Morgan: Why You Should Join DMCBU

April 11, 2013 at 9:00 am

So as you might be readily aware, the clubs offered through COM are plentiful. It can be hard to figure out which organization will offer you the type of experience you’re looking for, whatever that may be. Once you finally pick one or two or five, you get so wrapped up in said club(s) that you might not realize all of the cool new ones that are popping up around you. The coolest of these cool new ones is most certainly the Digital Media Club.

DMCBU is a highly talented group of innovators, thinkers and “do-ers”. They specialize in everything for digital media production, social media, interactive media, coding, and design. Members have a variety of skills and expertise – and are not only COM majors. Computer science and graphic design majors, along with advertising majors, have joined forces to produce a collaborative network of members that can teach and learn from each other.

They offer events, workshops, panels, and two collaborative divisions that focus interests into hand-on projects. The first division, Terrier Labs, focuses on web design, web development, mobile app development, and creative ways to integrate technology with everyday activities. The second division, The Terribyte, is an e-publication that focuses on digital content creation such as blogs, social media, graphic design, and web video production, as well as content marketing strategies, and personal branding. Both groups provide students with real-world experience to better prepare them for careers in the digital communication and technology industries.

In only their first year of existence, they have held events with Mullen, Google, DailyBreak, and Hill Holiday. They’ve also developed numerous apps including BU Room Swap and UPlannr.

As DMCBU works on expanding its reach and its capabilities, it needs YOU. It’s never too late to join – meetings are held in COM room 215 every Thursday @ 5pm. Hope to see you there!

 

By comblog | Posted in Activities, Internships, Morgan | Comments (0)

Julianna: Make the Most of your Internship Abroad

April 8, 2013 at 9:00 am

Hello from London! It’s been an incredible semester of traveling, exploring London and getting to learn more about myself outside of my comfort zone. Allow me to digress on the latter. As the cliche goes, studying abroad really is a life-changing experience. Since January I have tackled bouts of homesickness, eased out of culture shock and got into the habit of taking myself out on day-dates to markets, museums and cafes (my next “date” will be a spa day in Bath!). As the semester winds down I find myself not only reflecting on my growth, but on my time at my internship. Since the end of February I have been working at Columbus Travel Media as an editorial intern for its website, World Travel Guide (www.worldtravelguide.net). As part of the in-house editorial team I have written and pitched feature stories, worked the company’s social media and learned how to edit photos and publish content to the website. With only one week left at my internship, it’s the perfect time to give some tips to those of you who plan to do a BU abroad internship program.

1. Be specific about the type of internship you want

Internships at BU London are sourced by a private placement company called EUSA. This means each student in the program is assigned a EUSA placement manager who goes through the process of finding and landing an internship for you. Sigh of relief. With having to apply for a VISA and other important preparations it really is such a plus to not have to worry about the internship hunt. However, your input is extremely important. Several weeks before leaving for London I had a meeting with a EUSA representative to discuss my internship preferences. I was very specific about my interests in journalism: please, nothing to remotely do with hard news and instead more along the lines of travel, life and styles. Since I aspire to work in magazines, I also mentioned specific London-based magazines that interested me. Well, I ended up not being placed at a magazine, but I definitely got what I asked for in terms of travel journalism, which leads me to my next point…

2. Be Open Minded. Always.

Okay, so I wasn’t placed at a glossy. At first I was a little bummed, but as I prepared for the pre-internship interview I got even more excited about the opportunity to work in travel media whilst experiencing a semester of frequent weekend jaunts to mainland Europe and other UK destinations. And so I started off my internship with a) a gut feeling that I would love it b) an open mindedness to honing my skills in online journalism and social media. On day one my positive initiative proved successful. Right away my editor put me on assignment to write a feature and offered me the opportunity to go on an overnight press trip to Oxford and to write a feature out of it. Well, two weeks later after going on this awesome press trip I came to one of the most important realizations since coming to London: I definitely want a career in travel journalism.

