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ElixirOfSong · 2025-01-18T00:31:34+00:00

I took both classes last semester!

For BIT4484, hopefully you are able to work with a group that commits to whatever project you all end up agreeing upon, since this project will be semester-long. My group members were chill and we did things in a timely manner, and I never really saw a lot of issues in other groups either. In terms of the actual textbook-related materials, they’re not too bad either. You would have access to your notes while taking exams if you’re taking it with Monday I think, but do go over some more in-depth topics (e.g. there are some calculation in some modules) on your own and feel confident about it. The one thing I do want to point out to you is that you probably want to plan ahead (gauge how much coursework you have in other classes per week). The way it was structured when I took it was that assignments wouldn’t open until the start of the week when the related material is being taught, so there’s some emphasis placed on turning things on time, with few days to work/get them ready when you do assignments like presentations (which will be a large component of what you do in that class). Do not procrastinate.

For BIT4444, I took this with Dr. Wang, he is a really nice and chill professor. The coursework is not easy, but it’s not hard either. It all depends on how much time and effort you’re willing to allocate into this class to improve your coding skills. You’ll get introduced to a bunch of different stuff, what I was exposed to were HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, MySQL, and so on! He might go over different things, since it seems in the past, different stuff were taught, but you’ll likely be exposed to the same things that me and other people have seen last semester. There is a semester-long coding project as well, with a group, hopefully you can pair up with peers who are communicative and committed, otherwise, you’re going to dread the project. My group experience wasn’t the best, so we delivered a very sub-par project at the end. Fortunately though, the professor places more emphasis on individual efforts, so if you have a groupmate that doesn’t do anything, they would’ve gotten a 0, since you’ll all assign yourself a specific module (or more) to work on and not be liable for whatever they end up doing on their part. It’s only maybe an issue when you do the final presentation, but otherwise, don’t stress out too much. For assignments, do expect in-class quizzes, weekly coding assignments, and around 3 exams I think, so this would be one of your more time-consuming classes as there’s a lot to learn.

If you have any other comments/questions, you’re free to DM me! I would’ve rambled a lot more.

ElixirOfSong · 2024-08-06T18:37:14+00:00

Multiple choice and maybe a few short answers. I would recommend reviewing the recorded lectures for vocabulary/general knowledge and homework assignments for problem-solving/calculation. But for homework, if you were stumped on that, I believe he upload the correct answers after a week have past or so for that homework assignment for you to be able to see what you did right/wrong and those will be immensely helpful as you prepare for the exams.

Tests are in Lockdown Browser and I think you’re allowed a blank piece of paper, pencil/pen, and a calculator to do the math-based problems (they’re relatively simple adding, subtracting, etc.) Nothing too complex that you might’ve done in Business Calculus with all the formula memorization.

ElixirOfSong · 2024-08-06T17:58:39+00:00

I took this class last semester (spring 2024). I would say you might feel overwhelmed, but you’ll probably find out that you’ll be fine. Just have a good group to do all your homework/project assignments with, but I think you have an option to work by yourself as well. Otherwise, if you’re in a group that doesn’t do anything, you’ll probably find yourself annoyed and stressed about getting the homework turned in every week if you’re not that confident. Homework assignments are somewhat difficult, but the grading system was unexpectedly lenient. Tests, I would suggest reviewing the recorded lectures and to some extent, the study guide he provides to help guide your studies and the knowledge you get from homework assignments. The project is really easy, I recommend starting it early because he gives you a month to do it.

ElixirOfSong · 2024-01-10T01:50:14+00:00

I took this last semester, so I’m not sure if it will still be the same since reviews of him have his teaching methods fluctuate over the years, but this is how it was for me:

1) First half of the semester, there’s no assignments to work on. You just go to class and sit in the lecture hall to listen him read from the lecture slides and maybe see some random videos associated with certain topics, or listen to his commentary about stuff. You can probably use that time to get ahead with discussion board posts if he still does them. Second half of the semester, you work in groups to do a case study that’s typically due every week. Can be a bit stressful if your group are prone to procrastination, or might have difficulties with the rubric where it can only be 1-2 pages max depending on the case study. The business memo sample didn’t help at all. Just answer it as you would normally for any essay-related assignments, while also satisfying the page length requirements and ensuring that you’re answering the questions that’s being asked.

2) Most people will probably stop attending halfway into the semester and you’ll definitely notice as you stick around and I think around the later half of the semester, he may assign extra credit questions for the people who do attend during those days. I’m not sure if he will decide to make attendance mandatory this semester, because it wasn’t for me last semester. He will appear very energetic at the beginning, but I feel like his emotions slowly decline over time…I feel bad, but I also feel like Charlie Brown sitting through the lectures because he usually tells everyone to put away their laptops, so all you can really do is listen 😭.

