Office of Undergraduate Admissions :: Get to Know Georgia Tech Blog

"Everyone has time, it is how you spend your time that defines who you are"

2012-02-02T23:42:00.005-05:00

Wow. Two words. Just wow. So much has happened in the past two months and I do apologize for not keeping up with this blog. But here we go, we'll do picture update:

This was probably the last time I experienced anything care free. Like I have said before, I was on vacation. The co-op--study abroad plan. That has come back to bite me in the butt ten-fold. First came rush week, which left me with even less inclination to get any work done. But being back in school is a little different. Adjusting to classes, homework, studying, involvements, intramurals, fraternity, and just everything. It really teaches you a little something in time management. You are given the choice to choose fun over work. You will be challenged on a daily basis to endure caffeine and junk food. You have to decide for yourself how your choose to spend your time, who to spend your time with, and why even do it at all.

And for a finger update, I'm off injury reserve and ready to go. Perfect timing too as this weekend is brotherhood retreat and that means BROTHERHOOD FOOTBALL. What is it? It is our football game that we partake in every brotherhood retreat where boys become men, where cubs become bears, where baby lions become grown up lions, where eggs become chickens or roosters, where Bambi becomes big Bambi who isn't scared of the wild and meets Thumper and that skunk, where-- you guys get it.

Oh yeah, THE HUNGER GAMES.

Your friendly 3rd year education struggling blogger,

Lishan Mu

Make Up

2012-02-01T00:55:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!

Update on my life to come soon. As well as my life back at school after a year.

One word, TERRIBLE.

Lishan Mu

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T15:16:00.005-05:00

I am thankful for family, friends, and most importantly FOOTBALL. There is nothing like relishing food, football, and sleep during this wonderful break. Thursday night, turkey and Lions-Packers. Friday night, leftover turkey and LSU-Arkansas. Saturday night, pig roast and GT-u[sic]ga. Sunday night, leftover pig roast and Falcons-Vikings. Could this break get any better?

http://thwuga.net/

Here are some great u[sic]ga jokes for Hate Week:

A lady called the UGA police to report a car jacking. They said they were too busy right now and for her to just get the jersey number and call back later.
Why were the UGA football players so upset about the library fire? Because most of the books hadn't been colored yet.
Three UGA players drowned when their pickup went into the creek. They couldn't get the tailgate open.
Once upon a time, three co-workers were out on a company hiking retreat. One was a rabid Notre Dame fan, another followed the University[sic] of Georgia, and the last was a Georgia Tech alum. As they climbed the mountain a fierce debate to decide which was the more passionate fan broke out. The higher they ascended the more heated the argument became until finally they reached the top and overlooked a steep cliff. The Notre Dame fan finally snapped and declared "Fine, I will PROVE that I will give ANYTHING for my school". Then he sprinted toward the abyss screaming "THIS IS FOR THE IIIRRRIIIISSSSHHHHH!!!!!!" and threw himself over the cliff! The U[sic]GA fan was astonished and rushed to the edge to see what happened. Then the Georgia Tech alum, not to be outdone, yelled "OH YEAH, well THIS is for the Yellow Jackets!" and he sprinted toward the cliff even more ferociously than the Notre Dame fan did! ...And slammed right into the U[sic]GA fan knocking him over the edge to his death.
The moral of this story is that janitors are easily replaced.
Three UGA players are riding together in a car. Who is drving? Answer: The state trooper.

"I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech" was whistled by John Wayne in a movie, was the first school song sung in outer space, and was sung by the President of the United States with the Premier of the Soviet Union at the time, Nixon and Khrushchev. Lastly, it was sung by Allied forces while crossing the English Channel on the morning of D-Day in order to calm the soldiers' nerves. "Glory, Glory (to Georgia)" was sung in Athens last week.

To Hell With georgia!

"Our Greatest Glory is Not in Never Falling, But in Rising Every Time We Fall"

2011-11-06T17:00:00.013-05:00

What is better than Disney World? What is better than Oreo Cheesecake? What is better than a ice cold Coke after a long day at Six Flags?

RUSHING THE FIELD:

So I decided to take her back. Georgia Tech football has proven herself worthy for my support week after week. I couldn't believe it. I don't think anyone on campus could believe it. After a long week of Homecoming activities, it was great to see the Yellow Jackets walk out with a "W". And rushing the field was exhilarating. I can now say that I have done it twice. Both times have been during a Homecoming game. And both times have been during an upset of a top five team. Speaking of Homecoming activities, this is probably one of my favorite weeks at Georgia Tech. Why? Because there is just so much school spirit. It is contagious. We have the classic Homecoming events such as Mock Rock, Talent Show, Mini 500, Freshman Cake Race, and Homecoming Parade. This year, I played for two different teams: Delta Chi and Matheson, Perry, Hanson (dorm).

What are all these traditional Homecoming events? Here is a quick run through:

Mock Rock: A lip sync and dance competition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIdsJi4RT64

Talent Show: Pretty self explanatory. A showcase of one's talents.

Mini 500: A relay race around Peter's Parking Deck on tricycles.

Freshman Cake Race: A foot race by the freshman class.

Homecoming Parade: A timeless parade of contraptions and floats made by the students.

Finger update? Can you guess which one is the before and after x-ray?

I'll give you a hint, the first one is not the "before" x-ray. It is approximately eight weeks out now, and the doctors have told me that my finger should have full functionality. There is no need to re-break it or anything! I am currently going through physical therapy, and I guess my finger will just have to have some "character." So no more Chinese doctor for me cause I think I'm on a fast track for recovery!

A couple of very important decisions have presented themselves in the past few weeks. I am registering for classes, as well as considering graduate school at Georgia Tech for Mechanical Engineering. Now I know most of you are thinking, "I don't want to hear about grad school, I haven't even thought about undergraduate schooling yet!" But let me tell you this, I don't care. Just listen. Within the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, you actually have the great opportunity of not only co-oping and studying abroad, but also enlist in the Bachelors/Masters (BSMS) Program. What is the BSMS Program you may ask? What a smart kid. Let me tell you. The BSMS Program allows you to enroll to get your Bachelors (first degree from college) in Mechanical Engineering as well as your Masters (second degree from college) in Mechanical Engineering. And it allows you to double up some of your classes to count for both degrees! This means, you can graduate in five years with both degrees. Isn't that RADICAL?!

I recently read an article about how your life is directed by the questions you ask. Think about this, when you ask a question, it comes with certain answers, these answers come with certain emotions, these emotions come with certain actions, and these actions have certain results. If you limit yourself with certain questions that you ask such as, "Why am I so unlucky?" You are only living in regret. When asking the right question, "What am I grateful for? How can I move forward and learn from this?" You can move forward and empower yourself to improve your life. Well, I am taking this thought by the horns. I did terrible in a phone interview with Apple last Friday. As I self reflect, I look to improve myself. To move on and learn from my first phone interview and make myself a stronger candidate for the next time or the next potential employer. If you are ever feeling down, instead of pitying yourself, look to how you can improve. Empower yourself! Wow, I sound like one of those, "How to change your life and empower yourself" audiotapes.

My hectic week of work, physical therapy, and morale leader interviews ended on Friday as I jumped in one of my fraternity brother's cars, and we rode down to Indian Springs for Brotherhood Retreat. Except... we went down to the wrong Indian Springs. Instead of being an hour and a half, it took us five hours as we back tracked back across I-75 through I-85. The good part, I had a belly full of Tin Drum and Zaxby's. I got a chance to spend the rest of the weekend playing brotherhood football, playing board games, and chatting around a fire.

Great few weeks capped off with an even greater weekend.

Virginia Tech, bring it. Google application, in progress. BSMS application, also in progress.

Lesdoit.

Greetings from the Office of Admission!

2011-10-25T15:32:00.004-04:00

My name is Tera and I am Assistant Director of Admission here at Georgia Tech. I will be blogging throughout the year letting everyone know what is going on in the Office of Admission. Some of you may have submitted your application for our October 1st application date and I am sure many of you are working hard trying to complete your application by November 1st. Regardless of what stage you are in, the best advice I could give you is to RELAX! I know applying to college can be stressful, but don’t forget to enjoy your senior year.

This is the time of year where our admission counselors are out and about visiting high schools and attending college fairs. When our travel is complete, we will be back in the office reading all the applications that have been submitted by students. Our first round of decision notifications will be released November 18th. We are here to help so if you have any questions about the process or your application, check Buzzport or contact our office.

One of the best things about my job is interacting with all the students and parents I get to meet along the way. Another perk is I get to travel! I love Atlanta but it’s nice to escape every once and a while. I just got back from Cincinnati, OH and Chicago, IL. I was a little concerned about the weather in the Midwest, but it was perfect fall weather the whole time I was there.

It’s Homecoming Week here at Georgia Tech so there will be all kinds of fun activities happening on campus. Our office participated in the Door Decorating contest. We participated in a category titled “Buzzin’ thru the French Quarter: Unmasking the Spirits of New Orleans.” We have a “Fun Committee” to make sure every once in a while we take a break from work.

I’m here to keep you updated on everything happening in our office so if you have any questions, feel free to comment on the blog!

Aft facing forward

2011-10-24T07:50:00.012-04:00

Monday, October 17th, 1:46 p.m

Countdown to my 20th birthday… 6 days, 10 hours and 14 minutes, but let’s just call it “countdown to breakdown”. What I am going through right now is what people would refer to as a “quarter-life crisis”. I don’t know if this term exists but it should. The most terrifying thing about turning twenty is that you are finally putting your teen years behind and really beginning adulthood, no excuses.
We use the term aft facing forward at work when referring to the orientation of the engine, but in my case, I am trying to reflect on my past teen years (aft) while looking ahead to my unfolding future (forward). The problem with turning twenty is carrying around the regret of wasted teen years. What have I done in all these years that would make me feel like I am ready to move on to the next chapter of my life…my twenties?
And that should explain why I have decided to go jump out of a perfectly good airplane today. Yes, I am going skydiving and yes, I feel pretty good about it, I will finally have something significant to mark my teen years. Whether this is a good idea or not is not up for discussion. I mean isn’t that how people decide to do risky things? No? Well that’s how I did it :/

I hope to feel a sense of accomplishment; I expect to feel relieved when it’s done. I definitely need to enjoy the thrill and excitement. But every time I imagine myself standing on that edge, I have to remind myself all the reasons why this is good for me. The best one I have come up with is that since I am a pilot-in-training, I might actually need this experience at some point. So…that’s what I am going with, and the fact that I won’t get a refund if I chicken-out at the last minute. This is happening.

Tuesday, October 18th, 9.22 a.m

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3D-2ytYHv44

Folks, I did it! I saved the legacy of my teen years and, with 5 days left to spare! I am now officially a risk taker. This should define and shape my future, somewhat. The best part of jumping out of an airplane at 13,000 feet? The landing, for sure. It’s a bit bumpy and awkward when you are have a person strapped to your back, but it’s solid ground, you can’t beat that.

Despite my anxiety at the beginning, I finally decided that it was probably the coolest thing I have ever done, aside from learning how to fly. Would I do it again? Sure …maybe at my next major life crisis? It was exhilarating as much as it was dangerous. I do feel accomplished, I am extremely relieved to be back on earth and I enjoyed every heart-throbbing, free-falling, parachute-flying, ground-landing moment of it. I wouldn’t advise against it, for all you adventure-seekers out there!

I feel better now about turning twenty, it’s still scary when I think about all the things I could have done and didn’t, but I am sure that there will be plenty of time to travel the world, stop world hunger and invent a side-walk escalator-like thing (everyone who has had to go up freshman hill should understand why this would be important, and urgent.) I will change the world, just not right now and not all at once.

Monday, October 24, 7.20 a.m

So….. I turned twenty and surprisingly, there was no meltdown or breakdown, imagine that!

I have now officially stepped into my twenties and with a good story to tell about my teen years. As I turned twenty, my friends congratulated me on defying teen pregnancy and I gracefully said “Thank you,…. I think”.
Now that I have put that behind me, maybe I should start working on this saving the world gig, maybe take it one day at a time. And to all you twenty-something year olds out there, I am now your fellow and the world is our oyster (I’ve been told) and the rest of you, the best of luck as you try to figure out this thing called life.

Always facing forward!

The Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons

2011-10-21T11:12:00.011-04:00

I currently work in the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons, also know as the CULC. Yes, we have an acronym for EVERYTHING here on campus! Well anyways, I work on the floor of the main entrance and I don't have any classes in the building, so I've never really explored it to see what exactly it has to offer. Approximately an hour and a half ago, my boss sent me on an errand to the top floor. The errand should have only taken me 10 minutes at maximum. But of course my curiosity got the best of me (don't you hate when that happens?) and I decided to explore a little bit... okay, a lot.

(me at work in the Center for Academic Success)

I can't believe what I've been missing out on! This building has so much to offer. From the warm smell of Starbucks coffee that reels you into buying a Cafe Misto every time you walk in the building to the contemporary study areas that MAKE you want to study, this building is definitely something to see. Even the modern design of the biology labs makes me want to take another bio class! Okay maybe not that much, but almost.

The CULC serves a variety of purposes. It is the site of GT 1000 classes (a mandatory freshman seminar class that teaches students how to balance life in college successfully) and many other classes. You can also find academic support here. For example, The Center for Academic Success (where I work) offers One-to-One tutoring which allows you to sign up for a free one hour personal tutor for the class of your choice. What I find most breathtaking is the roof of the Clough Commons. There you find a beautiful green garden where you can eat lunch, finish up some homework, of simply relax. Simply put, this place is amazing.

"When I am sad, I stop being sad and become awesome instead. True Story."

2011-10-08T16:29:00.011-04:00

Yes. Yes I am in tears. Who wouldn't be? I loved her. I took her on dates every Saturday. No matter the time. I stalked her online. I studied her every move. And then one weekend I let you go off to Charlottesville, Virginia alone, you betray my love. You took my heart and tossed it on the floor. What is more even humiliating, you did this with someone who isn't even in the top twenty five! And now when BCS ranks you, I hope you get left off their list. Forget you Georgia Tech football, I promise you, you won't be missed!

But I am kidding. I still got love for my Yellow Jackets, but a loss to the Cavaliers this past weekend was a definite blow. We were number 12, now what will we be?! Well, at least we're still the number 24 university in the world (http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2011-2012/top-400.html). But this weekend of football has just been

depressing. As I have said previous in my last post, I went to Raleigh, North Carolina to watch the Yellow Jackets take on the Wolfpack and it was an amazing experience.

We spent a night packing over thirty people into our friend's home before heading to UNC Chapel Hill to check out their popular Franklin Street. We had a great time just roaming the streets and checking out the nightlife that Franklin Street boasts. Away games. So much fun.

So as a Peer Leader (an upperclassmen living with the freshmen in the residence halls that serve to assist them academically and socially), I have been reliving freshmen year. This is how we celebrate birthdays on my hall:

Working as a PL on the hall is a tough job. It is easier when your hall clicks but with all the things going on in everybody's lives, we can't all have the time to "click." So, here is a request to those who plan to come to Tech, HANG OUT WITH YOUR HALL. That is all.

Now, you may be wondering why I haven't spoken about the arduous classes of Georgia Tech. Well, you have to remember that I am still currently carrying out my "school-free plan." I am still a co-op for The Coca-Cola Company. Still having the time of my life. Still be AWESOME. You might be asking, "What is an awesome mechanical engineer like you Lishan do at The Coca-Cola Company?" Well, I work in the Equipment Engineering Department and I have had the chance to work with the new Freestyle dispenser that you may or may not have seen at

restaurants these days. I worked on the commercialization team for this 125-drink bad boy before that team got moved to another department. Now, I currently work with designing an experiment to test certain factors in CO2. Yeah, real nerdy things. Oh, and remember that giant tarp and light show that was on the Coke building back in May? Yeah, my idea.

But you may be wanting an update on my finger. yes, I believe it is still broken and definitely still crooked. Have you guys ever had acupuncture?

Yes, this was a lot of fun.

For next time: How to become awesome like me.

Fall Break is awesome. Unless you are a co-op.

Exploring Abroad

2011-10-05T23:02:00.008-04:00

So I guess it's been a while since my first post, but I wanted to take the chance to update you about my life at Georgia Tech Lorraine and tell you some of the things I've learned about myself

while "getting lost" in Europe.

Exploring the Coliseum this weekend in Rome

The greatest thing about being here at Georgia Tech Lorraine is the freedom to explore and go anywhere I want. It means that on a whim I can jump on a train to Berlin and stand at the wall, I can go to Rome and throw coins in the Trevi Fountain and I can order snails in the Latin Quarter in Paris. These are cities older than our entire country and places with a wealth of things to do and see. I love the sights and the sounds of each place, but I also love that they change each weekend. It's as if I am taking an introductory course of Europe. One weekend at a time, I'm going to "fill in" all the dark places on my map.

King Wenceslas Square in Prague, Czech Republic

I like being challenged and I like the breadth of experience that comes with being here. Simple, everyday tasks become less mundane and in some cases, quite a challenge. I don't mean to be the simple American, but unfortunately, I am only gifted in the language of English. That tends to be okay in Germany, Switzerland and France--countries that have heavy amounts of interaction with English speakers, however, in the Czech Republic, it's a little different story. First of all, though the Czech Republic is part of the European Union, they are not on the Euro. Upon our arrival in Prague, I immediately noticed a can of Coke on sale for a whopping 32 CZK. Fortunately for us, that equated to about $2 USD--it's still pretty cool to glance at our dinner bill and see that we spent two-thousand, five hundred dollars on dinner...

