School, for those who care

[vvvexation]

Had my first day of classes today. This semester's gonna be interesting. Combinatorics looks like it'll be fun, just as I'd hoped; also there won't be terribly much in the way of actual work to do, and the professor is one of the most approachable I've ever had. Numerical Analysis, on the other hand, will be a challenge. I've always been lousy at analysis; this might actually be easier because it's more calculation and less theory, but on the other hand that may make it harder as it involves remembering formulas (not something I'm great at). And to do the assignments properly I'm going to have to learn Matlab. Yay purchasing software when I've already spent more than usual on textbooks this term.

I'm also taking a couple of courses for GE requirements; the International and Area Studies class starts Monday and I have no idea what it'll be like, but Brain, Mind and Behavior (MCB for non-biology majors) seems damn cool so far. Cognitive science has always been one of my odd little side interests, and you really can't beat a class where the lectures include Kubrick films. Only problem is I'm not officially even on the waiting list yet, and there may be difficulty getting on it and also finding a non-crowded discussion section that doesn't either conflict with the rest of my schedule (less of a concern, as I imagine I can manage to two-time) or involve getting up early (much more of a concern, given the whole sleep-disorder thing. Oh, an update on that: the CPAP machine hasn't really accomplished anything so far, after a month of use; being chronically congested as I seem to be means that having my throat kept from closing up doesn't help because I still can't breathe through my nose. Thanks to some serious intervention on the part of the scheduling gods, I got to consult with a different doctor than the one I'd seen before, who'd been almost impossible to talk to; this new guy diagnosed allergic rhinitis and prescribed corticosteroids. My fingers are crossed that they'll kick in soon.)

Now more than ever, I need to get through these classes and graduate this semester. Apparently the UC's funding has been cut yet again by Our Dear Governor, meaning fees are going to be hiked still more next year (this year they've already gone up by 20 percent.)

Comments

[fyfer.livejournal.com]

Combinatorics is awesome! My probability prof (also my person math hero) was one of the earliest combinatorics people and so our prob. class was all about counting. It was so much fun.

[capnkjb.livejournal.com]

Tuition hikes are retarded. I hate them so hard.

I also hate textbook prices, and professors who have you read two chapters out of a thick book that cost $50, or make you buy a thick-ass copy of something that has a lot of commentary, when you already have the damn thing (but it is not the same edition so you have to get theirs so that citations match).

Good luck, though. You can do it!

[vvvexation.livejournal.com]

The MCB textbook was 70 bucks 'cause it had one of those dumb-ass CD-ROMs in it. What I really don't understand, though, is why math textbooks that are smaller than this one, and don't have color illustrations let alone CDs included, often cost that much as well. The analysis one cost 95 bucks used.

[terpsichoros.livejournal.com]

Textbooks cost so much because of the limited market. The CD-ROM probably doesn't add mre than $3 to the cost of the book, though royalties for the content on it might. But because nobody buys that book, the publisher has to recoup the one-time expenses for the production run on a much smaller print run. Those one-time expenses are sometimes significant - color illustrations and fancy typesetting aren't cheap, either.

[tsgeisel.livejournal.com]

Good luck on the sleep disorder thing. Trust me - I know how truly annoying that can be.

[willrabbit.livejournal.com]

My little brother uses a CPAP for his sleep apneia (sp?).
I remember hearing the whirring motor sound coming from his room at night.

Hope the new treatments help you get some sleep, wouldn't want to interrupt those nice dreams...

[vvvexation.livejournal.com]

Wow. Seems like everyone either has sleep apnea or knows someone who does. It's amazing it took me this long to realize I had it. I think they may've improved the machines, though; mine isn't loud enough that you'd notice it from outside the room unless the door was open.

[emmett-the-sane.livejournal.com]

Correct on how quiet it is... it doesn't bother me in the slightest, and I'm driven nuts by even light snoring or wheezing, generally.

First day of school was interesting for me, too. Will tell all about it in a post later though. I do have one $100 textbook so far, though. Joy.

[vvvexation.livejournal.com]

Granted, it does whistle a bit when it's ramping up, and at occasional random other times....

[persnicketus.livejournal.com]

My dad has sleep apnea. When I found out what it was, I remember I used to lie awake listening to him snore and making sure that his breathing wouldn't stop.