COM Ambassador Blog

Ali: 5 Delish Dinner Deals to Diversify your Weekdays

By Ali Cook

Influencer Jenna Palek said it best, you need to have fun on weekdays. If you wait for the weekends to go out and have fun, you’re wasting 260 days in the year.

Boston restaurants seem to have adopted this mindset, just as much as young Bostonians have themselves, via weekday dinner specials. Marketed as “girl dinners” or “date night specials,” here is a weekday’s worth of Boston restaurants with dinner deals for under $32 per person.

1. Ciao Roma
$59 for 2 people
Mondays

On Mondays, Ciao Roma serves a “Date Night Special,” including one appetizer, two entrees, and one dessert. Serving two people, this special costs $59 in total.

2. The Bosworth
$20 or $25 per person
Mondays and Tuesdays, 5-10pm

The Bosworth’s “Girl Dinner” offers three different options on Monday and Tuesday nights, starting at 5pm. $20 for a martini, truffle fries, and caesar salad; $25 for a martini and ricotta gnocchi; and $25 for a smashed burger with a bottled beer of your choice and whiskey neat.

3. Waverly Kitchen & Bar Charleston
$25 per person
Wednesdays, 5-10pm

On Wednesdays from 5-10pm, Waverly offers a “Girl Dinner” for $25 per person. Meals include portions of roasted broccoli caesar salad, cacio e pepe fries, and a choice of pasta (bolognese, mac n cheese, mushroom & spinach cavatelli, or pappardelle with sausage and burrata).

4. Reelhouse
$30 per person
Thursdays, 5-9pm

Reelhouse offers Thursday night “Pasta on the Pier” from 5-9pm. For $30 per person, you can get 4-courses, including garlic knots, baby kale salad, a choice of pasta, and meyer lemon trifle for dessert. The pasta options include cacio e pepe, rigatoni alla vodka, or the chef’s pasta of the week (for an additional $5).

Michaela: Are On Campus Jobs Worth It? From Someone Who Has Three

By Michaela Shunney

As a second semester Senior here at Boston University, I’ve attempted to immerse myself in all aspects of the college, which include on-campus jobs. I’ve worked three different positions, and can confidently say I’ve met some of my best friends, and made some of my best college memories at work. Here a recap of what roles I’ve done, and if I would recommend them!

COM Ambassador

(Spring 2024- Spring 2026)

My first on-campus job (and what allows me to write these blog posts…) is as a COM Ambassador tour guide and mentor! The role includes giving tours of the college of communication minimum once a week, as well as interacting with admitted or incoming students. Each fall, I am able to mentor a group of 20-30 incoming students, then in the spring working the COM Admitted Terrier Day events.

As a transfer student, I love meeting potential transfer students and being able to be there for students during their transition between colleges! The transfer process can be isolating, but having another student there for you who's been through it as well is so helpful.

Student Facilitator/Orientation Leader

(Summer 2024, Winter Break 2025, Summer 2025, Winter Break 2026)

My second on-campus job was as a Student Facilitator (now known as Orientation Leader). This is a part-time position during the summer and winter breaks in between the semester, which involves interacting with incoming BU students and helping them get acclimated to the campus.

The Student Facilitator/Orientation Leader (SF/OL) role has changed a lot from the first summer I worked with the orientation team. Now it is focused more on getting to know 20-30 students, and mentoring them (over zoom) before they even attend on-campus orientation! This job differs significantly from the COM Ambassador role, because it allows me to mentor students outside of COM.

My favorite part of this role was meeting the other OLs who were different majors, I made a lot of new friends I wouldn’t have met otherwise! The job also comes with some perks, such as on-campus housing partially in the summer, which allowed me to stay in Boston and do a part-time internship without worrying about rent!

Social Media Assistant/Content Creator

(Fall 2025- Spring 2026)

My final on-campus job is as a Social Media Assistant/Content Creator for the BU College of Communications Marketing & Communications team. Which in the simplest terms, means I help create and film vertical content for the @comatbu social media channels.

The most fun part of this job is not only doing whacky things around campus such as asking Professor Abel and Professor Krishna to lipsync Nicki Minaj, or being recognized on the street as a “campus celebrity” but I’m able to strengthen my skills in media trends and engagement. As a PR major, it is a great opportunity for me to mix business and fun, while also being consistently involved on campus.

