comblog – Page 90 – COM Ambassador Blog

Sara: Baby It’s Getting Cold Outside

It’s starting to get cold in Boston and chances are you’re mentally preparing yourself to start hibernating for the winter. It’s pretty easy from here on out to return home from classes, stay inside and drink hot chocolate/coffee/ your hot beverage of choice instead of adventuring around the city. BUT I’m here to try and steer you away from that mindset because although the city gets cold, Boston doesn’t stop! Welcome to the approaching winter season all you Californians/ Floridians, where we still function regardless of what wrath Mother Nature brings upon us.

Don’t let your adventurous side stop just because of the chill! Here are some great events happening around the city in the coming months that I look forward to all year:

-Ghost Tours in Salem, MA

Now through Halloween

-Ice Skating at the Frog Pond on Boston Common

mid November

-Boston Christmas Festival & Gingerbread House Competition

Nov 8-10 at Seaport World Trade Center

-Christmas at Newport Mansions

you have to take a trip to Newport, RI for this but it’s worth the drive!

(this is a tour through the Mansions, if you’re into history you’ll love it)
starts November 23

-Faneuil Hall Christmas Tree Lighting

(also check out BLINK! Light show)
November 23

-Boston Ballet Nutcracker

November 29- December 29

-Boston Pops Holiday Show
Boston Symphony Orchestra

December 4-24

-First Night Boston- Boston’s celebration of the new year

December 31

(Am I jumping the gun by talking about Christmas before Halloween has even passed? Maybe…)

Steph: Travel the World with COM

I recently found out that I will be spending my Spring semester abroad across the pond in London! I absolutely cannot wait to begin my adventure. The best part about it is, through COM, I will not only be living and studying in a totally different country, but I'll also be working there!

When you study abroad through COM's programs, you get to fulfill an internship while you're there too. How cool is that?! And, you're guaranteed to find an internship, with a little help from a placement agency that the Study Abroad office works with.

COM has study abroad programs in London, Spain, Dublin, Paris, Sydney, and "abroad" in D.C. and L.A. Want to write for a music magazine down under? Wanna make documentary films in Spain? Or maybe you want to work PR in London? All those options are open to you through BU COM Study Abroad.

Stay tuned for my blogs from across the pond! Cheerio!

Morgan: So You Failed Your First Exam…

It happens to the best of us. You had no idea what to expect from your professor for your first COM101/AR100/PS101/anyotherlargelecture exam. They might have given some very vague details about what would be on it and how it would be set up, but still, you struggled to find the right way to study for your first big college exam. So now what?

Unfortunately, crying in your professor’s office rarely works. So the best thing to do is STAY CALM, and follow these steps to success.

1) Head over to your professor’s office hours to go over the exam. Were there concepts that you just didn’t understand? Did the set up or the wording of questions confuse you? Figure out what went wrong so you can be prepared next time.

2) While you’re there, ask about extra credit opportunities. There may not be any available, but it never hurts to ask.

3) Start PAYING ATTENTION in lecture. I know, shocker. Get yourself this nifty little self control app so you can block all those tempting websites you want to surf during lecture. Or if possible, take notes the old fashioned way – pen & paper.

4) Make sure not to lose any more points. If there are homework assignments, papers, etc. that are part of your grade – make sure you do the absolute best on these you can. Use the COM writing center and your TF’s as resources – their job is to help you! So take advantage of it!

5) Next time, study like crazy. Some of my study methods include…

- Studyblue.com

- Making outlines of each chapter.

- Spending 5 hours in the library until I memorize absolutely everything.

- Trying to put all of the information for each chapter on a single piece of paper – color-coded.

- Studying with friends! Sometimes trying to explain a concept to someone else helps you understand it better.

- Not leaving it until the last minute. Start studying 4-5 days in advance so it really sticks in your brain!

You can do it!!

Maria: How to Avoid the Graduation Crisis

Commencement weekend is a little less than 7 months away. It may sound exciting to your mom and dad who don’t have to pay tuition after May 18^th, but to me and other seniors, it’s one of the most terrifying thoughts. College has been the most amazing three and going on four years of my life, and to think that that will all come to an end soon is very scary. And it makes frightening questions come to mind - what do you mean no more four-day weekends? How am I going to afford anything without a student discount? And the question that is without a doubt on everyone’s mind: where am I going to work once I graduate?

Fortunately, BU and COM specifically prepare you well for graduation… or at least the best anyone could be prepared for graduation. COM has a great resource that I encourage everyone to utilize during his or her time at BU, and that’s COM Career Services. COM Career Services is there to help you with getting a job, even before you graduate. They have an online database full of internships and jobs in Boston and around the country. You can even access the database once you graduate, which is extremely helpful if you find yourself in a bit of a rut a couple months down the road after graduation. They also have cover letter and resume critiquing, which I take advantage of often. Who knows what companies are looking for on resumes and cover letters more than the people in COM Career Services? They also have fun activities that can help with your professional appearance – one example being a LinkedIn headshot photo opportunity, where you could go in and get a professional picture done for your LinkedIn!