This whole experience and atmosphere has also made me appreciate the little things that we have in the United States--free bathrooms and free refills most importantly! How Europeans approach their day is completely different--there is no rush, just efficiency and everyone takes public transit EVERYWHERE. The culture here is unique in every single country and I love being able to immerse myself in a different experience every weekend. When I do graduate, somewhere in the near future, I plan on looking for a country that is internationally focused, that has offices all over the world.

Helping to guard Prague Castle

My experience so far has really just opened my mind to a lot of possibilities that I hadn't really considered. I came in to Tech thinking that I would probably want to work in Atlanta, but after my experiences here, I know that I could be comfortable living and working anywhere. I'm sure by the end of the semester I will have opened my mind even more to other opportunities and I really can't wait to see what those might be.

The sun is slowly coming up and I'm getting ready for my last day of class of the week. I'm off to Cinque Terre this weekend to explore some of Italy's beautiful coast. Let me know if you have any questions (patrickrucker@gatech.edu) and I will be more than happy to answer them!

Ciao for now!

Hello World!

2011-10-01T18:50:00.014-04:00

Hello world :)

My name is Naakie Nartey and I am a sophomore here at the Georgia Institute of Technology. I am a Business Administration major; yes, what most like to refer to as the "m-train". My concentration is... well I haven't really made up my mind yet, but I'm leaning toward Supply Chain Management. I'm originally from Stone Mountain, Georgia and I attended Redan High School (go Raiders!) prior to attending Tech. I like to bargain shop, go to the movies, and read a good book every now and then. I LOVE math (I know, I'm such a nerd!) and I have a passion for children and education. I like to think I'm pretty involved on campus. The African Student Association, Student Alumni Association, Minority Recruitment Team and Americorp's Jumpstart Program are a couple of organizations I have been involved in since I've been here.

So yeah, enough of the trivial facts. Now to the juicy stuff... how did I end up at Georgia Tech?

I would be lying if I told you Georgia Tech was my first choice when deciding which college I would attend. I wanted to get out of Georgia so badly! But when evaluating the pros and cons of all my options and determining which school would give me the best return on investment, Tech seemed like the only one that made sense. It didn't hurt that it's one of the nation's top public universities, has accredited athletic teams, and is located within minutes of Georgia State and the AUC where many of my friends go to school.

I decided to attend a program hosted by Georgia Tech's Minority Recruitment Team, called Welcome Weekend, to see if this was the school I really wanted to spend the next four years of my life. My decision was soon validated. As soon as I got there, everyone welcomed me with open arms. All the students were so willing to share their academic and social experiences with me. They reassured me that although Tech is known for its rigorous course work and high academic standards, there is still room to have fun. That was definitely proven by the night that they had planned for us, which included a greek step show and an Omega Psi Phi probate. When the overnight program came to an end, I didn't want to leave. But I knew I would be returning in August to create a lot more memories...

A day in the life of a Co-op.

2011-09-26T23:28:00.013-04:00

It’s one of those Monday mornings that everybody dreads. Something jolts you from a deep sleep at 2 a.m and it takes you an hour to go back to sleep, even though you have to be up by 5 a.m. The alarm goes off as it should, always at the time when you don’t wanna hear it. You turn it off, thinking you hit snooze. Then you slowly drift back into sleep and don’t wake up until 6.20, twenty minutes after you were supposed to be at work.
You rush around getting ready, panicking and trying not to lose your mind. As if that is not enough, you realize it’s one of those Cincinnati days when the weather changes drastically. It is pouring, and has been all night. Getting to work is definitely going to be a nightmare, and right again! Three accidents, major flooding and two missed exits later, you arrive at work, soaking and LATE!
Then the strangest thing happens, you walk in and as you say good morning to everyone, they all smile back, you talk about the weather and the weekend and everything is alright with the world. Fingers crossed, the day will get better! Before you know it, it is 4 p.m and time to go home. The sun is shining, the sky is blue and there is not a drop of water on the ground. All evidence of the hellish morning has been erased, as if it never happened. How about that for things turning around?!

My name is Olive and this is a recount of my day today.
I know it seems strange for a first blog but I wanted to share this story with you just because we’ve all had “one of those days”. Nothing ever comes easy but if you stick around long enough, things always change for the better.

I am a new blogger and hopefully we will get to know each other better over the next few months. I'm just gonna tell you guys a little bit about myself. I am an aerospace engineering major, just finished my first year. I am currently fulfilling a co-op assignment with GE Aviation at their Evendale plant in Cincinnati, Ohio. Therefore, my blogs will be mostly about my co-op experience.
I learned about the co-op program in my GT1000 class and I thought it would be a perfect fit for me. I could get some work experience under my belt, make professional contacts in my field and at the same time confirm my major, not to mention earn a few bucks :) So far, I have gotten very close to accomplishing these goals and then some.
I’ll be sharing more about my experiences as a co-op and as GT student over the next few months. I will try and include pictures and videos!
Till next time!

"Where there is yang, there will be ying"

2011-09-26T19:40:00.014-04:00

Struggles. This is what life is about. Life doesn't just hand you lemons. It hands you piranhas. Now what in the world do you do with piranhas?! Well, my name is Lishan Mu and I have a hand full of piranhas right now. Actually, it almost seems like my finger just wrestled with a piranha.

Yes, struggles. This is my yang for the next month and a half hopefully. My fraternity has a solid chance of going pretty far in flag football intramurals this year and I was ecstatic to be a part of the team. Then, two weeks ago, I meet a faithful spandex shirt of the quarterback that caught my finger and fractured it. Now, you may be thinking, Michael Vick, are you sure it is broken? Why is it yellow? My friends, yes, it is broken and it is yellow because I have Asian parents. Now some of you are laughing while the majority of you and sitting in confusion as you read this. Is he making a racist joke? No. After seeing the x-rays from my "western" doctor, my mom insisted that we consult a more profound, experience "eastern" doctor. We pull up behind this building across from China Town in Chamblee, Georgia and walk up to this sign-less door. A few knocks later, we were inside embraced by the presence of a old, kung fu looking master with his family eating dinner and watching The Price is Right. Within minutes after explaining my finger situation, he proceeds to sigh at the "western" doctor's splinting (as shown in picture) and throws eastern medicinal liquid onto my finger. He then begins massaging my finger... AND THEN HE YANKS AT IT! He explains that it is offset and he is trying to put it back in place. REALLY?! No beuno my friends. I was in pain. We left $40 poorer and a yellow, stained finger as a by-product.

With piranhas aside, my yings are looking good. I have finally been paid by the company. I am a starving college kid and money always results in good things. You may be asking me, why are you moneyless? That is, of course, a dumb question. I spent it all. On what? On this:

Yeah. This is a great way to spend my co-op money. I came into college having a few goals: find a co-op and study abroad. As I move into my third year here at Georgia Tech, I can confidently say I have done both. I have been to so many places, seen so many cultures, and talked to so many different people, that it is hard to believe that that chapter of my life is over, for now. This is how I have been living my life, and it might not be for you due to the severe repercussions that I am about to take upon. Spring 2011: Co-op. Summer 2011: Metz, France (GTL). Fall 2011: Co-op. Do you see where the yang is yet? I have a year off of school essentially. But that is the thing, I have a year away from school. Reality check might come in sooner than I thought. But I don't regret a single minute of it. This summer was the greatest summer of my life. To do it right, make sure you are able to spend to make the most out of your trip. No regrets right? The places I've been in Europe are awe-inspiring and I wish that I had more time over there. It is a place for a young man (or woman) to grow into who they have always been destined to be. You literally learn to fend for yourself. You grow accustomed to no longer relying on your mom or dad to make you lunch and dinner, wash your dishes, wash your clothes, take out your trash, make you do your homework, plan your weekends, book your trains, book your hotels, or even buy your toilet paper. This is the real world and reality kicks in quick, especially when you don't know the language.

Now you have learned a little bit about how "dough boy fresh" I am, more to come on how I became such a great soon. More stories as my year progresses and I take a few steps closer to what all graduates fear. The yings and yangs of the real, working world.

NC State this weekend.

Lishan Mu

Georgia Tech: Endless Opportunity

2011-09-14T12:57:00.021-04:00

As I compose this blog, I'm not sitting in my dorm room overlooking some part of campus. I'm not even in Atlanta at the moment. Rather, I'm at Georgia Tech Lorraine, Tech's European branch in Metz, France. Instead of hanging around on campus this weekend or exploring Atlanta, I will be heading to Berlin, Germany, immersing myself in everything that the city has to offer. I hope that some prospective students and current students read this blog so that they can realize some of the incredible things that this place has to offer.

Hiking the Swiss Alps: A perfect weekend

And now a little about myself: I am currently a 5th year Electrical Engineering student minoring in Computer Science, a Co-op student and a GT Ambassador. This is my second semester abroad and will be one of my last semesters at Georgia Tech. I don't speak French, I love to travel and I love exploring Europe. I am from Snellville, Georgia and have wanted to go to school here since the 6th grade. I chose Georgia Tech because of my interest in computers, the web and technology of all sorts.

A campus in the heart of Atlanta

I chose Georgia Tech Lorraine out of all the study abroad programs because it offered classes in English, boasted a 4 day class week and was no more expensive than going to school in Atlanta (did I mention covered by most scholarships, too?). Over the course of the semester, I am going to share my experiences here and most of all, share the information about all the opportunities available to Georgia Tech students. Don't let anyone categorize Tech as "just another Engineering school" because it is way more than that.

Another one of my weekend trips: Venice

Tech can be whatever you want to make it, and I hope that you can use my experience to help understand what it is really like to be a Georgia Tech student. While I certainly have spent a lot of time abroad, I've lived on campus and worked on campus. Georgia Tech truly is my second home. My only regret about being here this summer and fall is that I haven't gotten the chance to explore the CULC, campus's newest addition.

If you want to know anything feel free to send me an email, I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have. Ask me about being an engineer, about being a co-op, about campus involvement, about being an ambassador or about anything else! If I don't know the answer, I'm sure I can find someone that does.

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

"A single green light, minute and faraway, that might have been the end of a dock."
- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

I love it because it reminds me that there is always something to explore, something else to look forward to. Until later, au revoir!

You can have fun at Tech?

2011-09-06T21:31:00.006-04:00

Of course.

How many of you have heard the phrase:

"Good grades, a social life, sleep-

Pick two."

To be honest, it's not true! Granted, you have to learn time management skills and perhaps make a sacrifice or two, but you can have good grades and make friends AND have quality time with your pillow. It. Is. Possible.

At Tech you learn all about balance. And stress relief. You learn how to have fun and you learn how to work hard--sometimes both at one time. Multi-tasking: (n) the carrying out of two or more tasks at the same time by one person. It's a skill you can put on your resume. (;

So speaking of having fun---

Last week, my friends and I went to T-Night. This is a freshman-directed event that teaches students all about traditions at Tech. One tradition is the Ramblin' Reck, the car featured in the photo above. Beware, Freshman, you CANNOT touch the Reck. If you do, we'll lose to u[sic]ga. However, my friends and I (being sophmores), we go to touch the Reck! It's a dream to live for. (: Anyway, T-Night was fun, with lots of giveaways, free food, and then a presentation about traditions in Bobby Dodd Stadium which culminated in a fireworks show. Fun times.

On Thursday, we dressed in White&Gold and cheered our Yellow Jackets to victory on the gridiron. Sting 'em! Football games are exciting times on campus--be sure to experience one. You'll feel a rush of school spirit. (:

We arrived at the game early for fantastic seats and had the pleasure of watching the Yellow Jackets warm up.

In other news, here's a few pictures I owe you:

The Clough Undergraduate Living Commons

and the Bank of America building, more widely known as "The Pencil Building!"

The Pencil Building is a familiar face on campus. From pretty much anywhere you can divine your location if you see the Pencil Building. When you're off campus and you see the Pencil Building, you know you're heading the right direction back to Tech. When you enter Atlanta and see the Pencil Building, you know you're almost home.

Cheers! Kyle Marie Jacobsen

As always, let me know if you have any questions!!!! (If you're interested in attending Tech, an incoming Tech student, a transfer student, international student, freshman, any and all... We're here to help guide you!)

Welcome Home!

2011-08-28T12:29:00.002-04:00

"WELCOME HOME!"

Banners spelling that message hung all across campus this past week. It felt so welcoming to see signs posted about campus, welcoming the students back, reminding us all the exciting events coming up, helping us adjust our mentality to school again.

Welcome home. Sometimes I'm not sure how I feel about that phrase. On one hand I want to argue "This is not my home! This is my school." But then I think about it and decide, "Well, yes it is my home." It does not have my mom and my dad, or my puppy, but it's where I belong. So yes, welcomed home, I am.

One delightful surpise I had returning to campus was the lack of construction. They finished many of the projects during the summer...including the beautiful Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons--called both the CULC and the Clough Commons. In the CULC there's a full-service Starbucks, lecture halls, classrooms, offices, tutoring, services, study rooms and study tables, and a rooftop garden with a superb view of the Midtown Atlanta skyline. One fun fact? There are white-board tables. It's like infinite scratch paper! (And a lot more fun!)

Unfortunately in all my journeys to and fro on campus, I forgot my camera! Shame on me! So, I'm handing you an IOU for pictures.

Just a reminder: I'm entering my second year at Tech and I'm currently majoring in Biochemistry. I'm an out-of-state student (from Florida). (:

If you have ANY questions that you want answered, ask 'em and I'll do my best to answer them...or find someone who can... or direct you to someone who can! (: Or if you have any blog topic suggestions, just shout them out!

Welcome to your new home, freshman! Welcome back to returning students! And...I encourage all you prospective students to consider Georgia Tech as your school-home of choice!

Cheers! Kyle Marie Jacobsen

PS. I have several ideas for future blog topics-- Let me know if there's one you want to hear first!

1) A summary of Freshman Experience and all it entails

2) Featurettes of buildings and services on campus

3) Facts about living on-campus

4) What I can tell you about the classes I took/am taking

5) My summer

6) ...

That's a wrap!

2011-05-13T17:16:00.003-04:00

Last Friday, I finished my first year at Georgia Tech. Even after I finished my last final, it had not sunk it. However, once I finished cleaning my room, it did. It's weird to see the place you have lived in since August completely empty.

My dorm room, awaiting its next pair of freshmen.

I actually won't be gone from Georgia Tech long, as I will be taking summer classes, which start on Monday. I have had a relaxing time at home, but in a way, I am ready to get back to classes. Whenever I have too much free time, I get confused as to what I should do.

whirlwind (almost finished with freshman year)

2011-04-26T14:37:00.002-04:00

First of all, to Vivian, get well soon my dear! You are in my prayers.

To all of the "accepted students" out there, not yet declared "GT Class of 2015" -- what are you waiting for?

I know you're probably stressed about th

is decision, but I recommend you just sit down and make yourself a good ole Pro-Con list. Logic can really help you at a time like this in your life. Rest assured, though, that even if all the sense in the world points you somewhere you REALLY do not want to be, then follow that instinct as well. Wherever you end up, it'll be awesome.

The advice I'm told as I'm finishing out my second semester of college, struggling to survive Physics, is "finish strong." You've come so far, and now is not the time to give up!

As for my life lately, I've decided to change my major to Business Administration (yes, I'm taking the M-train....and proud of it!) I just realized that, although I love what my major does...being an engineer is not necessarily what is right for me. I am SO excited to pursue business and for my sophomore year at Tech. I also can't wait for summer-- because I'll be in California!

I can't wait to meet all you freshman Yellow Jackets in the fall!

been gone for a while, and now i'm back

2011-04-09T18:28:00.005-04:00

First off I just want to apologize for disappearing for a while this semester. It's been an incredibly hectic semester (not to mention not that interesting one as far as blog topics go) with senior design stuff, GREs, and other graduation-related things to worry about. However, I'm back, and hopefully ready to blog. I had some sad news over the last week, but I feel like it's really important to blog about/know when you're choosing a college. The, What If? situation. In my case, it's the "What if I get hurt?" situation.

Readers, I know you can probably tell from some of my blog posts, that my life goes at 100 miles per hour, with classes and involvements. I've been sidelined for a while because of an injury I've had for a while. Last week after a check-up at the Tech Health Center, I found out that my left lung had collapsed by 30%. I walked in without an appointment and knew very well I probably couldn't get an appointment, but just wanted a quick check up. I spoke with a nurse about my situation, and she immediately directed me to a doctor. Yes, it wasn't protocol, but she was more worried about my wellbeing than I was. Upon finding out (through an X-ray) about my situation, the Health Center booked me an immediate appointment with a cardiothoracic specialist that afternoon. Once there, I was given the option to 1) ignore it and have it happen again only worse, 2) get a chest tube and have a 65% recurrence rate, or 3) have surgery and only a 5% recurrence rate.

I'll let you see the expression on my face and then you can guess what I chose:

Option 3. Now, readers, let me tell you, I hope that few other Tech students ever go through this. Surgery sucks. Talking to the Dean of Students office sucks. Having to work out what you're going to do with the three tests you have sucks. But, rest assured, people at Tech are here to help you.

I've been incredibly surprised by the wealth of love and care that people at Tech have shown me in the past week. All last Monday, I had the people at the Dean of Student's office comforting me and laying out my options for the rest of the semester. It went without saying that I will be out for quite some time, but they really tried to work with me. After all, it's almost the end of the semester and to not finish at this point is a bit ridiculous. Luckily, my professors felt the same way, and their only concern was for me to get better. Tech staff and faculty really do care.

