Plan G

Do things ever really go as planned? I can tell you they never have for me. We always start with Plan A, but by the time we complete said event we are on Plan G; which resembles part of Plan A, with a hint of C and a whisper of what we thought the final version of Plan F would be.  To be honest, Plans B, D, and E never really stood a chance.  Because of this upbringing, I can now go-with-the-flow better than anyone! All that said, I am still OCD type A person who can organize and plan in my sleep.  Yes, I’m my own contradiction.  

Why am I telling you this?  Because some things are just out of your control. That’s it. You can only control you nothing more and nothing less. You can either make waves or ride them; your choice.

 Before I forget. Please remember to update your links and the MSE Opportunities link (to the left). All intern, coop, scholarship and employment opportunities that are sent to me are posted on this "follow-me only" blog. 

Now that the rush of the first week is over it is time to get down to business. Now is the time to buckle down, do homework, work on projects, and play in the labs. One thing we mustn’t forget are those pesky required academic meetings.   I should be seeing all the sophomores I did not see before winter break.  Let’s get these over with before Feb 9. Required meeting schedule:

• Sophomores, 4 meetings –

1. Beginning of Fall term
2. course request
3. End of Fall term / Beginning of Spring term
4. course request

• Juniors, 3 meetings –

1. course request
2. course request
3. End of Spring term

• Seniors, 2 meetings

1. beginning of academic year and
2. mid spring

Senior News

Trick question … what is a composite? Harder question … what is a senior composite? If you don’t get your senior picture taken you cannot be in the senior composite. There are 3 of you who have yet to get your senior picture taken.  The very last chance for you three is THIS WEEK. You must go to Stevens Photography on Main St, in Christiansburg by Thursday between 10-5 to be included in the senior composite.

MSE will host a Graduation Reception for all graduates and their families on Saturday, May 16^th beginning at 11am at The Inn at Virginia Tech. Complete details to follow.

Important Dates

Monday, Jan 26 – Last Day to Add a Class

Monday, Mar 2 – Last Day to Drop

MSE Engineering Communications Program

Internship and Coop fairs are right around the corner. So get your resumes and cover letters ready for this Spring we will be opening its doors to help you develop and revise your application packages. We can also help you prepare for your interviews!

Walk-In Hours:

Holden 211A, Mondays and Wednesday, 9:00-11:00, 2:30-4:30

ECP TEAM

Christine Burgoyne, Program Director 

(cbala@vt.edu), 540-231-5305, Holden 304

Email for appointments.

Rachel Corell, ECP GTA

rcorell@vt.edu, Holden 211A

Monday/Wednesday, 8:45-11:15 or by appointment

  

Kayla McNabb, ECP GTA

kmcnabb@vt.edu, Holden 211A

Monday/Wednesday, 2:00-5:00 pm or by appointment 

Random

Did you know the Grand Canyon can hold around 900 trillion footballs? (I’m assuming inflated footballs!)

Words To Live By

There are two types of pains, one that hurts you and the other that changes you.

Sandbox

My Schedule 

Scheduled meeting times are available 10-11:45 & 1:30-415. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.

No Time for Joking Around - Get to Class

Not sure who it is, but it’s one of you – I think, is having fun with me. When you visit my office you will see the window static lights running across the trim of the giant window. These window statics are in two parts … the colorful oval shape for the light bulb a black square for the part that is screwed in. Recently, someone has been relocating the black parts just off to the left of the light bulbs. First it was just one light then recently it was two lights. Are you having fun with my OCD? For the record - I’m not above super-gluing them in place!

On to other stuff.  

Let’s get pumped for a great spring semester. Say it with me …

I am going to have great semester.

I will do my best.

I will go to all my classes.

I will ask for help.

Senior News

http://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation/undergraduate/commencement/index.html

Dates and Times:

• For upcoming commencement dates, times, and locations please visit our Commencement Information webpage.

