There’s a lot of advice I would give to first-year students. The first year at college can be a lot, especially at a school as big as Boston University. However, there’s one piece of advice I would give any student who asked: Step out of your comfort zone.
This is something that I learned as a first-year, and it has impacted lots of clubs and extracurriculars I do on campus. The first one of these is Stage Troupe, the drama group I’m in on campus. I love acting, so when I first started at BU I auditioned for all of the shows the drama groups were putting on, but I didn’t get cast in any. I still wanted to be involved in theater, and there were sign-ups open to do tech for the shows. The issue was, I’ve never done tech for anything before, and I was very nervous that my inexperience would be a problem. Despite this, I signed up to do tech for two shows. Looking back, this was one of the best decisions I made when I joined the club. I have since done tech for nine shows, one of which I tech directed (which meant I was in charge of all the tech going on for the show). Even though I had no experience going in, I ended up learning a lot and having a great time, and I also made some amazing friends. Now, I was recently cast in a show for BU Shakespeare Society, so I am stepping out of my new comfort zone to be on stage for a show this semester.
BUTV10 was another club that made me step out of my comfort zone. I had never done anything related to filming before, except taking pictures with my mom’s camera when I was younger. But, I really wanted to be a part of a TV show on campus. I decided to join one, and found myself incredibly nervous, but also excited. Within the first day on set, I was recording sound for a scene, and holding the boom mic. Throughout the semester, I helped in many ways during the shoots, mainly by recording sound or using the slate, which meant I read off the scene number and closed the clapboard. The next semester, I was the show’s Script Supervisor, which meant I followed the script during the shoot to take notes and make sure all the lines were hit, and the next two semesters I was the Head of Marketing, so I was in charge of social media for the show. I would not have had these amazing experiences with the show if I hadn’t put myself out there during my first semester, and I am incredibly grateful that I was able to be a part of the show.
Stepping out of my comfort zone has brought me so many amazing experiences, and my years at BU would not be the same without this.
Elaina F: Advice From a Student
As a junior at Boston University, there are definitely some tips and tricks I’ve picked up during my two years here. While this is not a comprehensive list, here are the highlights.
Don’t be afraid to get involved. There are many opportunities in terms of events, clubs, classes, jobs, and internships that you can take advantage of. Although you shouldn’t feel pressured to take on more than you can handle, don’t let fear stop you from joining something because you feel you aren’t qualified or don’t have someone to attend/join with you. Most of the time, if you gather enough courage to join in anyway, it usually turns out to be better than your worries. Even if it isn’t what you hoped it would be, at least you know, and you won’t be plagued by the “what if’s.”
Manage and make the most of your time. In terms of managing your time for schoolwork, this is probably the most boring and tedious part of being a student; however, it is nevertheless important. While you don’t have to be the most organized person, you should know when the important deadlines are and what your assignments are and strive to do them in a somewhat timely manner. I do understand that this is much easier said than done given the lure of procrastination and the reality of life happens.
Despite this, managing your time is the only way to make the most of your time in college. As cliché as it sounds, time truly does go too fast. You should care to some degree about getting the most out of your classes since you’re paying enough to be in college, and no matter what you think, cramming really doesn’t work, especially in the long run. (This doesn’t mean I haven’t done it before.) However, you should also prioritize a life outside of schoolwork. This is your time to explore and grow as a person without all the responsibilities of being a full-on adult. Still, you enjoy your free time the most if you don’t have an important deadline hanging over your head.
Be nice to yourself. This is probably the most important advice I have and yet might be the hardest to do. I know a lot of BU students and prospective students are overachievers and hold themselves to high standards. While this is by no means a bad thing, it can easily lead down the slippery slope of taking on too much, burning out or not meeting your standards, and feeling guilty and blaming yourself. My advice is don’t go down that path even though it may be hard to avoid. Be patient with yourself and give yourself some grace. This is a very different time of your life and everyone goes through an adjustment period. Don’t compare yourself to others no matter the temptation. Know your limits and take care of yourself.
Abigail K: A Non-Rowers Guide to the Head of the Charles
We all know about MarMon, but next weekend is another one of Boston’s biggest races - the Head of the Charles. But what is the Head of the Charles? Why do all those people come to Boston? Why are there so many boats on the river? What even is rowing? Well as a member of BU’s Women’s rowing team, I’m here to give you the inside scoop.
First, a crash course on rowing. There are two types of rowing boats: sculling, where each rower has two oars and sweeping, where each rower has one oar. Boats are classified by the number of rowers, an x indicates it’s a sculling boat, and a + or - indicates if the boat has a coxswain or not.
