Increase the Browsing and Downloading speed in Windows Vista

With windows Vista you have noticed the slow internet speed. The web browsing and downloading speed is very slow as compare to previous versions of windows. You can open the same sites in windows XP and server 2003 with the normal speed.

Follow the given steps to increase the Vista browsing speed:

First go to Advance tab in Internet Explorer and turn off the TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption option. Here to fix problem with some secure pages turn on the SSL 2.0 (Secure Sockets Layer) feature and click Ok button to close it.

Follow the major fix for this problem:

In windows Vista, the TCP autotuning feature is enabled by default. Some web servers do not respond properly to this feature, so it appears that some sites open with very slow speed.

To use this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.

First click on Start button and type CMD in Run option then press Enter.

At Command Prompt, type the following command and press enter.

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel= disabled

This command will disable the TCP autotuning feature. Now close the command Prompt and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

You can easily restore these setting by typing the following command at Command Prompt.

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel= normal

Now close the command Prompt and again restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

Increasing The Life Of Hard Disk

Taking care of your hard disk is important because this is the place where all the data is stored and once the hard disk crashes, data in most cases is not recoverable. There are data recovery softwares and programs which recover data from crashed hard disks but that is not for normal computer users.

But why do hard disks crash and what can be done to prevent them from crashing?. At the same time how can a hard disk be made more efficient? Here are the answers.

Hard disks crash due to many reasons. Voltage fluctuations, physical impact, improper alignment and of course mechanical failure due to wear and tear of internal parts. Let us start one by one and get the answers to the above problems.

1. Voltage fluctuations or spikes as they are called can be prevented by using voltage stabilizers or spike guards. This will limit the damage to the hard disk to a great extent.2. Physical impact can be prevented by handling the hard disk carefully when installing/ re-installing. When installing the hard disk care should be taken to see that it sits perfectly horizontal and that it does not vibrate or shake once the computer is started.3. The natural wear and tear of parts can be limited by defragmenting your hard disk from time to time.But what is defragmentation?

All newly created files are stored in various places on the hard disk in a single cluster ( contiguous file ). But, as the number of files and programs increase, these files are not stored as one contiguous file but broken down and scattered in various places on the hard disk. In short files get fragmented. When these files are accessed by the user, the head on the hard disk moves to and fro to locate these fragments. These fragmented files puts lot of mechanical pressure on the internal parts of the hard disk. This leads to crashes.

To start disk defragmenter from the start menu, click the start button and follow this path (All Programs / Accessories / System Tools / Disk Defragmenter). A minimum of 15 percent free space on your disk is needed for disk defragmenter to run. The disk can also be defragmented automatically by using schedule task. This program can can be accessed via system tools.

4. Power management tool can also be used to enhance the life of hard disk. To access this program go to start / control panel / power options and set the parameters for various hardware devices.

5. Disk cleanup increases the efficiency of the hard disk. So delete unwanted files and programs regularly.

Follow the above rules to increase the life of you hard disk.

Know to Recover the corrupted files from Microsoft Excel

There is no need to use any third party software to manage these types of corrupted files, because Microsoft provides the built-in support in Excel to deal with these types of files in better ways. You can use the SYLK (Symbolic Link) format to restore the corrupted files in previous state.

First click on Start button, go to Program then click on Microsoft Excel to run the excel page.

Now go to File menu and click on Open option to open the corrupted file.

Now again go to File menu and click on Save As option to save the file as type SYLK. Click on Save button to continue.

There is no need to use any third party software to manage these types of corrupted files, because Microsoft provides the built-in support in Excel to deal with these types of files in better ways. You can use the SYLK (Symbolic Link) format to restore the corrupted files in previous state.

First click on Start button, go to Program then click on Microsoft Excel to run the excel page.

Now go to File menu and click on Open option to open the corrupted file.

Now again go to File menu and click on Save As option to save the file as type SYLK. Click on Save button to continue.

Here if you want to recover the multiple sheets then save each sheet separately as type SYLK.

Click on Yes button when you receive the message "Book2.slk may contain features that are not compatible with SYLK (Symbolic Link). Do you want to keep the workbook in this format?"

.

Now close the all opened excel files then again go to File menu and click on Open option to open the .slk type file that you saved in previous step.

Now again go to File menu and click on Save As option to save the file as type Microsoft Excel Workbook. Click on Save button to finish the process.

Here if you want to recover the multiple sheets then save each sheet separately as type SYLK.

