Campus Tours

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Cherie

For prospective students many colleges or Universities will offer a Campus tour so that the student may get a feel for the place that they may be living in for the next four years. Here on Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus the Admissions office staff and student employees (like me!!) work really hard to be sure that if you choose to tour our beautiful campus, that you have an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Prescott Aerial View of Campus

When you first arrive on campus you will meet up with your tour guide in the Welcome center, which is building 41. It is pretty simple to find, just enter campus through the entrance with the electronic signboard and take the second right leaving the roundabout. You will immediately see the Welcome Center.

Once you are inside there may be a small wait and then you will be off on your tour to see the Freshman dorms, Dining hall, Wellness Center, King Engineering, Academic Complex, Laboratories in the AXFAB (Aerospace Experimentation and Fabrication Building), Wind Tunnel Labs, Jet Dragster Lab, Central Campus, Student Facilities, and the Hazy Library. If you are interested in doing Air Force or Army ROTC at Embry-Riddle then you will also be offered the opportunity to meet with representatives of one or both of the detachments on campus.for Aeronautical Science majors a tour of the Prescott campus’s flight line is also offered and can be taken in addition to the campus tour.

Campus Map

After your tour is complete you then have the opportunity to meet with your admissions counselor in order to cover any admissions questions you have about attending the University. Admissions counselors are located inside the Welcome Center as well as the offices of Financial Aid and Student employment so if you would like you may also look into discussing options for aid or employment with these offices after you have met with your counselor.

It may be a long and eventful day but, I can guarantee that this campus with fascinate you and that your visitor’s experience here at Embry Riddle Prescott has the potential to turn into a really fun and rewarding four years in pursuit of one of our unique majors.

Cockpit in Flight

If you would like to join us here for a day please visit our website and sign up for a campus tour. If you are unable to be here in person then I encourage you to take a virtual tour. Additional information on the campus can be found here. However way you visit we look forward to showing you our campus!!

Where are the Monsoons?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Cherie

So apparently monsoon season in Prescott Arizona doesn’t start until July 🙁 Here I was really looking forward to all the rain and when I didnt see any of it I decided to do a little research…

Weather Patterns

As some of you may know we do have a Meteorology major offered at the Prescott Campus so I took it upon myself to ask a Meteorology student about what on earth is going on. This is what he told me 😀

Monsoons are a phenomenon that are triggered every year as a result of the Earth’s angle with the sun. So when the monsoons occur in Prescott the Earth is at a the steepest angle possible and is even farther from the sun than it is in the month of January.
So the question is this “If we are on Earth and we are farthest from the sun in July how is it that July is warmer than January?” Well, the Meteorologist in training told me that the temperature also has to do with the position the Earth holds in orbit around the sun. Yes we are farthest away from the sun at this time but, our continent is more in line with the rays of heat/sunlight during the summer months which is why it is still hotter in July than in January.

Sketch of the Angle between Earth and the Sun

Of course as an Engineer I really didn’t need to know all this but, its pretty interesting so I thought it would be nice to share 😀 If you have any comments or questions please respond below or if you would like to check out our Meteorology major just click here. Thanks for reading!!!

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

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.

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!!

Eagle Cards…What are those??!!

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Cherie

So today I have picked a rather interesting topic to discuss with y’all, I’m sure most of our readers have heard us mention an Eagle card at some point or another and your curious about what we are referring to. Well, the Eagle card is an ID card and somewhat of a Debit card. It can be used to gain access to the dining hall, recreation facilities, and to do your laundry or buy some extra food. As i mentioned earlier it is also a way for the university to confirm your identity as a student.

The typical Eagle Card looks like this:

As a debit card it can hold three types of funds, Eagle Dollars, Dining Dollars, and Flight Dollars.

Eagle Dollars is money that you put onto the card. They can be used for buying snacks (when your dining dollars run out), doing laundry, sending mail, and in the campus copy center. There are two ways to get money on your card, put on yourself via blackboard or visit the eagle card office and they will assist you in manually putting money onto te card.

Dining Dollars are awesome, you will come to love them. Basically, its money that your meal plan gives you to spend on items that the dining hall, simply to go, WOW, and the Scholars Cafe sell. It is additional to your meal plan and can be used for items that the dining services don’t usually serve to students but offers in there convenience sales stock. For example, you want some candy to eat while seeing a movie, you can use your dinning dollars to purchase some 🙂

Candy Anyone?

