Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
What was senior year like?
Beaver Island
Adopted Bebe
Started the year hanging with old friends
- Made some aspirin in chem lab (among other products), don't I look like a scientist?
Concert at Rubbles:
Visiting with family for Labor Day
At MSU for the big MSU vs. Central game. Mostly at the Landshark, final score:
Some good times:
The dance party:
Bo Burnam and Stephen Lynch:
Finding my way, applying to grad school, and remembering why I am doing what I am doing:
Our new-found game of Carnival
Graduation:
Back home:
Nurse Assistant Training
Meeting old friends
UMDNJ orientation
Adopted Bebe
Started the year hanging with old friends
- Made some aspirin in chem lab (among other products), don't I look like a scientist?
Concert at Rubbles:
Visiting with family for Labor Day
At MSU for the big MSU vs. Central game. Mostly at the Landshark, final score:
Some good times:
The dance party:
Bo Burnam and Stephen Lynch:
Finding my way, applying to grad school, and remembering why I am doing what I am doing:
Our new-found game of Carnival
Graduation:
Back home:
Nurse Assistant Training
Meeting old friends
UMDNJ orientation
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
What's wrong with education these days?
Hopefully, I'll be able to back up my views with some credible sources and stats, but here's an early list:
1) What about the new history and social studies curriculum for Texas schools? A lot of texts I hear come from Texas so it could affect other states who haven't okayed the proposed changes (1). Some people suggest that the slave trade and how the US was involved may be downplayed (1 and Fox News). I don't like that...
So that's bad, but overall the US is working to get education to some level of standard, a goal good in and of itself, but what happens when that goes too far? Here are some of the consequences that might be related:
- An increase in funding and "importance" of core classes: like science, math, english, history. But, some schools are drastically cutting their physical education classes. One school, I forget where, only had k - 8 gym class once a week. Once a week? That's all I had too. Maybe, we'd have less diagnoses of obesity, ADD, and stuff if we actually exercised kids BOTH after lunch AND during a class period per day...
- Community colleges rejecting students, see #7
2) According to the College Board, the approximate cost of an undergraduate education including books, tuition, and fees but not room and board for 4 years = 20, 000
Bullshit. Who even came up with that number? Undergrad tuition at CMU was very low at 213 per credit hour, assuming a 13.7 credit hour load (which was my average from 9 semesters) = (213 * 13.8 credit hours * 8 semesters = 23, 515. Umm, pretty sure that 213 per credit is really low for most colleges, so we are already over the 20,000 threshold.
Then add in:
- 1 year minimum for on-campus living enforces on most campuses = food plan is 1500 + 3200 per semester for dorm so 9400 on the year.
- 3 years living off campus = 375 per month rent (assuming 300 rent and 75 utilities) + 200 for food and 200 for spending = 775 per month * 8 months per year * 3 years = 18, 600
So 23515 + 9400 + 18600 = CMU education = 51, 515
Huh, that doesn't even seem like enough if you include food and fun costs for first year and account for car payments, transportation, laundry, etc.
3) Community colleges are only eligible to receive 12 billion over about a decade to boost their US funding, but drug companies will be getting close to 60 billion under the new health care plan.
4) It's unclear to me how standardized tests are actually valid, what are the criteria used to evaluate them and compare their validity across years? How would you test that? ANOVA might be able to compare a group of three years so maybe a z or t test? For example, the GRE was found (at least presently) to not be a predictor of grad school success. So ETS says for now, schools should not enforce a minimum score, but many do just that.
5) Along with the standard tests...there was an incident in Michigan where the MEAP test had some wrong answers and furthermore, and its material was written by a professor who had little experience teaching the class level material....what the hell.
6) I got a grad school rejection letter by email which was delivered to my phone. Lame.
7) Some community colleges are turning away students during this "recession" (2). Why not just accept everyone to the school but make certain (but not all) programs very selective). For example, I have no problem if the nursing program at Schoolcraft has stringent standards: Good TEAS scores, pass all classes with (something like) and 80% or 84% or above, and good score on board exam. But, I believe the college would be doing its students a disservice by turning people away in the long run.