On top of that, internships are highly encouraged in COM. Some students are required to intern as part of their curriculum, while others just take advantage of the amazing companies in and around Boston. I’m on my fifth internship during my college career, and I can honestly say that internships teach you more than you’ll ever learn in a classroom. You’ll never know the full experience of what it’s like to work in a certain industry until you immerse yourself into it. Internships prepare you for the real world and being a “real person” as I like to refer to people with jobs and careers. In addition they are amazing resume builders, and they can only help you get a job and further your professional life. Sometimes internships that you’ve interned with will even offer you a job after you graduate and are usually more likely to hire you over someone who is not familiar with the company.

All in all, it almost makes me cringe hearing the word graduation, but I know that COM has prepared me really well for the future and how to obtain a job. Take advantage of everything COM has to offer; it can only help you and make you a better student and candidate for a job in the future, and that will make you worry a little less about the g-word.

Lauren: Apples to Apples

Hi everyone! Hope you're all having a fantastic semester so far!

Throughout my time here at BU, I've been a campus representative for a few brands (American Eagle Outfitters, IMAX, etc.) and now I've taken on the challenge of promoting the exciting card game, Apples to Apples.

Being a campus ambassador is a great way for mass communication, advertising and PR students to get experience with marketing, promotions, event planning & social media! These positions have really helped improved my face-to-face communication skills and look impressive on my resume. Plus, I've acquired a ton of branded promotional items over the years, which is awesome! I've loved the experience that I've gotten working as a campus representative, and I highly recommend it to any student in COM!

With Apples to Apples, I get to work for Mattel, a huge toy-manufacturing company! I go to on-campus events and student group meetings on a weekly basis to give away promotional materials, including lip balms, playing cards, t-shirts, full-sized games, tumblers and coupons! The other Apples to Apples reps and I also host tournaments too and help spread the word about the game through guerilla marketing tactics!

If you want the Apples to Apples campus representatives to give goodies to your student group, email me at lhaslett@bu.edu! We'd love to come by! And definitely enter the Apples to Apples Crazy College Cash Giveaway here for your chance to win $10,000 IN CASH!

Follow Apples to Apples on Facebook & Twitter to get more awesome updates!

Until next time,

Lauren

Kevin: Go Sox!

Growing up, I was a diehard Red Sox fan. I remember my town announcing that they were going to convert our little league field into a mini-Fenway park was pretty much the highlight of my life. I remember arguing with my mom until I finally convinced her to let me stay up to watch the Sox win the World Series in ’04. I remember Jason Varitek signing my baseball and that ball might as well have been gold to me. So for me, living down the street from Fenway is a dream come true.

I think baseball fan or not, everyone needs to have a Fenway experience and go to at least one game. This year I went with my roommate to “Dollar Beard Night” and we ended up cutting up my bed sheet to make fake beards, taping them to our faces, and getting into the game for a dollar. (The Sox lost, but it was still one of the best nights of the year so far).

Now that it’s fall and the Sox are in the playoffs, (sorry Yankees, you tried) there’s so much going on around Fenway. The other night, David Ortiz hit a grand slam to pull the Sox back from a 5-1 deficit and I could literally hear the crowd from my dorm. Any time I want to go walk down Yawkey and look at all the banners and posters, it’s just a couple blocks away. Fenway is easily one of my favorite parts of Boston, and to anyone who says they’re not a baseball fan, just try it. Go to one game. I guarantee you’ll get some awesome memories out of it.

Kaitlin: Schedule With Intent and Heart

If you didn’t know it, there is an art to scheduling your classes. It’s a secret that is difficult to get a hold of, but once you do, you learn that it can change your entire BU experience. Whenever scheduling season comes around the corner, I think about my first time doing it during my orientation. To be blunt, I had no idea what the hell I was doing. My first semester was a disaster in terms of scheduling. Nothing made sense. I’d say that by my second semester, I kind of began to figure out what exactly I wanted in a schedule, and trying to stay as modest as possible, I’m now a scheduling wizard.

Explaining how to schedule well is a whole other blog post, but I wanted to take the time to tell you how important/incredible it is to schedule with intent AND your heart. This year, I’m a senior, and I have all of my requirements totally over and done with, meaning I can fill up my last two semesters with classes I really love and care about. COM really promotes following what you’re passionate about, and careful scheduling is really helping me to do that.

I’ve always had a love and a knack for photography. My mother is a photojournalist, so I pretty much grew up with a camera around my neck. When I first came to school, I became so consumed with my classes and ROTC and working that I ended up pushing my camera aside. Now, I’m taking two photography classes, and am having the time of my life. I’ve never been so happy. I take my camera everywhere I go. But, even though I’m having such an awesome time now, I really wish I hadn’t given it up (so to speak) the past three years.

Don’t let yourself lose the things you love. Yes, do your homework and study and all that, but make sure you leave time for the things that excite you.

