Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Lab and College

I'm so sorry this blog is a bit late. I wanted to take a nap after reading the lab procedure, but it ended up being a really long one.

Well, yesterday, we had to see if our aspirin that was made on Thursday was pure. Our NMR showed that it was about 82% pure, the phenol test showed that alcohol was not present, and our melting point (128 degrees Celsius) showed that our aspirin was a bit far from the average (134-136 degrees Celsius). During the lab, it seemed like most of the class was stuck during the explanation of how to read an NMR. It took about an hour to understand it.

After lunch, we went to the lecture hall and discussed the results of our aspirin. They gave us sample NMRs and sample molecules, and told us to match them together. I had some trouble with it, but my lab partners explaining it to me until the quizzical look was off of my face. After, we had a lecture from Dr. Dalia who works at ExxonMobil. She told us about research in the business world. She combines soot and lubricants to help soot from forming on surfaces. One question that was asked by Professor Avila was "What is it like to be a woman in science?" She told us she was married and had four young children. She said that although it is a challenge, it works out best if you can find something you really love to do.

Afterward, we had our meeting with Mrs. Lilhanand and she told us about our homework assignment to use the College MatchMaker. I did try if after our trip to SoHo with Yohanna (I'll miss her!) and I still don't know exactly what I'm looking for. I found myself checking the "No Preference" boxes a lot. When I did complete it, it gave me about eight colleges. One school that came up as a result was Chico. I always used to dismiss Chico because of it's "party" school status, but I think I will look more into it. Today we're going to NYU, and I would love to see how another campus in the city looks like.

P.S. Have a picture of Gabe and Yohanna when we got lost trying to look for the 1 train back to Columbia.

3 comments:

Charles Tillman Ramsey said...

Thanks Cristina,

It seems that you are doing well and handling the course work with relative certainty. I can see that you are getting a lot out of this experience. Nothing wrong with Chico State if that is what you feel fits your profile. I would hope that you continue to explore and look at a multitude of campuses. This week you will have a chance to see BARD, NYU and The University of Pennsylvania. I know that you will give all of these schools strong consideration.

Keep up the good work.

Take care.

Charles T. Ramsey, Esq.
School Board Member
West Contra Costa
Unified School District

Don Gosney said...

Cristina,

Not to worry, few schools retain their status as party schools for very long. After word gets out the school fills up with the wrong crowd and school officials make changes to suit the needs of the college trustees. [Isn’t it funny how school trustees never seem to take pride in their school being labeled a ‘party’ school?] The next thing you know it’s just another dull college with kids going to classes every now and again. All the while, word gets out about some other school that’s the #1 party school in the nation. Life goes on.

By the way, has anyone ever challenged the legitimacy of those surveys that rank schools in such a manner? I’m betting that the polls could easily be rigged.

I’ve never attended classes at Chico so I won’t hazard an opinion of Chico as a school. You owe it to yourself, though, to spend some time in Chico this summer so you see if this is where you might want to live for four years. It’s definitely not the Bay Area.

It sounds as though your response to the NMR is pretty much the same as your classmates. From the descriptions from all of you it doesn’t make me want to go out and get my own to play with.

Madeline Kronenberg said...

Cristina,

I agree with Dr. Dalia -- things work best if you find something you LOVE to do. That's the best way to have a career and four young children and the best way to find a college.

I am curious about the other colleges on you list -- besides Chico. I'd like to know what they might have in common (besides being picked as a good match for you.)

Mr. Crossley -- the chaperone at Cornell -- is a graduate of Chico. I am sure he would be happy to share his recollections with you about his alma mater.

Just a few days left. Keep enjoying. Wonderful picture of Gabe and Yohanna.

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