Summer Summer Summer

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Cherie

Summer over Willow Lake

This is my second week of summer courses here at Embry Riddle Prescott and so far I’ve really enjoyed it. I am only taking one class, Calculus 3, in a condensed six week period but, I have high hopes for how it will turn out :D I have taken a summer math course before but, not at Embry Riddle. I greatly enjoyed the experience as summer course are intense and crammed with information but at the same time they are very relaxed and fun.

At least that was the impression I gained from my first summer course in mathematics and hopefully this impression remains the same!! In addition to my class I am working in the Admissions department, so if you stop on by campus this summer you might see me or even get a campus tour from me.

Other than that not much has been going on here at Riddle except for moving into summer housing, attending campus barbeques, and chilling at our pool. The campus is a relaxed place over summer and it is extremely opportune time to come visit so that you, the potential student, can gauge the community that has developed on campus.

Everyone here is really nice and we would love to meet you here on campus sometime, so please come join us for some summer fun!!

Cash Flow For College Students

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Adam

Hello there readers, if you are a concerned college parent or student worried about having a little extra cash to spend on food or hobbies or just spending too much then you are reading the right blog. In this blog i will go over some great ways to earn money at a reasonable rate and some great college spending advice.

For a personal preference I enjoy working and having at least some spending cash or savings money so I saved up over the past summers but once school came around i hit a dead end, I was spending with not even little amounts of income (besides my parents that is). So once I realized how much I was spending on food and weekend activities I began to invest in looking for an on campus job at Embry-Riddle as well as learning to spend my money wisely. So here are some tips:

For spending:

1) When going to the grocery store make a list of all the things you need, that way you have a goal or else you will just be wandering around buying stuff and spending a bit more then you think.

2) Try to eat healthy, I know it sounds weird but the more you eat sugary junk food the more you will crave it and therefore the more you will spend on it so try to cut it back.

3) Next is the activity spending/shopping. Again making and using a list of the essentials or wants at least making a list in your head for the purpose you are shopping for is best. It will help keep your mind from wandering and spending cash left and right.

4) try to hold group events like if you want to go somewhere that takes gas money, if you have enough people going the cost can be very minimal.

Jobs in college:

1) If you are concerned about not having a job in school, well don’t worry you have plenty of on campus opportunities waiting for you. Schools are normally very open to students working on campus. Most of the time students will have time to work and go to school. (I am talking spending cash or travel money not a normal income that can pay your bills although there are some people who can do that.

2) From personal experience i would get by one or even a half semester before taking on the responsibilities of school and a job just to get the feel of your school work schedule, that is if you are new to school.

3) Summer/Seasonal employment opportunities! Take advantage of them. I gathered myself a large sum of money just from one summer of work and it didn’t take to much effort. Plus it looks good on a resume.

4) Lastly, Interns! Get involved, not all interns pay but if you find one that does they pay exceptionally well.

Thanks for reading, let me know of any questions.

New Job

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Cherie

Good afternoon everyone, today I would like to tell you about my new job in Embry-Riddle admissions. As you know, because its pretty obvious lol, I am a blogger but, I was recently hired to be a tour guide here on Embry-Riddle’s Prescott campus. I am really excited about my new position because I love going to school in Arizona and I also like getting to meet new interesting people from all over the world.

Where are you visiting us from??

As a tour guide you get to meet all kinds of people, many are from other countries, veterans of the United States military, potential ROTC students, fresh high school graduates, and Embry-Riddle Worldwide students. With such a large variety of individuals seeking information it is very important that they receive an excellent welcome and gain a preliminary knowledge of the campus itself when they visit. We know that each individual will have a different campus experience but we try to make it as informative and fun as possible in order to reflect the culture that we have developed here in Prescott.

To ensure their familiarity with the campus we tour the most important places that are relevant to their major and allow the student to meet with admissions counselors and ROTC representatives if they so choose. In this manner the potential student may gain an understanding of the opportunities they will have to augment their education at the Prescott campus.

I think the part I enjoy most about being a tour guide is getting to meet all the different people and help them in any way I can. I get to share my experiences at the school as well as my thoughts on campus life, as so far everything has been really great for me. I have had my struggles with academics, friends, ROTC, and just life on my own in general but, overall I believe that my decision to attend the Embry-Riddle Prescott campus was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. At Embry-Riddle you get the freedom and the support you need to follow your desired career and even though it can be hard it has been the greatest time of my life.

I really encourage you to visit the campus and learn more about what Embry-Riddle Prescott has to offer you, I am sure that you will find a wonderful educational experience here!! If you have questions or would like to schedule a visit please follow the links below or contact us in admissions, thank you!!

