Sem 5, Revision Week: Did Not Revise

OK, so the revision week was just over, and I hardly did any revision.

Unlike the previous semesters, I didn't take leave for the revision week this time round. The reason is very simple: I will most likely not be using the time to do revision. From the experience of past semester, there will be a lot of procrastination, lazing around and slacking. Then the actual revision will be done a few days before the actual paper. If that happens, then it's just a waste of leave. Beside, I don't have so much leave this year, since I didn't carry a lot from last year. So I rather be going to work (especially now that I'm doing my MSc project at work) and do the revision at night and over the Good Friday long weekend. I will only take leave on the actual days of the exam.

At least that's the plan.

What actually happened was no revision was done at weeknights, and I wasted the long weekend away sleeping in, running errands, and doing tons of other useless stuff.

My first paper is on this Thursday, followed by the second paper which is on Friday. Then the last paper will be the following Tuesday (thankfully there's a long weekend in between). So now I'm taking another day of leave on Wednesday to salvage whatever I can. Let's hope I won't be wasting it away.

On a more positive note though, the result for CA2 of Advanced Topics in Medicinal Chemistry was out. I did very well for it and that somehow made up for the dismal CA1 (to a certain degree). So if I'm able to score for the exam, maybe there'll be someway back for this module afterall.

Another source of motivation for me to push through the revision.

DVD List - March

(Ok, this is overdue. But there are always more important things to do right?)

It's the end of the month! Time to update my DVD list.

I am drawing up a DVD list. Till the end of the year, at the end of every month, I shall add a title to the list. Then from the start of next year, I will watch one title a month....

Jan 2011 - Sense and Sensibility
Feb 2011 - 300 Days of Summer
Mar 2011 - Sweeny Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Book List- March

(Ok, this is overdue. But there are always more important thing to do right?)

It's the end of the month! Time to update my book list!

I am drawing up a book list. Till the end of the year, at the end of every month, I shall add a title to the list. Then from the start of next year, I will read one title a month....

Jan 2011 - Did You Spot the Gorilla? (Richard Wiseman)
Feb 2011 -Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character) (Richard P. Feynman)
Mar 2011- SuperFreakonomics (Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner)

Sem 5, Week 13: End (of the Lectures...)

OK, so the 13th and final week of lectures was just over, and it ended as peaceful as it can be.

The two main event last week had to be the CA2 for Advanced Topics in Medicinal Chemistry and the presentation for Graduate Organic Chemistry. Both were on the same day (Friday).

Took half day off on Friday to do some final revision for CA2. The preparation prior to that wasn't very ideal, but still I was able to go through all the notes. So for that half day off, just did some final brush up and went straight for the test. Luckily it was MCQ and I am able to answer all the question without much difficulty. Of course, whether my answers are right or wrong, that's another issue, but I do feel good after the test. Guess there's still some hope for this module.

I also felt quite good for the presentation. I had been practicing the whole week, memorizing and verbalizing every slides - even when I am in the lab (think the others might think I am weird talking to myself). So for the actual presentation, I think I gave a very confident performance. I would rate my presentation as one of the better ones in the lecture group. But I still fumbled on one of the key points (I was thinking A, but end up saying B). If not for that, I would say I aced the presentation.

Anyway, all that are over. Now is the revision week. Time to do some serious revision for the exams, and start shifting focus to my MSc project, which I had been neglecting for quite some time. It's going to be very fun...

Sem 5, Week 12: The End is Near...

OK, So the 12th week of the semester is just over. I can really feel the end is near.

One piece of good news last week was that there will be no problem set 2 for Contemporary Organometallic Chemistry. That really took a load of me, so now I can focus on the CA 2 for Advanced Topics in Medicinal Chemistry and the presentation for Graduate Organic Chemistry, both coming up on next Friday.

Another thing I should had known about Contemporary Organometallic Chemistry is that it's exam is open-book, but somehow I only heard it for the first time last week (or maybe I had forgotten about it?). So I guess that counts as good news too.

Haven't really prepared for the CA2. This is a test I need to do well so I can pull up my grades for the module. Not expecting to do well for it, but at least I want a decent grade. This time round, the CA2 seems easier then CA1 (the topics are easier to understand, and the paper is MCQ), but I am not taking anything for granted.

Still had not started preparation for the presentation too. Sat through the second round of presentation last Friday, and I think I can do well for it. The Graduate Organic Chemistry is one module that I have high hope for getting a distinction, so there must be no mistake for this presentation (it counts towards a sizable portion of the overall marks).

Then at work, the chemistry is winding down for the current project, so that means I will have some time to focus on my MSc project. I am seriously hoping to make some significant progress this coming week.

Looks like there are quite some work to be done in the week ahead. This is fun...

Sem 5, Week 11: No Complaints

OK, So the 11th week of the semester is just over. In two weeks time, the semester will come to an end. At least the teaching part.

With two more weeks to go, there are only three things left to do: the presentation for Graduate Organic Chemistry, the CA2 for Advanced Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, and the problem set 2 for Contemporary Organometallic Chemistry.

Presentation for Graduate Organic Chemistry is still two weeks away, and I had submitted the slides. For a presentation, two weeks is a lot of time to prepare. Plus after sitting through the first round of presentation by fellow course mates last week I have some idea how should I do my presentation. So I am quietly confident about this presentation.

CA2 for Advanced Topics in Medicinal Chemistry is the one that will give me some white hair. I totally flunked my CA1, so I need really need to do very well for CA2 and the exam at the end of the month. But I still don't really have a good grasp of what is taught in this this module. So yah, it's a bit of a worry. Which means lots of work required.

As for Contemporary Organometallic Chemistry, the problem set 2 has not been given out yet. But I also can't be sure of that because I skipped last week lecture to prepare for quiz 2 of Graduate Organic Chemistry last Friday. Had been skipping a few lectures of Contemporary Organometallic chemistry. I just hope this will not come back to bite me.

Oh yah, there was quiz 2 for Graduate Organic Chemistry last week. Think I did so-so. For the amount of revision I put it, I think I got away with it just right. So I am not complaining.

OK. so let's hope for a more fruitful week ahead.