Click on Yes button when you receive the message "Book2.slk may contain features that are not compatible with SYLK (Symbolic Link). Do you want to keep the workbook in this format?"

.

Now close the all opened excel files then again go to File menu and click on Open option to open the .slk type file that you saved in previous step.

Now again go to File menu and click on Save As option to save the file as type Microsoft Excel Workbook. Click on Save button to finish the process.

Common symptoms of viruses

• Occurrence of strange messages, symbols or images appear on your screen.
• Strange things happen when you are doing routine work.
• The computer makes strange noises at inappropriate times.
• Files you know you saved are missing.
• The operating system acts slow, doesn't come on or just isn't working as normal.
• Files of executable extension such as .BAT, .EXE, .COM, .HLP, .DLL should never be accepted from others as they have the most potential to cause problems or be infected.
• All computer users should delete any unsolicited emails. We now know due to recent attacks that the Worms have begun to use Microsoft Outlook's address book, so it will appear as if a friend has sent you an email. If you are not expecting an email or the file name is different from the one you are expecting, delete the email and its attachment.
  Electronic Mail text messages cannot in themselves contain viruses. The text portion of a message is just text, and if read, does not contain damaging system codes. If, however, you receive an email message with an attachment, be very careful. File attachments, if executed, CAN launch viruses

Trouble shooting a Printer in General

• Make sure the printer has power and is on-line. If you are using a manual printer sharing device, make sure the switch is set to activate the correct printer.
  
• Turn it off and on again to reinitialize any internal settings that may have gone astray.
  
• Ensure that the tape that seals the cartridge ink port is removed prior to installing the cartridge.
  
• Use the printer's own self-test, according to the manufacturer's recommendation. If it fails, you have verified that the problem is within the printer. If the print head is not moving at all, the transport motor may have failed.
  
• If the printer that you are using is not set as the default printer in Windows or the printer driver is not installed, the printer may print garbled characters. You may also receive errors when you attempt to print from applications.
  
• If the printer passes the self-test, try a test print using the Print Screen capability within DOS. If the Print Screen fails, you know the problem is in the relationship between the printer and the computer. Inspect the cable and the cable connections. Replacing the cable with a known good cable is worth trying since cables are so frequently the source of printer problems. Cables can fail with broken wires, loose or broken pins, or incorrect pin-outs.
  
• If the printer is connected to the computer through an add-in device, remove the add-in device and connect the parallel cable to the printer and then directly to the port on the back of the computer. Some examples of add-in devices are: switchboxes, parallel port scanners, external disk drives, external tape drives, security lock keys, or external CD-ROM drives. Some add-in devices may interfere with proper communications with the printer. Try printing again. If the printer prints successfully, the cable may not have been connected properly, or the add-in device may have been interrupting communication with the printer.
  
• If the combined length of the cables connecting the add-in device and the printer exceeds 10 feet, communication can also be disrupted. In addition, the software that controls some add-in devices may take control of the printer port interfering with any other device attempting to use the same port. In some cases, the software for the add-in device should be disabled or uninstalled. Remove any add-in devices and uninstall the software for those devices, then try printing again.
  
• The message "out of paper" is sometimes erroneously reported when there is plenty of paper, and can indicate a physical problem with the printer.
  
• If the printer port is not properly identified in CMOS, the printer may not function properly and you may receive errors when trying to print. Check your User’s Guide on how to enter CMOS. Once in the Setup utility, locate the LPT1 settings. The address setting for the LPT1 port should be 3BCh or 378h depending on what kind of video card you have. The IRQ setting for the port should be 7 and LPT1 should be enabled in order for the printer to print correctly.
  
• If the Print Screen succeeds, the problem may be with your application or its configuration. For example, your application may be set up to direct output to a file instead of the printer, or you might be directing the output to the wrong communications port.
  
• Try connecting a different printer to this computer or try connecting the printer to a different computer and print a test page. If this printer works when connected to another computer, there may be a problem with the port on your PC. If this printer does not work when connected to another computer, there may be a physical problem with the printer.

Know your Computer's BIOS & itsBeep Codes

When a computer is turned on, it goes through what is called a POST (power-on self test) routine. This is a short diagnostic procedure incorporated into the boot sequence by the BIOS manufacture for troubleshooting purposes.

Many times when there is an error in your boot sequence you will receive an on-screen error message. This error was printed by the video card. But, in some cases, the error is detected early in the boot process and the error cannot be received by the video card. The problem may even be caused by the video card or the monitor. This is why the need for beep codes came to be.