8) State certification expiration. For example, my nurse assistant certification runs out after 2 years if I'm not hired at all. So, I would have to repeat the class and pay for another state test = about 1700 bucks. What if we could just retake the state test? The people who are still up to date on their skills but with no job experience would still be weeded out from the those who are not. Or make state testing mandatory every two years even for those who fulfill the employment hour requirements but allow those who have the hour requirements fulfilled to take it for a very reduced cost? Maybe like 20 bucks?
9) Out of state tuition. Geez, I am a US citizen just not a resident of your damn state. I had to compete for even less spots than the in state students, so could you cut me a break please?
10) So, I was born in Korea and came to the US 5 months later. I was naturalized when I was 3. Do you remember when you were 3? But, you got to be a citizen right out of the womb. So I can't be president because of that?
References so far:
1. Jackson, L. "Texas education standards spark debate on slavery, politics." 20 May 2010. Accessed on 1 June, 2010, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-05-21-textbooks21_ST_N.htm
2. Chen, G. "Beware of Rejection Letters From Your Local Community College. Nov. 2009. Accessed 1 June 2010, from http://www.communitycollegereview.com/articles/192
1) What about the new history and social studies curriculum for Texas schools? A lot of texts I hear come from Texas so it could affect other states who haven't okayed the proposed changes (1). Some people suggest that the slave trade and how the US was involved may be downplayed (1 and Fox News). I don't like that...
So that's bad, but overall the US is working to get education to some level of standard, a goal good in and of itself, but what happens when that goes too far? Here are some of the consequences that might be related:
- An increase in funding and "importance" of core classes: like science, math, english, history. But, some schools are drastically cutting their physical education classes. One school, I forget where, only had k - 8 gym class once a week. Once a week? That's all I had too. Maybe, we'd have less diagnoses of obesity, ADD, and stuff if we actually exercised kids BOTH after lunch AND during a class period per day...
- Community colleges rejecting students, see #7
2) According to the College Board, the approximate cost of an undergraduate education including books, tuition, and fees but not room and board for 4 years = 20, 000
Bullshit. Who even came up with that number? Undergrad tuition at CMU was very low at 213 per credit hour, assuming a 13.7 credit hour load (which was my average from 9 semesters) = (213 * 13.8 credit hours * 8 semesters = 23, 515. Umm, pretty sure that 213 per credit is really low for most colleges, so we are already over the 20,000 threshold.
Then add in:
- 1 year minimum for on-campus living enforces on most campuses = food plan is 1500 + 3200 per semester for dorm so 9400 on the year.
- 3 years living off campus = 375 per month rent (assuming 300 rent and 75 utilities) + 200 for food and 200 for spending = 775 per month * 8 months per year * 3 years = 18, 600
So 23515 + 9400 + 18600 = CMU education = 51, 515
Huh, that doesn't even seem like enough if you include food and fun costs for first year and account for car payments, transportation, laundry, etc.
3) Community colleges are only eligible to receive 12 billion over about a decade to boost their US funding, but drug companies will be getting close to 60 billion under the new health care plan.
4) It's unclear to me how standardized tests are actually valid, what are the criteria used to evaluate them and compare their validity across years? How would you test that? ANOVA might be able to compare a group of three years so maybe a z or t test? For example, the GRE was found (at least presently) to not be a predictor of grad school success. So ETS says for now, schools should not enforce a minimum score, but many do just that.
5) Along with the standard tests...there was an incident in Michigan where the MEAP test had some wrong answers and furthermore, and its material was written by a professor who had little experience teaching the class level material....what the hell.
6) I got a grad school rejection letter by email which was delivered to my phone. Lame.
7) Some community colleges are turning away students during this "recession" (2). Why not just accept everyone to the school but make certain (but not all) programs very selective). For example, I have no problem if the nursing program at Schoolcraft has stringent standards: Good TEAS scores, pass all classes with (something like) and 80% or 84% or above, and good score on board exam. But, I believe the college would be doing its students a disservice by turning people away in the long run.
8) State certification expiration. For example, my nurse assistant certification runs out after 2 years if I'm not hired at all. So, I would have to repeat the class and pay for another state test = about 1700 bucks. What if we could just retake the state test? The people who are still up to date on their skills but with no job experience would still be weeded out from the those who are not. Or make state testing mandatory every two years even for those who fulfill the employment hour requirements but allow those who have the hour requirements fulfilled to take it for a very reduced cost? Maybe like 20 bucks?
9) Out of state tuition. Geez, I am a US citizen just not a resident of your damn state. I had to compete for even less spots than the in state students, so could you cut me a break please?
