Study Tips for Finals
Written by Elizabeth on Apr 29 13 I have always had a hard time with studying. When I was home-schooled, my mom even had me take courses to learn different approaches to studying. When I first came to UAH, I was surprised when I spoke to other students and learned that many still did not know how to study.
Since I have learned a few methods and tips that assist with studying, I would like to put a few things out there for fellow students:
- Try Studyblue.com – Studyblue.com has flashcards for quizzing yourself. I have found that it really helps to organize the information visually by using flash cards. It also has a really cool interface!
- Acting it out – Walking in a pattern, pacing the room, dancing, reciting aloud and using a series of different movements that will remind you of a definition, etc. Each thing you need to memorize gets its own pattern.
- Coming up with obscure similarities – For example, I have always remembered that the definition for “value” on an art final I had to take once is “the difference between light and dark.” I can remember this because I imagined Darth Vader jogging on the sidewalk outside of Spragins Hall. Though some may find this definition an easy thing to memorize, I have a more difficult time because I have bad memory. Making visual references has proven to help me a lot.
- Music – Some people can concentrate while listening to music, others cannot. For me, I have found that it is best to listen to music while organizing notes, but not while memorizing.
- Stress management – Do one thing at a time! Multitasking while studying never works. It is easiest to remember things when you are studying if you have full concentration. Set aside 3-4 hours at LEAST and commit to studying for that long. You should do this preferably two days before your test, then the day before, and, if possible, even the day of your test.
- Review your notes – Re-read the notes you took, re-write or highlight the most important points, and put sticky notes marking different sections that you are reviewing.
- Whiteboards – Whiteboards help a lot in diagramming things and organizing topics precisely and clearly within your mind.
Breathe! Knowing your material will definitely make you feel more confident. Studying thoroughly makes you feel so excited! Today, I was feeling so confident for my exam that I was skipping down the halls (of my house) before my Art History test. I felt sooo completely ready. I feel like it is a major accomplishment for me!
Good luck on your finals!
Event Spotlight: ATO’s Battle of the Buffalo
Written by mbs0001 on Apr 25 13 Written By Mark Creel
My favorite student organized event on campus is by far the Battle of the Buffalo! Of course I may be biased because I am a part of the organization that puts it on, but don’t take my word for it… Ask any current student of UAH and see what they have to say about Battle of the Buffalo! Also, visit battleofthebuffalo.com for updates on Battle of the Buffalo and watch the video at the top of the page to get more information on the event!
Battle of the Buffalo is a HUGE wings festival put on by the men of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity in memory of a brother who died of leukemia in 2007. The brother’s name was Paul “Fish” Salmon and all of his treatment was received at Clearview Cancer Institute (CCI), which is less than a mile from campus. All of the money raised from the event goes directly to CCI and it has gone to help countless families that rely on the facility.
The 5th Annual Battle of the Buffalo, and most recent, had over 2,500 people in attendance and raised almost $30,000 for CCI. Also, the event made up over 40% of the philanthropy money raised by the entire Greek community at UAH.
Some of the things that CCI has been able to afford through the past donations of Battle of the Buffalo are a bench in Paul’s honor, a blanket warmer for chemotherapy patients, and a microscope that can help doctors reduce the time needed for diagnosis from 1 month to less than 1 hour. These can all be seen below. I’m excited to see how they put the money raised from this year’s Battle of the Buffalo to work to improve the lives of cancer patients in the Huntsville area!
 This is the bench donated in Paul's honor.
 Also donated in memory of Paul is this towel warmer to help make chemotherapy patients more comfortable during their sessions.
 This is the microscope donated to reduce the time need for diagnosis.
Frederic’s ACE Story: Being Involved, Getting Paid & Having Fun!
Written by GuestBlogger on Apr 10 13 Written by: Frederic Bass
Hello, my name is Frederic Bass and I want to share with you why I chose to attend school at UAHuntsville along with one of my awesome experiences volunteering and working for one of our student organizations, ACE (Association for Campus Entertainment). The reason I chose UAHuntsville was due to the fact that when I first got here I wanted to become an Aerospace Engineer. Airplanes always fascinated me since both my mother and father were in the Air Force. UAHuntsville was and still is one of the best quality and affordable engineering colleges in the southern region. The university also offers several opportunities in the line of co-ops and internships, so my decision was obvious.