Below, you will find some common codes listed by manufacturer.

AMI (American Megatrends') BIOS
Beep Codes	Message
one short	DRAM refresh failure (Problem with memory)
two short	Parity circuit failure
three short	Base 64K RAM failure
four short	System Timer failure
five short	Processor failure
six short	Keyboard Controller / Gate A20 failure
seven short	Virtual Mode Exception error
eight short	Display Memory Read/Write failure (fault with video card)
nine short	ROM BIOS Checksum error (fault with BIOS chip)
ten short	CMOS Shutdown Read/Write error
eleven short	Cache memory
one long	Passed (no errors)
one long, two short	Video failure
one long, three short	Base / Extended Memory failure
one long, eight short	Display / Retrace Test failure
AST Research BIOS
Beep Codes	Message
one short	Low level processor verification test failed (POST 1)
two short	Clearing keyboard controller buffers failed (POST 2)
three short	Keyboard controller reset failed (POST 3)
four short	Low level keyboard controller interface test (POST 4)
five short	Reading data from keyboard controller failed (POST 5)
six short	System board support chip initialization failed (POST 6)
seven short	Processor register read/write verify test failed (POST 7)
eight short	CMOS timer initialization failed (POST 8)
nine short	ROM BIOS checksum test failed (POST 9)
ten short	Initialize primary video (POST 10)
eleven short	8254 timer channel 0 test failed (POST 11)
twelve short	8254 timer channel 1 test failed (POST 12)
thirteen short	8254 timer channel 2 test failed (POST 13)
fourteen short	CMOS power-on and time test failed (POST 14)
fifteen short	CMOS shutdown byte test failed (POST 15)
one long	DMA channel 0 test failed (POST 16)
one long, one short	DMA channel 1 test failed (POST 17)
one long, two short	DMA page register test failed (POST 18)
one long, three short	Keyboard controller interface test failed (POST 19)
one long, four short	Memory refresh toggle test failed (POST 20)
one long, five short	First 64 KB memory test failed (POST 21)
one long, six short	Setup interrupt vector table failed (POST 22)
one long, seven short	Video initialization failed (POST 23)
one long, eight short	Video memory test failed (POST 24)
Award BIOS
Beep Codes	Message
one short	Passed (no errors)
two short	Any non-fatal error
one long, two short	Video failure
one long, three short	Keyboard Controller failure (applies to 286, 386 and 486)
Compaq BIOS
Beep Codes	Message
one short	Indicates that the system is booting properly
two short	General BIOS error - remedy unknown
one short, two long	Memory Module
one long, one short	BIOS ROM checksum error
one long, two short	Video error
7 Beeps: one long, one short, one long, one short, pause, one long, two short	AGP Video
one long continuous tone	Memory Module
IBM BIOS
Beep Codes	Message
none	Power Supply or System Board failure (possible short)
one short	Passed (no errors)
one short (blank screen)	Video error (check cable)
one short (no boot)	Floppy Drive error
two short	Configuration Error (displayed on screen)
repeating short	Power Supply or System Board failure
continuous	Power Supply or System Board / Keyboard stuck
one long, one short	System Board failure
one long, two short	Video (Mono/CGA) failure (check cable)
one long, three short	Video (EGA) failure (check cable)
three long	Keyboard Card error
Mylex BIOS
Beep Codes	Message
one	Normal boot
two	Video adapter error
three	Keyboard controller error
four	Keyboard error
five	PIC 0 error
six	PIC 1 error
seven	DMA page register error
eight	RAM refresh error
nine	RAM data error
ten	RAM parity error
eleven	DMA controller 0 error
twelve	CMOS RAM error
thirteen	DMA controller 1 error
fourteen	CMOS RAM battery error
fifteen	CMOS RAM checksum error
sixteen	BIOS ROM checksum error
Mylex 386 BIOS
Beep Codes	Message
one long	Normal boot
two long	Video adapter error
one long, one short, one long	Keyboard controller error
one long, two short, one long	Keyboard error
one long, three short, one long	PIC 0 error
one long four short, one long	PIC 1 error
one long, five short, one long	DMA page register error
one long, six short, one long	RAM refresh error
one long, seven short, one long	RAM data error
one long, eight short, one long	RAM parity error
one long, nine short, one long	DMA controller 0 error
one long, ten short, one long	CMOS RAM error
one long, eleven short, one long	DMA controller 1 error
one long, twelve short, one long	CMOS RAM battery error
one long, thirteen short, one long	CMOS RAM checksum error
one long fourteen short, one long	BIOS ROM checksum error
Phoenix BIOS
Beep Codes	Message
one, one, three	CMOS Read/Write
one, one, four	ROM BIOS Checksum failure
one, two, one	Programmable Interval Timer failure
one, two, two	DMA Initialisation failure
one, two, three	DMA Page Register Read/Write failure
one, three, one	RAM Refresh Verification error
one, three, three	First 64K RAM Chip/Data Line failure
one, three, four	First 64K RAM Odd/Even Logic
one, four, one	First 64K RAM: Address Line
one, four, two	First 64K RAM: Parity failure
one, four, three	Fail-Safe Timer Feature (EISA only)
one, four, four	Software NMI Port failure (EISA only)
two (followed by various combinations)	First 64K RAM Chip/Data Line failure (combinations indicate which bit)
three, one, one	Slave DMA Register failure
three, one, two	Master DMA Register failure
three, one, three	Master Interrupt Mask Register failure
three, one, four	Slave Interrupt Mask Register failure
three, two, four	Keyboard Controller failure
three, three, four	Display Memory failure
three, four, one	Display Retrace failure
three, four, two	Video ROM search proceeding
four, two, one	Timer Tick failure
four, two, two	Shutdown failure
four, two, three	Gate A20 failure
four, two, four	Unexpected Interrupt in Protected Mode
four, three, one	RAM test above 64K failure
four, three, two/three	Programmable Interval Timer, Channel 2 failure
four, three, four	Realtime Clock failure
four, four, one	Serial Port error
four, four, two	Parallel Port error
four, four, three	Math Co-processor failure
(tone) one, one, two	System Board Select
(tone) one, one, three	Extender CMOS RAM
Quadtel BIOS
Beep Codes	Message
one short	Indicates that the system is booting properly
two short	CMOS IC error
one long, two short	Video error
one long, three short	Peripheral controller error