A coxswain (that's me) steers the boat, motivates the rowers, and acts as the coach in the boat. They’re who you see lying down in the front of a four person boat or sitting facing the rowers in an eight person boat. The twists and turns of the Charles make the race particularly challenging for coxswains, as each one competes for the shortest course. This often means fighting for the inside on the big and sharp turns of the river.
The Charles is a head race which means that boats start one at a time, competing to get down the course in the shortest amount of time. The start line to the race sits at the corner of the balcony of BU’s DeWolfe Boathouse, so you don’t even have to leave campus to watch the race. From the starting line boats will race toward the BU bridge, continue 3 miles down the river through 7 bridges to the finish line which is just around the bend from Eliot Bridge.
Due to the large number of boats racing down the river at once, the race is known for crashes, especially at bridges like Weeks, Eliot, and Anderson. If you take the walk down to Eliot Bridge, listen for the reaction from the crowd. You’ll know when someone has taken the turn well or when an unfortunate crew has hit the bridge or another crew.
At the finish of the course you’ll find a ton of vendors. The mac and cheese and chili in a bread bowl are fan favorites especially in colder years. There’s also a Vineyard Vines Merch tent, as well as many other vendors giving out free samples or letting you test out new equipment
I hope this helps give you a little bit more information about rowing. If you need a study break October 18-20th, I highly recommend taking a trip over the BU bridge and down the esplanade to experience one of Boston’s biggest weekends.
Michaela S: 5 Boston Related Student Discounts To Use Right Away
Student 9’s
The Boston Red Sox have a college student ticket program known as the “Student 9s” where BU students can sign up for day-of $9 Red Sox Tickets. Day of the game, if enrolled in “Student 9s” you’ll receive a text at 10:00 am with a special code that unlocks the tickets, where you can purchase a maximum of 2 tickets per account. This is truly the best, and most cost-effective way to see Fenway Park.
Sign Up Here
The Coolidge Theater
The Coolidge Theater, a historical movie theater located right off the green line, offers a student discount Sundays through Thursdays for $3 off your ticket, with a valid student ID. (This is only applicable for regularly priced films, no special events).
Monthly Film Guide
Museums (MFA, Isabella Stewart Gardener, and ICA)
Boston has so many wonderful museums such as the Museum of Fine Arts, The Isabella Stewart Gardener, and The Institute of Contemporary Art. Both the MFA, and ICA are free with a valid student ID, and the Isabella Stewart Gardener is free with student ID and promo code BOSTUNIV.
Isabella Stewart Gardener
MFA
ICA
Amtrak
Boston University students come from far and wide to attend school here, and sometimes it can be expensive to go visit home, or even visit friends at neighboring schools. Luckily, Amtrak offers a 15% discount for any students between 17-24 years old, who book at least one day in advance.
Amtrak
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra offers discounted tickets to BU students who sign up for the BSO College Card. Once signed up for the card, certain shows will release tickets specifically for college card holders. Added note when signing up: avoid the “Watch Video” question that is asked when you are registering.
Link
Zoe R: Two must visit places in Boston
Being a college student in Boston means having so many fun places to check out when you finally get some free time between classes and assignments. Whenever I have the chance to plan a day trip in the city I have 2 go-to places to visit in Boston.
The North End
Being close to the Green Line makes the North End easy to get to since you can take it all the way to Haymarket Station and discover everything the neighborhood has to offer. It has some cool historic sites like the Old North Church and the Paul Revere House. There are plenty of Italian restaurants, cafés, and bakeries to choose from in the North End as well! I always recommend people try a cannoli from Modern Pastry and Mike’s Pastry if they want to weigh in on the debate about which bakery is better (my money will always be on Modern Pastry). You can also find pizza shops that sell pizza slice by massive slice if you’re ever looking for a quick bite to eat—Ernesto’s Pizza is my favorite.
Museum of Fine Arts
The MFA is a straight shot through the Back Bay Fens area south of BU campus and free for students! It’s a great place to spend an entire afternoon wandering around their collection of art dating from the Byzantine era to contemporary pieces. You won’t find yourself getting bored in this museum if you love art as every room and floor has something to offer. And don’t forget to spend time in their gift shops where you can collect postcards of your favorite pieces, buy pins, books, and even art-themed playing cards. If you ever have a friend visiting from out of town don’t be afraid to show off MFA Boston and take advantage of having a student discount.
