Iowa State University!

I decided. Iowa State is it. I made up my mind, and mailed in the acceptance form.

It just means I'm going to have to scrimp and save this summer. $15k should be doable... but I sure hope it doesn't interfere with my certification attempts. I turn 18 this summer, so I included getting certified in my short list of Big, Fun, Scary Adventures for 2010.

1) Get L1 certified for high-power rocketry
2) Earn and save a lot of money applying for jobs, scholarships, and just being an entrepreneur.
3) Go to COLLEGE!!

How scary! I'm attempting two steps in my Ladder to Space in a single year.

Let me talk more about my college decision: Iowa State has everything going for it. It is the right compromise of $$$$, engineering prestige, and location. It has a wonderful campus, and has one of the best engineering programs in the country. Specifically, it has an excellent aerospace engineering program, even compared to Embry-Riddle. Being a state university, I am of the opinion that it has more resources available to it. For instance, Iowa State has a supersonic wind tunnel, whereas Embry-Riddle has only a subsonic one, up to about 200 mph.

I am content with my choice, and recognize that:

"The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." ~Proverbs 16:9

He sure does, and I'd rather go where He'd have me go than go where I think it would be best for me to go... if you get my meaning. Because, as somebody said (I don't remember who; you can comment if you know who): "You're only watching the train cars whiz by in front of you. God's up on the hill and he can see the whole train."

In conclusion...

Gulp.

Drum Roll Please...

Buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh.........

Stay tuned for my college decision!

My First and Likely Last Shuttle Experience:

Dilemma

I just got my financial aid award notice in the mail from the University of Minnesota today. The bottom line is this: if I live at home, my entire freshmen year of college would be completely paid for by grants and scholarships. Essentially free.

For Iowa State, I still have to come up with I think about $14k.

I didn't think I'd still be considering U of M. But the question is: Do I like IA State better than U of M to the tune of 14-15k?

I'm not sure I have the answer.

A Thousand Words

AP Tests + Summer Job Applications + Scholarship Applications + College Decisions + High-Power Rocket Certifications + ... + (-1)^n/(x+2)! + Rn(x) = AHHHHHH!!!!!

After a title like that, I guess I don't really need to say anything.

Meet Robonaut 2

NASA plans to launch this little guy up to the station on board STS-133. Robonaut 2 can be abbreviated R2. Yeah, the first real astrodroid! R2 will work like a human with humans on board the ISS in the Destiny laboratory. He is designed to be able to use the same tools that the astronauts use. He already knows how to sit, speak, and sit up and beg!

NASA hopes to make future improvements to him so he can go on his very own space-walks!

Read more: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/apr/HQ_10-086_R2.html