To put it simply, I’ll never let my camera go again.

Jason: Halloween Season in Boston

It's nearly halfway to Halloween!

If you guys didn't know I'm pretty into the holiday and like to think of myself as an amateur expert. I'm gonna take a break from the usual stories about my work and classes here at BU to tell you about all the things you can do in and around Boston for Halloween.

The most popular destination for everyone around here is, of course, Salem, MA. As you probably know, Salem was founded nearly 400 years ago and has a rich history related to Halloween. Between the ghost tours, the tour of The House of the Seven Gables, and just people (or witch) watching as you stroll down the cobblestone street, there's plenty to do.

Check out http://www.hauntedhappenings.org/do for more info!

For something a little more local, the Frog Pond is going to be hosting the first pumpkin Luminary event! The City of Boston is inviting everyone, young and old, to bring a carved pumpkin for the festival. They'll be lighting all of the pumpkins and floating them on the spray pool. I'll be there to participate and might even get to carve one of the larger pumpkins that they'll be displaying at the event!

And last but not least, trick or treating! Yes, believe it or not you can still trick or treat in college! There are plenty of suburban neighborhoods just off of Comm Ave where you can fill all of your candy cravings. And if you're here you can even stop by our house! Jimmy and I decorated my house over the weekend and it's looking pretty good so far.

Hope you all have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Hannah: How to Survive Student Health

With flu season in full swing, no one is safe and one of the scariest things for a new college student is facing the doctor’s office alone. Luckily, BU’s health services tries to make the experience as painless as possible. Here’s your step-by-step guide on how to tackle the doctor’s without mom.

First, you have two options on how to schedule an appointment, online or by phone. If your calling in advance, they might be booked for that date, but every day they also open same-day appointments you can schedule the day of. The appointments are first come, first serve so be sure to call earlier in the day if you want an immediate appointment. You can call starting at 8 a.m.

For a preregistered appointment, you check in at the computers with your student ID. Don’t forget the basics like identification and your medical card. Also make sure you are on time for your appointments, because it’s usually pretty busy.

If you need a prescription filled, there’s a CVS right across the street. Most of the medications prescribed are fully covered by the Student Health Insurance plan. If you are interested in getting a flu shot, also keep an eye out for one of their clinics throughout October.

Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor this flu season.

Kate: Easy Weekend Getaways

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Boston. It really is such a magical place and there is always somewhere new to find and explore. But sometimes, it really is nice to get out of the hustle and bustle for a weekend. One of the fantastic things about being in a place like Boston is how easy it is to get to other cities and states near by. The Amtrak trains, Commuter Rail, and variety of bus routes can take you almost anywhere you want to go in the Northeast and down the east coast. The past two weekends, I have had the opportunity to get out and explore new places and it has been so much fun! Here is my rundown of the best areas to head to when you need a little change of scenery.

Rhode Island. In my opinion, Rhode Island is such a forgotten state! I might be a little biased because my boyfriend goes to school down there so I’ve spent a lot of time in The Ocean State but I promise it’s a great time. You can be in Providence in about an hour by Commuter Rail and explore Thayer Street and experience the WaterFire Festival in the fall. My favorite area is southern RI, home to Newport and Narragansett. It can be so refreshing to take stroll on the beach or down a little town’s Main Street. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Maine. My new favorite place right here, ladies and gentlemen. I had the pleasure of spending last weekend in Bar Harbor, about half way up the coast. It was incredible. The town is perfect and easy to explore on foot. The actual Harbor and Gulf of Maine are gorgeous and so much fun to explore by boat (I took a Lobster Fishing tour AND kayaked, both recommended). And last but not least, Acadia National Park is right there and waiting for you. Fun fact: Cadillac Mountain in the park in the first place in the US where the sun rises and has a gorgeous view of the Ocean. Unfortunately for us, with the government shutdown, we couldn’t get to the park but that didn’t stop me from doing a little exploring, sorry Congress. The only con – you do have to drive to get up there.

North Shore. While everyone raves about the Cape and Nantucket, I’ve actually spent much more time on the North Shore near Boston and it’s fabulous! The beaches are so beautiful and there are tons of great restaurants right on the water. Gloucester and Newburyport are favorites of mine and all easily accessible by Commuter Rail trains!

New York City. Okay, so maybe this isn’t where you want to go to escape the hustle and bustle but still a fun weekend trip. Bus, train, and plane can all get you down to the Big Apple in a few hours or less and set you up for a crazy fun weekend of exploring. After spending my summer there, I’m itching to get back.

DC. You may think DC is so far away but there are Amtrak trains that leave from Boston all the time that can get you down there! While you wouldn’t want to go now (#Shutdown), it can always be kept in mind as a great little getaway for a long weekend. Just as historic as Boston, there are endless activities that are sure to bring out the history buff in all of us.

With the long weekend coming up, it may be the perfect time to pack up your weekend bag and head somewhere new with your friends!