Emily W: Three tips to achieve more class-work-life balance
Welcome back Terriers! If getting back into the swing of things has you feeling a bit out of whack, you’re far from alone. Here are a few quick tips for achieving more balance between work life, class life, and life life.
1. Working/studying at clear hours
This one is way easier said than done as a college student, but it makes a world of a difference. This semester, I’ve been on co-op, and working a clear 9-5 has improved my life tenfold. While it may be a little more difficult as a student, you can work in time between classes to study, tell yourself you’ll close your studies at a certain hour each night, and outside of those hours, commit to doing things for yourself.
2. Have at least one club that has nothing to do with your major/career
Yes, it’s super important to take advantage of the opportunities COM gives you to get experience in your degree. However, having a commitment to something outside it will force you to get out of that “work mindset” each week. My first semester of school, I was so inthralled in the journalism space, that it felt like my studies were my whole life. After that, I made time to join one of the campus theatre groups, which not only helped me meet people I wouldn’t have otherwise, but it put hours in my schedule that were just for me and something that I loved.
3. Put time into the work that most excites you (but don’t forget the rest!)
I think as COM students, many of us are lucky to be studying the thing we’re most passionate about. When you actively choose to work on things that matter to you — whether that’s the topics you write about, the kinds of clients you advertise for, or the subjects of the films you make — it makes work all the easier. Of course, there are going to be times when you have assignments that don’t especially tickle your fancy, but where you have the opportunity to do what you love, take it! Join the organizations that feel most right to you — even if they aren’t the ones you thought you’d most enjoy when you came into school or you feel look the
strongest on the resume. Ultimately, when you love what you do, you’ll do your best work!
Kelly T: The Many “Mistakes” You Make in College
I know it sounds hard, and it is hard indeed. But it is possible. People said that I was an introvert before coming to college. Looking back on my college experience so far, I truly changed. I gradually started to realize that one of the biggest advantages of being in such a big school is that you meet tons of people every single day. I always felt embarrassed back in high school since there were only 30 people in the entire grade, and if I made some mistakes, everyone would remember it for a really long time.
College is unlike that. If you are not making mistakes, that means you are not growing. I still remember the first time I awkwardly raised my hands in a hundred-people lecture and gave a wrong answer; the first time requesting for an office hour with a professor (it still feels surreal thinking about that now); the first attempt to talk to a random person in a social event, etc. Looking back, I feel like everything happened for a reason. Knowing that making “mistakes” or having seemingly awkward moments in college is inevitable - is a sign that you are growing. It was because of that random talk to professors that I got my first on-campus internship; it was because of that random ‘hello’ to a random girl on my floor that I knew my best friend.
Knowing that no one really remembers your mistakes, sometimes those are things that people do every day. Do what makes you happy and feel right; if it doesn’t seem like the right path, change to another one; if not, keep changing. College is about learning about yourself, if you never do something new, that’s not learning.
If you are shy in high school, don’t worry! Sometimes, it’s always the quiet person who brings the room a lot of fun. Don’t force yourself to change, but challenge yourself to be a bit “different” every day! You will thank yourself when you graduate college!
Jess S: 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming to BU
1. EXPLORE THE CITY!!!
As a freshman or incoming student, it’s easy to get lost in the busy culture of college. Going back and forth between classes and clubs, it can seem overwhelming and sometimes challenging to find time outside of the university. Nonetheless, I strongly urge you to appreciate the city for what it is! Boston is such a rich place filled with tons of cute coffee shops, museums, nature parks, and great restaurants. In the fall, go on a walk by the esplanade (the road by Charles River) and take cute pictures next to the trees. When it starts to get chilly out, head to Time Out Market and go ice skating with friends. There are hundreds of activities around the city, so take advantage of them as much as possible! Who knows when the next time it’ll be before you can spend 4 straight years in the city of Boston?
2. Windproof is the way to go
Boston is known for its weather. BU is known for its wind tunnels. You’re going to be walking around campus from building to building during the school year, and the last thing you need is your umbrella inverting on you in the middle of comm ave on a busy afternoon. Go look up ‘Windproof umbrella with button’ on Amazon and thank me later. 🙂
3. Go to office-hours
Office hours are a great opportunity for students to connect with their professors outside of the classroom. It’s a time during the week that professors keep open so students can hop into their office and ask them questions about the course or even just say a quick ‘hello’. A bunch of students also use this time to ask their professors for career advice. Most of the Professors in COM are still in the industry so they have all the inside scoop on what’s currently
going on in the market. Professors are also always open to talk about their journey and answer any questions you may have career wise. They genuinely want their students to succeed!
