"Getting Started"

[juxtapilot]

Hey I was wondering if any of you have gone through this freshman "Getting Started" Program. I am trying to decide if I want to spend the money to fly to North Dakota for 2 days, or if it would be worth it just doing registration and all that stuff over the phone. Any thoughts? Thanks!

-Jake

[airplanerik]

Originally Posted by juxtapilot

Hey I was wondering if any of you have gone through this freshman "Getting Started" Program. I am trying to decide if I want to spend the money to fly to North Dakota for 2 days, or if it would be worth it just doing registration and all that stuff over the phone. Any thoughts? Thanks!

-Jake

I didn't do it, but then again...i just started classes in the summer, so kinda got a feel for the campus during that time...

[Blue Side Up]

i am just like airplanerik. start classes in the summer and you don't have to do getting started.

[ZUKO]

I did it. It was pretty lame. All the boring crap was on the 1st day. When I got my classes and the fun stuff the 2nd day. Its worth it to make sure to get into 102 etc.

[Snickersnwa]

From what I can remember (It’s been a long time since I’ve been through the getting started program), it was nice to be there for it. However, if you’re not able to make it, it’s not the end of the world. You could get everything done over the phone, or when you get here.

I did think it was nice to be there to register for classes with someone one-on-one, and I got the classes that I wanted painlessly. Being brand-new to the college experience – this was nice.

Other than registering for classes, I only remember getting my picture taken for the University ID card, and picking that up shortly thereafter.

I’d say, make it out here if you can but if you can’t I wouldn’t sweat it. I only had to make a four hour drive to attend, so I was able to make it a pretty short event. If you don't go you'll just end up having more stuff to do as soon as you get here.

[Snickersnwa]

Originally Posted by ZUKO

Its worth it to make sure to get into 102 etc.

Yup, that would be a plus to attending.

I’m not sure how registering for a flight lab is now for a beginning aviation student, but it didn’t seem like an easy thing when I was there to register for 102. The advisors that were taking care of the registration would have to call out to the airport and play phone-tag to get a flight lab reserved for ya.

Now, we have an online site to register for a flight lab and ground school. But, I’m not sure if that would be easy to register for a first time enrolling aviation student. It could be easier than it was back then, but I couldn’t tell ya. These people are here to make this easy for you though.

[Snickersnwa]

I also ended up meeting my roommate and suitemates there. The parent’s have their own stuff to attend while they’re there, and you your own. I ended up meeting some good friends there before school started… good times.

[UAL747400]

Originally Posted by Snickersnwa

Yup, that would be a plus to attending.

I’m not sure how registering for a flight lab is now for a beginning aviation student, but it didn’t seem like an easy thing when I was there to register for 102. The advisors that were taking care of the registration would have to call out to the airport and play phone-tag to get a flight lab reserved for ya.

Now, we have an online site to register for a flight lab and ground school. But, I’m not sure if that would be easy to register for a first time enrolling aviation student. It could be easier than it was back then, but I couldn’t tell ya. These people are here to make this easy for you though.

I never got to enjoy registering for a flight lab without crewlink. I came fore getting started and saw the system they used, but the guy that was registering me was doing all the work. Looked like a pain in the but.

That is the benifit to coming to getting started, you get a flight lab. I don't know if it's changed though. I was so lucky, I got the very last one when I came up here. 12 o'clock though, yuck! That is probably the worst flight lab time of the day. I'd rather have 7 in the moring or 9 at night. You take what you can get when you get the last one though. haha

[ZUKO]

I remember leaving UND all excited when I came for getting started. I saw that I had 3 flight labs a week and all I could talk about was how I was going to be flying 3 times a week. If only I would have known.....

[Sanchez12]

I felt that by going to "getting started" I had a better idea as to where things were on campus with available tours etc. I felt a little more at ease when the time came to move in to the dorms, so I had a better idea as to where I was going the first day. I also was lucky enough to meet my roommate that same weekend! Looking back on it, I probably could have done without the getting started couple of days, but.. I just like to participate in as much as they have planned for me. I figure, if I am paying to go to the school, it would be best that I go to everything they offer to me. Granted, I do not need to pay to fly into GFK to get here because I am originally within driving distance of campus.

[RyosukeFC]

I DID NOT do the "Getting Started" thing over the summer. I think it is a waste of (airline ticket) money. If you're from ND/SD/MN, fine... drive up and do it, but I got into all of my classes by talking with a student services lady over the phone. I visited the campus over spring break of my senior year I got to know the place pretty well on that visit. When you arrive in the fall (August) there are plenty of new freshman orientation programs you can attend if you feel the need.

[Snickersnwa]

Good to see some new people from UND joining the boards! Welcome to JC!

[MrLeisure757]

I didn't do it and I didn't miss out. Hardly worth it unless you are within driving distance.

[JaceTheAce]

Originally Posted by Snickersnwa

Good to see some new people from UND joining the boards! Welcome to JC!

I just had him register.

[Sanchez12]

Originally Posted by RyosukeFC

I DID NOT do the "Getting Started" thing over the summer. I think it is a waste of (airline ticket) money. If you're from ND/SD/MN, fine... drive up and do it, but I got into all of my classes by talking with a student services lady over the phone. I visited the campus over spring break of my senior year I got to know the place pretty well on that visit. When you arrive in the fall (August) there are plenty of new freshman orientation programs you can attend if you feel the need.

You are right. I agree with you on that. I am within driving distance, and I just was lucky enough to be able to meet my roommate at that time as well. It definitely would not be the end of the world if someone didn't attend it.

[TXaviator]

dittos. drive if you are close, otherwise skip it.

and forget trying to ever do anything with UND over the internet, you'll have to make phone calls if you want to actually get anything done.

HEY UND WAKE THE #### UP. THE REST OF THE WORLD USES THE INTERNET TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS!