To schedule a visit: http://prescott.erau.edu/admissions/schedule-visit/index.html

To talk with a Counselor online: http://prescott.erau.edu/admissions/chat/index.html

To take a virtual campus tour: http://prescott.erau.edu/admissions/virtual-campus-tour/

To give us a call: Phone: 928-777-6600 or toll-free 800-888-3728

ROTC Scholarships and Programs

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Cherie

Hello again, I am sure many students at one point or another have considered entering a branch of the military in order to help pay for educational costs. Reserve Officer Training Corps is certainly an excellent way to gain a degree and a career as an officer in a branch of the military services. ROTC is available on most campuses nationwide, not every campus will have every branch so you must choose a University depending on the branch you would like to enter.

Embry Riddle has two full ROTC detachments as well asan additional training program. These are Air Force ROTC, Army ROTC, and the Marine training called Platoon Leaders. Each of these programs can prepare you to follow a career in a military service and get you financial aid that will help you earn a degree. As some of our readers might know I am a sophomore cadet in the Air Force ROTC program.

Air Force ROTC

Competition for scholarships in Air Force ROTC can be difficult as a scholarship requires a good Physical Fitness score, a positive medical evaluation, a demonstration of leadership abilities through extracurricular activities and positions as well as letters of recommendation and at least a 3.0 GPA in high school. Other tests such as the SAT, ACT, AFOQT (Air Force Officer Qualifying Test) are taken into account when a student is being considered for a scholarship.

Army ROTC

There are two scholarships available, each can vary in type and the amount awarded.

The first one is the in high school scholarship which is awarded to a graduating high school senior who intends to enter ROTC at the University of their chose and the second is an in college scholarship that is awarded to cadets who have continually displayed outstanding performance in their time as a cadet. If you are interested in joining Air Force ROTC straight out of high school I highly recommend applying for the high school scholarship during the fall semester of your Senior year. This is actually how I was awarded my scholarship, it can be a lot of work but, the scholarship is an enormous help if you are attending a four year university.

Platoon Leaders

Whatever you chose to pursue in the future I wish you great luck but, if you are interested in one of the programs I discussed I would be happy to answer any questions you might have, so please comment!

Also check out the Embry Riddle Prescott campus website for more information on each program. Thank you!!!

Monsoons in the Dessert

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Cherie

Hello everyone, I have an interesting topic today, one that personally I was kind of shocked to discover…..there are summer monsoons in Prescott AZ!!!

When I first came to Riddle Prescott campus I thought, well its the dessert, dry, sunny, pretty, very different from California but, during my first week of Air Force ROTC (zero week) in the middle of August I discovered that Riddle’s Prescott campus can be anything but predictable. Don’t take this badly, what I mean by this is that the weather during the summer months can go from warm and sunny to windy and stormy within a matter of minutes. I highly advise a large umbrella and/or rain slickers and boots for the summer months.

I will be staying at Embry Riddle’s Prescott campus for a summer session in order to work toward a minor in mathematics, so I might have some helpful tips for you if you intend to attend the university over the monsoon season.

So far, I like the monsoons, to be complete honest they are fascinating. The clouds gather in various colors of white, blue, and gray then burst out into massive downpours that can last anywhere from 2 or 3 minutes to an hour or so. The campus literally transforms itself when it rains, if you have toured the Prescott campus you have probably seen the numerous bridges, and artfully designed drainage ditches throughout inner campus. Well, when a large downpour occurrs these turn into tiny raging rivers and carry the water straight through campus without harming any of the structures or students. The campus has been specifically designed to handle the varieties of climate that this gorgeous environment displays.

An example of the climate’s variety is shown below, this image is of the local Thumb Butte Landmark in Prescott AZ. The picture was taken just as a monsoon was rolling into the area.

Thumb Butte Monsoon

An example of how most Arizona institutions handle the weather is also included below:

Bridge over Rocky Monsoon Canal on Campus

Whether you enjoy a rainy summer or not I highly encourage potential students to make at least two visits to the campus in different seasons so that they can at least experience some of the various weather that is common in Prescott Arizona. As my summer here continues I will update you on the ways I employ to combat the weather and also the fun that results from living in this beautiful and diverse area :)

Freshmen Year in A Bottle

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Adam

Hey there reader, if you are an incoming freshmen or just curious what college life is about as a freshman, you are in luck. Throughout this blog i will go over the entirety of my freshmen year, tips and more.

So if you do not know so far I am a freshmen currently attending Embry-Riddle in Prescott, Az. I am involved in Air Force ROTC and hope to fly some day soon. First i will go over some FAQ and need to know stuff.

