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Education-related discussion

How does one prove the classification theorem for closed 2-manifolds? That is, show every closed 2-manifold is homeomorphic to the sphere, the connected sum of tori, or the connected sum of projective planes. My prof. stated the theorem in class but said we were not ready for the proof (specifically, he said that showing every closed 2-manifold can triangularized was the first step, and that it was extremely nontrivial).

Would love to hear an explanation. Cheers.
Originally posted by jesus
I'm in a higher level math course and I'm going to show off one of the questions from it to a bunch of teenagers who I know don't know anything beyond integration and differentiation (at the most), and who are most likely still strugging with the quadratic formula.
Originally posted by S.N.N.
Originally posted by jesus
I'm in a higher level math course and I'm going to show off one of the questions from it to a bunch of teenagers who I know don't know anything beyond integration and differentiation (at the most), and who are most likely still strugging with the quadratic formula.


except that both mathelete and marioe know more about math than I do and they are both regulars on this site.
literally the only two and they never post anyway

(also smallhacker and smkdan but see my above statement)
Originally posted by S.N.N.
literally the only two and they never post anyway

(also smallhacker and smkdan but see my above statement)


I take your mild concession as victory fair enough
Just scheduled for next semester today.

I'll paste descriptions from the website on what they are:

CSE 2331 - Foundations II: Data Structures and Algorithms: Design/analysis of algorithms and data structures; divide-and-conquer; sorting and selection, search trees, hashing, graph algorithms, string matching; probabilistic analysis; randomized algorithms; NP-completeness.
MATH 3345 - Foundations of Higher Mathematics: Introduction to logic, proof techniques, set theory, number theory, real numbers.
PHILOS 1332 - Ethics in the Professions: Introduction to Engineering Ethics: An examination of contemporary issues in engineering ethics in the context of major ethical theories.
CSE 2421 - Systems I: Introduction to Low-Level Programming and Computer Organization: Introduction to computer architecture at machine and assembly language level; pointers and addressing; C programming at machine level; computer organization.
ECE 2000 - Electrical and Computer Engineering I: Introduction to the theory and practice of combinational and clocked sequential networks, sampling, discrete linear time invariant systems and discrete finite impulse response filters.


Although it seems like it will be an inconvenience to have such long days, I commute an hour back and forth for each day I have a class, so having Tuesday and Thursday off will be great. Looking forward to foundations, not so much electrical stuff.
Next term is my final term at university before I graduate with my BSc. Sadly, it looks like it's also one of my hardest (seven courses + TAing):

Link

Wee~
Ah advanced mathematics. The only moment where numbers make someone almost suicide.

Actually it is not too hard, but when you get confused on something, it is hard to get before the test comes. Even when I tried my best in my last course, I got a "C", even though I thought it was not that hard. Thank God in college I will start with "Intermediate Mathematics". Apparently, where I live, it is rare it start with that.
Well I finally have my classes for my study abroad semester:
ISyE 3770: Probability and Statistics (engineering elective I need + Prob. Stats requirement)
FREN 2813: Intermediate French
ECON 2101: World Economy (Econ elective, figure I might as well do it while I can take a light schedule)
ECE 3600: Computer Communications (data transfer over networks and such)

Decided against research just because I would also need to do another semester or 2 of research, and I'm not sure how I'll fit that in if I want to graduate by spring 2016.

Either way I'm psyched to go to France for a few months, already have visa and all of the other paperwork I needed to do done. Just need to pass all of my classes this semester (no danger right now of failing anything, might not get the grade I was hoping for in a couple of classes, but meh)
Tumblr
I'm going to college for the first time and I have three classes which will be nothing like each other.

First and most important is the Electronic 200 online course which I will have to get at least a "B" on every test. This is so my military credits will transfer.