[JaceTheAce]

Originally Posted by TXaviator

dittos. drive if you are close, otherwise skip it.

and forget trying to ever do anything with UND over the internet, you'll have to make phone calls if you want to actually get anything done.

HEY UND WAKE THE #### UP. THE REST OF THE WORLD USES THE INTERNET TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS!

Not UND. Want to put money into your flight account? Trade cheese, oxen, or insert other miscelleneous household necessity here with the Hutterite business office attendant by SHOWING UP IN PERSON, get it credited into monetary means (new technology called money, amazing for ND), wait for them to process it. While driving home, call Dottie or Dee at the aviation department to have her manually enter in the credit for the money credited at the business office by giving a long receipt number, when she gets around to the 300 other flight account change requests that day, you finally have your money in there and can schedule a flight. Then CALL someone at scheduling to schedule the flight (another expense and job that could be ELIMINATED through using the internet to allow students to manually schedule).

If UND implemented the scheduling/flight account access to the Internet, they could do the following:

1. Get rid of AIMS, implement a new easy to use web-based flight account portal. This system would allow immediate direct transfer from your checking account or credit card to your flight account - no middleman business office attendants with annoying North Dakotan accents to deal with. You can also check your grades, flight training progress, flight account monies, etc.
2. Fire either Dee or Dottie which would result in savings of $40,000/yr salary, plus benefits expenses and misc overhead costs incurred with their bodies occupying the office space. One of their jobs will no longer be needed since we won't need to rely on them to perform tasks that we ourselves can do.
3. Avoid annoying students calling to see "how much money they have left in their flight account" all the time since they'll now be able to use the web-based system with ease... and always have money in there since they'll be able to move their money in with a couple of simple mouse clicks.
4. Fire the part-time students who work in scheduling since their jobs are no-longer needed with the easy to use web-based system that does NOT require instructor codes to be entered (like every other FBO/Flight School out there). Savings of $6 an hour X however many hours they work.

Oh but will UND do this? No. North Dakota is still stuck in 1992.

[CAFFEINE]

You know you can check your grades and funds on AIMS. And you can phone in a credit card payment to your flight account. I would like a web based method of payment, but a phone call works and is pretty quick/convienent.

[JaceTheAce]

Originally Posted by CAFFEINE

You know you can check your grades and funds on AIMS. And you can phone in a credit card payment to your flight account. I would like a web based method of payment, but a phone call works and is pretty quick/convienent.

But they don't process your credit card right away, then you have to call Dee or Dottie, most likely leave a message, and wait an hour for your flight account to be credited. That's a waste of time.

It'd be much easier to deal with transfering banks funds directly into your flight account through the use of some web-based system.

[JaceTheAce]

Originally Posted by CAFFEINE

You know you can check your grades and funds on AIMS. And you can phone in a credit card payment to your flight account. I would like a web based method of payment, but a phone call works and is pretty quick/convienent.

Also, if you check AIMS from an off campus location it always makes you go through that stupid "updating......" or whatever it is... takes about an entire minute. Then it's a poorly designed interface that looks like it was made for Windows 3.1 to begin with.

[Sanchez12]

I haven't been using AIMS very much since I am a new flight student, but I haven't had an issue with aims at all thus far. I personally am very careful/aware of how much money i put into my accounts and where all of my money is at any given time. It helps that I am frequently checking to see how much I am being charged per flight because there is the slight chance that a number could have been entered wrong. Isn't it true if you put money into AIMS mon-thurs.. as long as you do it before something to the extent of 4pm.. it will be in and available in your account the next day? My point is, I do not have an issue with AIMS because, well, I should say that I have been checking often to see where my money is at in my flight account so I can plan as to when I will need to put more in.

[AngelFuree]

Why do you guys hate UND so much?

[CAFFEINE]

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

But they don't process your credit card right away, then you have to call Dee or Dottie, most likely leave a message, and wait an hour for your flight account to be credited. That's a waste of time.

It'd be much easier to deal with transfering banks funds directly into your flight account through the use of some web-based system.

If you planned better you could put in money a day sooner and you wouldn't have to do any additional footwork. Call in your credit card payment in the morning, it will be run sometime that day. The next business day it is posted to your flight account. Or if you want it sooner and are willing to waste a minute of your time, call Dottie/Dee and have her put it in for you immediately.

Also, the AIMS updating deal isn't an off-campus thing. It happens to all computers that access AIMS when there are updates. This includes the computers at the airport/ryan hall, but you never see that because you probably aren't the first one to use those computers that day.

[Snickersnwa]

Originally Posted by CAFFEINE

If you planned better you could put in money a day sooner and you wouldn't have to do any additional footwork. Call in your credit card payment in the morning, it will be run sometime that day. The next business day it is posted to your flight account. Or if you want it sooner and are willing to waste a minute of your time, call Dottie/Dee and have her put it in for you immediately.

Also, the AIMS updating deal isn't an off-campus thing. It happens to all computers that access AIMS when there are updates. This includes the computers at the airport/ryan hall, but you never see that because you probably aren't the first one to use those computers that day.

Darn those 6:30am launches... haha

[undsioux1]

Originally Posted by CAFFEINE

If you planned better you could put in money a day sooner and you wouldn't have to do any additional footwork. Call in your credit card payment in the morning, it will be run sometime that day. The next business day it is posted to your flight account. Or if you want it sooner and are willing to waste a minute of your time, call Dottie/Dee and have her put it in for you immediately.

Also, the AIMS updating deal isn't an off-campus thing. It happens to all computers that access AIMS when there are updates. This includes the computers at the airport/ryan hall, but you never see that because you probably aren't the first one to use those computers that day.

But after all that work, when will I ever have time to think of things to complain about on JetCareers??