As mentioned before I was a part of the Association for Campus Entertainment (ACE) board. I LOVED every second of the work I did with ACE! My official title was the Director of Entertainment and my job literally was to work with and hire comedians, musicians, magicians, hypnotists, illusionists, as well as several other acts to come perform for our students… FOR FREE.
One of my favorite memories was when the university paid for me and a few other ACE board members to go to Covington, Kentucky for a conference called NACA (National Association for Campus Activities). I was paid for three days to watch comedians and various artist perform. We then had to make executive decisions about who to hire to come perform for the students at UAHuntsville! Due to my involvement with ACE I also got to MC for Kip Moore and dance on stage with 3OH!3. I was able to build connections through the organization which led to me working as a summer Orientation Leader and in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a campus tour guide.
Volunteering for ACE was a great experience! Not only was I able to get an inside look on what board meetings were like, but I found a passion that made me change my major to what it is now, Communication Arts. Joining organizations on campus, ACE or otherwise, opens many great experiences that can lead to several other benefits. UAHuntsville has over 110 student organizations that you can join, from ACE to a Tom shoes club, to a hammock club, to religious and honors organizations. The choice is YOURS!
 Me with Comedian Jen Kober  Backstage with Kip Moore  Working as the MC for the Kip Moore Concert
Campus Living Experience!
Written by GuestBlogger on Apr 3 13 Written by: Rachel Bray
We all know that a college’s academic reputation is important, and in my opinion UAHuntsville’s is amazing! Another important aspect of a university is the living quarters. As a resident assistant here at UAHuntsville, I can tell you that the residence halls are one of a kind! All of our halls are suite style, so you get your very own room. You also have your own sink and only share a bathroom with one other person.
Along with the fabulous amenities available within the halls, there are always a lot of activities going on. Nearly every week, resident assistants (like me) host FREE programs for the residents- oftentimes providing a free meal! These programs make it easy to get involved in the residence hall and to get to know your neighbors. Another advantage to living on campus is simply the convenience. You are minutes away from any campus event. You’re even just a short walk away from any of the wonderful dining options such as Papa Johns, Chick-fil-a, and the Charger Cafe.
After commuting my first year and living on campus my second year, there really is no comparison. I would not trade my on campus living experience for anything. In order to get the most of your college experience, it is important to live on campus and experience all that UAHuntsville’s housing department has to offer. You can get more information about housing and apply online here!
Why Choose UAHuntsville?
Written by GuestBlogger on Mar 28 13 Written by: Adam Neal
My name is AJ and I am currently a sophomore majoring in Accounting and Finance in the College of Business Administration here at UAHuntsville. I wanted to share with you the many reasons why I decided to pursue my higher education at UAHuntsville and am proud to be a Charger! I am known as a triple legacy at the university because my father holds degrees from UAHuntsville as well as my mother and brother. My father’s success in his career has shown me that a good education from a well respected university is crucial in the job market today. I chose my major of Accounting and Finance due to the amazing College of Business that the university offers. Within the business department there are great faculty and staff members that have changed my outlook on the world and my goals.
One of the best things about UAHuntsville is that the professors work very closely with students to help us achieve academic success. A great number of the professors have either worked in their field of study or are currently working in their field and teaching classes. This allows the professors to instruct students with their knowledge of the real world, and gives the students a perspective not often found in textbooks.
Another great part of UAHuntsville is the availability of student job opportunities on campus. These are great for students who want to earn money in college while not sacrificing class time. My personal experience with an on-campus position has been quite an extraordinary one. I work in the Office of Admissions as a Student Ambassador and have built a large network of connections through my position. The skills and connections that I have attained are very valuable, and I would highly recommend working on campus to future students!
Once again my name is AJ and I approve this message. Go Chargers!
