Monday, August 30, 2010

network grades are up

...and i can reasonably be assured that I can remain in school for at least another semester.

Also a heads up. one of the assignments for the next class for risk to read a book of 177 pages. Just FYI. I'll talk to professor Smith to see if he is okay with posting the name of the book so that you may read it ahead of time. I am reasonably sure I would have, along with the 5 or 6 other books that professor Haimes mentioned. But i'm not sure if I should be sharing that information or not.

Now for the probability exam. I'd like to get both of the exams back, especially since I put so much into them, but I have a suspicion we won't be seeing them.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Economics of Engineering, first bad decision

Professor Garcia started out the day explaining a theory about maximizing social welfare. Being a patriot (Sarcasm intended) I wrote that off as something that couldn't be all that valuable. Who would actually pay someone to figure out what is best for everyone rather than what is best for them?

Now I have to go back and figure out what I missed because our homework is on this subject. Also the course material is delivered through lecture and the book is just a reference so that is a non starter.

Friday, August 27, 2010

first day of risks reactions

We are about to go down to the intramural area for the family picnic which starts now, so I will give some quick hits here,

Professor Haimes is incredible, and is a big deal in the field of risk analysis. We are fortunate to learn from him;

Lots of homework.

im surprised at the number of people that did not read. Disappointed, really. But I guess I am the nerd for having read. But that is the type of learner I am.

Everyone made it back.

Only one person was late, but he was late several times today, so there is that. I think it his thing. Prof. Haimes gave him a subtle dig.

No end of the day quiz is phenomenal.

Also, lots of talk about the exams. I think I did okay. I guess we will find out. I hope I did okay.

Again, lots of homework.

It is an absolutely gorgeous day here. I had a moment to hit the gym between class and now. Great gym over there but a little crowded.

I have to take some time tonight to read for econ, cause I am a nerd like that.

Exams are done

Today is the deadline to turn in exams. I've been mostly done with these since the 20th, but I've held on to them in case I get an epiphany of some sort. I redid my probability exam and its hopefully a good thing that I did because I clearly had one answer wrong.

Also, we had a 3 week "break," which wasn't a break at all because the whole time I was anxious about these exams and the 40% or so of the final grade that they represent. I have the worst image in my head of Professor Smith coming in to the classroom to pull me out of the program for sub par grades. I also worry that if I had just done a little bit more I would have done a lot better. It was really hard to let the exams go. I had to just put all of that out of my head and submit the exams.

I'm up early and anxious to get to Charlottesville. I'm giving myself an hour and a half to get there because class is back in session and I hate being late, especially on the first day. That being said, I'd put money on at least 2 people being late.

The last break we returned from there was one victim of attrition. I hope we all return.

We have Risk Analysis today which I am excited about. I suspect that this will be the more difficult class of the 2 for the next 10 weeks.

I had a nice chit chat with my VP yesterday. When I brought up my participation in this program, he indicated that my company "felt" it. My productivity shows that I have "a few things going on." It was, however, for my career one of those meetings where someday I may look back and see the gravity of the event. There are several good things that came up. Wish me luck.

Friday, August 20, 2010

The AMP blog

The AMP program at UVA is one of the best experiences of my life, and also one of the most demanding. That being said, I want to use this blog as a place to collect my thoughts on the program as I go along as a guide for the next year. But please don't expect refined content. I barely have time to anything other than study or work, so what I post will be raw and un-edited. But if it serves as a guide worth its read for the next year, I will have done my part.

I gotta get to bed, I have to get up in 6 hours. Thus is AMP.