3. Prepare for your interview

Get to know yourself. Well, your professional self. Think up potential questions that your interviewer will ask such as, what are your strengthens and weaknesses? Then jot down your responses and say them out loud to hear how you will respond. Have your resume, or as they say here across the Atlantic, CV, in tip-top shape and know what certain past projects or jobs you would like to delve into during the interview. Always do a thorough Internet search on your company. For journalists, find out the company’s targeted audience and read recent articles or watch/listen to the latest programs. Since you’re in a foreign place look into how to get to your office several days before the interview, so you can arrive with time to spare and a good sense of your travel route.

4. Immerse yourself in the office culture

Interning abroad means you will undoubtably experience a different professional environment than what you’re used to in Boston. For instance, I’ve learned that it is common courtesy to ask the rest of the staff if anyone wants tea before I go to the kitchen to refresh my cup. Oh on the topic of tea. If you come to London get used to tea as your new pick-me-up — you can drink lots of it throughout the day without getting caffeine jitters.

 

By comblog | Posted in Activities, Internships, Julianna, Study Abroad | Comments (0)

Tiffany: COM Open House!

April 8, 2013 at 9:00 am

Congratulations to those who were recently accepted to apart of the COM Class of 2017! You have now been faced with the important decision of where you should attend college and spend the next four years. On Saturday, April 13th and 20th, COM is having our Open House events for our admitted students. Even if you’ve already visited BU before, coming to these Open House events could be a major game changer and help you decide whether BU is the school for you or not.

Four years ago when I was a senior in high school, I came to COM Open House having little knowledge about BU and COM and quite honestly, only came because my mother insisted. To me, the Open House event seemed like it was nothing more than a basic college visit. Little did I know at the time, I was very wrong.

On April 13th and 20th, you’ll not only be able to walk around our campus, you’ll also be given insight into so much more than that, specifically that is relevant to the college you’ve been admitted into. You’ll hear all about COM from the Dean himself, meet the department chairs who lead their respective programs, have lunch with my fellow COM Ambassadors and myself in one of our student dining halls, and have the opportunity to pick the brains of a panel of students regarding any questions that you might have.

I came into Open House four years ago with very little interest in COM because I didn’t really know what COM was all about. But when I was on my flight home back to California and reflecting on the weekend I had just spent at BU and in Boston, I knew that attending the Open House event was a good idea. It is because of Open House that I made my decision to attend college at BU. As I finish out my last semester here at BU four years later as a graduating senior, I’m sure glad I made the decision that I did.

Open House is a great opportunity to not just see the campus, but more importantly talk to students and professors about their experiences. Listening to these testimonies could really help you get insight into what its like to be a student at BU and COM and decide for yourself whether you could see yourself in those shoes.

COM Class of 2017, I hope to meet you at either of our Open House events this month and look forward to seeing you here on our campus soon!

By comblog | Posted in Activities, Boston, Places On Campus, Tiffany | Comments (0)

Will: Advice from the COM Doctor

April 5, 2013 at 9:00 am

Alright, kids, why don’t you all take a seat and listen up to the COM Doctor. That’s me – I’m the COM Doctor. It’s about time somebody taught you all some lessons- lessons that I had to learn the hard way. Ya see, back in my day we had to learn how to Internet from scratch. We didn’t have elders like me to teach us how Google, Bing, and Yahoo. In fact, back in the one-room schoolhouse where I earned my GED, just saying any single one of those words would get you sent outside to chop wood, even in -50 degree weather. So stab those straws into your CapriSuns as fast as you can, make sure your light-up Spiderman Skechers are velcroed up, and find a square to sit in on that colorful rug of yours, ‘cause you’re gonna want to pay attention.

NUMBER ONE! If you receive a direct message on Twitter from one of your “acquaintances” that reads something like, “Luk @ dis vid sumbody juz posted of u,” and also has a link attached… DON’T CLICK THE LINK. If you click that link, I can promise you that you will lose a significant amount of your followers on Twitter, that recent friend of yours on Facebook will block you in an instant, and your grandma will be under the impression that you want to sell her Viagra via email.