The other two are some random electronics course and English 101.
~~~Septentrion Signature Space~~~
Yay for this thread's monthly post.

Recently, I've had to move to another state, and the standards to graduate from high school here are different than the ones in Wyoming, where I used to live. Since I am in my final year of high school, and they want me to graduate on time, they've got me taking three courses online, in addition to the eight I'm taking on campus. Algebra II, American History, and Personal Finance are the online courses, and courses I've already passed before...but hey, things happen.
come check out my stream, i play cool stuff sometimes -- twitch.tv/xcombomamba

tl;dr you're a cool person :)
So, after exams, I ranked high enough to be in the top 7% in my state, so I was accepted into that one university/college everyone wants to go to. Studying science, baby! ;)

... I wish I knew what field of science I would like to study. There's 37 different subjects I can take so it's going to be really difficult. To be honest, I'm more excited for the two elective subjects I can pick. I'll probably end up picking Japanese and ... learn an instrument? I might be too old, though. I can't think of anything else I'd like to learn, though.

Right now I'm motivated to enter fields that have affected me personally. I'm not the healthiest kid and have tinnitus, mild arthritis and ... well, a lot of bone problems for no apparent reason! I could become an audiologist, rheumatologist ... maybe I can fix myself up!

I'm happy. I'll definitely attend every lecture in the first week and then stay at home for the rest of the year learning off the online portal. Bring on the independence!
Speaking of post-secondary education I am hopefully on my way to university next year. I applied about a week ago and need to fill out my applications for auditions, since I'm planning on going to get my BMus (Bachelor of Music), M.Mus (Master of Music), and then DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) with a specialization in jazz flute performance and sub-specialization in jazz history, and hopefully work as a university professor for various music related courses.

My chances are pretty high of getting into the first school I'm planning to attend to, since it isn't really that big for its music department and being that I've managed to keep straight 99 marks in music and can perform leagues above what most people would I'm pretty much guaranteed so long as I don't mess up my audition.

My plan is to study at Brock University in St. Catharines for 4 years since it is local heavily reducing the costs and my Bachelor's Degree won't be -too- big of a deal so it's not that important I go to a prestigious school yet. Afterwards I plan on studying at the University of Toronto for 2 years earning my Master's Degree and another 3-4 years earning my Doctoral Degree.

So far trying to get everything organized has been a stressful task in itself but I'm sure I'll manage. I have high hopes for the future, although it kinda sucks I won't be getting out of school until I'm 28 or 29.
Blumiere: Congratulations!

Originally posted by Blumiere
There's 37 different subjects I can take so it's going to be really difficult.


Sample as much as you possibly can. I started in chemistry, then moved to neurobiology, and now I'm in molecular biology (finally found something I'm genuinely interested in). Something like 75% of people change their major at least once, so don't be afraid to do that as well.

Originally posted by Blumiere
I'll probably end up picking Japanese and ... learn an instrument? I might be too old, though.


You're never too old.

Originally posted by Blumiere
I'm happy. I'll definitely attend every lecture in the first week and then stay at home for the rest of the year learning off the online portal. Bring on the independence!


It takes me exactly one lecture to feel out the professor and learn which lectures are necessary and which simply regurgitate from the textbook. I'm sure you'll learn to do the same. I have seven classes this term, and four aren't even worth attending.

Originally posted by Red Chameleon
I applied about a week ago and need to fill out my applications for auditions, since I'm planning on going to get my BMus (Bachelor of Music), M.Mus (Master of Music), and then DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) with a specialization in jazz flute performance and sub-specialization in jazz history, and hopefully work as a university professor for various music related courses.


Sounds like you have everything planned, which is great. I'll repeat what I said to Blumiere to you though - be sure to take a wide variety of electives as well. You never know when you might find something else that interests you even more.

Originally posted by Red Chameleon
My plan is to study at Brock University in St. Catharines ... Afterwards I plan on studying at the University of Toronto for 2 years earning my Master's Degree ...


I'm not here to dictate your life, but if you'd like some advice, apply at Wilfrid Laurier University and do your best to get in there. They are famous across the country for their fantastic music program, and living costs in Waterloo are actually pretty cheap. I know you're concerned about costs and locality, but if you want to really shine, WLU would be your smartest choice.

