Planning for Next Semester

It’s that time in the semester when all the projects are coming down to the wire, exams are constant and I want to tear my hair out.  So, why not think about fall semester classes on top of everything else?  Since I go to a satellite school, I have a very limited amount of classes I can take, and I sometimes have problems fitting exact classes in my schedule.  So, the first thing I do is meet with my advisors to make sure I’m taking the right classes.  Since my physics advisor is on sabbatical this year, I’ve been shuffled to another brilliant advisor,
Dr. Levine.  He’s currently researching dark matter.  He is brilliant, and also very nice.  I had a conflict with my upcoming physics 3 class and my linear algebra class, and he was kind enough to move the physics class.  This is where small universities can sometimes be more awesome than large ones.  We have tons of research opportunities at the university.  I met with my math advisor to ensure that I was on track with taking 3 math courses next semester:  Linear Algebra, Calculus 3, and Differential Equations.  (I love me some math.)  So, knowing that I needed these courses, I created a new time table that has fifteen minute steps and started it from 8 in the morning to 5 in the evening.  None of my classes will go past that this next semester.  My classes only run Monday-Thursday, but I keep Fridays in the layout because it helps me plan out library blocks.  This way, I can record the class and section number, the
professor, the room/building (if there is one), and time blocks.  This gives me a visual to look at so I can figure out where I will have study blocks and library time.  Three math and two physics classes are a heavy load to take, but I am happy with it as long as I have time to decompress and study between classes.  This semester, once my classes start, they are back to back, and I don’t get a chance to eat lunch or really do any processing of notes and lectures between classes.  It’s frustrating.  I have to remember things through four to five hours of classes.  I am happy next semester I will have more than 15 minutes to gather my brains together and prep for the next class (not to mention GRAB LUNCH).