NUMBER TWO! Clean up that Facebook of yours. Imagine you’re eight years old, it’s your birthday, and you just chowed down on some food from the heavens (a.k.a. some store-bought chocolate cake your mom picked up 17 minutes ago because she forgot to bake you one even though you asked her to a month in advance BUT NEVERMIND THAT), and what happens next? That’s right, your mom comes in with a napkin to wipe away the mountains of chocolate frosting you left on your face. But guess what? There ain’t no magic napkin for Facebook, kids. That’s up to you. So go ahead and delete those Green Day lyrics from your About Me section and let’s call it a day, shall we?

NUMBER THREE! Know your audience! Before you do anything, stick Grandma and Grandpa on that list of people who can’t see your photos ‘cause we both know that any picture of something besides macramé or a heated game of Solitaire could very easily bring on a heart attack. Also, if you’ve got places of future employment and/or internships following you on Twitter, don’t be droppin’ the “f-bomb” like it’s a cat on fire! We’re all guilty of this, let’s be honest. But try to save it for the moments that need it like when you forget which channel Nickelodeon is on.

SO, kids, can anybody tell me one thing they learned from this? No? Nobody? Great. Just don’t be stupid.

Love,

Will “The COM Doctor” Dowsett

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Lauren: You Gotta Get LinkedIn!

April 4, 2013 at 9:00 am

Hi guys!  Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I’m a social media fanatic.  I’m constantly tweeting, checking in, and pining anything and everything I find.  But, when it comes to getting an internship or preparing for the workforce, it’s all about LinkedIn.  Every college student should create an account.  Even if you don’t have a ton of experience to include in your profile, it’s definitely worth having one, and here’s why:

1. You’ll make a great first impression when applying for an internship

Employers do Google search potential employees during the hiring process.  Trust me.  And nothing looks more professional than having a LinkedIn profile.  It’s a great way to show that you’re serious, and it gives you the chance to show off all the experiences that you’ve had in the past.  Plus, LinkedIn has great features that allow you to add links to different projects you’ve completed.  How cool!

2. You’ll be totally prepared for interviews.

Knowing about a company and asking interesting questions during the interview will definitely put you ahead of the competition.  That’s where LinkedIn comes in.  You can search companies on LinkedIn and learn more about their mission and services.  Plus, you can get the chance to see the type of people who work there.  You can even find people who’ve previously had the position that you’re applying for, and look at their job description to get a better grasp on the responsibilities of the position.  It’s like Facebook stalking, but a lot less creepy.

3. You’ll have networking down to an art.

LinkedIn is a great place to connect with people in the industry!  You never know who may have a job lead, or who could connect you with someone who has your dream job.  You can join groups, follow companies and stay up-to-date on what you’re connections are doing.

4. All your hard work will finally pay off!

Remember that job you had where you worked countless hours and really gave it all you’ve got?  Well, you can have something concrete to show for it by asking for a recommendation or endorsement from past employer or colleagues.  If you ever feel awkward about bragging about yourself, let someone else do it for you!  Potential employees will love it!

So, what are you waiting for!  Go ahead and create your account here:

By comblog | Posted in Classes, Internships, Lauren | Comments (0)

Steph: Jamba Juice Selections for Spring!

April 3, 2013 at 9:00 am

With the temperature hitting 61 degrees today, I’m feeling inspired to blog about one of the best Spring treats out there: smoothies! In case you haven’t noticed, Jamba Juice finally opened its doors under Warren last week. Here are my favorite flavors that I recommend trying for Spring!

Banana Berry: Made with bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberry sherbet, all those berries will make you feel like you’re frolicking through a field in the sunshine.

Caribbean Passion: This tropical blend of strawberries, peaches, passionfruit-mango juice and orange sherbet will get you in the mood for summer, which is right around the corner!

Apple ‘n Greens: This is not your typical smoothie. Made with apple-strawberry and green veggies, it get you going and give you your daily dose of fruits and veggies in delicious smoothie form!

Pomegranate Paradise: This smoothie, my personal favorite, is the perfect blend of strawberries, peaches, and mangos mixed in pomegranate juice. Absolutely wonderful for sipping in class.