As far as friends go, my friends have been amazing and so supportive through all of this. One of my sorority sisters even registered for all my classes for me. Which is a little sad now that I think about it because it's my last registration and I don't get to do it myself... but whatever. I'll leave it on a nicer note. I woke up this morning from my afternoon nap to a bouquet of flowers and a teddy bear from the staff at the Technique (Tech's student newspaper). It goes without saying that I feel so blessed for such amazing people in my life.

Growing up way too fast...

2011-04-06T17:46:00.008-04:00

I still vividly remember when I got my first and last piercing. It was almost exactly two years ago. About an hour before I walked into that Claire's (embarrassing), I was sitting in a coffee shop with my laptop out. I was jittery even though I only ordered a smoothie.

My friends in high school told me that today was the day that all of my hard work in high school would pay off. Today was the day that my dreams would come true.

That day I got rejected from Harvard, Princeton, Yale and got put on the wait list for Columbia. I didn't apply to any mid-tier schools. It was top 5 or Georgia Tech for me. It was also the day I got an ear piercing.

It was a strange feeling being rejected from so many schools that I thought were within my reach. Now looking back, I'm glad that I got rejected from all of those schools. Is it because I got my butt handed to me? Is it because it cooled down my big head? Hardly.

Georgia Tech was absolutely the school for me and I'm not even an engineer. Although there is no way for me to definitively know, I am pretty confident that no other college could have offered even half of the opportunities, friends, and amazing experiences Georgia Tech has provided me thus far. This academic year I successfully...

Paid my taxes
Successfully dreamed up and executed a national convention (with quite a bit of help of course)
Signed with Deloitte Consulting for the summer
Received the Chinese version of the Fulbright Scholarship to study at Beijing or Tsinghua University for the next academic year
Got to spend quality time with my family and my little sister in Johns Creek!

Miles To Go (Out of State)

2011-04-03T12:32:00.003-04:00

Often the phrase "out of state" conjurs negative images of loans, college debt, and working endlessly at a job you might not enjoy just to afford the cost of tuition. So the question you ask...

Is it worth it?

The answer is not that simple. It varies from student to student, from reason to reason. Each situation is individual.

To me, attending an out-of-state school...Georgia Tech...was definitely worth it. Here is a short list of reasons:

Cons-

Tuition is more expensive.
Thus a job might help ease the way.
Weekend trips home are not an easy option.
My high school friends are not at the same school.

Pros-

Georgia Tech is one of the top ten public universities in the United States
It has the number four undergraduate engineering degree; each of the engineering programs are ranked in their own top ten.
I liked Tech better than any in-state school I visited.
Atlanta has an incredible number of opportunities to offer.

In regards to Tuition. Yes, tuition at an out-of-state university is more expensive than in-state public universities. There are various ways to avoid large quantities of student debt. Tech does not wish that fate upon you. First, Tech offers many scholarships, both for academic and financial merit. Not only does Tech, but alumni groups, alumni and sponsors, individual colleges, clubs, organizations and societies also offer scholarships for students. I also encourage you to look at scholarships like the SMART scholarship, which pays your tuition in return for you working for the government for the same number of years after graduation.

Furthermore, there are many opportunities for internships and job opportunities. There are programs like Co-op, where you alternate semesters of school with semesters of internship. This provides you with valuable work experience (and possibly a job offer) as well as extra funds. On a smaller scale than that, there are several work opportunities on campus, from working in offices to the rec center to the post office. And you can conduct undergraduate research for pay.

Also, if you are at all interested in studying abroad... out of state students only pay a little more than in-state tuition while studying abroad. There are extra scholarships for this venture as well.

Another item on my cons list was about trips home. I did not expect to be homesick when I came to college, but contrary to expectations, I was homesick for many months. This was a little rough, because I could not go home, sleep in my own bed, see my parents or play with my puppy. But, to be honest, most of the colleges I would have gone to in Florida are farther away from my home than Tech is. There are many people up here who live near enough to home to visit occasionally. When you make friends, sometimes you find the opportunity to go home with a friend for a nice, relaxing weekend.

My friends did not even apply for Georgia Tech. I'm not sure if I even knew of anyone who applied to Tech. This was a point of contention for a while, before I acknowledged that I was not picking my college based on my friend's choices. In the end, it turned out that not a single one of us picked the same college. We still keep in touch, though, and visit each other occasionally. Because I knew no one, I was forced to make new friends, and I don't regret that for a moment.

In regards to the pro-out of state school, which turned into a more pro-Georgia Tech list...

Georgia Tech is a fantastic school, if it's the school you're looking for. It's ranked in the top ten public universities in the US. The academics are practically unbeatable. The professors are dedicated to their work. I enjoy the fact that many professors are involved in research, because they are part of the field that we want to join. They're not just professors who sit and teach the same material to students year after year but are involved in the cutting edge research of our day and age.

The classes are rigorous and stimulating. They do require dedication and a certain amount of focus. If you're looking for challenging courses that encourage you to think in different manners and put you in contact with students, professors, and professionals from around the world, then Georgia Tech certainly can provide that.

The quality of education and experience you recieve at Georgia Tech has been a defining quality for me here. The people you meet will change your world.

In summary of this gargantuan post: In my opinion, the benefits of Tech far outweigh the financial issues that might accompany my attendance. If you read all this, I hope it helps. (:

Cheers,

Kyle Marie Jacobsen

PS. If anyone else has questions, feel free to ask! I'll try to add more pictures to break the words... and keep my answer succinct (;

In my next post I'll address the most challenging and the best thing at Georgia Tech.

Back in Action: Roll When you Hit the Ground

2011-03-31T00:31:00.000-04:00

I've managed to create a seamless transition from Tech to Spring Break and vice versa. Before we signal for applause, I will caution that this is a terrible thing. This means I left and returned to Georgia Tech a fatigued and sleep deprived student.

Spring Break was a great although I did practically nothing save rest for 18+ hours a day and watch old (like 1990's old) Chinese kung fu movies. In fact I did so little I even neglected my assignments. Students might find vacation a time for relaxation but for professors vacation means "extended work period". As a result I came back to Tech, greeted by the welcoming party of a Circuit Analysis test and Dynamics work.

Things are beginning to accelerate on campus again. This week, I will be putting several hours in the Precision Biosystems Laboratory in preparation for an ASPE abstract submission on the geometric parameters affecting the translation of micro pipette arrays in patch clamping operations.

I have also been helping to renovate the Invention Studio. The ME department doubled the size of the Invention Studio when they donated a vacant classroom. We moved the 3D printers, the laser cutter, and the electronics labs into this room.

Recently cleaned, tiled, and waxed.

Undergrads relaxing on the stylish loungery from Ikea. Of course, we populated its walls with decorations shortly thereafter.

Also, congratulations to those accepted to Tech! As all those college decisions roll in, I hope that you remember Georgia Tech as a place of opportunity. Where else can you get hands-on education in a quality facility?

Cheers!
-Jamison

Decisions?

2011-03-29T20:25:00.003-04:00

Hello all!

I know I haven't been around much lately, but school has been hectic. Right before Spring Break, I had three tests. Unfortunately, this semester some of my classes have the same number of exams, so they are spaced out evenly through the semester...and often happen on one week. Blessing or curse? On one hand, it's nice to not have tests every week; it kind of gives me a chance to prepare for them and mentally prepare myself. On the other hand, three exams in a week causes a slight bit of stress as the days arrive and I don't know which topic to study first. I've gotten my grades back from this last encounter, and let me tell you: I am quite pleased. (:

Also an important note: Spring Break was fantastic! I enjoyed the week of relaxing. It left me fueled for these next five weeks of school. I'm ready to go!

Here are a couple photos I snapped while feeling artistic:

Also, I like to make available my advice and opinions to all of you, especially you graduating seniors making super important decisions right now. Do you have any topics you would like to hear about? Freshman experience? Classes? Biomedical engineering? Food? Anything? I'd be glad to answer some of your questions in a post! Just leave 'em as a comment. I'd like to be as much of a help as possible!

Cheers, and until next time,

Kyle Marie Jacobsen

Oh, yeah... Just to remind you, I'm a freshman this year (:

Spring break

2011-03-26T23:05:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone! Spring break was this week, and it was a pleasant break from all of my classes. Classes start back on Monday, and before long it will be time for finals! Looking back, it's pretty surreal that my first year at Tech is almost over. Time certainly flies.

I spent my spring break home, spending time with my family. While at first I was disappointed that I would not be going on a trip somewhere, I enjoyed being home. Over the summer, I am taking summer classes at Tech, so I won't see them over the summer much either. Aside from spending time with my family, I visited a friend from Tech who lives an hour away from me, went shopping, and read some books. Reading is probably one of my favorite things, but I can never find the time to read at Tech. In all honesty, however, I do not really try to make time for it. While academics at Tech can be tough, managing time really is key, and if one manages their time well enough, a person can find time to do a lot. Last semester, I always felt swamped with work, and even though I'm taking more hours this semester, I feel like I have more time now. I probably just use my time more wisely though.

I've misplaced my camera battery, so I don't have any photos. I will, however, share a video that most Techies (or future Techies) will enjoy. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiJczH3cr48

P.S. Keep in mind that Tech isn't just an engineering school! Georgia Tech also has colleges in architecture, computing, sciences, management, and even liberal arts!

-Krista

springtime at last! (freshman adventures at home)

2011-03-21T15:41:00.004-04:00

HOME, sweet home. Spring break couldn't have come sooner, my friends! Literally, as soon as I finished my last class for the week on Friday, I started coughing. I've come down with a sickness that's lasted me all weekend but I think I've almost conquered this thing.Unfortunately, it's started me off to a pretty dull beginning of spring break. I've gotten to spend a lot of time with the family at home though, which has been good.

I'll be gone in California all summer, staffing at a ranch, so it is good that

I've got this one week at home to really get to "chill with the fam." I also have a bunch of plans to hang out with old friends from high school and what-not. I hear there's even a new frozen yogurt place in town, so my best friend from middle school, Joy, is gonna take me to try it out! Doubt it will compare to the self-serve Yoforia right down the street from Tech's campus.....but I will try to have an open mind.....

Last week, I had the honor of doing a publicity and record cover photo-shoot for one of our school's a capella groups, Infinite Harmony. Here's one of the shots from that, taken right outside of one of my favorite spots on campus, the Tech Tower lawn.

Engineer's playground, of course ;)

Happy Springtime!

-Chelsea

Updates on life and my thoughts on time...

2011-03-09T16:16:00.005-05:00

Thoughts on time and ambition...

When is it time to stop shooting for the moon, and just enjoy being among the stars? Is it possible to be happy about what you have in the present without thinking, "tomorrow will be a better day."? Can we forget about the preparation for a future, if for just a minute, to relish how great the present really is?

As a young person with a false sense of invulnerability, I never realized that today might be the best day of my life; I never realized that tomorrow might not promise the opportunities and luxuries I enjoy today.

I have always had this philosophy about time, and I would like to share it with you now.

I respect my past and relish all of my experiences. I look at my past decisions without regret and smile and laugh equally at past failures, embarrassments, as well as my achievements. I know this is partially because humans, as a race, engage in some form of "retrospective justification." We do not like to regret or feel anxious about our discretion. It is much easier for us look back in our past and validate bad experiences rather than to look through our past only to be filled constantly with regret in the present.

I, however, cannot live in the present. Perhaps, it is because the present is constantly becoming the past or possibly because my head is focused in on the future so diligently that my present just nonchalantly passes me by.

It is rare to find me satisfied and happy in the present, but maybe that is because I always want to guarantee that my tomorrow will be better than my today.

If you read through all of that, I want to give you a hug.

Updates On My Life

Since November, I have been working very hard for the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation. Just two weekends ago, we held the first ever National Stamps Scholars Convention down in Miami, Florida, where Penny and E. Roe Stamps currently reside. It was a great success and I am grateful for my committee and all of the amazing Stamps Scholars, Alumni, and Administrators from all across the US that attended!

I'll update with pictures when blogger.com solves some internal issues. Stay posted!

For you prospective PS'ers, if you are given a Stamps Leadership Scholarship, you have been given Georgia Tech's most prestigious merit scholarship and I would highly recommend taking it over any other educational/life experience that any other institution may offer. Get in touch with me if you want my complete analysis on this issue.

looking back, one year ago (how i stumbled upon such freshman adventures)

2011-03-08T23:48:00.001-05:00

Apologies for such a long title! I figured it would do a good job of grabbing your attention.
So, it's the beginning of March, and I was thinking to myself..."man, a year ago, would I EVER have guessed I would be at Georgia Tech studying Industrial Engineering??"

Then I remembered how last year, in the year of 2010, I took a photograph every day. So I can literally look back on any given day in 2010 and remember what was going on in my life. Well, here's the photograph I found for March 7th, 2010:
This is my acceptance letter into the Honors Program at the University of Georgia. Boy, was I excited! I thought I had it all figured out-- I was going to go to UGA, study journalism with all the smart honors students, live in the honors dorm, and sport red-and-black all the time. It all seemed so wonderful in my head.

But it wasn't until I actually visited the schools I had been accepted to before I realized which school was meant to be my home. When I went to the campus of UGA, I thought it was really beautiful and could definitely appreciate the place, but I just couldn't FEEL myself being a true bulldog. I could definitely feel a sense of belonging at Georgia Tech, though. Walking down the streets that are now my everyday paths, a year ago, I felt like I knew that was where I was supposed to be. I think it's really important for those of you that are making tough decisions between several amazing opportunities to realize....whatever decision you make is going to be a good one. Sometimes (but rarely), there are no wrong decisions. Ever heard of a win-win situation? Well if you're smart enough to get into Georgia Tech, your college acceptance pool is most likely a win-win. Trust me. Any place you go, you're going to have wonderful opportunities, brilliant friends, professors who know a great deal about what they teach, and the world at your finger tips. So my suggestion is to figure out where you feel most at home.

That being said, don't settle. Choose a college where you know you will be challenged. If I wanted the easy way out, I would NOT have chosen Georgia Tech. My classes are extremely rigorous, and half my friends are a billion times more ingenious than I am. But this is where I am at home. This is what I need in order to grow and make a difference.

I challenge those of you that are still mulling over college decisions to really consider what this will mean in your own life and your own decisions. I also encourage you to begin scheduling your final college visits sooner rather than later, because you're going to wish you had one last stroll around your future home before you have to decide--trust me!

Good luck!
-Chelsea

---
VISIT GA TECH: http://www.admission.gatech.edu/campus_visits/

From Behind the Stage

2011-03-04T02:29:00.008-05:00

This past Wednesday the InVenture Prize coordinators and associated persons ran the dress rehearsal and presentation practice for the event. Us competitors had to chance to walk up on the stage of the Ferst Center for the Arts and understand the stage setup.

It is an amazing feeling to say the least. Standing before a performance auditorium of 700+ capacity is bewildering and perhaps nerve wrecking. Only one more week before my team would stand on this very stage, a bit more decorated with lights, cameras, and cheering audience. I hoped things would go well, or at least better than the rehearsal.

We had the chance to go backstage as well to find out where we would spend our time in the queue. Well technically, my team would not have to wait, seeing as how we are the first presentation of the program. I can already feel the pressure!

Publications are beginning to surface from the interviews we had during an InVenture media day. This morning I was forwarded this article written by the Midtown Patch:

http://midtown.patch.com/articles/tech-inventors-to-compete-for-patent

Georgia Public Broadcasting has also prepared a web page for the event.

http://www.gpb.org/inventure

I can't believe how intense this competition has become! We have a lot to do, but hopefully, we can pull it all together for a good show.

Front and center: a possible logo presents itself.

Cheers! Don't forget to tune into GPB at 7pm on Marth 9th! Vote for the Velociryder: self-balancing electric skateboard!

-Jamison Go

Bakin', Bacon, and Explosions

2011-02-28T02:12:00.008-05:00

I hate to disappoint, but the three words in the title are unrelated. In fact, I am relieved to announce their non relation because the combination sounds absolutely disastrous...

...and delicious. But that doesn't make any single item less important! I might even declare this week a week of FIRSTs!

Tried my hand at baking a Cheesecake.

This would be my first time with a cheesecake without supervision of more experienced persons. As you can tell, it may have been over whipped as it appears to have ballooned over the boundaries of the crust. Still, I received great marks from my panel of roommate judges.

I still keep close to my FIRST robotics team from Florida, Exploding Bacon. Even though the robot is already built and packed away, I decided to surprise them by laser machining a batch of collectible pins for the Florida Regional competition this March.

For the curious, the material is acrylic in the colors green, florescent red, and florescent green. All these were fabricated in the Invention Studio.

Sunday morning started off with a BANG! Atlanta Demolition was imploding the Roosevelt House apartments across the street from North Avenue early in the morning. Housing made an event from it, so all of us gathered to watch the building fall down.

It was simply exhilarating! I would definitely add this to my list of things to see. Big thanks to the owner of this video because it is far better than mine.

Georgia residents: Don't forget to mark your calendars for March 9th! The InVenture Prize Final round goes live and students will have their chance to show their new inventions, yours truly included. Vote for the Velociryder: self-balancing electric skateboard!

Cheers!
-Jamison Go

Adventurous Weekends

2011-02-27T22:43:00.004-05:00

Nothing like a double post, eh?

So my friends and I were not the only ones on an adventure this weekend... A famous trio also took an adventure through the English countryside, and we witnessed this awesome exploit.

Recognize these faces?

Ron, Hermione, and Harry from JK Rowling's Harry Potter series! This giant cutout poster hung above the entrance to our Student Center...

Why?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part I) came to Georgia Tech!!

