Final Count Down

Our count down is almost over with only eight days of school left. Then we have ‘Reading Day’ and exams. Do you need ‘reading day’ … a day to read everything you should have already read! No, not my students. My students use this day for review and exam prep. Of the 100+ things you need to do let me remind you of the following…

MSE Sophomores, a reminder of one of the 100 things you need to do in the next eight days is to please meet with me for the end of fall meeting.  This is a required meeting – make your appointment in Scholar now, please and thank you.

MSE Juniors, a reminder to submit the Path to 3884 form to me by January 20, 2016. Failure to submit the form may result in your removal from MSE 3884.

All MSE, the Career Luncheon is on Tuesday, December 8. Please RSVP to the email that was sent via SignUpGenius.com. Only 13 spaces remain.

And finally, the annual MSE Winter Potluck will be held on Thursday, December 10. Details to come. Be there for the food, fun, games and friendship.

Please complete this short survey from the VT Office of Sustainability. The survey is to help to determine the sustainability issues of most concern and interest on campus.  I completed it in less than 5 minutes.  https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6PhpW8AZ9RfHkGN

MEPS News
The American Society of Metals, Heat Treating Society, the International Metallography Society, and the Thermal Spray Society are all looking for Student Board Members to represent the students on their boards. All expenses are paid to attend the meetings. This is not only a great networking opportunity but also a great thing to put on a resume!

What do I get from being a board member?
All expenses to attend board meetings are paid for by the respective society.
Gain leadership skills that will benefit you throughout your career.
Add a unique and highly respected experience to your resume.
Represent Material Advantage and speak on behalf of student members.
Meet and work with leading professionals in your field of technical Interest.

We have had VT MEPS members on the board before and they absolutely loved it!
APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 1st
http://www.asminternational.org/students/student-board-member-programs

Senior News
Deadline extended until December 11 to pick up your senior picture… you need to select the pose that will be used for the senior composite.

Important Dates
December 8: Career Luncheon
December 9: Last Day to Withdraw … SEE ME FIRST
December 10: Annual MSE Winter Pot-Luck
December 11-17: Exams
January 19: Spring 2016 Term Begins

Helpful Tools
Avoid all-nighters.
While all-nighters and late-night study sessions may appear to give you more time to cram, they are also likely to drain your brainpower. Sleep deprivation hinders your ability to perform complex cognitive tasks like those required on exams. And it is unlikely that you will retain much of the information that you study while sleep-deprived. It is better to sleep the night before an exam, even if it means studying for fewer hours. Remember: research has shown that a good night of sleep is more beneficial for learning than staying up late cramming.

Random
Human saliva has a boiling point three times that of regular water.

Words To Live By
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” E.E. Cummings

Sandbox

My Schedule   
Scheduled meeting times are available 9:30-11:30 & 1:30-4:30. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.

Welcome to My Real World

Yesterday was a very interesting day. Picture it… my son and I standing at the kitchen sink, him holding a wet cat above the sink, the cat crying out as if he is being prodded with hot needles, me washing the cat with flea soap attempting to avoid the two sets of razor sharp machetes on his back feet. As all of us nursed our wounds – the cats nursed emotional wounds and my bleeding hands and arms – I reflected back to several conversations I’ve had with many of you about school.

For one reason or another some of you are in a hurry to graduate and ‘get into the real world.’ First, this is your real world. Second, why are you in such a hurry? Stop. Slow Down. Enjoy yourself. You only get one chance to be 20-something. Do Not Rush It. Trust me on this. Before you know it, you will be married, paying bills and washing a vengeful cat over a sink.

MSE Study Abroad / Career Advising
On Tuesday (11/17) there will be a Study Abroad Info Session at 5:30 p.m. in 142 Randolph Hall. Please come if you are interested in learning about the various opportunities for studying abroad as an MSE student. We have partnerships with colleges and universities in Switzerland, France, China and Germany.

On Tuesday, December 8 we will host the 3rd Annual MSE Career Advising Luncheon. The MSE Career Luncheon provides you the opportunity to talk with faculty, get career advice, learn about working in specific fields, or attend graduate school. Come and gain valuable advice from Dr. David Clark and Dr. Gary Pickrell. As space is limited, you must RSVP to the SignUpGenius.com that was sent last week.

Senior News
Stop by and pick up your senior pictures. I will have to select your picture for the composite if you don’t pick your pictures up this week.

Important Dates
November 17 – MSE Study Abroad Info Session
November 20 – Last Day to Reschedule Final Exam
November 21 – Thanksgiving Break Begins
November 28 – Spring Add/Drop Opens
November 29 – Thanksgiving Break Ends
December 9 – Last Day to Withdraw … SEE ME FIRST

Helpful Tools
Making it Through the Final Stretch
Are you stressed out over all the exams, papers, and group projects that will soon be taking up your time? Learn how to stay motivated, manage the stress, and find the time to do all of the things you need (plus some time for fun!). We will also review strategies for effective test taking.