Michael’s Out of State Experience
Written by GuestBlogger on Mar 26 13 I’m Michael Henry, and I am currently a junior mechanical engineering major from the Cincinnati, OH area. I remember having a lot on my mind when I was in your shoes only three years ago. Lots of questions spun through my head such as, “Where am I going to college?” “Am I going to get homesick?” “How am I going to keep up with everyone if I go out-of-state?” These are things lots of students think about when they have the option to go out-of-state for college. For some students, they can’t wait to get out and try new things. Others have a desire to stay closer to home. I had mixed feelings on both sides when I was considering UAHuntsville. Growing up, I’d never imagined I would live in the state of Alabama, so coming to UAHuntsville would be an awesome opportunity for me to try new things. At the same time, I loved Ohio! I had a great network of friends and family back home, and leaving that would be difficult. Life’s all about taking chances, because you never know what you’re going to miss out on if you don’t take a chance or two in life.
Coming to UAHuntsville my freshman year, I knew I wanted to get involved on campus and stay busy. I learned through an activity fair of all the different student activities I could get involved in. The first one that caught my eye was Greek Life. In high school, I wanted nothing to do with Greek Life because I knew how it was portrayed on TV and movies, and that was not the life for me. Here at UAHuntsville, Greek Life is different. Greek Life on campus is full of involved and productive students who are working to be the best they can be while making a difference in college. From high academics to lots of philanthropy dollars raised, Greek Life is an impressive organization. The best part about Greek Life, is that it felt like a family away from home. All I did was talk to them and show some interest, and I instantly felt a strong support network, which made the transition from home to college a lot easier. I can honestly say that had I gone to another university, I would have opted out of Greek Life and never had all the experiences I have enjoyed so far. I currently hold leadership positions in my fraternity, and my fraternity brothers have become friends that I know I’ll have for the rest of my life!
I also got involved in many other student life organizations. Within my first couple of weeks on campus I even received a director position on UAHuntsville’s Association for Campus Entertainment (ACE). That job was one of the coolest I’ve ever had! Being on the ACE board, I got to help plan all of the fun, free campus events for students. From comedians to concerts to all sorts of free giveaways, I got to be behind-the-scenes and really see how creative I could make things for students on campus. Recently, I started giving campus tours as a UAHuntsville Student Ambassador. Giving tours to students considering UAHuntsville gives me the opportunity to tell students why I enjoy UAHuntsville, and I get to encourage other out-of-state students to try new things and give schools like UAHuntsville a chance.
Coming down here to Alabama has also given me awesome career opportunities while in college. I began by working two co-op terms at the Mercedes-Benz plant. It was really cool getting to see how some of the nicest cars in the world are made, while also gaining job experience and getting paid for it all! The job also let me know that mechanical engineering was definitely the field for me. I have also worked at Boeing with a team of students revising plane part designs. It’s another one of those experiences that’s pretty cool to have while you’re in college, and it gets you geared up for work in the real world.
All of this is just the tip of the iceberg of my college experience here at UAHuntsville. Going to an out-of-state school was never something I had planned, but it always seems that the best things in life happen when you least expect it. I still have many more awesome experiences in college to come, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Leadership Retreat in Memphis
Written by Salome on Mar 18 13 As my last semester at UAHuntsville finally rolled in, I spent my first weekend at a SGA Retreat focusing on leadership. Before classes could become overwhelming with doubled responsibilities, we went on the two day SGA Spring Retreat (I know, it was cold and January but it us the Spring semester hence the name “Spring Retreat!”). This semester we went to Memphis, Tennessee and stayed on the University of Memphis’ campus. We met with their SGA representatives for a discussion on how we run our programs and then we toured their relatively new student center, one that UAHuntsville looked to for inspiration for our own Charger Union building which is still under construction.
The rest of our time was spent on various leadership development exercises, but we did make time to visit the National Civil Rights Museum! For lunch, we even had the chance to eat local BBQ at the famous Central BBQ, which has been featured multiple times on the Travel Channel and which everyone loved! As for just vising the city, it was an official trip with a tight agenda so tourism wasn’t the focus. I did have the opportunity to see downtown Memphis with some friends; Beale Street which the city’s famous for and Main Street, which was my personal favorite.