4. You don’t need all the textbooks!
BU, like many other universities, will give you a heads up on all the required textbooks for your classes. Believe me when I say, 70 percent of the time, you won’t need it for the class. Most students even end up switching classes, and waste a good amount of money on a book they’ll never use. Wait until the second or third week of the semester before you make the purchase! Textbooks are A LOT of money, and if you can save a little bit by grabbing a copy online (*wink) or just not buying it at all, it’s better than wasting a hundred dollars.
5. Don’t get the UNLIMITED
Every single dining plan is different. Some give you dining points, which are basically “campus dollars” you can use on different food stalls like Panda Express, Starbucks, and Halal Shack. The Unlimited option gives you unlimited swipes to the dining halls, but they are usually the most expensive. Let’s be honest, you’re not going to be in the dining halls 3 times a day 7 times a week. Most people end up eating at the George Sherman Union, where students can use their dining points to buy from those food stalls. Don’t get the Unlimited and save yourself a few thousand dollars!
College is really just a bunch of kids “playing adults” in a big city. A lot of these things I’ve learned on the fly, and there are a bunch more hacks you’ll find out for yourself! Remember, it's okay to not have all the answers right away. Ultimately, your college years are about more than just academics—they're about self-discovery, friendships, and exploring your passions. So, while it's important to stay informed and prepared, don't get too caught up in the details. Trust yourself, and enjoy the ride!
Chloe P: My love letter to COM
Four years ago, I was gearing up to graduate high school — and was primed to attend Boston University in the Fall. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I ultimately decided to take a gap year to wait out remote classes and other needed restrictions.
Then, a year later, I re-prepared to start school. Coming onto campus was exciting, and I was eager to get involved. I immediately applied to be a sports writer for The Daily Free Press. I also heard about AdClub, BU’s pre-professional advertising agency, and applied to the club’s varsity team, which does real work for local and nonprofit organizations. I became an account executive for Follain, a Boston-based skincare company.
A semester later, I became an office assistant at COM Undergraduate Affairs — COM’s academic advising office — and a year after that, I joined the COM Ambassador program.
Each opportunity presented a new challenge, a new networking chance, a new place to learn what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.
Three years — and four summer courses — later, I am getting ready to graduate from COM in August. I’m so grateful to have taken on major leadership roles in both of those inital organizations that I joined when I came to BU — Editor-in-Chief of the FreeP and President of AdClub.
Through these leadership roles, I developed immensely helpful skills for a career in communication: how to lead 150-person organizations, how to communicate effectively, how to be empathetic but assertive when needed. But most importantly, I learned a true passion for mentoring my peers. Helping students learn about the possibilities of COM, and learn about what they’re interested in has been at the forefront of my BU experience.
I’ll leave BU better than I was when I arrived from the faculty, the staff and the students constantly pushing me to be my best. But I hope I leave BU knowing I improved the experience of other students, whether personally or professionally.
Vanessa L: How I Manage my Time as a Junior in College
This semester as a junior, I had to balance my life wisely with school work, personal life and my internship. All three of these were important for me to maintain throughout the semester. The most important thing I did to manage my time every day was writing my day’s schedule every night.
Just using the notes app on my phone, I allocated specific time blocks for studying, attending classes, working on internship tasks, relaxation, and social activities.When you don't have a schedule, it's simple to get overwhelmed or focus too much on one thing at the expense of other things. A well-planned schedule can improve concentration and productivity. You're more likely to stay on schedule and prevent procrastination when you have designated times for studying or working on internship assignments. You can accomplish more in less time by doing this and making the most of your time. I've also discovered that having a well-planned schedule aids in lowering tension and anxiety. I've discovered that I can better manage my workload and prevent last-minute rushes or missed deadlines by planning ahead and knowing precisely when I'll be working on various tasks and when I'll have time for relaxation or social activities.
I also discovered how important it is to effectively communicate your schedule and commitments to your professors, internship supervisors, friends, and family. It aids in controlling expectations. They'll be more aware of when I'm free for social events, meetings, and assignments if I keep them updated on my schedule. This lessens the possibility that schedule conflicts will lead to miscommunications or confrontations.
Last but not least, it's critical to maintain self-care, which includes giving my physical and mental health top priority by engaging in activities like relaxation, getting enough sleep, and making time for things I enjoy. Taking care of yourself is essential for controlling stress and avoiding burnout. It can be difficult to balance job, school, and personal obligations, and stress is inevitable at times. I did, however, make an effort to balance spending time with friends with taking time for myself.