IE Fix Tool. Fix and Repair Internet Explorer Error Fails to Open

To repair internet explorer which fails to open and crashes - Displays error “IEXPLORE.EXE - Application Error“

Try following steps to fix crashing IE -

1. Click on start > control panel > click on Internet options then click on Delete cookies ok, click on Delete files and put a check mark on deleted offline content and click on ok, click on clear history and click on yes.
2. Again under internet option on the top right click on advanced look for Browsing and under that look for Enable third -party browser extension if it has a check mark uncheck it and then click on apply and OK.
3. Click on start > run > type in prefetch then click on the edit button on the top left click on select all and then press the delete button on the keyboard
4. Click on start > run > type in msconfig under general put a check mark next to selective startup, on the top right click on services at the bottom there is a ok button just above it there is an option called Hide all microsoft services put a check mark next to it and then cleck on disable all and click on apply at the botton right. after that again on the top right click on startup click on startup and click on disable all and click on apply on the botton right and click on close it will ask U to restart the computer so click on restart.

Registry Fix to Enable Disabled REGEDIT

“Registry editing has been disabled by your administrator” - Error you get when you try to open the Registry Editor in Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Vista and prevents access to registry editing.

If you are unable to access your regitry editor by typing REGEDIT.exe in Run Dialog then read following tips to quickly access disabled registry access.

Tip 1

Download Registry Fix tool to enable disabled registry access. Click Fix Registry and your registry access is enabled immediately.

Download

Tip 2

Following tip is extremely helpful, and usually necessary in helping to rid your computer of a viral infection, which has disabled your registry access. Many virus programs will intercept registry access, based on its original file name (regedit.exe), and prevent them from running. The alternate copies of theis file will not encounter this problem.

Simply navigate to the C:\Windows and locate regedit.exe .

Once located rename regedit.exe to some other name (e.g. new_reg.exe) and double click the file to run.

Fix Task Manager. Windows System Recovery Tool

Task Manager Fix is a FREEWARE system utility to fix task manager disabled by spywares, trojans and displays error message : “Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator“, which blocks access to Windows Task Manager.

When you try to open Windows Task Manager, by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL the following error often appear:

“Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator“

INSTANT solution to common problem - “Task Manager Not Working”

This error message appears due to restriction placed in the Windows Registry. One can easily enable Task Manager by editing some registry settings. For a normal user editing registry is not easy and a bit risky.

