School starts Monday

My first class of the fall term is on Monday from 11am to 12:50 pm, Tuesday classes run from 11am to 3:20pm, Wednesday is 11am to 12:50pm again, and Thursday is my long day with classes from 11am to 6:50pm, with 40 minute break at 3:20. 5 classes, 16 credits. They say you should allow 2 to 3 hours outside of class for every in class hour for studying and homework. I seem to need 2 to 5 hours, depending on the class. I could potentially be looking at anywhere from 48 to 96 hours a week spent just on school. It will probably be somewhere closer to the middle, like 70-75 hours. That's almost like having two jobs, except I'm paying instead of getting paid. This is so going to be worth it.

I sold my old TI-86 graphing calculator the other day for $35. I bought a lightly used TI-89 Titanium in May for $90 so I didn't need it anymore. Tomorrow I'm selling one of my textbooks that I used last term. Also for $35. I was happy it sold because they have gone to a 2010 edition for the fall term and mine is a 2009 edition. The book cost me nearly $80 used. I tried to sell back all of the textbooks I had from my last two terms. They took one. The cheapest one. I paid about $30 for it new and they gave me $15. And nothing else. I gave my math books to James. I hope it doesn't always go like this. I try to buy used whenever I can and it helps offset the cost of books if I can at least get something for them when I'm done with them. Why does education need to cost so much? And this is just community college. End of minor rant.

I am looking forward to school starting again. Starting new classes always makes me a little anxious though. I keep thinking that part will go away. I'm still hopeful. The classes certainly won't be getting easier any time soon. The classes I plan to take at PCC after this term tentatively include:

CH 221 Chemistry
CH 222 Chemistry
CIS 122 Software Design
CS 161 Computer Science I
CS 133U C Programming
ENGR 211 Statics
ENGR 221 Electrical Circuits
ENGR 222 Electrical Circuits
ENGR 223 Signals & Systems
MTH 251 Calculus I
MTH 252 Calculus II
MTH 253 Calculus III
MTH 254 Vector Calculus
MTH 256 Differential Equations
PHY 211 Physics
PHY 212 Physics
PHY 213 Physics
WR 122 English Composition
WR 227 Technical Writing
General Social Science - 6 credits minimum
General Humanities - 9 credits minimum

This is all in preparation for going to OIT, hopefully starting in the Fall term of 2011. It seems like a lot to do in only 2 years, but I don't think I'll have to take any more in one term than I am doing this time. It will be doable as long as I stay focused on my goals. I can't wait to see what happens!