Guest Limits and Tickets:

• There are no guests’ limits or tickets required for the University Ceremony. Most departmental and college ceremonies do not require tickets or have a guest limit. Please contact your department to verify.

Diplomas:

• Diplomas are distributed at the college/departmental ceremonies on Saturday.

Accommodations for Guests:

• For information regarding accommodations in the Blacksburg/Christiansburg area visit the Campus Guide.
• For information on accommodations on-campus visit the Student Programs Commencement Housing webpage.

Excusing Yourself from Commencement:

• If you are planning on not attending the University Ceremony: No notification is necessary if you are not planning on attending the University Ceremony. Diplomas are not distributed at the University Ceremony.
• If you are planning on not attending your departmental ceremony: you may excuse yourself and arrange to receive your diploma via mail.

Multiple Degree Candidates:

• If you are receiving more than one degree and are only able to attend one of your college/department ceremonies, please e-mail the Office of the University Registrar to indicate which you will be attending. The Office of the University Registrar can arrange for all of your diplomas to be at the ceremony you are attending.

Important Dates

Monday, Jan 26 – Last Day to Add a Class

Monday, Mar 2 – Last Day to Drop

Helpful Tools

Please, please use the services provided free of charge by the Student Success Center.The following are some of the free workshops being offered:

Time Management:  January 21 1:00 – 2:00 pm, January 26 2:00 – 3:00 pm, March 4 6:00 – 7:00 pm, March 27 12:30 – 1:30 pm, or April 23 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Apps for Academic Success: February 4 4:00 – 5:00 pm, March 23 2:00 – 3:00 pm, or April 17 12:30 – 1:30 pm

Test-Taking: The 3 Steps to Success:  February 2 2:00 – 3:00 pm, February 11 4:00 – 5:00 pm, April 3 12:30 – 1:30 pm, or April 16 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Random 

Butterflies taste with their hind feet.

Words To Live By

If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it - then I can achieve it. - Muhammad Ali

Sandbox

My Schedule 

Scheduled meeting times are available 10-11:45 & 1:30-415. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.

New Year, New Blog

Can you guys do me a favor and let me know when you are headed back so I can go to Wal-Mart before you guys get back! Just kidding – we are getting ready for your return so we can kick this semester off.

It is so quiet without you guys around. At first it is kind of nice and peaceful when you guys head home. Then it gets a little strange. Finally it is unsettling – too quiet. Then boom over-night everyone is back at the same time.

During the quiet time, we spent some time and updated the Blog; relocated it and gave it a facelift. We hope you enjoy the new layout.

Also during this quiet time we created an Instagram account (VTMaterials) that we want you to take full advantage of. We know that all of you take pictures of everything. We want you to share MSE related pictures with us. So, when you are in the lab, in class, working on a project, in a study group, or not in a study group … and you take a picture please upload it to Instagram and tag VTMaterials so we can grab it.

Another great thing happened during break …. 22 joined MSE at the most recent change of major. Again, welcome to the best major in the COE. Relax, get comfy, we are all one big crazy family here!

So who is ready to start the semester off with their best practices? If you practice Michelle’s 3 Rules we should be in good shape. (Agree to do them, and then I’ll tell you what they are!)

Michelle’s 3 Rules are: 1) get your sleep, 2) never skip class and 3) always ask for help.

Senior News

Run your DARS.

VT Grad Fair – coming soon.

Important Dates

January 20 – first day

January 26 – Last Day to Add

March 2 – Last Day to Drop

March 7 – Spring Break

Helpful Tools

I’m providing you with a great web site to start off the spring term. A site many of you may still need today - Cooking for Engineers. In sharing this I recommend that you research the site carefully; I was troubled by the fact they didn’t have a dictionary entry for “spatula.” Perhaps, you can help them with that.

Random 

The sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter in the English language.

Words To Live By

It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling to do yourself. – Eleanor Roosevelt

Sandbox

My Schedule 

Scheduled meeting times are available 10-12 & 1:30-4:30. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.