So on Saturday, for just $3, we watched the movie in the Student Center theater on big screen. There was FREE popcorn and everything! (:

It was fantastic! I cannot wait for the final movie to premiere!!! Now I really want to reread the books, too (;

The student center hosts a movie at least once a month. Megamind and Inception are two movies that come to mind that they played recently. I know Tech Rec (the bowling alley/game area) plays movies quite often... I remember last semester they played Elf and Indiana Jones as two options. There was an outdoor movie night last semester for How To Train Your Dragon (adorable movie!). It's less than five dollars to watch all these movies, too. Sometimes you can watch for free. Quite a deal!

Fun stuff, huh?

Cheers! -Kyle Marie

Fun Stuff (:

2011-02-25T22:21:00.005-05:00

I have so much to update, I don't know where to start! Because there are a variety of topics I want to talk about, I might split these up into multiple little posts over the next few days.

Let's start with...

...last weekend!

The weather was absolutely gorgeous. I spent the weekend of 70 degree weather outside, enjoying the sunshine. It was a relaxing break from being cooped up in a study room working on homework. I just took my books outside and plopped down in the "Burger Bowl," the large greenspace behind my dorm.

A couple of my friends chilled with me:

I even took the time to be artistic and take photos of what we affectionately call "the Awkward Bench," a random bench on the hill, and some tree flowers.

So weekend=delightful.

Now, this part I don't have pictures of, but I also went to a show called "Cirque Mechanics- Boomtown." This show was a mix of acrobatics and dance, and completely blew my mind. The feats they preformed on stage... I held my breath each time they left the floor, totally enthralled. I wish I could have taken pictures!!

This show was at Ferst Theater, the theater on campus, and only cost $10! We bring all sorts of shows to the Theater, including acrobatics like Cirque Mechanics, comedy shows (like Margaret Cho), dance troupes (Step Afrika), orchestras, singers (like Michael Bolton). Students only have to pay 10 dollars. You should totally check these shows out when you come to campus! (:

Cheerio! -Kyle Marie

PS... Sneak Peak for tomorrow's post: HARRY POTTER!

Reasons to Celebrate

2011-02-13T17:22:00.005-05:00

Lots of reasons to celebrate this week. First off, I pulled my first all-night session of semester! This means we are officially in full academic swing, especially since it was a 3-day expedition and not the average singular excursion.

But the real reason to celebrate is because it paid off. Last post I mentioned Georgia Tech's InVenture Prize competition. Thursday was the semi-finalist round elimination segment, where we presented our invention and ideas before a panel of judges, away from the public eye. Severe weather in the north has delayed the arrival of some critical parts that arrived this week, so my team worked furiously to get everything prepared for our time slot at 9:15am.

Net result? We finished it at 8:30am the day of. Unfortunately the new prototype did not work as well as the original so we had an abysmal performance.

Video of the old Prototype:

New prototype (in progress):

But behold! Friday we received an email telling us that we had made it to the final round of the InVenture Prize! Now, things just got serious.

Mark your calendars Georgia residents! March 9th is when I hit the television!

-Jamison

GT Night at the Aquarium

2011-02-11T15:32:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was a GA Tech Night at the Aquarium. I love the aquarium, so of course, I had to go. One of the best things was that student tickets were only $8. Regular tickets are normally around $30, so it was a great deal.

(If you're wondering, the round spots are the reflections of the light.)

-Krista

freshman re-adventures (re-organizing for the sake of feng shui)

2011-02-07T20:54:00.004-05:00

My roommate and I celebrated Chinese New Year tonight! Now don't ask me anything about this holiday because neither of us are Chinese, so we don't really know anything, except that it's that time of year about now.... but anyway.
We re-arranged our furniture! FENG SHUI!
Our dorm room is much roomier now. We both love love love it. LOVE it. The photo doesn't do this room justice. It's a work of art, my friend. And we actually have room to move our chairs in different directions. What a blessing!

In other news, I've had my first three tests of the semester. Yikes, not so fun at all. Life is good, though, and spring semester is looking like it'll be a cool one. It's my birthday week (my birthday is this Friday, the 11th...) so I've got a lot of fun things planned. I'll take photos and keep you updated later.

- Chelsea

Ready, Set... Action!

2011-01-31T22:13:00.003-05:00

Buzz posing for the camera (:

Who loves sports?

Sometimes I feel like college sports define a college. I grew up hearing all about college football or college basketball. How many people know the phrase, "Who do you cheer for?" There's always a game and always a favorite team. There is football, basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, tennis, swim and dive...you name it and there's a college sport.

Before I came to college, I really thought little of college sports. I have never been a fan of sitting front of a tv and watching some team run back and forth with a ball. For the record, when you yell at the tv, the players cannot hear you. Imagine that! Anyway, when I thought of college sports, I thought of passionate alumni (and their children).

What changed? Well, I went to my first college football game. In a word? AWESOME. By the way, if you're any fan of football or just in it for the experience, join Swarm! It costs about $20 more, but it's worth the extra dollars. (You also get two t-shirts.) The Swarm stands next to the band at the football game, and is this loud, spirited group. So fun!

The last basketball game I attended! Against UNC... We won!

Back to the topic? Sports at college. Don't knock them! (: Attending games while you're in college is an amazing (possibly eye-opening) experience. They're incredibly fun and you find yourself developing an amazing capacity for school spirit.

Cheerleaders at the basketball game

Worried about the money?

You could buy season football tickets for $35 this year. ($55 for Swarm.) Volleyball, basketball, swim and dive, tennis... Free admission with your student ID. (: Just interested in club sports? Intramurals? Just walk onto the field and watch!

These games are an fun, diverting way to escape from homework or the dorm for a couple hours. You've got to try it! (:

Buzz inspiring the crowd (:

Cheers!

-Kyle Marie Jacobsen

worldwide view

2011-01-31T10:10:00.002-05:00

It's amazing what you can find wandering around even in your dorm hall on a Saturday night at Tech.

Last Saturday, my big sister in Alpha Phi (and also GT Blogger alum) Olivia came to campus for dinner and some hang out time with my friend Judy and me. We had gone out to dinner at Mellow Mushroom, and came back to my apartment for some chatting. On the way to escort her out, we ran into two guys by the elevator asking if we would be interested in being in a video they were shooting. Like many girls who would react to that proposition, we were a bit sketchy, until I realized one of the guys was one of my writers/good friends from the newspaper. His friend (and my neighbor as it turns out) had been creating videos of the Egyptian Revolution happening right now, and some of them had been airing on Al Jeezera, CNN, and the CBC, and was working on his second one.

I know it's not really P.C. to be posting political videos, but I just thought it was interesting what people are doing from just within their dormitories with just a camera and a set of lights.

If you watch closely you can spot Olivia and me!

Noodle

2011-01-29T23:02:00.009-05:00

Last night, a group of my friends and I went to Noodle. In total, there were 15 of us! We took the Tech Trolley to the Midtown Marta Station, and Noodle was a short walk away. The restaurant had one long table in the center, so we were all able to sit with each other. Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of my food. My friend and I split Pho Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup), and it was delicious. We also took the Trolley back, which was entertaining, as we were the only people on. Using the Tech Trolley is a great way to explore midtown Atlanta, or you can get off at the MARTA station and go from there! I definitely plan on doing it more often.

Other than that, classes are going great. Despite a larger course load than last semester, I am enjoying this semester. Maybe it's because I am not in studio anymore, or maybe I just like new starts. I have my first tests this week (in Physics and Calculus), so most of this week will consist of studying.

I'm also looking forward to several events this semester(which I will, of course, blog about), like GT Night @ the Georgia Aquarium, so stay tuned. :)

-Krista

clementines and flavor-blasted goldfish (a freshman snack adventure)

2011-01-24T23:10:00.004-05:00

Well, I've discovered it! My favorite study snack combination: flavor-blasted goldfish and a clementine. I'm not sure what it is about the crisp and powdery, cheesy fish shapes combined with the sweet, succulent, citrus fruit... maybe my taste buds have an inexplicable appreciation for the color orange? Maybe...

Anyway, things are good over here in Atlanta. Although we've been in school for, technically, three weeks now.... this was our very first MONDAY in class. Talk about a serious case of the Mondays. I guess it's just been a really long day--probably because I woke up to go to crew practice at 5:20am. Was that really THIS morning? It seems like days ago. Classes were pretty decent today though. I love my Calculus II professor -- he's an adorable British man who explains the concepts really, really well. My Computing professor is basically the same way, and is also adorably British, so there's really nothing to complain about there at all! After some study time in the afternoon I even got to spend some time doing one of my favorite things--baking! I am currently waiting on my "triple layer chocolate cookie bars" to finish, so I'll try to upload pictures next time. Now I just need to finish my desserts and hit the sheets--it's been a while since my pillow and I had some quality time together :)

Happy-rest-of-the-week to you!

(In)ventures to Innovation

2011-01-21T01:19:00.005-05:00

Tonight I attended the first milestone in the Inventure Prize competition at Georgia Tech. Over 50 teams congregated at the Klaus auditorium to share their new inventions with others, while a panel of judges evaluated the teams with emphasis on marketing, technology, and audience. The top 25 or so teams will move on to the semi-finals and face increasingly rigorous judging criteria.

There were lots of wonderfully innovative novel ideas. Among them were semantic search engines, collapsing guitars, and a new method of performing eye cataract surgery.

On table #45 sat the "Glide Board", my team's entry to the competition. Glide board is a self-balancing electric skateboard, with certain improvements that oust the current variations of balancing devices. I had memorized my major points, "like a Segway tailored for younger audiences" was a phrase repeated many times throughout the night. Teammate Aaron Fan received lots of camera time and attention by demonstrating the prototype. You can watch the Inventure Prize events on Georgia public television.

Team "Glide Board" stands behind their product. (Jamison Go, Xo Wang, Aaron Fan)

Aaron Fan prepares to present the project before the cameraman.

We felt our performance at the event was phenomenal! I can't wait to learn the results this week!

Stay warm, and GO JACKETS!
-Jamison Go

For the Facebook:
Georgia Tech Inventure Prize: http://inventureprize.gatech.edu/

New Beginnings

2011-01-20T10:12:00.004-05:00

How many of you have heard that buying your textbooks cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars?

Buying textbooks most definitely has ranked in my list of new experiences in college. Back in high school, or even before those days, teachers always handed out your textbooks when you needed them. All you had to do was sign a list, promising not to damage the book beyond repair. The only books to buy were from English class when you had to read Shakespeare's Othello or Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.

Not so in college.

A new requirement is set: you must find and buy your own textbooks. Tech (and other schools, I'm sure) makes this process as painless as possible. I've found the easiest way is to go on Tech's Barnes and Noble site, which has a page for looking up textbooks. All you have to do is put in your class and with a click, bring up a list of required and suggested materials. Then you have the choice. You can order a new textbook from Barnes and Noble, a used textbook, or you can go over to the internet and search sites like Amazon.com or halfprice.com and search for used textbooks. You can also buy your books in person at the bookstore or even go to another bookstore called Engineer's. There are many, many easy options.

Why do I bring this up now?

Well, simply because a couple weeks I was celebrating after ordering my textbooks. Yes, the receipt still totaled a couple hundred dollars... but it was so much less than last semester! What's the reason?

My bookshelf... The top right square holds my textbooks

Last semester I took an intro chemistry class called Chem 1211K. This semester I'm taking a chemistry class called Chem 1212K. See the similarity in the numbers? It just so happens that one is, essentially, part one and the other part two. They also just so happen to use the same textbook... which means that was one less textbook to buy! The same phenomenon happened with Calc... Calc I, Calc II, AND Calc III all use the same textbook. Even more, one of my classes didn't even require a textbook. Does this not sound magical?

Those delightful textbooks

It certainly made me happy.

So the moral of the story? Yes, textbooks will total to a semi-large chunk of change, but the price is not always huge. Some semesters you have to buy less textbooks than others; some semesters you can find used textbooks for a quarter of their original price. (Even better, you can trade with your friends, if they've already taken a class that you're going to take and vice versa.) Textbooks will not completely empty your wallet.

Don't believe every rumor you hear (;

Cheers!

Kyle Marie Jacobsen

winter munchies!

2011-01-16T15:38:00.004-05:00

Yes, yes. I'm sure you've heard. It snowed last week! And thus, everyone was stuck without school for almost an entire week (hooray for extra winter break days). I didn't mind so much, as I had only one day of class (no Friday classes to begin with), but it begs to question, what are you going to do with all of this spare time and no ability to go outside? Falling on your butt from ice is quite really no option.

Well, I took the time to go back to an old hobby of making up recipes. As well, since my friends and I had limited food to begin with, we merged our supplies together to create stuff. On the menu over the course of three days was home made chicken curry from scratch (no mix used!), wonton soup, quiche and chicken cordon bleu. Not bad for a couple of poor college kids.

It looks gross, but it was sooo delicious! Added to that, once the ice melted, my friends Melissa and Joy checked out this absolutely amazing bakery called Highland Bakery this morning. They had a notice for Bobby Flay's Food Network Challenge next Sunday, so expect a more riveting blog about it next week with pictures.

ice skating, minus the skates (SECOND SEMESTER freshman adventures)

2011-01-15T23:21:00.002-05:00

Atlanta froze over! So Georgia Tech had 3 snow days, and it was completely, totally, thoroughly, magically awesome. I love snow.

Other than sleeping in, here is how my friends and I occupied our many hours of free time last week:

An extended winter break

2011-01-12T21:09:00.009-05:00

After having three snow days, it is finally time for classes to begin. While I immensely enjoyed playing in snow and hanging out with friends, I am ready for school to start. Because I switched majors, this semester will be different, and I'm looking forward to the change. We'll see how it goes. :)

Anyway, here are some pictures!

The view outside my window on Tuesday.

Also, because I'm sure some of you are tired of hearing about snow, I also have some photos of me baking caramel brownies over winter break.

Homemade caramel sauce

Brownie batter

Ready to go into the oven.

The finished product. The caramel makes the brownie look gooey.

Delays for Departure

2011-01-10T03:25:00.006-05:00

The Sunday before the first day of classes. Normally we would all be to bed early, with our belongings laid and prepared for the coming day. But this Sunday is a much different story.

Photo by Jane Kim

Much to the excitement of many, the weather covered our campus in a delicate blanket of snow maybe 2 inches deep! For Floridians like myself, this was a huge deal because we never see snow. It was equally important for the rest of the campus because the institution closed down on Monday. Who knew our first break of the semester would be the first day of classes!

That aside, it is time for this undoubtedly busy semester to begin! First and foremost, I will be mounting 19 credit hours to feed the beast that is my double major. Included in those hours is undergraduate research with one of the most influential professors at Tech, Dr. Craig Forest. In addition, a group of friends and I have entered Georgia Tech's Inventure Prize. I will continue to serve as a Undergraduate Laboratory Instructor and member of the Georgia Tech Maker's Club, helping others with the institute's machines and hosting instructional sessions on how to use the waterjet cutter.

Finally, I will continue to blog for the admissions office, because I understand how paramount the student perspective is in a college decision.

For our friends on Facebook:
GT Inventure Prize: http://inventureprize.gatech.edu/
GT Maker's Club: http://inventionstudio.gatech.edu/
Precision Biosystems Laboratory: http://pbl.gatech.edu/

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday break!
-Jamison G.

One down, seven to go. (Freshman adventures... at home)

2011-01-04T17:53:00.003-05:00

Hello friends!

Finals are long gone, and the first semester of my freshman year is COMPLETE!

I feel a little bit on top of the world when I say that.... until someone kindly reminds me "Yep. You've got one semester down, and seven more to go..." Oh, yeah. To be honest though, I can't wait! I'm really looking forward to getting back to school and in a routine again. Yes, being in college allows you so much free time, but if you're a planner like me, your schedule tends to stay relatively consistent. I'm excited to have classes to go to every day and people I see on a weekly basis.

Over the break, I've spent most of it traveling to conferences and various events with new friends that I've made from Tech this past semester. Although your first semester should be mostly about getting into the swing of the academic rigor of college, don't forget to make friends. ;) They really do make tough weeks at Tech worth it. I've loved getting to know my friends better by spending time with them outside of the campus setting. I never thought I would feel so close to so many people after only four months of knowing them.

Family time at home has also been spectacular....and you can't forget the SNOW! IN ATLANTA! ON CHRISTMAS! Wow, was that exciting.

Then there's the wonderful and never-forgotten high school friends. I just love seeing people I haven't in a while...brings warmth to my heart for sure.

School starts in less than a week, and I feel like the break has flown by. Gonna seize these last few days. On to adventure!

- Chelsea

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T23:51:00.004-05:00

I found this image online... Pensacola FL is ready to bring in the New Year with their "Pelican" drop. My hometown celebrates with a "Beach Ball" drop. New York culminates their festivities with the famous Ball Drop. People everywhere are anticipating the turning of a new decade.

This is just one of the reasons I'm excited about returning to Georgia Tech. I'll get to hear friends tell stories of their New Year's Eve, and learn how everyone celebrated differently. It's amazing how so many different people from all across the country and all across the world can come together cohesively and creat the community that is Georgia Tech. It is an incredible feeling to know I belong to such a community.

But for now...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

May your new year be filled with wonderful times... You High School Seniors are going to be celebrating something new this year. (:

Cheers!
-KMJ

Wow- Time flies!

2010-12-30T17:22:00.002-05:00

Christmas break is almost over! There's only one week left until we return to our books, our rooms, and all our Tech friends.

In a way, it's odd to be home. It feels perfectly natural, but Georgia Tech seems like a dream. Did I really just finish my first semester of college? No way! My life at home is nothing like my life at Tech... the lives are completely separate, almost individual.