Task Manager Fix is designed to enable disabled Task Manager. Download the FREE Task Manager Fix tool to quickly enable Task Manager. Handy windows system recovery tool to remove task manager restrictions and effective solution to the problem - “Task Manager not Working”.

Download

Answers to Some Interview Questions Part 3

25. If you had your whole life to live over, what would you do differently and why?

I was always good in math, but I wish that I would have focused on math more. I feel that mathematics can lead one anywhere, and is the basis of most disciplines.

On a personal level, I would have ensured that, despite pre-teen angst and insecurity, I would have been nice to everyone, even on especially bad days.

26. Which is more important to you, your salary or your job?

Salary is important, but I couldn't stay with a job that brought me misery when I could support myself doing something else; hence, my job is more important.

27. What have you found to be the biggest source of motivation in your life?

Taking advantage of my strengths so that they are not wasted. Since nobody is lucky enough to be strong in every area, I think it is important to make good use of one's strengths.

28. What sorts of things cause you stress, and how do you deal with them?

Lack of organization throws me off. To deal with this, I come up with some kind of system to organize things, even if it is only in my head, in the case when chaos is desirable.

29. What is your definition of success?

Being a good person by improving the quality of the lives of others, whether it be through work, doing sweet things, improving the environment/community, taking care of one's family, etc. Superficially, I tend to measure success by level of education and abilities within one's career; however, I try to remind myself of the things that are more important.

30. What qualities should a successful supervisorpossess in regard to job requirements and those who report to him/her?

A successful supervisor should be able to tactfully give criticism, guide, motivate, encourage and foster a positive work environment.

31. How would you develop team spirit among the people that you supervise?

My experience in student groups has taught me that people work best when their friends (teammates) are counting on them to do well; therefore, I believe that bonding motivates people. I would also foster team pride by promoting our team's assets.

32. Do you like to work independently or as a team?

I like to work independently towards a team goal.

33. What kind of work environment do you like the best?

I enjoy working with friendly co-workers who can share a laugh while working hard and overachieving.

34. How would you resolve conflicts with employees, coworkers, and supervisors?

If possible, I would refresh my memory on what I've learned about conflict communication, and then I would discuss things, honestly and tactfully. I am a big fan of kind sincerity and honesty, as well as humility (when appropriate).

35. In what ways have you learned from your mistakes?

Upon getting myself overwhelmed with involvement in too many projects, I changed my approach. When possible, I now start with less than I can handle and add more only as time allows, and in small increments.

36. In what areas do you need to improve your skills?

I would like to improve my public speaking skills.

Answers to Some Interview Questions Part 2

13. Which subjects did you dislike and why?

Introductory soil elicited little interest in me, most likely because the professor was inexperienced, the book was ineffective, and I had little spare time that semester to look into other resources.

14. Do you have plans to continue your education?

Yes, but not immediately. I plan to continue part time with either an MBA or an environmental engineering masters, depending on which will be more beneficial to my work.

15. How would a professor who knows you well describe you? One who does not know you well?

A professor who knows me well would likely describe my personal qualities: sweet, down-to-earth, smart, hard-working, and conscientious.

As specific examples of those who did not know me well, my soils professor and soils teaching assistant each considered me smart and respectful, and both thought that I must have enjoyed the class a lot, due to my performance.

16. Given the chance, how would you alter your education?

Knowing now what I like the most, I would have used my electives for extra math and psychology classes, since I tend to be well-rounded enough that a variety of classes are unnecessary; my personal reading is diverse enough. I have found that mathematics and psychology are helpful to all career and life paths.

17. Which part-time job did you enjoy the most and why?

Working for PM Environmental was most enjoyable to me, since I felt like I was significantly contributing to the company, and I enjoyed learning on my own.

18. Interests:

Some of my interests include dogs, hiking, snow-shoeing, water sports, writing, reading (especially Charles Dickens' novels), skiing, drawing, crafts, and computers.

19. What are your strengths?

My strongest strength is the ability to teach myself difficult material, regardless of the subject (with the exception of theater and drawing blood from dogs, which I have no talent for). Additionally, I have always excelled verbally and look forward to writing opportunities.

20. What are your weaknesses?

I tend to try to do too many things, leaving little time for myself. I have worked on balancing myself for the last several months. I am also working on improving my public speaking skills.