FAQ:

Q: Is college difficult? A: Yes & no. The biggest thing i see an issue with is time management, revolving your life around classes and study time. The first year is almost always set at a good pace for a freshmen to begin learning and taking on responsibilities, But it is still just as easy to be lazy.

Q: Do you have enough spare time? A: Yes, as a normal college student i have plenty of time, all most too much…that is as a freshmen so far…but I am involved in AFROTC, honor guard and have an on campus job. Yet i still manage to go to the gym and have a life.

Q: Should I worry about an internship as a freshmen? A: No, about your sophomore/junior year you should look into them.

Q: How is having a roommate? A: Awesome and sometimes irritating. Having a roommate is great, My roommate and I are now pretty close friends. But i have to say, after a whole year you really start to appreciate having a room to yourself.

Q: What Should I Bring to college? A: Necessities! The biggest pain I have right now is packing to go home because I brought to much stuff that I didn’t use.

I hope those Helped, if you have more feel free to ask.

One thing most people do not realize is the resources they have. Utilize them, things like the main office, admissions office, an RA, neighbors and your professors are there for you.

Now freshmen year was great, i have a lot of great memories from it. From Air Force ROTC events to meeting awesome new people and clubs. I definitely feel like i made the right choice coming to Embry-Riddle Prescott campus to start my career as an engineer, especially with the best Air force Det. in the U.S. I couldn’t have made a better choice.

From the late night study sessions to the late night kick backs, and the early morning PT

sessions to the finals, the years go by pretty quick so hopefully you too can make a good choice and start a great career.

Thanks for reading.

Aircraft Accident Investigation: One of the coolest Safety classes available!

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Jason

Have you ever wondered how the NTSB investigates aircraft accidents? Or what happened to cause the aircraft to crash? If so, then SF 330 (Aircraft Accident Investigation) is the class for you! I just completed this class as part of my safety minor, and I am definitely glad I took this class.

The entrance to the Robertson Aircraft Accident Investigation Lab at ERAU Prescott.

Among the great knowledge that we learn throughout this course, the best part is that we get to spend time in the best Aircraft Accident Investigation lab in the nation! Led by our fearless leader Professor Waldock, SF 330 easily captures your attention and interest since day one. Professor Waldock is one of the greatest professors Embry-Riddle has. He is a prominent figure in the Aviation Safety industry and is highly respected as an aircraft accident investigator. The knowledge he shares with the class is invaluable because most of it is from his personal experiences. Time flies when in Professor Waldock’s class, as his stories bring the material to life! You should already want to take the class just to have Professor Waldock teach your class!

One of the numerous accidents in the crash lab.

So what do we learn? Literally everything that you need to know about how to investigate an accident. From impact patterns to determining power settings by looking at a propeller, from fire investigation to on-scene analysis, we cover it all. We put all our knowledge from the course together for our final project in which we get assigned a real accident in our crash lab to investigate. My group was given a Cessna 208B Caravan accident to investigate. Below is a picture of the accident we had to work with (click on the picture for a larger view).

The mangled cockpit of the Caravan.

Through our investigation, we determined the aircraft departed controlled flight as it was climbing, lost airspeed, stalled and entered into a flat spin to the right that resulted in 9 fatalities. Why did it do that? I’m glad you asked! The aircraft was trying to climb above IFR conditions, but flew through moderate icing at it was climbing to 17,000′. The airframe started to accumulate ice, which resulted in the loss of airspeed sufficient to maintain a climb. Due to the loss of airspeed, the wings stalled, and the aircraft immediately entered into a spin to the right due to the high weight of the aircraft and near-aft limit of the Center of Gravity (CG) (resultant from an incorrect weight and balance that was done too fast). The pilot did not execute a proper stall/spin recovery and the aircraft impacted the ground with approximately 100+ vertical G’s and killed the pilot and 8 occupants.

The wreckage as viewed from the right wing

There is more information I could write, but for the sake of reading, that is all I will put about the crash. If you want more detailed info, either leave me a message, or take SF 330 (Aircraft Accident Investigation) when you come to Embry-Riddle! Trust me, you will not regret your decision!

My Summer Plan: Interning with Alaska Airlines

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Jason

This summer I think will be the best summer yet. Why? I accepted the opportunity to intern with Alaska Airlines working under the Chief Pilot! I am absolutely enthusiastic about getting my internship because it has been my dream of mine to work for Alaska Airlines as a pilot since the age of 4. I know I will not be a pilot for them on this internship, but this is certainly a HUGE first step in the right direction towards that goal.