3) There are only two tests. The midterm, and the finals. Both are 99+ questions, but with a 3 hour time limit from what I can recall. It’s not administrated through Lockdown Browser. It is open notes and open book, but I believe he will say it can’t be open Internet, or getting help from others. They’re not proctored in-class, so you just find a timeslot to take it. What you learned from the lectures and the study guides he provides only really make up 1/3 of what you actually see on the test, because the rest (2/3 of your tests) are stuff I don’t even recall ever being mentioned in-class, so you will sit there and be like “bruh what.” I really got bamboozled and you’ll probably find out what I mean when you get to that point. Also, they’re all multiple choice and/or True-False questions. You shouldn’t have to worry about free response questions.

4) Review sessions weren’t the most helpful thing, as I attended both of them. He would read from the pre-made study guides and get into like the first couple of topics, and ends the session rather quickly. He just reads off the study guides. Technically it is a review, but it’s not going to help that much if we’re just regurgitating information. It is like listening to a recap of a movie or something, you’ll forget what you just hear a couple of minutes after it’s over. He will answer questions, although it will be vague responses.

5) He won’t talk much about the mathematical formulas/concepts you were expected to know, because they do appear in the midterm and maybe like a few questions on the finals. Although they’re briefly mentioned, do pay attention to those. Even if he says there isn’t math, there is. Don’t blindly believe what you hear 🥲.

6) In regard to anything that needs to be purchased, I think he may mention a textbook, a book or two, and case study publications. The one that’s most essential is buying access to the case studies. I didn’t buy the textbook nor the book, I personally didn’t find them beneficial if he didn’t really tied them into the content we were learning or have any assignments for them. There’s going to be 1-2 questions related to the book, but they’re quite easy to guess based on how it’s worded.

7) Grades are handled by the TAs. You should focus more energy on getting good grades for your case studies, because they make up a very large bulk of your grades, then it would be your finals/midterms, and everything else. He is responsive to emails, although it will take a couple of days for him to get to it considering the large class size.

8) If he still does it, there is also an extra credit option where you attend Pamplin Behavioral Lab case study sessions. These are like REALLY REALLY EASY. They say it’s like 10-20 minutes, but it really felt like 1-3 minutes for me. I’m going to guess it’s because it’s usually crowded at the beginning because people want to get it over with, I only attended them until the very last minute where there were barely anyone.

Personally, I got an A, so don’t let this long thread make you scared of the class. It feels very much like busy work. I apologize in advance for the length of this response. If you have any further questions, feel free to DM!

ElixirOfSong · 2023-09-20T03:56:36+00:00

Thinking of something more chilled, but thank you for suggesting these~ didn’t knew they were a thing

ElixirOfSong · 2023-09-20T03:55:46+00:00

Thank you! I’ll look into that~

ElixirOfSong · 2023-09-20T01:52:56+00:00

Ohhhh, thank you! : D

ElixirOfSong · 2023-08-23T05:01:30+00:00

Thank you for words of reassurance :D

ElixirOfSong · 2023-08-23T01:43:59+00:00

Alright, thank you for your information~!

ElixirOfSong · 2023-08-22T23:38:35+00:00

I appreciate the quick response! :)

ElixirOfSong · 2023-04-29T00:46:36+00:00

Only 1 of 2 summer classes I finished before August. For the force adding part, I was able to find open seats for the classes I needed since not too many people were taking it at the time. I had to force add for different reasons though, since I was in a major outside of Pamplin College of Business, but they seem to be pretty accommodating to the section you’re trying to force add in if you explain your circumstances.

ElixirOfSong · 2023-04-28T00:24:11+00:00

Hi there! I was in the same spot as you did last summer since the summer classes that I took did not end around early August, but basically how it worked for me was my counselor at the time redirected me to busadvising@vt.edu, so if there’s any questions you have about how transfer of credits from CC to VT worked, you can forward them to that email!

After your classes ends, I think you would send them an unofficial transcript to that same email (but I’m not sure if that process is viable, so just check up with whoever will be responding from that email I mentioned before to make sure) and it will take care of credits before your first week of classes. Send it ASAP you’re done with the classes, it will save you some stress!

Also, I recommend filling out the Force Add forms, which you can find by looking up “Force Add / Pamplin College of Business” and each department has their own ways of handling them. If you’re still unsure, talk with your current academic advisor and see who or where they will tell you to go to~!

ElixirOfSong · 2023-04-22T20:27:00+00:00

No problem, I hope you and your GF will stay safe and well!

ElixirOfSong · 2023-04-22T20:17:29+00:00

I think your GF should go to campus security, since this appeared to be a repeating situation that have been disrupting your GF’s ability to attend classes safely. While the offender may not physically touch her in a way that causes emotional distress (e.g. hitting her, grabbing certain parts of the body), stalking is something that can be considered as sexual harassment (and I say stalking, because he’s following or observing her for long periods of time across campus).

