Another semester at SFU
So, my fifth consecutive semester at SFU has come to an end, and its time to reflect.
MACM 201 (Discrete Math) - This is the perfect example of SFU hiring teachers who can’t speak english to teach a class that defines a lot of concepts we’ll need to know for our future classes. I had no idea what was going on when the guy talked, and thus, I didn’t go to class. Ever. Everything was pretty much self taught. But then again, the same goes for all my classes this semester.
MATH 232 (Linear Algebra) - Now this was a good math class. It was to the point, made sense, and there was NO proofs. Hey, if its been proved before, why prove it again? It was “applied” linear algebra, by the way.
CMPT 275 (Software Engineering) - This is hands down one of the worst classes I’ve ever taken. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like Software Engineering, its actually what I want to specialize in, but this class has taught me next to nothing. This class was piled on with a ton of bullshit work that was nothing more then work for the sake of work. Everything I learned that was valuable was how to work with a bunch of people on a peice of software, but that part lasted only two weeks. We would be marked down for the most ridiculous things. How can someone take a mark off for bad grammar when their comment is something like “Makes sense not”. If you’re going to dock us marks for English, then learn2english. Seriously.
I came into this semester with excitement, I expected that I was going to have tons of free time, considering my schedule was 10:30 to 1:30pm, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I was wrong. Both math classes had an assignment due every week, and both of them had two midterms. And besides that, we had “deliverables” for my software engineering class, which were segments of the project due on average due every week and a half. A month into the semester, I pretty much stopped going to lectures, half because my teachers were useless (MATH 232 was decent), and because most of the time I spent that time in the math labs trying desperately to finish my homework. It was the most grueling, intense semester so far, and the only reason it doesn’t seem as bad as the first semester at SFU is because I’m used to the punishment.
So, for those of you who go to SFU, and are looking for some advice, then NEVER take two math classes at the same time. I did it in the first semester, and I did it this semester, and it did not get any easier. Another thing that I learned was that you should really spred out your classes. I was so excited to just have three hours straight of class, but really, it sucked. I had no breaks, so there was nothing forcing me to stay up there and hang out. I would just come up, and leave, and what made my other semesters at SFU so awesome was hanging out with people during the breaks. So what it really comes down to is, if you want to enjoy your time at SFU, don’t just come up the hill for class and leave, you’ll regret it years down the road.
On the bright side, I’m almost done all my math classes, I just have to finish one more (although, its the hardest one), and then I’m done with pure mathematics for the rest of my degree! In the fall, I’m taking MACM 316, ITAL 100, CMPT 320, and I’m considering ECON 103, would that be too intense of a semester?
And now, it’s finally over. After my last final, I got a donair with a friend, and then I did what I do after I finish every semester; a couple of hours of doing nothing, without the lingering feeling of guilt creeping up on me. I’m sure everyone can agree that its the best feeling after finishing your last final. The greatest feeling for me right now is the fact that I won’t be going to school for the first time in five consecutive semesters. I’m really looking forward to just going to work for eight hours and coming home without having to worry about anything.
There are so many things I’m looking forward to this summer, I’d list them all but I’m sure I’ll blog about them eventually.