November 13 from 1:00-2:00pm
November 17 from 4:30-5:30pm
November 30 from 12:30-1:30pm
December 1 from 3:30-4:30pm
December 3 from 4:30-5:30pm

Random
A cat has 230 bones in its body. A human has 206. A cat has no collarbone, so it can fit through any opening the size of its head.

Ut Prosim 
Next week you are going home to be with your family for Thanksgiving; a wonderful time of the year. For years, I’ve made it a tradition to give at Thanksgiving. I cannot offer much, but what I can offer helps so many. As a universal donor, the Red Cross loves to see me walk through their doors. During the next week I encourage you to take a moment out of your busy day to give.

Sandbox

 

Bonus

 

My Schedule   
Scheduled meeting times are available 9:30-11:30 & 1:30-4:30. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.

Hash Tag #vtmaterials

How was your weekend? Mine was good. Went to the Foundry Open house and took several pictures. Most I posted on the MSE Instagram account. Did you know we have one?! Well, we do. So if you have one, please follow ours. We would love to see your MSE pictures (lab, class, foundry, VT in general)! Please tag it #vtmaterials.

Also, you can email me pictures and I will add them to the slide show in one of our two TVs in the Advising Office. The slide show is updated Monday afternoons.

This Thursday and Friday MSE will be visited by our Advisory Board. As part of their annual visit they would like to hear from students, all grade levels. This is a closed door session of students and the Advisory Board only. Students will be asked to share their thoughts on classes, the curriculum, advising, as well as other areas. Please check your email for an invitation from SignUpGenus.com

This week must not pass without a proper Thank You to all the Veterans who have sacrificed more than you will ever know.  Please take the time to participate in any of the events the Corps of Cadets will host.

MEPS News
MEPS General Meeting: November 18 @ 6pm in Holden 114

MEPS study sessions
Tuesday (11/10) from 6-10 in RAND 110 for the MSE 3204, Electronics Materials exam on Wednesday (11/11).
Wednesday, December 2 in Holden 114 from 6-11 for MSE 2044, Fund of Materials exam.

Both study sessions will have food and the sophomore's study session will have tutors!

Senior News
Several substitutions have just been processed. Please run your DARs to check.
Stop by and pick up your senior pictures by November 18.

Important Dates
November 20 – Last Day to Reschedule Final Exam
November 21 – Thanksgiving Break Begins
November 28 – Spring Add/Drop Opens
November 29 – Thanksgiving Break Ends
December 9 – Last Day to Withdraw … SEE ME FIRST

Team Work
In case you are wondering what it looks like...
(may require Facebook to view.)

Voice from the Past
What you learn in your sophomore year is foundation to the rest of your coursework, do not slack off. In addition, the work will get much more conceptual the further you go. Plug and chug will do you no favors. – MSE 2015 Graduate

Random
During the Second World War over 56,000 carrier pigeons were sent into action with some of them actually receiving medals of bravery.

Sandbox

My Schedule   
Scheduled meeting times are available 9:30-11:30 & 1:30-4:30. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.

Brick Wall

Do you ever feel like you are banging your head on a brick wall and nothing is improving?  This is exactly how I feel, trying and trying to help, banging my head on the brick wall but the situation will not change. But I have to try. I cannot give up. So I continue to bang my head in hopes that something will give.

I’ve decided that I cannot give up and my head hurts! I have to find a new approach. Dig in my heels, be stronger than the problem and find a new way to make it work. Because it just has to. Because head on hasn’t been working, I need to change my approach. Like the tight end on a football team, I’ve decided to take on problem from the ground up … tackle the problem from the bottom.  At least we won’t be bumping heads anymore!

Am I talking in code? No not really. I have a problem that keeps coming up and I keep taking care of it the same way I always have. And just like clockwork, it keeps coming back up. Maybe it’s time I stop taking care of it the same old way.

If you keep studying for tests the same old way and keep getting the same old grades maybe you should do what I’m doing … change your way of tackling the problem.

OPEN HOUSE
This Saturday the Foundry will host an Open House from 10-2. Be there!
Be there in long pants and close toed shoes.

Senior News
Proofs of your senior portraits are in. Please stop by my office to pick yours up.
Run your DARs.

MEPS NEWS
Nucor, is coming to campus on Nov 3rd and would like the chance to meet you! They are hosting a pizza info session at 8pm in MCB 113.
Please RSVP by Tuesday at 8am if you plan to come so they know how much pizza to buy.

Important Dates
November 7 – Foundry Open House
November 20 – Last Day to Reschedule Final Exam
November 21 – Thanksgiving Break Begins
November 28 – Spring Add/Drop Opens
November 29 – Thanksgiving Break Ends
December 9 – Last Day to Withdraw … SEE ME FIRST

Helpful Tools
Over the past weeks several of you have been commenting about the need for a study group in several classes. Ok, let’s make it happen. Please complete the simple survey if you are interested in a study group for a MSE related class.  https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1446496179990

Random
8% of people have an extra rib.

Words to Live By

Sandbox

My Schedule 
Scheduled meeting times are available 9:30-11:30 & 1:30-4:30. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.