A note about these though: you are only given a certain amount each semester anything you spend above that limit comes straight from your own pocket!!

Flight Dollars are a fund that you can use at the Flight line, you have to put this money onto your card just like you would with Eagle Dollars. I’m not entirely sure about the other details of the Flight Dollars so if you have any questions go ask Jason or Maddie, my fellow bloggers and student fliers!!!

Thanks for reading 🙂

Preparing for Finals

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Adam

So the end is near and final exams are approaching, its crunch time. Preparing for finals, is every college kids dread. There are good habits and bad habits that you may develop for studying. I will go over a few tips to avoid the bad habits. And some ways to keep yourself relaxed because the last thing you need to do is be stressed out. Here at Embry-Riddle Prescott campus there is plenty of tutoring available for all subjects personally i appreciate the small class size here.

So the end is near and final exams are approaching quickly. The stress is really hitting and its time to study. Some of the best ways to study are up to you’re personal preference but there are better ways to go abut it then others. All teachers are different so studying by doing practice problems and looking over previous test/quizzes, for classes such as physics and math, are a great way to understand how the teacher would like you to approach the problem. Also understanding the terms or ideas behind formulas is a great way to comprehend such problems.

Classes such as English and history are much different, but again looking over homework, quizzes and tests are great ways to prepare for these tests. If you want an insight on anything, going to tutoring and talking to previous students of a particular class or just talking to the teacher is a great idea. Understanding and comprehending what you are doing in class is the best way to do well on tests especially finals, that leaves less work for you to do in the end.

Using your resources is important to getting insights on a class or a future class, or time management.

Personally loosing motivation will happen, and one of the most important ways to do well in school is by staying motivated. Going out with friends and keeping up with hobbies is a personal favorite. Any way to stay active and healthy will also help. In Prescott, AZ there are plenty of outdoor activities, from intercollegiate sports to camping the movie theater.

The big idea is to get your mind off of school and whatever worries you have on weekends or when you have the time to, i speak this from personal experiences.

As long as you can remember to stay focused when you need to, you can survive.

Thanks for reading, hope it was a help.

Update on My Second Semester

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Cherie

Hey everybody so as you know this is my second semester at Embry Riddle Prescott and its time for my update on how everything is going 🙂

Right now I am taking Digital Circuits and the lab, Engineering Economics, Calculus 2, Physics 2, and ROTC courses. They all seem to be going really well but, I think my most favorite course is Digital Circuits Lab because here is where you get to implement what you learn in the class and it is a ton of fun. Pretty much all you do is wire circuits, program circuits with VHDL, create state diagrams, and verify circuit functions with oscilloscopes. It sounds tough but in reality it sooooo easy and you will come to love it once you get a good lab partner and a system for accomplishing the lab.

The class that I enjoy the least is Engineering Economics because it kinda seems pointless to me. I took Micro/macro economics in high school and passed the AP exam but, I had to take this course as an elective as I got credit for all the other electives except this one. All in all I have really low motivation to show up to class but, I motivate myself by thinking that its an easy A that will boost my GPA and give me a “cushion” just i case I don’t do so well in one of my other courses. Even with this logic behind my motivation it is still very difficult to make myself care about the course. This is the second time I have encountered this in my college career and I’m sure it will become a persistent problem for me and perhaps any other students who are coming into college. The best advice I can give you is to know yourself, know what courses you like and which ones you don’t but, treat them equally as you study and do your homework.

The best way to do this is to follow the tips below:

1. Do the homework you don’t enjoy before doing the homework that you do enjoy, for example, I do my economics homework before doing my digital circuits homework that way I know I will complete it and do it well.

2. Give yourself incentives. Watch a movie or go hang out when your done with homework and continually remind yourself that the work you put into your “pointless class” is really inflating your GPA all to your benefit.

3. Always show motivation in class. This will catch your professors attention and when you need help they will be more willing to help you out as they know that you are taking their course seriously. TIP: Also, they are more likely to round up your grade if you are on the border line of a higher letter grade and you consistently show motivation in class.

4. Finally, talk about it with others. Tell them you are having trouble caring about the class, they might have the same issue and maybe you both can work through the issue together.

I hope these suggestions will help you if you ever encounter this type of a situation, Thanks for reading!!!!!