
Also, I would love questions regarding Mudd! Please send me questions at: akohn(at)hmc.edu
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