I've spent my weeks just chilling and relaxing...rejuvenating. Finals came rushing upon me my last days at Tech and I spent them buried in my books, frantically studying, hoping and praying that my work paid off. (It did! I am extremely satisfied with my grades.) Thus, when the time arrived for me to return home for break, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

How did I relax? Well...

-I have read eleven books since I've been home. (Yes, you read that right. Eleven (11). I happen to enjoy reading.)

-I slept way more than I ever had in my life. (No alarm clock... just gentle sunlight and the incessant nose of my puppy, searching for my neck, face, and other vulnerable spots, urging me to wake up and pay attention.)

-I have spent quality time with my family. (Homemade dinners? Yum! Especially on Christmas!)

-I've watched my favorite Christmas movies and seen a couple new ones at the theater. (Have you seen Tangled yet? It's awesome!)

-I caught up with all my friends and hung out with them several times. (We had our annual Christmas party... so much fun!)

I know some of my friends are absolutely eager to return to their respective colleges, chaffing at the restrictions of home...returning to the nest, under the watchful eye of the parents. It's an adjustment, that's for sure, but I'm definitely content to spend a few nights under their roof. It's so nice to be home. However, that does not stop me from feeling the stirrings of anticipation for returning to Tech...for my SECOND semester of college. (I just cannot get over that.)

I don't want to make this entry too long, so I'll save my exciting news about books for next semester for another post. (:

Enjoy your break!! And if you're going into your last semester of high school... take this time to inhale a deep breath-- you're entering a very climatic time of your life. Have fun! (:

--Kyle Marie Jacobsen

PS... Sorry for the lack of pictures. I have to facts: 1) My computer died and I lost a lot of information, including pictures... and 2) Santa gave me a new camera for Christmas! (So I'll try to make up for it later.)

Happy Holidays

2010-12-27T20:10:00.005-05:00

Hello! I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and is enjoying their winter break. This year, Georgia had a white Christmas!

I have been spending the winter break catching up tv shows, sleeping, reading, and spending money (on a camera). :)

White Christmas!

2010-12-27T10:32:00.006-05:00

Happy holidays and merry Christmas Georgia Tech. To all of you out of staters, Georgia gets snow and it actually isn't that rare. Take a look, this picture was taken the morning of the 25th!

The winter holidays are a great time to splurge. I broke my bank these past few days.

Why your senior year counts...

2010-12-16T08:55:00.002-05:00

As the holidays approach and exams come to a close, it's always a good time to reflect on the last year and look forward to the new one. I am sure many of you have already started thinking about new year's resolutions and have visions about what 2011 will bring.

In our office, we have been furiously reviewing freshman applications in order to make decisions on the first and second rounds. On December 17, any freshman applicant who applied in the month of October will have an admission decision via Buzzport.

If you were admitted in Early Action or you receive an acceptance online Dec. 17, Congratulations!
We have again set a record for the number of apps this year. And the quality and diversity of talented and interesting students continues to amaze me. You should be extremely proud of being offered admission to Tech and I sincerely hope you will choose to enroll. Instead of going shopping, why not Deposit Today?!
I am writing this post to tell you to keep your foot on the proverbial gas. Not only do we expect you to maintain the work level you have set to this point (and unlike Santa we check grades once your final hs transcript comes out), but you will be far better prepared when you arrive on campus. I would highly recommend not dropping down a level in a course or choosing not to complete a sequence. In other words, if you think you might make a B in AP Bio or BC Calc this Spring-- stick with it and work hard.

If you are deferred admission until March:
Due to the number of applications we have received, and expect to receive prior to January 15, we always defer some very talented students who are ultimately admitted in March. It is critical that you have done well this fall, as we look closely at the deferred supplement form that we'll send out on Feb. 1 via email and Buzzport. Again, I want to urge you to stick with the tough classes and work hard until the end of the year. Georgia Tech and other schools will be checking progress as we look to round out our incoming freshman classes.

If you are senior who has not yet applied:
Get off Facebook or Blog sites and click here. If you have any questions about why you should apply to Tech, call 404.894-4154 and one of our amazing students will give you a few good reasons.

If you are a junior or hs underclassmen: Read each scenario from above and learn from your elders. Junior year is by far the most important in your high school record. We look at the rigor of your coursework and your grade trends. The courses you select within your school are critical to being competitive for admission at Georgia Tech.

If you are still reading and want to see a cool video, check out this one. What's amazing about Georgia Tech's majors and focus is that in all facets of this year in review, we are leading the way-- technology enhancements, development of international policy, commitment to improving the overall human condition, biomedical and nanotechnology advancements, humanitarian outreach, and global economic partnerships.
At Georgia Tech, we are excited about all that 2011 holds and how we can work to improve our world in the year ahead.

Happy Holidays. I hope you have a restful break and great time with your family and friends.

Go Jackets!
Rick

Surviving finals

2010-12-14T18:14:00.003-05:00

Despite the years of experience and the many times I've said "next time I'll prepare earlier", there's something about finals that always feels completely awful. This is my third to last round of finals ever in my undergraduate career, and it's still as dreadful as the first time in freshman year.

My finals don't start until Thursday, but it's been a non-stop study session for the last week, with days and nights spent in my little secret study spot on campus (it's nice and quiet and coffee is plentiful).

The amount of trees I've killed still makes me unhappy, but alas, it's a sacrifice I have to make!

Here are some tips that have helped me get through the finals rush, and hopefully will help you too.

Find a study spot on campus

The Library, the Student Center, academic buildings. There's a plethora of places to study on and off campus. Make sure you get there early though, because good study spots are hard to come by. Study in a place that you will be most effective. For example, I can not study anywhere near my apartment, or I fall asleep. Thus, I study in the Management building, far far away from where I will feel drowsy.

Start early and talk to all your resources

This is a hard one, but START EARLY. It will help you SO MUCH and reduce that amounts of all-nighters you have to pull. Not to mention, if you understand all of the information early enough, this gives you time to review issues you have with professors and TAs! You will thank yourself later for this.

Find different ways to motivate yourself and keep your spirits up

Who says finals can't be fun? I like to study with a group of friends (who I know I can concentrate and not be distracted with) and we come up with fun activities to do every few hours to keep ourselves motivated. Sometimes we bring fruit to snack and chat while working (we call it "Clementine Time"... or rather I call it that). Personally, I like to spice up my study playlist every so often by mixing it up with a song like "All I Do is Win" by DJ Khaled or "Evacuate the Dance Floor" by Cascada. That way, I can keep myself awake. Besides, I like to remind myself that all I do is win, win, win no matter what.

It's Finals Week!

2010-12-12T23:15:00.000-05:00

You guessed it. It's that time of the semester again!

It's a slightly weird feeling being nearly done--the past 4 semesters (especially this one!) have flown by so quickly. It just seems like yesterday that I moved in to my current apartment in West campus!

Luckily, this semester I only have three finals--my one class, Creative Design, ended in mid-November, and another class focusing on alternative energy technologies had a large final project that was due last Friday in lieu of a test. The bad thing is that all three exams are in difficult classes: Differential Equations, Numerical Methods, and Dynamics. It's study time!

-Joshua

Sometimes it just doesn't make sense...

2010-12-09T09:28:00.005-05:00

I pride myself for being a logical creature; I hate thinking about things that make me upset or bring me down. I know that a second wasted on irrational emotions or anything unproductive is a second that could have been used to enjoy life or to become better.

This past Sunday, I auditioned for the dance crew that I dedicated myself to this past semester and on the following Monday, I received an email letting me know that I was not needed or wanted back on the team (I know you all are thinking that my audition just went poorly, but please trust me when I say that I put in quite of bit of effort for the audition and if that isn't enough, my ex teammate made it back on the team with no audition and no questions asked). It hurt. Having choreographed 2 of the pieces and co-choreographed some of the others, I felt that my skills were needed. In fact, I felt wanted and welcome. I never expected this traditionally Indian dance team to make me feel a part of a family. Qurbani, which means sacrifice in Arabic, thought me that the struggle was beautiful. It made me believe that through art and dance, race and skin color dissolved as we moved to one sound and one steady beat. And logically, it made no sense. I brought a fresh style to the team and the crowd and judges loved it.

Emotionally, I felt betrayed. I feel like I instantly lost a dozen family members. Forget my practical contributions to the team. I spent almost 8 hours a week practicing and preparing for competitions. These men became who I spent the most time with, and through our collective sacrifice we won 2 major competitions, both with audiences shooting over the 1000 mark. I felt proud of all of us. The rush we all collectively felt on stage was incredible and the moments we all shared together can never be reproduced.

No practical advice or words of wisdom. This post was for me, and I guess, at least for now, I will dance for only me.

Happy Belated December!

2010-12-08T19:41:00.006-05:00

I love December. It's one of my favorite months of the year because it is so festive. Everyone, everything, everywhere is decked out in holiday cheer. Or bedecked with awesome scarves, hats, gloves, and jackets as this unusually chilly December requires. On the bright side, though on Monday the high is a mere 29 degrees Fahrenheit, there is a chance of snow flurries!! Here at Tech, we're excited. Wouldn't that be an awesome way to being finals' week? Here's to hope!

As I said, December is filled with festiveness. The dining hall has been decorated since we returned from Thanksgiving break, all fancy with red ribbons and greenery. For the past week I've meant to take a picture, but I always forgot... until tonight. Tonight was the most merry night of all. Why? Holiday dinner! Check out these pict

ures of the epic-ness:

Is it not awesome?! It was so crowded in the dining hall. The food was yummy... turkey, beef, dressing, sweet potatoes, vegetables, rolls...and desert, lots and lots of desert. So many people made it hard to wiggle around and take pictures, but I attempted. The gingerbread house was my favorite.

It's not just the dining hall that's "Tech"ing the halls, though...

Several girls in my dorm have decorated their room for the season too! Check out mine:

The lights in the window can be seen from outside! My roommate as well as the two girls in a room next to us all have lights in the window, so it looks pretty nifty when we walk back to the dorm late at night.

So some friends down the hall bought fake snow to decorate, another girl has a sticker menorah in her window. She was able to skype her parents on the first night of Hannukah when they were lighting their menorah back home. It was really sweet. Holidays are being celebrated all around campus. (:

Cheers!

--Kyle Marie Jacobsen

Merry early holidays!

2010-12-04T21:45:00.004-05:00

Yes, I know it's early, but there's nothing wrong with a little holiday cheer!

Other than the semester coming to the end and finals quickly approaching, there's still much to be done around Tech and in the city of Atlanta. The weekend isn't even over yet, and I still feel like it's been jam packed with activity.

Friday (after a long two months straight of tests and papers every week, though luckily they were all spread out), I had not one, but two parties to attend! This isn't your average frat party of course. Omicron Delta Kappa, which is the senior leadership organization on campus, hosted its first holiday party/social. There was great food (hooray for potlucks), delicious egg nog, and plenty of holiday greeting cards to make for kids at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Not to mention, it's always great to get to know some of your other organization members better.

Afterwards, I headed over to a local restaurant/bar named RiRa's for a two friends' birthday parties. It's a great environment, especially when you are of age, with great food, drinks and dancing. Of course the night had to end early for me as the next morning...

I GOT TO BE A REINDEER!

One of Santa's best, I might add! This was my second time volunteering for the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas parade, arguably one of the biggest parades in Atlanta every year. I think I was Donner or Comet? In any case, the kids had fun guessing. Tech kids are incredibly involved in this parade every year, from carrying the giant balloons (GT For the Kids hosted the Cat in the Hat balloon this year) to dancing around in costumes. A group of 8 of my friends and I (who all happened to work together at some point or another in GT1000 or in our office), volunteered to be the reindeer again.

We had to wear those heavy hats and scarves for about two hours, pumping up the crowd and giving high fives to kids. They loved it. When we all walked back, we got stopped about 5 different times for pictures. If you get a Christmas card this year with a bunch of reindeer on it, chances are one of them is me. In any case, it was a whole lot of fun and a great way to give back to the community on a Saturday morning.

Back to the wonderful world of books for me! Happy holidays thus far!

-Vivian

Getting a Co-op

2010-12-04T16:40:00.000-05:00

When I was looking at different colleges in high school, something really attracted me to Georgia Tech: Their co-op program. As someone who will be applying for a job in my field (Mechanical Engineering) in a few years, there is one thing that standard college classes cannot give me: real world experience in my field. After 4 years of classes, I'm certain I will know countless tools and formulas to get the job done. However, there's a vast difference between having those tools and actually knowing when and where to use each one to get the job done efficiently.

That's the need that the co-op program fills--while working with real companies on real projects, the goal is to gain a framework for understanding everything I'm learning at Tech. I decided, along with many of my friends I made during my freshman year, to start my search for a co-op this semester, with the goal of beginning next semester--spring 2011.

The job search started back in September with Georgia Tech's career fair, then continued through October with interviews. After all the job applications and interviews, all that's left is to wait for the call.

Waiting is the hard part--especially when other people started getting offers and filling out paperwork! October went by, then November came. Still--no offer.

Then, I got an email for an on-site interview in South Carolina. Shortly after, an offer from another company. Then, a week later, a last minute call right before Thanksgiving from a third company! Both offers were stellar, and it was incredibly difficult to decide between them, but I'll be moving to Kentucky in January to start my first term! After 4 straight semesters of classes, the change of scenery will be very welcomed--stay tuned for updates coming in January!

Fall Recap

2010-11-30T23:33:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone. It's me, Krista. First of all, I can't believe this semester is almost over! It seems like almost yesterday I was experiencing my first week at Tech.

Things I have learned during my first semester at Tech
1) Buy a pair of rainboots. -> I have yet to buy a pair, but I definitely will over winter break. Walking around in soaking wet tennis shoes is not fun (and I also want to be a puddle splasher).

2) Get a head start on homework. -> This one seems obvious, I know, but mounds of homework is no fun.

3) Take some time to enjoy yourself. -> Honestly, getting homework and studying for tests is crucial, but if you don't take time to have a little fun, you'll just be miserable. Balancing out fun/work is important.

4) Take time to meet the people in your classes/dorm. -> Admittedly, this can be hard in a big lecture class, but the extra effort is worth it! This is a great way to find people to study with and make friends. I have also found it really convenient to find people in your classes that live nearby. To use a specific example, I was really shocked at how many people in my Calculus class live in my dorm, and we typically study together as well. It may seem like a long shot, but it's really not.

5) Take advantage of review sessions, tutors, PLUS sessions, etc.

6) Remember where you place things. -> This one seems obvious too, but I think I have misplaced more things this semester than my entire life. Luckily, I have not lost anything major.

7) Explore Atlanta. -> This one kind of goes with #3, but Atlanta is a big city that should be experienced.

8) Create to-do lists. -> Great way to keep track of things.

9) Always carry umbrella. -> Rain can be surprising.

Enjoy the little things in life...

2010-11-30T23:12:00.005-05:00

This week is going to be hard. I have a Biology 1520 test this Thursday and the course material isn't at all pertinent to my major (Business) or what I want to do "when I grow up," but I guess that life isn't always about doing what you want. The little things make life much better and even when it seems unbearable.

I stay with my girlfriend, who lives on Peachtree, quite a bit. It is nice being able to sleep on a queen sized bed and not be confined to a twin XL. It is nice to have space and room to stretch. But most of all, it is nice to be able to have pets! The best thing about visiting my girlfriend is most definitely being able to play with Butters the cat. Older students often move off campus and living away from school definitely gives you the feeling of independence. Even though swamped with work, I am enjoying life through the little things. Take a look!

Best ice cream flavor

Cool cat

Mood lighting for studying

river rapids on techwood drive (freshman adventures? pt 7)

2010-11-30T22:59:00.003-05:00

It's raining... it's pouring... but the hours of the day are still filled with classes, as usual...

One of the big changes that you have to prepare for in college is this: getting places, specifically, class. In high school, typically all the classes are in one building... or atleast nearby buildings. In college, especially a medium-sized public university like Tech, you have to leave yourself a good 10 minutes before your class starts to begin your trek across campus. On autumn days with crisp breezes and foliage-filled scenic routes, walking by foot throughout the lovely downtown A-T-L campus is a wonderful mode of transportation. On days like today (100% chance of precipitation with an incessant tornado watch,) this walk is slightly dreadful. (Oh, and there's always the GA Tech bus system, but I avoid the bus when possible because walking burns more calories! And so I can one day tell my kids the "In my day... we walked to class 10 miles in a hurricane..." stories.) The fun thing about the walk, though, is laughing at your friends as they get splashed by cars speeding down Georgia Tech's infamous "Freshman Hill." Now that's just good, clean entertainment.

One piece of advice for future techies... INVEST IN A PAIR OF RAIN-BOOTS. This is one type of footwear that is highly respected on our smart campus. Especially when us stylish "co-eds" (aka female college students) flaunt our cute printed boots. I am still waiting for the day when I see one of my guy friends walking down the street in his new yellow, knee-high, rubber shoes. I'm sure it will happen soon.... as I know many of them must certainly have put rain-boots on their Christmas lists.

As you can see, the girls on my hall were well-prepared for our day full of [unintentional] puddle jumping...

Warm and dry wishes to you all! Straight from wet, "Cold"lanta :)

- Chelsea Mitchell

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-29T22:58:00.005-05:00

This is a belated happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all enjoyed turkey and plenty of pie. Thanksgiving is such a big deal here in the States. It's one more excuse to feast on bountiful foods and be thankful for all the blessings in our lives.

College this year has just given me one more (and thousands more) reasons to be thankful.

