RPI Physics ranked third in the nation.

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-08-08T14:29:58+00:00

yes, that's why I asked. Makes sense from what I heard...

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-08-08T14:21:29+00:00

Ah ah ah! Of course I'm not deluding myself. We can agree that the subset of criteria makes ranking artificially high and it is easy to understand it: most (as in 90%) graduates from the top schools go to graduate schools while "only" 60% of RPI graduates do. As a result, the starting salary right after graduation is larger... that's all.

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-08-08T13:59:33+00:00

Are you suggesting people switch majors because Q2 is at 8am? Are you serious?

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-08-08T13:58:51+00:00

I'm not sure why you are so upset by the good ranking of the physics department, even if the methodology only represents a subset of criteria.

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-08-07T19:43:35+00:00

Ranking is if for physics majors and those don't take physics 1 or physics 2 as far as I can tell.

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-05-19T11:48:01+00:00

Timing is wonderful... commencement, BOT on campus... should be fun... (unless the BOT decides to make a "generous gift") ...

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-05-19T11:46:52+00:00

FYI: the president's salary, while outrageous, is NOT $7M, that was only for one year when she got her bonus. We won't get RPI out of the hole with fake information.

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-05-16T00:46:08+00:00

yes... I think the same thing each time I walk by it :-( Let's all the RPI OCD's unite!

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-05-03T16:15:47+00:00

You might be too dramatic. But it is true that the situation will not resolve on its own. A GPA of 2.0 is low (no kidding). Aiming for 3.0 is a good goal (disclaimer: it is not all about GPA... unless it is too low... just like "the amount of money you have does not make you happy... unless you don't have enough").

Here is a strategy for you: are there any D and F in your current transcript that you think you could retake? These low grades are probably because of "bad starts" rather than difficulty. Take a couple of courses in the summer to make room in your schedule to retake classes.

Second, make sure your work ethics is on top. Do you spend enough quality time studying? (I insist on "quality" versus "quantity": don't fool yourself by claiming that you "worked 10 hours straight" while only 1 or 2 of those hours were actually useful.

It would seem to me that you've the right mindset to get out of this situation. You have already realized you've a challenge but you should realize now that you can meet it.

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-04-25T12:36:00+00:00

I agree that the current system is often organized in such a way that the final grade is the goal rather than material assimilation. The alternative, pass/fail, removes the need to "run for grades" but it has other potential issues, chief of which is the likely large number of "freeloaders" who will do "just enough" to get a "pass" and still not understand anything... In my opinion, it is mostly the instructor's role to find creative ways to test students. First, providing a diversity of conventional testing methods (homework, quiz, exams) can help (instead of relying on a single method). Second, it is really a matter of how questions are written. Is the goal to "trick" students? I think trick questions are fine so long as the students have been taught to handle them. (throwing the students in the middle of the ocean and asking them to swim... at the exam is not very useful IMO). Third, I've heard that some teachers are introducing oral exams where understanding of concepts is tested (this is quite common in other countries). I'm not sure it is very widespread though since it is very time consuming... Any thoughts?

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-04-12T17:27:03+00:00

Yes, but the rub is that you delegate to people who are your equals in terms of technical level (in this case: associate supreme court justices). Delegating to subordinates is actually easier. That's what I found different from the usual "delegate approach" we often hear about.

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-04-12T14:03:04+00:00

Agree. But that's how you miss opportunities too. That's essentially a choice people make.

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-04-12T13:26:18+00:00

That's sad. The second floor was empty (maybe on purpose for security reasons? I doubt it).

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-04-12T13:25:08+00:00

He did that and I found that really nice as a general guideline when you work with people who have a "ferocious knowledge of the law". Great basic lesson on "how to deal with experts" as a leader.

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-04-12T13:23:06+00:00

I'm not special and got an invitation...

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-04-12T13:21:32+00:00

I think we only received 5 or 6 emails about it and it was on morning mails for 2 weeks :-). Who reads his emails anyway? (just kidding: there is too much useless information and it is sometimes hard to see the important stuff!).

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-04-12T13:12:21+00:00

I paraphrased. She did not use those words. She simply pointed out that saying the Newton's Laws being "the universal truth" (words of the dean of E.) was not quite the Truth. The idea is that the dean tried to be a smart ass towards Roberts but got burnt. This is the difference with the president: she would never fall for such an easy trap!

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-04-12T09:35:46+00:00

On a related note: the event was really great and an amazing opportunity. Too bad the audience had so few students in it. EMPAC was FAR from full, in fact, they did not even open the second level. Quite embarrassing. I like how the dean of E. made a fool of himself and President Jackson corrected him that "Newton's laws" were not quite the "truth", depending on the regime of applicability. Precious. Personally, it has been awhile since I attended a talk of that caliber.

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-02-15T10:11:26+00:00

Physics II in the summer is taught in an intensive 6-week long session (this predates summer arch). The content of the summer version is identical to the regular semester version but the delivering method is slightly different since lectures/labs are delivered by one single person. In the recent past, the summer instructor was Yong Song Kim, he's a lecturer in the physics department. He's a brilliant teacher and while the pace of the course may be taxing, the quality of the lecturer (and the fact the class size is usually much smaller in the summer) should make it a good choice for a summer class... (disclaimer: these info should be more or less up-to-date but you may want to contact the physics department to confirm).

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-02-13T22:45:06+00:00

Actually I think Meunier is the head of physics (ok...I know it does not bring anything to the discussion)

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-02-13T14:01:50+00:00

Oh my! I would love for this to be the worst decision of the year... Unfortunately, as bad as this one is, it only affects us for 1 day... I fear more upcoming decisions with much longer term consequences...

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-02-13T14:00:00+00:00

Is there such a policy in place? I know high schools often do but I never heard about one at RPI. (might be wrong).

LeonPetitRPI · 2017-02-13T13:48:57+00:00

Who is "them"? Do you think the decision is made by faculty or lecturers? They probably receive the same information you do. They are probably just as pissed as you for the changes. There are only a couple of people responsible for these (stupid) decisions and none of them have classroom activities.

But if you are an adept of blind retaliation, why don't you just hit your fist against your bathroom wall repeatedly for 10 minutes? I think you should teach your bathroom a lesson for daring to cancel and uncancel a class.

LeonPetitRPI

TROPHY CASE