Melissa’s Decision to Stay in Huntsville
Written by GuestBlogger on Mar 18 13 Written by Melissa Lee
Growing up in the Huntsville area and having both parents who are alumni from the university, I have been very familiar with the campus starting at an early age. With both of my parents being alumni, they definitely had a huge impact on my choice to attend UAH. They both shared their positive experiences of when they were here studying mechanical and electrical engineering. During my senior year of high school, I considered attending UAHuntsville as well as other universities that were not as close to home. I ultimately made my decision to attend this university because of its prestigious engineering program and the many internship opportunities that were entailed since I wanted to pursue a career in mechanical engineering.
I can honestly say that I have not regretted my choice to attend college close to home since!
Being a sophomore here at UAHuntsville, these past two years have opened up many opportunities for me to get hands on experience with my major while building relationships with the teachers and students here. The program has given me the technical knowledge as well as people skills to help me succeed in my field of study. Even in my introductory engineering classes, I have been given opportunities to get hands on experience working in the machine shop on group projects and even giving presentations to my lab group and professors. These past three years as an engineering student has definitely been a challenge but I am really excited that my hard work led me to be nominated for Tau Beta Pi, a prestigious engineering honor society. Just remember that hard work and building good relationships with your professors pays off!
Austin’s ROTC Experience
Written by GuestBlogger on Mar 18 13 Written by Austin Johnson
Like some of you, I have grown up in a family that has been highly involved in the military. From the experiences that I have gained through my military upbringing, I quickly realized that being able to pursue a career in the military while also getting a solid education in college was important to me.
Let’s start on what really sold me on attending UAHuntsville. This was due to all of the large amount of resources that the university offered while being such a close knit community. I chose to major in Finance due to my love of investing money and watching stocks. Some of the classes here at UAHuntsville have provided me the opportunity to invest other people’s money in stocks and investments, and I even receive a grade while doing it!
At the beginning of my college search I planned on attending a larger university, but shortly realized that UAHuntsville was my home. Everything from the Greek life, sporting events, religious organizations and the academic major related clubs and activities attracted me to this campus.
As I said before, one of my biggest concerns while searching for a college was being able to pursue a career in the military while being a student. UAHuntsville’s ROTC program has offered me this opportunity! One really cool experience I have had with the ROTC program is using land navigation. Basically, they teach you how to navigate unknown land with a map and a compass. The best part is they place you on a plot of land that you are not familiar with and say “Go”. It is definitely a really cool hands-on experience that is a necessary skill for an Army Officer! Now you could take me anywhere and I could find my way back to UAHuntsville with only a map and a compass.
A huge part of the ROTC program is leadership. By my junior year in the program I will have the opportunity to lead other cadets in morning physical training, field training exercises, and classroom instructions. With this leadership experience and the knowledge from my Finance classes I will have the necessary resources for a successful brokerage career. I would not have had the amount of opportunities I have been provided at UAHuntsville so far if I would have not chosen to get involved and to live on campus. So, find what you enjoy doing while in college and pursue it!
Salome Tours Nucor Factory
Written by Salome on Nov 28 12 The steel factory tour is vying to be the highlight of my past few weeks. The race is very close. When my professor told us that we could tour one of the largest steel company’s factory 30 minutes away, Nucor factory, I almost blurted out “would we get extra credit?”. I barely held it in. After the initial ulterior points motive, I was actually interested in going since I’ve learned that it’s usually a good idea to say yes to opportunities; they rarely turn out badly. So I rearranged my plans and barely made it by the meeting time to drive down with the group.
When we walked in, we received a helmet, safety goggles and fire retardant jacket which weren’t flattering but definitely official! The factory is big. The machinery is just massive. Until you get to quality controls and actually molding the steel, the processes that melt and transport steel is straight out of a post-apocalyptic world and technology fairly basic. This mean that huge machine parts move slowly but do good bit of damage. First image is the huge cauldrons waiting for the melted steel, there is a flame above them to always keep them hot. The huge trucks roll in, filled with scrap metal to dump in a container, since Nucor is the largest recycling steel company in the US. We waited 30 minutes to see the steel being poured and transported and I decided that I would ask as many questions as I needed to basically open up my own factory. Close enough. The tour took almost two hours and we went through the whole process, including the statistic side which was the main goal of us being there; to see how statistics was used to control performance. It was very cool and class seemed more relevant but the lava-like steel being transformed to sheets of steel is definitely the highlight.
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