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Welcome to FOR 285. We shall discuss the contract between us. Military, nontraditional, or transfer student?. Forestry clubs (“RSOs”) are fantastic Get involved with things you [might] really enjoy. During lectures, take notes. You look odd when you just sit there and stare at me
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Welcome to FOR 285 We shall discuss the contract between us.
Military, nontraditional, or transfer student? • Forestry clubs (“RSOs”) are fantastic • Get involved with things you [might] really enjoy
During lectures, take notes • You look odd when you just sit there and stare at me • Kidding! (Not really kidding)
During Discussions, Speak Up! • All of us are responsible for avoiding the STP problem • Same Ten People talking over and over • Ask questions
Why doing well matters • Student loans are like Justin Bieber • They won’t go away no matter how much you wish they would • Get your money’s worth! http://i.imgur.com/Tacdk.jpg
These days, no excuse for lost files • Dropbox, Spideroak, BitTorrent Sync • Skydrive, iCloud • Thumb drive • USB, eSATAdrive • Network-attached storage (NAS) • Gmail, Outlook • Google Drive • Ask the NSA for a copy
I Want To Be This Guy: Don’t waste your classmates’ time and money with your late assignments. In the Real World, late = “don’t bother turning it in.”
Intern InternInternInternIntern • The job market is strong and competitive • Employers don’t owe you anything • Now is the time to begin out-competing your peers
My old students ask me for suggestions on whom to hire • Be that person! • To recommend you, I have to be able to identify you • That’s tough in a fifty person (or online!) class • So, stand out
Get to know your profs • This is how you get connected with research projects, internships, and summer work • Current research: lasers, infrared detectors, robotics, trail construction, custom sensors, smartphone apps • Recent student internships and summer positions: Alaska, Wyoming, Missouri, etc.
Recommendation letters • Your spot in this class is, by itself, not enough contact for me to provide you a meaningful recommendation letter. • These letters take time—a request to me two days before the application deadline is probably going to be gently rejected.
Visit during office hours • I survived crushed 9 years of college and graduate school • Professors have connections • Learn how we think [and write exams!] • I hire students that I know & trust, not others
Skipping class is your call • You are an adult • “Not going to class is like renting a hotel room and sleeping on the street” • Despite the creative and heartfelt excuses they receive, employers just fire people who don’t show up–work ethic is easy to spot.
Worried about your grade? • Talk with me about a fun extra credit project involving research, some form of forest recreation, etc. • Talk with me early in the semester; after midterms is far too late
If this First World Problem sounds familiar: • Learn about the Pomodoro Technique • Form a study group—get to know people • Learn how to make a study guide: • Condense a chapter/lecture into one dense page with the important information
Study groups get you ahead in this class. However everything you turn in must be your own work
This really happens.Am I nice when it happens?No (it’d encourage the wrong behavior)Study throughout the semester.
…If You Open Your Mouth And Thoughtfully Contribute To Class Discussions
For freshmen, this is not high school • Sometimes, assignments will be announced only once. • This is a short class session; outside study/assignment/project time is expected.
The forestry department is awesome • …Because Patti and Rae are rockstars • Be awesome to them
You may be able to save money • Getting the international version of textbooks • Getting the textbook through interlibrary loan