Check out where I spent Thanksgiving break:

That's Navarre Beach, Florida~ Isn't it beautiful? I enjoyed about half my break at my aunt's condo, a couple hours from my home. It was so relaxing, listening to the waves, pondering into the stars, and chilling with family. It left me feeling so relaxed and ready to conquer the world...or at least my exams.

Other momentous occasions during my break include FINALLY seeing Harry Potter 7 (Soooooo awesome!) and goofing off in the park with my friends from high school.

Perhaps you don't feel like this at all, but I know before leaving for college I was terrified and saddened and worried about being so far from my friends. I was utterly convinced we'd fall out of touch and never see each other again. (Or at least, a slightly less extreme version of the same would happen.) Not a single one of my friends are attending the same school and we're spread across four different states.

Never fear.

While I haven't kept as close contact as I would like with certain friends, I also have stayed more in touch than I would have expected with others. (Even more happy news: my best friend and I chat on the computer often and arrange long phone calls with each other; I know the names of her new friends and she's met some of mine.)

Moral of this story? A crowd of about ten of us hung out at the park on Saturday. While it wasn't "just like the old times," it was a phenomenal time. In some ways I feel like I've haven't been miles and miles apart. True friendships don't fade that easily. Actually, it was pretty cool to hear about their new lives, their adventures, and all the amusing college stories they told.

So don't fret about losing your best friends by coming to college... Trust me, it'll all work out.

Beginning of the End

2010-11-29T19:43:00.006-05:00

Georgia Tech has taught me to appreciate the things in life we might take for granted: Loyal friends across the nation, a loving family, good food on the table, sleeping in on weekends. This Thanksgiving break was wonderful because I was allowed to cherish each and every one of those items.

Unfortunately the fast-paced collegiate world makes everything seem too short. Never before have I found myself saying "and hour is not enough!"

With that said, Thanksgiving break is over, and I am flown back to my apartment in Atlanta. Only three weeks remain before Winter break (and before I get to see my brother graduate as a Yellow Jacket himself!). However things are never just that easy. As most extracurricular activities seem to wrap up for the semester, the studying period begins.

I feel like finals time is when real peer bonding occurs. Lots of students collaborate to form study groups and participate in late night activities like midnight doughnut socials at the library, or synchronized midnight screams lamenting from the pains of studying. And of course, there is always pizza.

Meanwhile, some friends and I have submitted an intent to compete in Georgia Tech's Inventure Prize, the institute's motivation to get students thinking about innovation and entrepreneurial interests.

I feel like the sign summarizes the gist of it. Any guesses to what we'll be designing? More details to come!

-Jamison Go

Becoming an Adult

2010-11-29T11:29:00.002-05:00

When you go home to visit family, should you still be subjected to the same rules you did as a high schooler? Do your parents enforce a curfew? Can't have a girlfriend? Can't have a boyfriend? Are you working towards a career that your parents chose for you?

No matter what, your parents will continue to play a huge influence on your life, and because they have spent so much of their time raising you and living a life revolving around you, they feel entitled to still have a say in your life and your decisions. Whether or not it is right, well, that might be irrelevant, because you would be hard pressed to convince your parents to actually let you be an "adult."

I have always been given a great deal of freedom in my life. My parents believe that growing up means experiencing the consequences of one's own decisions in every walk of life. Other parents do not feel the same way and have a false sense that they alone can protect their children from the big scary world.

I was thinking about parent/college student relationships this past break because several of my friends were unable to get a late bite to eat with me. They are 20 years of age.

Anyways, I had a comforting Thanksgiving break. I finally upgraded to a smartphone (big deal to me) and got to spend some valuable time with my family.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T15:53:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone. First of all, I hope you are having a great Thanksgiving break!

Studio on Saturday Night

School has been pretty hectic lately. Tuesday was my second studio review. The days before Tuesday consisted of making sure all my work was ready. Honestly, before I started Common First Year, I really had no idea what to expect. Now that this semester is nearly over, I can say that CFY has pushed me to my limits. Throughout the semester, I have constantly surprised myself by the work I have produced. I have also become very close with my fellow studio mates, which is my favorite aspect of CFY. I am positive I would not have been able to build a close bond with my classmates in any other class.

Through CFY, I have also realized that the design field is not for me. I feel that I would be better suited for something more technical. Through careful consideration, I changed my major to Mechanical Engineering and will not be completing the second part of CFY. One of the great things about CFY is that early on, students can learn if their chosen major is a good choice. In other majors, a student may not realize it until their second year because of all the core class requirements.

Also, as high school seniors and college freshmen, many of us do not really know what we want, so try not to stress about choosing a major. You have plenty of time to realize what is a good fit (and what's not!) :)

we are family (freshman adventures #6)

2010-11-22T15:18:00.004-05:00

So, tomorrow is my last day of classes before Thanksgiving break, because all my Wednesday classes were...CANCELLED!

Unfortunately, I have a Calculus test before I am free at last for the week. So, while I put off studying for that, I'll tell you guys about things that are going on where I am right

now, in my dorm.

Everybody's packing their bags and getting ready to head home for thanksgiving. Kelsey, from room 110 next door, just took Rachael from down the hall to the airport to catch her 2:00 flight back to Kansas City. It's really a weird feeling. We all are like family. We're so happy to go home and see our real life families, but right now it just

feels strange knowing that we'll be some place else, away from the community we've built, for a whole week. I guess that's what college--specifically living in a dorm-- does to you. You grow so close to these people that a few months ago you were too nervous go across the hall and talk to. It's kind of cool!

This is how our family runs: We all sit in our hallway (literally) late and help each other with our WebAssigns. Cause that's what a family is for right? Moral support? Tech homework support? Helping each other keep our sanity? Well these girls on my hall have done a pretty darn good job helping me out. And I'm gonna miss them this week!

Something else I'm going to miss is this sweet cat that hangs out with me in the freshman quad some days. Yesterday, I had a photo shoot...and I must say...this cat is an excellent model!

Also, my friend Hilary and I had the most amazing leaf-pile jumping experience outside our sorority house last week. Tech is GORGEOUS in the fall!

Hope you all have a marvelous Thanksgiving :)

i get by with a little help from my friends

2010-11-20T14:48:00.005-05:00

Oh my goodness, has it been a rough month! When you get to be old and a senior like me, it gets a bit difficult to balance school work, clubs, finding a job (or internship in my case) and a social life all at the same time. Let me say this, it has been a whirlwind of a month filled with much happiness and stress at the same time... filled with many lessons (like the one I learned last night that no matter how much you want to save money, cutting your own hair is a really bad idea). Just in November, there's been job interviews, the launch of the social entrepreneurship conference my friends and I hosted, sorority mixers and semiformals, reuniting with ages old friends, tests and quizzes and so much more. So, let's break my November down ladies and gentleman:

Looking for an Internship

Never a fun process, no matter where you go and what people tell you (just look at my blog post about it: here). Out of the ridiculous amount of places I applied to, I snagged a first and second round interview with KPMG in Atlanta. They're one of the big four companies in tax, audit and advisory in the nation. After the first round interview on campus, I got an invitation to visit the office in downtown Atlanta. Yes, while the job process is not a fun one, you do get to have a lot of fun at these sort of events. KPMG put me in the W-Hotel for the night and took us out to dinner at this fabulous steakhouse called Rathburn's, their treat. I definitely did a happy dance when I got to my hotel room as the only word to describe it was BALLIN'. The interview went splendidly as well, since I got to meet a Tech grad who works in the department I was interviewing with (she's an ISYE too!). It's always nice to know what kind of future your major can lead you to.

Lessons Learned:

Be humble, but don't be afraid to brag about your achievements in an interview (you deserve it!). When answering questions, follow the STAR method of story telling (Situation, Transition, Action, Result). It goes long ways.
Show your personality with a smile. Be pleasant, even if it's not in your nature. No one wants a Debbie Downer or an Awkward Nancy.
No matter what alma mater your interviewer comes from, just go with it. Sometimes, you'll be put in a situation where your being interviewed by a football rival of your school (*cough* maybe UGA *cough*). Put your die-hard fan aside, and try to find the commonalities between you and your interviewer if football is the topic of conversation. Being a jerk about it won't get you the job, but being able to put a positive spin on things will get you noticed. Don't be a suck-up though. Sometimes good criticism or commentary goes a long way.

Being Active on Campus

Like I said, I'm busy. October 30th, we marked the launch of the first (potentially annual) Enterprise 2 Empower Conference on Social Entrepreneurship. It's the first conference of this matter that was ever done in Atlanta, and completely student led. Essentially about 6 friends and I joined up together to put it on, and in the end we had 200+ participants and numerous speakers. Seriously, Tech students are STARTERS, proving once again what we as students are capable of.

Now comes the arduous task of figuring out, what next? I'll let you know when we do.

Lessons Learned:

Don't overbook yourself. It hurts you in ways unimaginable.
In case you get hurt overbooking yourself, always package your materials together so you can hand it off to the next person as easily as possible.

With a Little Help from my Friends

Quite possibly the only thing keeping me sane lately is my friend. Don't get me wrong, sorority mixers are a load of fun, but truly, nothing beats just kicking it with your pals with a good meal and a good movie. Last week, a couple of study abroad friends and I had a little reunion at an amazing tapas restaurant called Pura Vida. Afterwards we rented movies and baked cupcakes at one of my friend's apartments. This was probably the most chill and fun moment of my semester. That's all you really need.

Top 5 Reasons to Apply Early for Financial Aid

2010-11-19T10:22:00.006-05:00

Written by Jennifer Mullins, Associate Director of Financial Aid

Top 5 Reasons to Apply Early for Financial Aid

5. Keep your options open. Don't count yourself out by failing to apply.

4. Avoid multiple email and phone reminders from the Financial Aid Office! As soon as you apply for admission, our office will start asking if you want to apply for financial aid. It may be too late after you're admitted, so don't wait. All funds, including student loans and the Georgia HOPE scholarship, are considered financial aid.

3. Have the best information posible as soon as possible for making your college choice. Information is essential for making good decisions. Your college choice is too important to make without having all the facts.

2. Be considered for scholarships with early deadline dates. Georgia Tech Alumni Club scholarships have early deadlines. Right after January 1, go to http://www.finaid.gatech.edu/scholarships/ for a link to additional information. Many private scholarships also have early deadlines. Research them early by reading this article and following its suggestions. Many of these scholarships will ask our office to confirm your eligibility, which requires having an application on file.

And the # 1 reason is:

1. $$$$$ For the neediest non-resident students, meeting the March 1 deadline can make a substantial dollar difference in grants and scholarships offered. No institutional funds are offered to students who do not meet this deadline.

To meet the deadline, complete two forms:

1. Georgia Tech Application for scholarships and financial aid (GT APP). Available now!

2. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Available beginning January 1. Allow at least one week for FAFSA processing to ensure that the form will be received by Georgia Tech's Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid by the March 1 deadline. (Being on time is most important even if you have to use estimates).

What a Relief!

2010-11-18T09:59:00.003-05:00

While I'll have more exciting news to note in a few days, for now I decided to drop a line in a let you know... I made a B on my last Calc test!!! This is a drastic improvement upon my last one. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the grade.

Please, now, don't take this news the wrong way. Don't think, "Oh no! She's celebrating a B! Tech must be too hard!"

It's not.

My study habits just weren't up to par. I know this is a little early t

o think of yourselves as incoming freshman... but here are some things I've learned this year that you might want to remember:

1) Do the homework. Seriously. My Calc professor assigns a lot of homework... It might take me half an hour to learn how to do the first problem after looking at my notes and the books, but by the time I reach the last problem, I'm doing the math in under five minutes. It's crazy. (:

2) Go to the reviews your professors, TAs, or other people set up-- Familiarity with the subject matter...even if you think you already know... just makes it that much better/easier.

3) Find a friend to study with or do homework with. If you're asking

questions or answering questions you find you understand the material better and the connections it has with material you've previously learned. Also, it's nice to have the support group.

Those three things have made an incredible difference.

And sometimes, you need a little time to just goof off.

An impromptu game of ping pong in the lobby of our dorm

Winding Up While Winding Down

2010-11-14T23:54:00.010-05:00

The semester is coming to an end but things aren't slowing down one bit. The last wave of exams are flowing in, people are choosing classes for the Spring. I have a two quizzes and a research paper due in the next two weeks, but there is always time for a few campus snapshots.

On Friday I ventured over to the MARC building on west campus to spectate the semesterly ME2110 (Creative Decisions and Design) Competition that Joshua described a few posts back. I have no idea how many people were there, but apparently enough to fill all four floors of the facility.

The Ramblin' Wreck rushes by crazily, honking its horn in spirit of Saturday's game against the University of Miami. I decided to participate in a service project with Alpha Phi Omega so I missed the game. Never before have I missed a home game! Arrrg!

But building the flowerbed for Kennedy Middle School was worth it. We spent 4 hours on Saturday preparing posters for the walls, constructing a flowerbed in the courtyard, and buying new school supplies to support a brighter future. Here is a praying mantis we found among the shrubbery.

The longboard (http://thevariableconstant.blogspot.com/2010/11/hardboard-death-metal-m.html) is coming together as well. I spent the night at the Invention Studio (where I work) and built new resistive springs for the trucks. With the circuit boards fabricated, I'll be riding this around campus in no time!

Stay warm!
-Jamison Go

Time Management

2010-11-02T15:37:00.010-04:00

Hi everyone. This is Krista. One of the biggest things college has taught me so far is time management. Before I started this semester, I thought I was decent at managing my time, but I realized just how wrong I was. I spend hours doing studio work every week, so time management is crucial. Here are a few things that I have found useful!

1) Keeping a planner
Keeping a planner is a useful tool to remember all of the homework I have to do. After doing the assignment, I like to cross it out to help give me a sense of accomplishment. I received this nifty planner from my GT1000 class.

2) Creating schedules
Creating schedules gives me a clear sense of when I should do start studying or do an assignment and approximately when I will finish. Schedules also help me visualize when I can start doing a few fun things (after I've done some work, of course). Even though I keep my schedules pretty flexible, I feel that it helps me a lot.

3) Doing assignments in advance
I know this is seems like a given, but I've found that if I do most of my assignments for the week over weekend, aside from studio work, I am less stressed over the week. Plus, I can sleep more.

Last, remember to breathe in and out!

Stress

2010-10-30T11:17:00.002-04:00

Sitting in the middle of the room, cross-legged on the floor, head in my hands with books and papers and pens spread in a chaotic jumble around me: this image has become familiar in the past weeks. Sometimes the stress gets the best of me. I hole up my dorm finishing homework or studying for this exam or that quiz until I want to explode.

Woah.

I'll be the first to admit I haven't managed my time appropriately. Sometimes the occasional stopping by a friend's room or peeking on Facebook drags out much longer than anticipated. Sometimes the all-too-tempting nap lasts a few minutes -or hours- longer than it ought. Sometimes I procrastinate the studying or the finishing of homework until too late...when really I had so much time on my hands that week. It seems like the more free time I discover the less work that actually gets accomplished.

This type of activity is detrimental. So what have I done? Well, first of all, I've limited my Facebooking time. My roommate informed me of this nifty function on Google Chrome that you can use to set time limits on how long you can view a website in a day. I haven't yet downloaded Google Chrome, but I forsee that in my future.

I also know I need to get more on top of things. The workload is totally doable. There's no question of that. You just need to conquer it before it conquers you.

...

But, even in these moments of stress, I'm still reminded WHY I want to do this. I'm not a masochist. I don't enjoy pain. But...

I love Tech.

I love the people, I love the environment, the campus... I have all these moments that reduce stress-- The little moments make it worthwhile. Like last night, for instance. I was up all hours, first at a Haunted House (first one ever...oh my) then chilling and playing card games. Being surrounded by your peers in such an intense environment is incredible. Everyone is so bright and intelligent and funny. Tech breaks stereotypes as well as creates them.

But Tech is so worth it. The mental stimulation is empowering. When you grasp a concept, that moment of elucidation is imprinted on your mind. The elation is incredible. (: It's so awesome to see ideas and theorems tie together, or to make the connection between one class and another. And especially in the end, when I look to the future, I know that it's going to be worthwhile.

And really, it's not all stress. It's not always stressful. It's just that sometimes those times of stress seem to overshadow all the good moments. Sometimes I forget the good stuff... But I always have my friends and hallmates to remind me again.

Seriously, everyone is so encouraging! Friends and hallmates always are telling each other "You can do it!" Professors are always willing to help; upperclassmen are, too. There are so many opportunities for help and tutoring and the like... but that's a topic for another post.

On the bright side, since I finished my lab report, I'm off for a weekend of Halloween festivities!

--Kyle Marie Jacobsen

For making through this word-y post, here's a picture of the pumpkin I carved yesterday!!

Moving Off Campus

2010-10-30T09:26:00.003-04:00

Well, I did the one thing I never expected to do during my college career, I moved off campus. Granted, I had to do it for health reasons, however, I eventually want to move back to campus for a semester or two before I graduate. It's a really different feeling to not live on campus, for instance, I can't just wake up 20 minutes before my class and be there in 2 minutes by walking. I have to wake up at least 45 minutes before my first class and be out of my apartment at least 20 minutes before, to account for heavy traffic, finding a parking spot, and then walking to the building where I have my class.

It really is a sort of disconnect. I had a friend from high school who commuted 45 minutes her freshman year and didn't really feel like a part of the tech community until she moved on campus this year. Luckily, I live in a manageable walking/biking distance and about a five minute drive with light traffic.