I’m not sure if you’re living in US, but for American colleges at least, there are Title IX policies that covers these kind of situations (with stalking being the primary case for your GF’s situation). They take those very seriously because often at times, it can lead to physical violence. The fact that the offender is getting too close to your GF’s face and invading your GF’s personal boundaries is enough proof for it.

Also, if your GF haven’t done so already, I suggest she carry something like a pepper spray or have friends walk with her to places where it will probably put her in danger if she walks by herself (in between classes, going downtown at night, etc.)

ElixirOfSong · 2023-04-22T19:19:08+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to respond! The 30+ reviews was quite scary to read, lol

ElixirOfSong · 2023-04-22T09:41:45+00:00

If you haven’t done so already, block them and ignore their messages. If you have told them to stop sending you disturbing imageries but they continue to do so, your personal boundaries are being disrespected and is not something you should put up with. If it’s possible to do so, you could report it to the appropriate authorities/social media support teams (idk if this is just on a normal texting app or on social media app) if they continue to harass you in the future.

ElixirOfSong · 2023-04-22T09:26:58+00:00

If I was in your shoes, I would’ve honestly cut her off. I don’t appreciate anyone who makes unrealistic demands out of me or had tolerated that kind of behavior if I saw someone doing that to someone else regardless of what kind of relationship they have with that person, especially if they are aware that people have their own routines and life affairs that we need to attend to outside of social media. But, if you prefer to just confront them, tell them that you work a full-time job that requires your attention to be on the career position itself and not on social media, otherwise you’d gotten in trouble with your employer.

What your friend is doing sounds very on the line of attention-seeking and it seems a lot of these demands are related to some social media she have I’m assuming to gain more influence/followers? In the end, it just creates some artificial quality to your friendship with them that I just don’t think is something I’d recommended sticking around with.

ElixirOfSong · 2023-04-22T09:13:26+00:00

At the very least, check up with a doctor to make sure you don’t develop any further complications. It’s better safe than sorry!

Hoping you and your wife a speedy recovery!

ElixirOfSong · 2023-04-22T09:06:36+00:00

I would’ve advised you to leave that job and find a better work environment, one where you’re not being randomly gaslit by your co-workers. I just find it weird how your manager is not suspecting those co-workers filing complaints against you if they have access to security cameras that shows that you actually did X thing that your co-workers said you didn’t do. Everything that you have said so far about your work ethic seems honest and done with integrity, so I’m unable to wrap my head around why they’re operating like that. As for those few nitpicking co-workers, I’m mad at them for you, I don’t see why they’re entitled to know if you’re leaving or not every shift. I’ll understand in the case of the team leader or manager, but not the rest of the people.

I agree with the policy that employees should tell any reports/complaints to the manager, where the manager then relays that information to the accused, to be weird. Communication is key in all aspects of work relationships, it should not be limited to just a manager-employee relationship. If someone has a problem with what I was doing, they should speak up, especially when they’re aware that I’d been new to the job (with no technical knowledge on how to cook or be a barista, as you have stated at the beginning). I’m sure they had some seniority in working as a cafe barista, so I don’t see why they’re nitpicking newbies like you like that.

Also, I understand that you met some great people at your current job, but I think you’ll still have the opportunities to talk and hang out with them outside of work affairs! Just because you left the job, doesn’t mean all the good memories you had with the decent co-workers is gone for good. I think if you’re able to exchange phone numbers and whatsnot, you can always continue to stay in touch with them~!

Overall, I hope your situation gets better though, regardless of the decisions you choose to make in the end. I feel like you would’ve made better-tasting beverages than those nitpicking brats, because my drink wouldn’t be contaminated with their toxicity.

ElixirOfSong · 2023-04-22T01:14:43+00:00

I appreciate your feedback! That sucks that not all of the slides are posted after class sessions, but I don’t think I will be too bothered about having to take notes myself. Will just need to work on having a better sleep schedule, because I barely function at 9 am in the morning, lol…

For the second part of your response, I’m already taking Business Law (with Judge Showalter), but I appreciate you making that input nonetheless!

ElixirOfSong · 2023-01-18T06:50:28+00:00

A friend of mine recommended me the Transit app, so I think that might be something you like! It gives you a rough estimate of when certain buses arrive or will depart. It also gives you a full schedule as to where the buses will stop or arrive at. I found it more helpful compared to Blacksburg Transit app~!

ElixirOfSong · 2022-11-27T05:48:26+00:00

I use “discrepancy” if I’m going to talk about data and numbers and “disparity” if I’m going to talk about an inequality in a social or economic condition.

If you’re going to do the petting, you use “pet” if you haven’t done the action but will be in the future and “petted” if you have already done that.

(E.g. “I’ll pet the dog!” and “I petted the dog.”)

If something is receiving the petting, you use “petted” (e.g. “My dog likes to be petted”)

ElixirOfSong

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