(I don't really have anything against Brock, but I'm sure you've heard the unpleasant catchphrases the university has.)
Humber College's degree music program would have been where I would have gone if I wanted to go somewhere to be outstanding. It's not that Wilfrid Laurier isn't better, it's that Humber has a much more focused jazz program. University of Toronto is more classical based than jazz as well but as far as doctor degrees go Wilfrid Laurier offers nothing for musicians. Sure maybe I could go there before Brock but finances for me are a severe and drastic concern and I almost didn't even plan on going to university because of how bad things are. I have figured out what I'm doing and it just seems like the best route to take to help financially and still achieve what I want. I appreciate the input though, thanks.

As for electives, I have to do a language, social science, and science credit (1 of each) in the program at Brock so I'm probably gonna be doing ITAL 1F01, PSYC 1F25, and BIOL 1F25 (Introductory Italian, Overview of Psychology, and Biology: A Human Perspective). For open electives however I am planning on getting a concentration in music performance for my bachelor's degree so I may not be able to use the other 3 electives for other things. If I can I am definitely giving math a shot - that was what I was thinking of doing before I got into music.

I'm also gonna be doing a leadership program. Not only would I develop strong leadership skills but it works a lot on time management and ability to cope with stressful situations. And as well, I'm ALSO going to be doing a Music Ed Plus program that accompanies my 4 years for my bachelor's which allows me to receive extra assistance by students in years 3 and 4 and be a part of a lot more things in the music program, and allows me to actually be a mentor myself in years 3 and 4.

Yeah. I'm gonna be pretty busy, but I love music and I know it's what I wanna do so I'm willing to go through this much work.
(i still think the thread title shouldn't be so boring. The Cafeteria!)

In any case, I'm on a "Last Week of Semester AKA Finals Week" push to get things done and get my grades up. I have no hope for my AP World History D+, because the teacher is just awful, so I just hope I can maintain staying in that passing grade. When it turns into and E...

In any case, anyone else on a end-of-term panic?
Yeah I'm kinda suffering it. I only have 1 exam but it's gonna be a pain, topped with the hell of amount of work I have to put in towards getting into university this has just been so stressful. I may not catch a break not until this coming Sunday, but NEXT Sunday... oh god.

Speaking of university. I applied on the 15th... and literally a week later I already got my acceptance from Brock. My god, I was expecting to wait a while... I've been really busy trying to get everything organized for it and it's been rather stressful, but it'll be worth it! I'm so stoked!
Congrats. Applying this early usually means you'll get your acceptance early as well.

Originally posted by Giant Shy Guy
In any case, anyone else on a end-of-term panic?


More like an end-of-term drudge. Being two months away from getting my BSc is killing me. I just want to graduate and either start in on my PhD or kick off a full-time job and get some cash (for once) instead of paying loads for schooling.
University wake up call has officially hit me. So far I've treated it much like high school where I depend on my ability to soak in information and read about it later to do well. My first mid-semester test in Chemistry scored me a 10/15 which I'm not happy with considering I had to resort to Google for most of the answers. I screwed up some basic botany, too.

If there's anything I've learnt these past few weeks:

1) Your life now belongs to your tertiary studies

2) Without a laptop to take notes, you're going to have a bad time. I told myself I'd wait until the American school year starts because the new Ultrabooks would be announced around the same time, but I didn't expect old fashioned note taking to be such a horrible way to take notes.

Since I didn't learn Chemistry in my last year of high school I'm pretty much expected to learn 2 years worth of content in 12 weeks. On top of learning Japanese and dealing with Calculus 2, university is on the brink of defeating me.

... and here I am posting about my life as a first year instead of writing up my Japanese oral presentation. Life is haaaard.
Yep, you're in the exact same place I was in my first year too .. except I failed my first chemistry midterm and put in a lot of hard effort to pull my grade up in the end. The transition from high school to university is no joke, and people think they can get by off of their old study habits. Once you get over that and find your comfort zone, school gets "easy" again (and by that I mean you still need to work a ton harder than high school, but you can actually manage good grades).

..speaking of university, today was my last day of undergraduate lectures. 18 years of classroom study culminated today, and honesty, I actually kind of stayed an extra five minutes after my last lecture just to soak it in. After I write a few more exams, the degree is mine at last.




christ, where the shit has time gone