10) So, I was born in Korea and came to the US 5 months later. I was naturalized when I was 3. Do you remember when you were 3? But, you got to be a citizen right out of the womb. So I can't be president because of that?
References so far:
1. Jackson, L. "Texas education standards spark debate on slavery, politics." 20 May 2010. Accessed on 1 June, 2010, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-05-21-textbooks21_ST_N.htm
2. Chen, G. "Beware of Rejection Letters From Your Local Community College. Nov. 2009. Accessed 1 June 2010, from http://www.communitycollegereview.com/articles/192
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
What's the plan?
Screw the academic plan for now. I got it on the CMU document anyway. How can I build a happy life even if I'm single for a while?
1) Start working out. Make a commitment, especially in these next two weeks.
2) Study math and review some biostats
3) Meet people in Jersey, just make some friends for now. Try to have people over to hangout without having any expectations
- Resist the temptation to approach women for dating, just make some really good friends.
4)Try really hard to develop good study habits and encourage formation of study groups. Seek out older students to get a feel for which professors are good and who are not.
5) Apply for ASPH internship, do some research, get a part time job to either as an assistant or as a nurse assistant so that I can keep CENA. Apply for ASPH fellowship just before I graduate
6) Apply for medical school and a couple PhD Public Health or Bio, retake orgo I and II so I can do both, decide on nursing program too
7) Get better at striking up conversations, being social without partying too much, try to encourage cook outs and at least something better than ramen for dinner night.
8) Get at least B-s in Orgo 1 and 2, study hard, study early, and review the ACS book before the class even begins
9) Keep applying for nurse assistant and grad positions, prioritize a grad position over nurse aide if it will pay for a good amount, at least 20% of a semester's tuition). However, get medical experience if I am only offered or not offered a research position for 8.00-15/hr. Work study = 12 - 15/hr for MPH
10) Try to make it home for Thanksgiving but always for Christmas.
11) Try not to have to drive to class, the traffic probably sucks worse than Michigan on a bad day.
1) Start working out. Make a commitment, especially in these next two weeks.
2) Study math and review some biostats
3) Meet people in Jersey, just make some friends for now. Try to have people over to hangout without having any expectations
- Resist the temptation to approach women for dating, just make some really good friends.
4)Try really hard to develop good study habits and encourage formation of study groups. Seek out older students to get a feel for which professors are good and who are not.
5) Apply for ASPH internship, do some research, get a part time job to either as an assistant or as a nurse assistant so that I can keep CENA. Apply for ASPH fellowship just before I graduate
6) Apply for medical school and a couple PhD Public Health or Bio, retake orgo I and II so I can do both, decide on nursing program too
7) Get better at striking up conversations, being social without partying too much, try to encourage cook outs and at least something better than ramen for dinner night.
8) Get at least B-s in Orgo 1 and 2, study hard, study early, and review the ACS book before the class even begins
9) Keep applying for nurse assistant and grad positions, prioritize a grad position over nurse aide if it will pay for a good amount, at least 20% of a semester's tuition). However, get medical experience if I am only offered or not offered a research position for 8.00-15/hr. Work study = 12 - 15/hr for MPH
10) Try to make it home for Thanksgiving but always for Christmas.
11) Try not to have to drive to class, the traffic probably sucks worse than Michigan on a bad day.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Introduction - summer before it all begins
This is where am I right now. It's the summer before my first semester as a grad student. Things have changed a lot since I graduated and moved back home. I studied hard and earned my nurse assistant certification, made new friends, hung out with old friends, bought a car, and got a job. Things are pretty good. One of my main priorities is having fun ;)
One of the purposes of this blog is to have a little journal of my experiences this summer, since I only have about three months left. I want it to become sort of like a journal with pictures of my journey -- now and through the MPH program and hopefully through medical school
So, basically that's a little about me and what I'm hoping to accomplish. It'll be interesting to see how things change as I move to another state, study it up, and meet new people in the coming months.
One of the purposes of this blog is to have a little journal of my experiences this summer, since I only have about three months left. I want it to become sort of like a journal with pictures of my journey -- now and through the MPH program and hopefully through medical school
So, basically that's a little about me and what I'm hoping to accomplish. It'll be interesting to see how things change as I move to another state, study it up, and meet new people in the coming months.
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