Where will I be? I will be in Alaska Airlines’ Flight Operations building located on the south east end of the SeaTac airport in Seattle, WA. What will I be doing? I will be assisting the Chief Pilot, the Manager of Flight Operations, and other Flight Operations employees with tasks, projects, reports, and presentations. I am not 100% sure, but I might get to run the aircraft simulators too! I will also be working with another Flight Operations intern in Technical Publications to accomplish various projects that might include some business travel. After talking with the Manager of Flight Operations, he said their past interns had to travel to Anchorage and LAX to complete a taxi time project. I have no idea what the project was, but it sounded pretty cool.

Me on an Alaska Airlines flight

The coolest part of the entire internship is the opportunity the opportunity to jumpseat in the cockpit! Essentially, this is job shadowing, but it is my chance to observe the Captain and First Officer as they fly. From before start all the way to shut down, I will be taking notes on how a normal flight is conducted. I will even get a chance to jumpseat and observe my inspiration to becoming a pilot and my mentor, my uncle!

737 Cockpit from the Co-Pilot’s side

Here is my speech of encouragement. Word hard for what you want to do. If you put in the effort, it WILL pay off. It sounds cheesy, I know, but it is honestly the truth! I worked hard, starting freshman year here at Riddle, to get this internship and was selected after 3 rounds of interviews. I highly recommend going for an internship. It is a terriffic learning experience where you get industry experience and put your foot in the door with an airline. I have friends interning with Delta, Express Jet, FedEx, Ameriflight, and Cape Air. The internships are out there. All you have to do is work hard and apply.

So Far So Good

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Adam

Hello readers, if you do not know already I am a current freshman at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott Campus, and in this blog i will be catching you all up on what i have done all year long in terms of classes, clubs, Air Force ROTC, and more. First off I am going for my Electrical Engineering degree, as well as being a cadet in Air Force ROTC and have so far enjoyed the beginning of my career here.

The first semester, the first semester was pretty difficult because of the transition away from home, but class wise i was not taking anything difficult. Basic classes such as calculus, history, physics, as well as engineering 101, and Air Force 101. These classes are the main classes you will most likely have. I did get home sick for a period of time, but eventually that passed and I got used to living at school. The things I have missed the most were my dogs and home cooked food.

After the first semester i began to realize, this is it, the real deal. So once the second semester came around, I was well prepared. This semester I have taken Calculus 2, Physics 2, Engineering 115 aka (MATLAB), Humanities, and Air Force class 102. Although i am still not into the difficult classes yet i feel more prepared then i was at the end of last semester. My roommates and I enjoy going to the movie theater on the weekends, hikes, and out to eat, there are plenty of great restaurants in town, i suggest going into town and exploring, they have some interesting stores.

Now throughout the year I have been involved in many organizations, and activities in town and on campus. This past weekend i went into town for a chalk festival, held annually, this event is awesome and lots of fun. I also participated in the human society’s dog walk on campus. I am also a part of AFROTC Honor Guard and have done many performance in town as well as out of town. If you plan on joining AFROTC I highly suggest joining one of the teams in Honor Corps, such as Sabre, Rifle Drill, and Honor Guard.

The campus is easy to navigate getting to class in about 5 min is really nice. One of my favorite pass times is going to the gym on campus, and hiking across the street.

Hopefully you enjoyed my blog, if you want any more information feel free to let me know.

Bubble Wrap is Back!!!

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Cherie

Embry Riddle Prescott students know that as soon as bubble wrap appears Finals are here!! this may sound really odd to some people so I will have to explain myself a little.

The Bubble wrap is posted around campus by the Residents Hall association for two reasons:

1. BUBBLE WRAP IS AWESOME

2. It helps reduce stress that’s pent up by all the hours you spend studying and not sleeping.

This is only one cool thing that the campus does to help you ease through the grueling process of finals. The dining hall gives out snacks and drinks, hosts a finals breakfast at 11pm the first day of finals week, and the scholars cafe stocks up extra coffee for those students who utilize the library until the wee hours of finals week.

And when its all over, the Residents Hall Association helps you check out, pack up, and head out for summer. Whether it be home or to another dorm room for the summer session the RHA always makes you feel welcome and at home.

For example, for people who are staying for the summer session, there will be a barbeque to welcome you into your new dorms and celebrate the summer (even if you are still at school for summer, its summer and summer rocks!). For those students leaving after finals there is a get together for all to celebrate the end of their first year in college before all everyone heads home and we reconvene next fall.

Hopefully, you will get to participate in these cool events next year!!! And as always Thanks for reading and have an awesome summer break!!