Now that it’s finally warm outside, grab one of these delicious smoothies and hit the COM Lawn! See you there!

 

By comblog | Posted in Activities, Boston, Places On Campus, Stephanie | Comments (0)

Taylor: Housing Near COM!

April 2, 2013 at 11:30 am

Hello again! As the semester spirals to a close small letters plague university mailboxes announcing housing selection dates and times. Last year I panicked at the notice reminding me that I needed to choose a new residential area BUT there are so many cool housing options. Here’s what I consider the top four places to live if you want to neighbor COM:

1. Warren Towers- One of the largest resident halls in the country, Warren is probably the most convenient choice. A bit more of a community oriented environment Warren typically houses a vast majority of underclassmen. Major Pros: It’s a brisk 3-minute walk directly to COM.

2. 575 Commonwealth – Nearing the newly opened dining hall and resource center, Marciano Commons, this larger dormitory typically called ‘HOJO’ has a bit classier sway. The room types, like many larger dormitories, range from singles, doubles, and triples but all have private bathrooms. Most students choice this residence due to its history of being a former hotel.

3. Kilachand Hall- Formerly known as Shelton Hall is probably the most central dormitory in terms of being near Fenway, Newbury, and COM. Most students select this dorm due to its suite-like structure. Although many adore the view from the Student Village residences located in west campus the study lounge of Kilachand has a remarkable view of the river as well.

4. Nearing Brownstones- although applying for specialty community residence is a separate process you won’t be disappointed. Students usually apply for residences that envelope their passion or interest (For instance there are language houses and a common ground house).

Again, there are so many options to choose from. The BU Housing page provides a fantastic interactive tour of residences that you should also check out!

 

By comblog | Posted in Boston, Places On Campus, Taylor | Comments (0)

Kaitlin: COM is a Buffet

April 1, 2013 at 9:00 am

I’m sitting here, scratching my head, trying to decide what to write about for this blog post, and it hit me.  COM is a freaking buffet table.

And no, I’m not talking about those late night Chinese all you can eat buffets, I’m talking about a real classy, high end buffet table with all kinds of exotic foods.

Where am I going with this?

Okay, okay.  So opposed to a sit down dinner, where a server brings you what you want until you tell him to stop, a buffet table is spread nicely in a convenient spot in the room, ready for people to take what they need or want, when they need or want it.  Both options can leave you stuffing your face until you’re required to loosen your belt, but there’s a very vital difference between the first and the second:  for the second option, you’ve gotta help yourself.

So often, we look externally for some sort of perfect opportunity or divine inspiration.  We have mentors and idols and friends and family (the waiters in my metaphor) who we hope will guide us to where we want to be (they bring us the seared duck and caviar), when all along, we have the capacity to get there on our own.

What we constantly forget is our own serving skills.  We’ve gone through that training that teaches you how to correctly set a table or pour a glass of wine without spilling it.  Try to take some time and realize that you have the potential to be your own greatest motivator.  Create those chances of a lifetime for yourself, instead of waiting for them to be served to you on a silver platter.

As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve really been enjoying my junior year at BU, especially because I’ve began to really find myself among all of the craziness that the city delivers.  COM especially offers out so many appetizing chances to succeed that, at times, can be a bit overwhelming.  What I’ve learned recently is to not miss the tasty treats that sit right under your nose.  I’ve quit complaining and wondering when my chance to shine was going to come, and I got the hell up and chased it myself.

Take whatever you care for from that table, but see if you can get up and walk there with the help of your own two feet.

 

By comblog | Posted in Activities, Boston, Classes, Internships, Kaitlin | Comments (0)

Richie: Approaching Graduation

March 29, 2013 at 9:00 am

As a senior, the reality of graduation being just around the corner has definitely began to hit me. I know many of you may still be in you sophomore or junior years, or even better, freshman year. But, graduation is something we’re all going to have to face at one point. The fears and the excitement that come from it are very much a reality.

A few weeks ago I started to experience a mini-crisis about post-graduation life. Where would I live? Would I have to return back home, would I even be able to afford going anywhere else? Where would I work? Would I hate my job? Would I even get a job? Should I try staying in school longer to avoid any of these real questions?