Living off campus, you really have to push yourself to keep up with on-campus activities and events. It helps if you are/were involved with a lot to begin with, like I am, so I am still on campus most of the day and it's fairly easy to keep up with my friends and colleagues. Overall, the moral of the story is, living on campus is a great option that you should take advantage of, especially the freshman experience--I made some really great friends and memories living in a freshman dorm that I wouldn't have made otherwise!

In other news, the lookout cube on the top of Van Leer has an amazing view of the Atlanta skyline!

-Coleen

This is How We Roll

2010-10-30T04:08:00.001-04:00

I had an exceptionally awesome Wednesday this week! It wasn't because I scored a 94% on my Digital Signal Processing exam (which is typically unheard of at Tech), finally finished my 8th lab in Digital Design Laboratory (a grand total of 7 hours), or won a costume contest with my Tony Stark/ Iron Man duds at the North Avenue Apartments Fall Festival. It was because my fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, wrapped up a solid first game (and victory) in intramural bowling!

The rules are online, but I'll glaze over them quickly. Every match we play three games: two normal sets of 5 substitutable people and one "baker game", which is an interesting variant where five members of a team all contribute to one game by bowling 2 frames each. Each game is worth 2 points, and the team with the highest number of pins for the night is awarded an extra point.

That Wednesday evening at 8pm, we played against "PDT B" in the independent division. The first game was a close win (595 to 562) but we pulled away in the second game (620 to 516). Winning the first two games gave us a solid 4 points, and winning the pin (1315 pins!) count gave us an extra 1 point for a total of 5. As of this moment, we are ranked #15 (of 45) over all divisions this season, and #1 in our division!

It was such great fun to be among friends, sharing the sweet nectar that is victory. There were many high-fives to go around, as well as specialty cheers consisting of chest bumping crossed forearms to indicate a strike. Hopefully there we be more of those as we enter game 2 a 6pm next week Wednesday.

Stay warm and enjoy the Halloween festivities!

APPLY TO THE PRESIDENT'S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM BY NOV 1st!

2010-10-27T23:33:00.011-04:00

November is quickly approaching, and many of you have applied or are currently in the process of applying to Tech. You've probably noticed the essay and all the other markings for the President's Scholarship. But, what's really motivating you to apply by that November 1st deadline? You might be asking, am I good enough? Do I even stand a chance? What benefits do being a President's Scholarship really bring?

Believe me, four years ago, I was in your shoes. I applied for the President's Scholarship on a complete whim, not even thinking for a second that I would qualify. Four years later, I'm so glad I applied. As a fourth year, the program has afforded me so many opportunity beyond the realms of just financial support. It's allowed me to meet new friends, network with leaders on campus and off campus, and even make my own mark on my Tech education and experience.

Why apply? Well that question might take forever to answer, but I will note down my top five reasons.

You come into Tech on the first day with 50-60 of your best friends

Before Tech even begins for the fall semester, you have the opportunity to meet all of the other scholars in your freshman class through recruitment events, interviews and even the fall retreat (especially the fall retreat). The fall retreat is literally an experience to remember. There's literally no better way to bond with 50-60 people other than to go camping and hiking for a week. There's really no other way to explain it other than that I get really jealous of the freshmen coming in from the retreat every year because it's so much fun and so amazing!

You have the opportunity (and even financial support) to study abroad in some amazing places

One of the greatest benefits of the PS Program is that you have the opportunity to apply for the Fleet Scholarship, which supports scholars financially if they want to study abroad. I applied before I went to Georgia Tech Lorraine, and it helped so much to convince my parents to let me go. Not only did it cover the cost of living and tuition, I even had some money left in my bank account to go to some amazing places in Europe like Barcelona, Spain or Dubrovnik, Croatia. In addition if a formal study abroad trip isn't what you had in mind, some PSes organize trips themselves, like a hiking trip to Costa Rica, etc..

You come from a long line of other successful PSes who you can network with

SGA presidents, community activists, newspaper writers, you name it. There has probably been someone who you can talk to or even help you start an initiative. We take care of each other, whether it's a fifth year or just a freshman. Not to mention, PS alums have been known to chat and even help students find job placements or resources outside of Tech. Just a couple months ago, I had the opportunity to meet Alex Wan, a PS alum and one of the current Atlanta City Councilman at a PS event. We hit it off, and now I'm planning on using him as a means to get involved in the Asian American community in Atlanta. :)!

You have the most amazing mentors and advisors anytime you need them
Take away all the glitz and the glamour, you have Billiee and Randy to support you all of the way. These two are literally the people who take care of you when you are away from home. I can not tell you how many times I've sat on Billiee's couch or across from Randy contemplating big life decisions or just talking about photography or TV shows. In addition, the program also provides older mentors through GT1000 classes and a mentorship program so you can have someone to guide you along. I know my mentor Jonathan has changed my life by helping me get involved and everything, to the extent that I can call him my brother.
You get to see sides of Tech you can't even imagine!

From the GT1000 classes to the planned programming, you get opportunities to access parts of Tech that the normal student sometimes doesn't ever get to see (unless you get the motivation to get up and go see it). There are library archive tours, tailgates, tours of the Coca Cola headquarters and etiquette dinners to help you through your time at Tech.

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! Submit your application by next Monday, November 1st! Trying goes a much longer way than not trying!

If you guys have any questions about the scholarship program, the process, etc. comment/ask and I will try to help you as best I can!

chelsea mitchell, college athlete? (adventures of a freshie pt 5)

2010-10-26T12:20:00.004-04:00

When I say "college athletics," what's the first thought that comes into your head?

Maybe something along the lines of the NCAA, the recruiting process, ESPN sports, and physically fit students walking around campus with their matching book-bags and warm-up suits.

This, my friend, would be a semi-accurate depiction of varsity

sports at Georgia Tech; however, that's not all there is to the life of a college athlete, oh no. Welcome to the little known world of college club sports...a world with which I was very unfamiliar up until a few months ago.

Let's rewind to my FASET orientation weekend, right before I came to school at Georgia Tech. During orientation, there is basically a clubs and organizations "fair," where many of the clubs on campus set up booths with information and student representatives. After walking around and talking to people from the Panhellenic Council, the school new

spaper, and Outdoor Recreation Georgia Tech (fondly known as O.R.G.T.,) I came across a booth for the rowing club. I was interested in the sport mainly because it looked cool and I was told I have the right body-type to be the coxswain of a boat, but didn't think too much of it. A few weeks later though... I found myself at, you guessed it, CREW TEAM TRY-OUTS.

Now, I find myself one of the crew team's newest members...as the coxswain. If you're unfamiliar with the sport, basically there are 8 people (or less) in a very narrow boat, and in addition typically a coxswain. The coxswain is someone who steers the boat and calls out the rhythm, as well as different techniques that can be used to move the boat. The rowers each have an oar that they use to pull our boat, but since I'm steering the boat I don't have an oar. I'm a pretty small person, just a tad over 5 feet tall, so that's why I'm the right size for a coxswain, who doesn't pull her own weight--literally.

I've been practicing with the team, composed of several awesome and beastly girls, for a couple of months now, and we've even had our first regatta (the name for crew races, held on large bodies of water such as the Tennessee River.) Crew team is something I never imagined I'd be involved in.... but now it's such a huge part of my life. And I love it! Who knew? Just goes to show anything can happen. As long as you keep yourself open, opportunities really do come knocking!

The life of a Mechanical Engineer: Part 2

2010-10-25T16:46:00.001-04:00

A handful of weeks back I told you about the projects going on in my Creative Design class this fall. Back then, I was just starting to learn about the design process and had barely gotten my feet wet in lab. Now, I'm right in the middle of one of the most critical weeks in the class.

Unlike all of my other classes at Tech, ME 2110 has a strange schedule--that is, the official end of the class is in the middle of November, a whole month earlier than the rest. I didn't understand why a month or two ago, but now it's clear--this scheduling offset is critical, otherwise I wouldn't be able to sleep! Let me explain:

November 12th is the class-wide competition between each team's final project. This semester's goal is to build a robot that represents a fire, search, and rescue autonomous ground vehicle. The competition arena is a square with one robot per side. To score points, the robot must drop "smoke jumpers" (squash balls) into the rotating holes in the top of the rotating rescue zone, rescue a "hiker" (bowling pin) by taking it back to the starting zone, deploy "fire breaks" (the black canisters at the edges of each section), and deploy the "Aerial fire break" once the robot has made it back into the starting zone. To top it all off, the rotating rescue zone has a sensor that can detect the robot if it doesn't grab the hiker and withdraw quick enough. If the robot is detected, dice are put into the zone, subtracting from your overall score. To win, the robot has to out-score the opponents for roughly 12 consecutive rounds.

While the competition is three weeks away, the first testing round is on Thursday--so we need a constructed robot that is working in less than a week! I've been meeting with my team members every day since Fall break ended for hours each day.

Tuesday and Wednesday, we took our concepts generated from our morph chart, placed them in an evaluation matrix, and came up with the final concept. Early Thursday morning we made our first trip to Home Depot (we've since become friends with the cashiers!!) and started construction during lab in the afternoon (~5 hours total on Thursday). Friday after a quick bite to eat and another run to Home Depot, we spent the afternoon figuring out how to mount the wheel assembly to our drawer slider assembly (~4 hours).

The robot at the end of Friday

As we need a working robot by Thursday, today (Saturday) was the day to get as much as possible done. We started out the day at 9am, and then spent two hours driving to Home Depot and multiple Ace Hardware stores (not many people carry metric couplers!), then mounted the wheel assembly (it had been drying overnight), and put in a third set of drawer sliders that were part of the assembly for grabbing the bowling pin. A platform was mounted onto the final set of sliders, and a pneumatic pump placed so it can quickly push the platform towards the rescue zone, grab the hiker, and withdraw before it is detected.

At 4pm on Saturday

At 4pm, we took our first break since 9am to eat. Time flies when you're having fun! After a few hour break, we were back at it--for another three hours. As of 11pm tonight, we had the grabbing mechanism done and functional! After 11 hours of work today, we've made huge amounts of progress. A few more hours on Sunday and we'll be nearing completion of construction--with only testing and coding to complete!

Update: Here's a quick update from Sunday night's progress after another 7 hours of work!

Sunday at 8:30pm

More to come!

-Joshua

Eating Out

2010-10-25T10:26:00.006-04:00

Hey guys! School has been pretty hectic lately, but last weekend my sister came to celebrate my birthday. She took me out to dinner, and then we went to Atlantic Station. We ate dinner at Flip Burger. The owner was a contestant on Top Chef, a show that I love, so I was very excited to try it out. We ate outside, so it was hard to take decent pictures. Sorry about that!

This was a Nutella and burnt marshmallow milkshake. Can you say yum?

We also went to Atlantic Station, which is actually walking distance from Tech. If you decide to walk, however, make sure to go with a group of friends! It is safer and more entertaining. Anyway, in Atlantic Station, there is this dessert store named Kilwin's. I had a caramel apple, and it was amazing!

It paid off...

2010-10-24T22:49:00.004-04:00

Imagine practicing two times a week from 8pm-2am for the past two weeks. Now imagine that combined with the work and stress that Georgia Tech Academics brings you. This past weekend, it all paid off. We brought that check for $1000 dollars home. Representing Georgia Tech at Rangoli, a national dance competition, Qurbani won first place! Another team from GT, Ramblin' Raas also won first place in their category. Two wins for GT this past weekend. Video coming soon!

Homecoming!

2010-10-20T22:09:00.004-04:00

Woah. It's been crazy over here! I've been so busy!! As the others have mentioned, last weekend was Fall Break... But before that... It was Homecoming! I know, I know, I'm a little behind the times.

However.... Homecoming was a most awesome experience!

One of the events was called the "Mini 500." You have a team of about six members. Three are the "pit crew" and the other three are the riders. What do they ride? Tricycles! Yes, the three wheeled bikes made for three year olds. In an intense competition, they cycle around a parking garage, competing to place. My dorm had a team-- They placed third! See, one of the tricks to winning is that your trike actually has to last the entire race... And that's not as easy as that sounds! Many, many lost wheels, or the seats, or tires... or just plain fell apart.

Check out some of the pictures!!

I realize that's a very short, simple view of this homecoming event... But I guess that just means you'll have to come to Tech and check it out yourself! It's awesomely intense. Promise!

I'll be back in a few days to post more pictures (and explanations) of other homecoming events!!

- Kyle Marie Jacobsen

Fall Break: Music & Work

2010-10-19T12:18:00.005-04:00

I'm sitting in my apartment, back early from fall break, reviewing my health insurance plan that I got from interning over the summer. Boring, right?

I guess I'm going to have to blog about something more interesting then. Fall break is quickly coming to a close, and my goodness, I'm thankful for it. The last two months have been interminable. However, I guess we at Tech do it ourselves, because technically we don't have to join a bunch of clubs or be super involved on campus. No harm in a little busyness, as I always say.

It was a pretty relaxing fall break, if I do say so myself. I went home for the first time forever. Home is thirty minutes north which is the funny part, but it was good just to relax at home. I came back early last night though to catch a concert in Atlanta. My friends and I went to see this small independent singer David Choi over at the Red Light Cafe. David is more famous as a YouTube artist, if you ever heard of him.

We got to hang out with David a little bit after the concert. He was so nice and awesome, and at the end we got him to promise that if he ever was back in Atlanta we'd be taking him out for breakfast at the Flying Biscuit. If you're curious for a little taste of his music though, I'm attaching a video at the very end (yay for Tech and technology!). You can also start checking out more of my videos of adventures on my YouTube page. I'm going to try to post videos of all the concerts I go to at my YouTube page so you don't just have to read about them.

Fall Break: The Calm Before Hell Week

2010-10-19T02:47:00.006-04:00

*takes a sip of caffeinated cola*

We enjoy our time here at Tech, but its not all fun and games. While many of my friends are relaxing at home over our 4-day weekend, I elected to stay on campus because next week would be my Hell Week.

"Hell Week" is pretty much the week where everything piles up in one period of time and requires long days and nights to get everything done. It isn't something planned, but is really some unfortunate consequence of regularly scheduled exams. Furthermore it appears every student will have at least one "Hell Week" per semester at Tech.

Well here's mine: I have 5 (of 6) exams over a span of 3 days, accompanied by 2 lab reports, and the little homework assignments that add insult to injury. I have stayed up since 6am for the past 2 nights and was able to knock out quite a few assignments but it seems I may approach number 3 tonight. Looks like the longboard (http://thevariableconstant.blogspot.com/2010/10/moar-bord.html) is going to be put on hold for a week.

*takes another sip of caffeinated cola*

It's tough but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Cheers!

-Jamison Go

Weekends at Tech

2010-10-18T23:34:00.006-04:00

Hey guys! Right now, I am enjoying the rest of my fall break. I went home, so it was great seeing my family and friends. I generally spend my weekends at Tech, however, Weekends at Tech are great because I can catch up on sleep, hang out with friends, and of course do a little bit of homework! Here are a few things I did the past few weekends:

My friends and I baked a massive cookie.

I went to Garba (traditional Indian dance), which was hosted by India Club. Being Indian, I have went to Garba since I was a kid, and I have to say that Garba at Tech was very enjoyable! I especially loved spreading Indian culture with all of my friends.

And of course, I went to the Homecoming game!

Fall Break!

2010-10-18T21:17:00.006-04:00

Last week was rough. If you haven't noticed, I like writing about relaxing and about different things to do to get away from Georgia Tech. Continuing that tradition, here is a post about camping. I went up north for a mini camping trip with several of my friends in my fraternity to Cloudland Canyon State Park. There is something truly liberating about being outside of the city. Furthermore, you wouldn't imagine how easily a big fire, good food, and a guitar can bring people together.

Stopped at a train crossing.

I can't believe the weekend is already over...almost time to go back to the grind.

Behind the scenes in Undergraduate Admission

2010-10-18T11:13:00.007-04:00

Things are moving fast and furious in our office and on campus these days. We have counselors traveling from Puerto Rico to Connecticut- from Texas to Chicago- from Miami to California. So we hope you'll either be able to visit us or see us in your hometown soon.

Recently, we received approximately 4,500 applications for our October 1 Freshman Early Action deadline. If you are a part of this organized and talented group, we'll be releasing those admission decisions via Buzzport on November 19. On that day, your page will reflect either accept, defer or deny information. My November post on this blog will give a more thorough explication of each scenario. (If you have not already logged in, I encourage you to set up your account today!)

Once you have a Buzzport account, please check it weekly to insure we have all of your application materials, as well as to receive important news and updates from our office and campus overall.

So what's going on with your application right now? What does "File Under Review" really mean? After all, you agonized over reporting your extra-curriculars and your personal essay before finally (and for most of you on Sept. 30 or Oct. 1) hitting the "submit" button, so it's only natural to wonder, "Now what?"

Currently, our staff is trying to balance rental cars, hotel check-ins and fast food while also reading your essays, evaluating your involvement and potential contributions to the Tech campus and ethos, and verifying that your grades/classes and test scores are properly considered. Because our evaluation is holistic in nature, your file will be read by at least two different staff members- and typically more. Don't worry- we are completely paperless, so there is no danger of spilling ketchup or Chick-Fila sauce on your application (Keyboards be warned). If you want to know who your regional counselor is you can meet our staff online.

If you have not yet applied for freshman admission, I want to remind you that the November 1 deadline is nearly upon us. As long as you apply by this point, you will be fully considered for the President's Scholarship. Students who apply by November 1 will receive a decision on December 17.

I hope that this insight has helped to quell some of your anxiety. We genuinely appreciate your application and interest in Georgia Tech. If you have additional questions, I'd encourage you to post on our message boards or Ask Buzz!