21. What sort of serious problems have you experienced, and how have you handled them?

My apartment building burned down at the end of January during one of my semesters at MSU. Before the fire got too bad, I was able to rescue my pets and the neighbor's dog, as well as my textbooks and backpack, but I lost most of my mementos and possessions. While the firemen were preparing their hoses, I drove to school (with the animals in the car) to meet my lab partners, who were waiting for me. I explained the situation, emailed my professors, and rushed back to the apartment.
Fortunately, I had renter's insurance. I missed about a week of school to deal with the insurance matters and find a new place to live. In order to salvage my grades and sanity, I dropped a course and honored my existing student group and research commitments. Staying active socially and keeping myself well-rounded were the best healing tools for me. Within a few weeks, I was caught up and had recovered reasonably from the loss of sentimental items.

22. Do you or have you in the past experimented with illegal drugs?

No. My only addictions are caffeine and sugar.

23. Would you be willing to take a drug test?

Of course.

24. Do you drink alcohol socially?

No, but I enjoy Shirley Temples quite a bit.

Answers to Some Interview Questions Part 1

1. Tell me about yourself?

I am down-to-earth, sweet, smart, creative, industrious, and thorough.

2. How has your experience prepared you for your career?

Coursework:
Aside from the discipline and engineering foundation learning that I have gained from my courses, I think the design projects, reports, and presentations have prepared me most for my career.

Work Experience:
Through internships, I have gained self-esteem, confidence, and problem-solving skills. I also refined my technical writing and learned to prepare professional documents for clients.

Student Organizations:
By working on multiple projects for different student organizations while keeping up my grades, I've built time management and efficiency skills. Additionally, I've developed leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities.



Life Experience:
In general, life has taught me determination and the importance of maintaining my ethical standards.

3. Describe the ideal job.

Ideally, I would like to work in a fun, warm environment with individuals working independently towards team goals or individual goals. I am not concerned about minor elements, such as dress codes, cubicles, and the level of formality. Most important to me is an atmosphere that fosters attention to quality, honesty, and integrity.

4. What type of supervisor have you found to be the best?

I have been fortunate enough to work under wonderful supervisors who have provided limited supervision, while answering thoughtful questions and guiding learning. In my experience, the best supervisors give positive feedback and tactful criticism.

5. What do you plan to be doing in five years' time?

Taking the PE exam and serving in supervisory/leadership roles both at work and in professional/community organization(s).

6. What contributions could you make in this organization that would help you to stand out from other applicants?

In previous internships, my industriousness and ability to teach myself have been valuable assets to the company. My self-teaching abilities will minimize overhead costs, and my industriousness at targeting needs without prompting will set me apart from others. Additionally, one thing that has always set me apart from my scientific/engineering peers are my broad interests and strong writing abilities. I am not your typical "left-brained" engineer, and with my broad talents, I am likely to provide diverse viewpoints.

7. What sort of criteria are you using to decide the organization you will work for?

Most importantly, I am looking for a company that values quality, ethics, and teamwork. I would like to work for a company that hires overachievers.

8. What made you choose your major?

My academic interests are broad, so I sought civil engineering to achieve a great balance of mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, and writing.

9. Have your university and major met your expectations?

The College of Engineering at MSU has exceeded my expectations by providing group activities, career resources, individual attention, and professors with genuine interest in teaching.

My major has met my expectations by about 90%. I would have enjoyed more choices in environmental courses, and would have preferred more calculus-based learning.

10. What made you choose this college?

I chose this college for the following reasons: my budget limited me to in-state schools, I was seeking an area with dog-friendly apartments, the MSU web site impressed me, I saw active student groups, and the people were very friendly.

11. List 2-3 of your greatest achievements since you've been in college and why?

Receiving the SWE Outstanding Member Award and College of Engineering Student Service Award
I got involved with student activities to overcome my debilitating shyness. Receiving these awards signified that I had accomplished a transition from dragging myself to participate to feeling energized by it.

Receiving the SWE Web Site Award
Without training in web design, I competed against not only the other student sections, but professional sections around the nation. Despite competing with more HTML-experienced people, I brought this award to my section. After getting so much from SWE, I was able to give something back.

Earning the highest grade in an organic chemistry class of ~200 people
I worked very hard for this grade and loved the subject, so it was a great feeling to see that the hard work paid off.

12. Which subjects have you enjoyed studying the most and why?

I have enjoyed hydrology, fluids, solid & hazardous waste management, water and wastewater treatment, and oceanography because I love water and environmental topics.

Calculus and linear algebra excite me because I love logic.

I enjoyed the writing and analysis in economic history.

Business law thrilled me because I have a strong interest in legal matters.