After about a week of this, I somehow came to a point where everything felt good. I’ve started to become extremely excited about my graduation. I started to think that although I may not be completely positive about everything that’ll happen once I’m done at BU, I’m excited for it.

I guess we have to see it as not the end of something, but the beginning of something else. I remember in high school hearing from people the tired and cliche line “these are the best years of your life.” I didn’t know why but I used to hate hearing that so much. It was so fatalistic to me. So absolutely tragic. Like we were all doomed to a hopeless life the minute we left high school. Seemed like a self-fulfilling prophecy if I had ever one (props to COM 101 for that term). But I got to college, and had an incredible time. Made amazing friends, challenged myself in filmmaking, and took classes completely out of my comfort level. I learned about things like sailing, acting, and was able to sharpen my directing skills.  I traveled to Europe for the first time and got to intern at the world’s largest film festival.

High school was incredible, but it wasn’t the best years of my life. And I’ve come to realize college won’t be either. Make every year you live the best year of your life. There’s no reason to look ahead with fear thinking, “I’ve already experienced the best, so there’s nothing else to do now.” Reinvent the way you look at life everyday. Challenge yourself and bask in the glory of falling down or failing at something. I realized, I’m not exactly sure what the future holds for me, but something about that excites me. Because it can be absolutely anything. And whatever it is, it excites me to frustrated at times, but it will be my job that I earned by myself, and my job that I use to learn more from. It’ll be my loans I pay off every month and nobody else’s. Something about that excites me. I feel almost grateful to have these as all mine. It’ll be just another experience for me to learn from, for me to become myself again.

Don’t we all have to be a little lost so that we can find ourselves? Weren’t we all a little lost when we got into college? Wasn’t it exciting to settle into that life, find your routine and rhythm, and then sometimes shake it up a bit? Besides, I’m graduating from a great university, learned an enormous amount about film since I first came here, and have taken some amazing internship experiences from the whole process. Wherever I end up can’t be that bad.

Wherever you guys are in you education, enjoy every moment of it. I know I’ve been guilty of living a certain year and thinking, “man last year was so much better.” We all seem to look back and think of how good we had it, but if we took the time to realize how good we have it right now, then we would never have to look back in the first place. Maybe all the points I’m making are clearly understood by most of us already. But I guess we all need to have it reiterated from time to time. We’ve all got to be told every once in a while, “It’s alright.” I’ve finally come to a good place in viewing my graduation, and look back at my time here extremely fondly. I hope when you all reach this point, you can all feel the same, and be excited on what comes next.

 

By comblog | Posted in Activities, Boston, Classes, Richie | Comments (0)

Kate: Welcome COM Class of 2017!

March 28, 2013 at 9:00 am

Can you believe it is almost April?! I don’t hate it. It means it’s getting warmer (though the snow on the ground would beg to disagree) and most people’s midterms are over.  And it also means that admissions decisions have gone out! I want to congratulate all of you who have been admitted to BU and the College of Communication! I have already gotten to meet a few of you this week but I hope I can meet a few more as you come for tours (Monday-Friday at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm!) and our Open Houses on the 13th and 20th.  You will probably be getting a letter from me this week but I just wanted to share a little bit more today.

I sincerely encourage you to check out the BU COM 2017 Facebook page, the BU COM Student Services Facebook page, the BU COM 2017 Twitter, the COM Student Services Twitter, the #BU2017 hashtag, and our YouTube channel.  And if you don’t have Twitter or heaven forbid Facebook, get one.  Now. We like social media in this school and it will be the best way to keep up-to-date with information about everything.

I also hope you’ll look around this site and our blog to answer a lot of questions.  The best information is coming from people who are living it, right? Well at least that’s what a parent told me today and I think it is right on the money.  Get to know COM through us, your COM Ambassadors.  Reach out, ask questions.  That’s what we’re here for.

Like I said, congratulations.  Welcome to COM!

By comblog | Posted in Boston, Classes, Kate, Places On Campus | Comments (0)