Enjoy your Fall- and GO JACKETS!

Rick

Sign Up for Connect With Tech!

2010-10-18T10:33:00.004-04:00

Have you heard about Connect with Tech?!

It is an AWESOME program that lets you stay overnight with a REAL-life Georgia Tech student! I also happen to be a host for CWT and I participated in the program as a high school senior. It really gives you a glance into what life is like as a tech student and you even get to attend a class, meet with professors, and socialize with other prospective students.

Who is eligible?

High school seniors (prospective freshmen) with a 1900 SAT, 29 ACT Composite, or 190 PSAT score (recommended) and parents of these students.

What do you do?

Attend information sessions, panel discussions, question-and-answer sessions, tours, meals (in the dining halls and Student Center or Junior's Grill), and social events

Why should you attend?

You get to meet other students who are applying or have been accepted to Tech and interact with current students! Also, you should especially come if you are a girl who is planning on studying Industrial Design, because I haven't been able to host anyone yet and I really want to!

Guess what this means?

You should apply right now! Visit this link for more information and the registration form: http://www.admission.gatech.edu/campus_visits/cwt/

(See how excited everyone is for you to come visit?!)

-Coleen

Three Places to Know on Campus – With Pictures

2010-10-15T16:24:00.001-04:00

Klaus Advanced Computing Building

Klaus is the home of the College of Computing and has a LEED Gold Certification. It also holds part of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Howey Physics

Most first-year classes are held in one of the four large lecture halls housed in Howey. On the other side of the courtyard is the main building which serves as the home of the School of Physics and the GT Society of Physics Students.

Tech Tower

More formally known as the "Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Administration Building," Tech Tower is the oldest building on campus. The tower was one of the two original buildings constructed for the school in 1988 and is now a widely known historic landmark.

Atlanta eats!

2010-10-15T15:35:00.004-04:00

If you happen to read the blog quite often (say stretching back two years ago), you'd know that I LOVE FOOD. I'll also admit that my life hasn't really been that interesting with tests, clubs and conferences to plan for. However, I do make sure (against the better judgement of my wallet) to go out and let loose. By letting loose, of course, I mean with fantastic restaurants in Atlanta.

This month I got the opportunity to eat at two fabulous restaurants with completely different food and environments within the city of Atlanta -- Top Flr and Der Biergarten.

Top Flr is a restaurant located on the top floor of a small little house in the Midtown area. Walking in, you see candles light the way to the dim-lit upstairs that completely exudes the word "swank." Some of my sorority sisters and I went for our monthly family dinner for a night of fabulousness and splurging. I ordered the mint lamb chops and let me tell you, those were the juiciest lamb chops ever!

Later in the month, I decided to check out another side of international culinary fare in Atlanta with a place called Der Biergarten that just opened up downtown. We went for my birthday and absolutely loved it! (Take it from me, I went to Germany). It was probably the best wienerschniztel (pork covered and fried in bread crumbs) and spatzel (potato pasta) in the South!

Anyway, off to fall break!

-Vivian

The "Tech Bucket List" Part 1

2010-10-13T14:52:00.000-04:00

Last year, I made a mental list of some things I wanted to do before I graduated--such as racing with the Georgia Tech Cycling team, rock climbing on the wall, and bowling. This year, I discovered the key to cheap bowling at Tech--during the middle of the day on Wednesdays games are only $1! After getting out of class at 12, I grab lunch with some friends and then head over to play a few games. Am I good? By no means! However, I enjoy it, and it's one of the many opportunities at Tech to try your hand at different activities for much cheaper than you could otherwise!

Up next: Bouldering!

Joshua Longenecker

Engi-party: Late Night Buildfests!

2010-10-09T18:58:00.012-04:00

4am and I am in lab. For class? Absolutely not! I spent about 7 hours in the Invention Studio lab building whatever I liked, with whatever I pleased. Which in my case, included gratuitous use of the OMAX waterjet cutter to make parts for my wireless electric longboard. I bet you are wondering how exactly I have after-hours access to the heavily moderated areas of the institution...

...I am proud to announce my position as a member of the GT Makers club!

Part of President Petersen's Strategic Plan was to increase hands-on student involvement. With the help of our devoted professors, the GT Makers Club was born. Makers Club is a group of devoted students who love to express creative energies by making things. Our objective is to maintain a student machine shop where any person of any major will be able to enter the facility and make anything from intricate birthday presents to car parts.

Of course there are benefits! First and foremost is 24/7 access to the machine shop that has pricey machines including the aforementioned waterjet, laser cutter/engraver, milling machine, and lathe (aside from the drill press, anodizer, power tools, etc). I also have an interesting jurisdiction over college seniors because I am inversely a ULI (Undergraduate Laboratory Instructor) for ME 4182, which is Capstone Design, the final course in the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum.

So I basically spent that entire evening/morning with my roommate making parts for the steering mechanism on the boards. The picture above shows mounting blocks that will house the shaft for the steering arms. The first picture of the blog post shows a sheet of parts that will compose the steering arms that hold the wheels. More details can be found on my personal build blog.

It was really cool to expand my knowledge of the machining process. As members, we are trained on every device, and are expected to have a mastery on a specific tool. My machine is the waterjet, and I will baby it like a child.

The picture at the top is one of many sheets I machined that evening. Here is a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XcPHN6NJ3s

It only looks unexciting because the material must be submerged while it is being cut and the high pressure abrasive clouds up the water so it is really not visible above the surface. For those curious, that is 1/4" 6061 Aluminum.

Here is some laser machining done even later that night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtsL2brMVlA

Here the laser makes several passes at a lower intensity to avoid burning the material too much. For those curious, that is 1/32" G10-FR4 Garolite parts for rotor guards on someone's quadrotor project.

External Link to the Longboard (for Facebook):
http://thevariableconstant.blogspot.com/2010/07/spirit-of-building-return-to-fluffy.html

If you are interested, check out http://www.capstone.gatech.edu/ for more details!
As always I encourage everyone to visit my office hours to learn how to use the waterjet so stop by!

Cheers!
-Jamison Go

it's my homecoming birthday!

2010-10-09T18:19:00.004-04:00

I know it's been a while since I've posted! The last two weeks have been crazy with tests, quizzes, papers, homecoming and other stuff to do. Let's just say, I had a good reason not to post. Other than getting all of the tests over with, I must say this last week has been pretty event filled. Kicking off with the homecoming service project Team Buzz last Saturday, the week had been a mixer of competition and studying! Homecoming is more than just a football game here. It's a week long of competition and activity, ranging from powderpuff football to dropping eggs on people's faces (I was the "face" in my sorority).

Here's a picture of our sorority's Steal the T (aka Capture the Flag) team. I got to play photographer for the afternoon. It was super exciting!

Then of course Homecoming Week culminated in my birthday. Here's the thing I love about the people I've met here at Tech. Tech is pretty academically difficult, what have you. But you have your friends going through it with you at the same time. My friends knew I had been having a really hard last couple weeks with personal drama and school stress being all over the place. So Wednesday night (the night before my birthday), I come home from work to find this at my door:

Needless to say, I love my friends here. It really brought a huge smile to my face and a relief in my heart. Anyway, back to studying!

55 degrees, i need a better sweatshirt! (freshman times part 4)

2010-10-07T22:55:00.008-04:00

This is a snapshot I took the other day of one of the popular meeting places on campus. This intersection is the home of two bus stops and a lot of benches. It's right by all the freshman dorms, too, so I frequent the area. One of the great things about living in close proximity to so many friends is the ability to just say "hey, meet me HERE in a few minutes." The college life is very spontaneous, and it's something I'm truly learning to love. Being a freshman isn't all bad...

- Chelsea Mitchell

It's fall!

2010-10-04T18:54:00.000-04:00

Finally, the weather has changed. Despite how much you believe Atlanta is always hot, it's actually chilly here at Georgia Tech; I'm loving the crisp, refreshing weather! Better yet, it's just in time to make wearing a suit to interviews enjoyable.

Joshua

Intense!

2010-09-30T22:44:00.008-04:00

Who has ever heard of FARKLE before?? "The classic dice-rolling, risk taking game." It's a game with six dice, similar to Yatzee! but much more intense.

This game is the craziest, wildest, most awesome game you've every played--especially late at night. Sleep deprivation is optional.

Seriously, it's so much fun!

This one of the reasons why I'm thankful for the "Freshman Experience" program. You live in a dorm with all freshman and two "PLs" (Peer-Leaders) per floor. The girls in my dorm, Fitten, are totally awesome. I love them so much. We've had so many chances to bond... from Farkle! to late night scooter rides, games of twister, movies, and attending all the activities our PLs plan for us. We've had a donut social, an arts and crafts night, an outdoor game night, and lots of free food, for some activities. Ooh, and we've been going to volleyball games (they blow your mind!) and football games!

Brooke and Elizabeth, two girls in my hall

Though I did not expect to live in a dorm with so many fun, lively girls, this has risen above and beyond my expectations and dreams. I have so much fun with them and cannot wait to see what the future brings!

(Tomorrow we're going rock-climbing!)

Brooke, Kari, and Daisy at the football game!

-Kyle Marie Jacobsen

So Caught Up

2010-09-29T17:25:00.006-04:00

You know those times when you feel like you just get caught up in everything going around you and there is just one thing that you forget to give some TLC to? Sorry blogosphere, I've neglected you for the past week or so, but get ready for a double dose...

Classes have been immensely time consuming--I had review for studio last Friday, a French test Monday, managed to sleep through the entire weekend, and am currently battling a sinus infection. This was the poster of my final project of tessellations:

Besides classes, I've also been really busy with my sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta. I got my sister-kid, our version of bigs and littles, and I couldn't be happier! This is my whole sister-family:

On Monday, campus experienced a power outage, one of the large trees in front of CCF, 'Shady', uprooted one day before it was supposed to be taken down. I did some investigative photography and this is what I found:

The power was turned back on a couple of hours later and shady is now being made into firewood. problem solved.

Pretty Campus!!

2010-09-29T14:50:00.006-04:00

Every day I walk on campus I remark at how nice it is! If you haven't visited yet, what are you waiting for???

the wonders of planning (freshman adventures pt 4)

2010-09-29T00:44:00.005-04:00

This week I discovered iCal. This is a handy little tool that could possibly save my life.

When I was explaining to a sorority sister of my situation with grades and low test scores and such, she recommended I try planning out the hours of my days. This seemed like pretty good advice... but how? "Oh! Just use iCal, Chelsea," my sister told me excitedly. If you have an Apple-brand laptop (Yes, I'm a Mac.)... then the program comes with your computer. It's simply a calendar of the days of the week with blank slots for every hour. So I opened up a whole new world of creativity, and realized that I was IN CHARGE of my day. The entire template of my week was blank, and it was my job to fill it with productivity. So I did... and now the challenge is sticking to my plan. It's been going pretty well so far. A few unexpected events (like actually leaving the dorm and doing my own laundry, and eating dinner earlier because I was way too hungry to wait until six) have gotten in the way of my hour-by-hour daily schedule. For the most part though, this has been a really good and simple method to help out with my study habits. More progress to come...

Happy studying!

- Chelsea Mitchell

Walking

2010-09-28T23:19:00.006-04:00

Since I started college, I began walking a lot. Walking is a great way to help stay in shape, especially when I'm either too lazy or lack time to go the CRC. I also really enjoy walking because it gives me time to just think to myself. I also particularly like the greenery on Georgia Tech's campus. Coming from a rural area, I was not sure I would enjoy being in Atlanta. However, now that I am here, I love it!

My favorite place to walk is a gravel trail. I usually take it when I am going to and from my calculus class or the Architecture building. I love this trail because I completely forget I am in an urban area.

A sign before entering the trail.

Is this what you imagine when you think about going to Georgia Tech?

Dance!

2010-09-27T22:36:00.007-04:00

Its been about one year since I last posted a video. Since then, I've gotten a little bit better at dancing. I finally got some time tonight to myself so I got to labbing (dancing in studios to figure out new material). Because none of these videos are choreographed or planned, they are pretty sloppy. They are also quite entertaining in my opinion. I hope you enjoy them; some words first! If you don't want to read, just scroll down for the videos.

Two years ago, I was hopeless on the dance floor. People would comment that I looked like a dancer, but ironically, I was the awkward kid that didn't dance at parties and was afraid of dancing with girls. It felt awful! Imagine dreading events such as Homecoming, Winter Formal, and other silly high school activities. I decided to turn this all around when I watched a crew called the Jabbawockeez (the winners of Season 1 of America's Best Dance Crew) perform. I wanted to move just like them and thought that being a good dancer would bring a new level of definition to me! Starting wasn't easy. I watched countless tutorials on youtube. My body was simply awkward. It wouldn't move how I wanted it to and I got frustrated easily. I kept on going at it. I watched my favorite dancers and listened to music that would make you move automatically for motivation. So, if you are like me and are talentless at the performing arts, in two years, you could look like this.

For those who are still interested...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MG6GYKu2PA

Don't forget to view in HD.

You Know You Live Near A College When...

2010-09-26T17:29:00.003-04:00

Should I say more? Publix, where shopping is a pleasure. I wanted a case of Fanta, but I think I'll leave this masterpiece alone for now.

Now back to studying!
-Jamison Go

The life of a Mechanical Engineer

2010-09-25T01:08:00.001-04:00

This semester has been amazing. After an amazing summer studying European art, architecture, and music, it's been a bit of a transition back into my core mechanical engineering courses--but a refreshing one at that.

One of the most exciting ME classes I get to take this semester is ME2110, formally known as "Creative Design." While the rest of my classes have been calculation based, this class is nearly all project based. We started off the semester building spagetti towers; then, the past three weeks have been spent learning the objective engineering process through finding the best solution to transporting water from rivers to villages in 3rd world countries. This past Thursday my team of 4 handed in our final project report, so it's time to start our final project: a robot that will end up competing against all the other teams!

This lab had two objectives: Design a mounting bracket in a CAD software that we'll need for our project, as well as learning how to code the controller for the robot. I started the first objective thinking it was just a quick review of CAD--but then our TA walked in with our parts made from a waterjet! It's one thing to model something in CAD software, but then to actually feel it makes the connection between the lines on your screen and the real world.

Our controller for the robot was our second objective--using PBASIC programming to do certain tasks--like controlling DC motors and pneumatic arms with push and lever buttons. I thought MATLAB was rewarding in CS1371, but this is even more so. When your code doesn't just churn out numbers on a screen, but actually performs tasks--it starts becoming less work and more fun! That's what I love about this class--it takes everything I've been learning for the past three semesters and puts it into a practice.

Until next time,

Joshua

The Wheels on the Bus...

2010-09-24T22:36:00.006-04:00

...go round and round!

Woah, time flies!! Last weekend, my best friend came and visited me from Auburn! So, to treat her to adventure, we went to Six Flags!! That was the second time in just a week for me... See, when we went to Georgia Tech Night at Six Flags (Six Flags open JUST to Georgia Tech!) for only $13, we also received a FREE return ticket! (: Awesome, right? Well, anyway, my friend and I ventured to Six Flags with two other girls from our hall...

Six Flags!

...Needless to say, it was awesome!

Now, this isn't actually the topic of my post-- Transportation is!

Did you wonder how we got to Six Flags? None of us have a car on campus... But that's never a problem!

On the Tech Trolley

We took our Tech Trolley over to the MARTA (subway) station and then road the MARTA to a transfer shuttle which drove us to Six Flags. It only cost us $2!

At the MARTA station

There's plenty of transportation, no matter what you need it for. If you want to get across campus, just hop on one of the three Stinger shuttles. During the day, the come every three minutes! The Green line goes off campus as well. On the weekends, the Stinger will carry you to Atlantic Station, a giant shopping complex, which includes a Publix. Our Tech Trolley takes us through part of campus, to Tech Square (with our Barnes and Noble), to MARTA, to Publix... We have a Stingerette, which is like a taxi-- If it's dark out and you don't want to walk outside, just call the Stingerette and they'll come pick you up!

The Stinger

Pretty nifty, huh?

<3 Kyle Marie Jacobsen

I'm All In A Tizzy (Freshman Adventures pt 3)

2010-09-23T12:26:00.007-04:00

This week I had THE epiphany. I hear it's pretty common for Georgia Tech freshmen to get this one, sometime between September and December of their first year at Tech. I had the realization that I HAVE TO STUDY... or else I'm not going to pass my classes.

What gave me this realization?

Let's just say I completed my 3rd test since I began college this morning, and my first two scores were... a little... humbling. Physics and Psychology... not subjects that come too easily to most people here at Tech. I learned the hard way...

I had been having a lot of fun, making new friends and exploring new places, and school work kind of fell into the background.

- I saw comedian and TV-star from The Office, BJ Novak, perform live at GT's Theatre (Ferst Center for the Arts.)

- I went to the High Museum in Atlanta to see the Salvador Dali exhibit with my sorority sister Anna

- And I definitely spent some very quality time catching up with the latest news on my Facebook feed...

All this (and more!) instead of studying...

So now it's up to me to get my grades up for the next tests. I came here to get an education, and by golly, I'm going to get one! And a good one at that! Join me these next few weeks as I figure out what works, and what doesn't work, in terms of personal time management and goal-setting. Also... the basics of learning how to stay on top of my work. In high school, I didn't really have to study because the work was so easy...not so at the Georgia Institute of Technology. This is going to be make-it-or-break-it adventure and I'm determined to make this one a good one, and do it right. 3-2-1-STUDY!

- Chelsea Mitchell