Overall, I’d extremely recommend on-campus jobs and opportunities! Many can co-exist with each other, and help you get more involved on campus while boosting your resume.

Ian: Where each major should explore in Boston

By Ian Katan

No matter what department a student connects with at BU, there are countless ways to explore their interests on and off campus. Beyond all the great offerings on Comm Ave, students are close enough to access countless opportunities for career experience, skill building, and interest exploration around Boston. Let’s take a look at some of these offerings, for every department at COM, that are only a short distance from our campus.

Film & TV

Just a few blocks from West Campus is the Coolidge Corner Theater, which hosts community events, classes, and seminars in addition to, of course, movies. Whether it’s classics or new releases, you’ll find no shortage of interesting things to check out.

And if you’ve never explored across the Charles River, make time to visit Cambridge’s Brattle Theater. The historic one-room theater is easy to get to from the Red Line, and you’ll even get a great view of BU’s campus as you ride across the river. Both Coolidge Corner and Brattle Theater are unique because they still screen 35mm films, rather than only digital.

Journalism

If you’re curious to see how a live news show runs, you can take the train down to the Copley stop and head to the Boston Public Library. It features free live editions of Boston Public Radio every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11am-1pm that you can listen to and see how a real news show operates.

And if you don’t want to leave the comfort of BU’s campus, WBUR’s CitySpace is an event space and creative studio near West Campus that hosts author presentations, storytelling sessions like The Moth StorySLAM, and has tickets for many more productions. It also works with COM to offer internships for BU students, so if you’re interested in working on a show, newscast, or one of their many other offerings, definitely consider applying.

Mass Communication

The Ad Club of Boston hosts advertising events including the Hatch Awards, which is a celebration of ad work specifically from the Boston area. COM is never far from the accolades, with professors regularly being recognized and current students collecting awards in the student categories. The Ad Club also hosts events throughout the rest of the year like speaker events, podcasts, and other opportunities for curious students to get involved and gain experience outside the classroom.

Similarly, Boston has a PR Club that also hosts events for anyone interested to learn more about the public relations field. Tapping into the network of Boston agencies is also super easy, and the PR Club puts together summer socials, panels, and much more that are open for you to explore.

Closer to home, COM also holds many events, speakers, and info sessions designed to bring the best of Boston’s different communications industries together for students, so even if nothing on this list grabs your attention, check out COM’s other events to find one that catches your eye.

Amanda C: Learn How to BeU in COM: From Uncertainty to Opportunity

By Amanda Ciminello

All my life, everything I’ve done has been driven by one goal: To become a sports broadcaster or work in the sports media field. Shoutout to the New York Giants, Eli Manning and Mark Herzlich for instilling that passion in me.

In high school, it felt easy to find opportunities that gave me experience. Coming from an all-girls school with a graduating class of just 75 students–where I had been since kindergarten–I felt comfortable stepping into leadership roles. I wasn’t afraid to lead the Sportscasting Club or push for something as simple as starting an Instagram account for us to showcase our work.

As you can imagine, going from that small graduating class to a huge college campus was intimidating. But that didn’t stop me from holding onto my values: trying everything and building connections with my professors.

Pro Tip #1: Especially as a COM student, connect with your professors. Many are still working in the field and can help you find valuable internship opportunities.

When I was making my college decision and toured Boston University, I remember hearing about all the opportunities to get involved in sports media. To be honest, it felt overwhelming at first. But I also knew it would be silly to not choose a school that offered so many hands-on experiences as a Division 1 program in the heart of a city.

I came into my freshman year at BU with a very simple mindset: Just say yes.

I was nervous. Should I really be joining all these clubs? Did I have enough experience to contribute compared to everyone else? But I quickly realized something important: it doesn’t matter what experience you have. If something interests you, just go for it. There is nothing to lose. The only thing that could hold you back is saying no. You miss 100% of the chances you don’t take.

During the fall of my freshman year, I attended BUTV’s general interest meeting, and three shows immediately caught my attention: Live with Ty, Offsides, and Terrier Nation. All of them centered around sports, whether it was BU athletics or professional leagues. After figuring out the time commitments, I joined Live with Ty and Offsides while balancing classes, adjusting to college life, and being on BU’s Club Squash Team.

Pro Tip #2: You do have time for what matters and your interests. Everyone understands how demanding college is, so don’t let that stop you from getting involved.

Even though I had experience in my high school’s film program, working in a studio was completely different. I was used to filming on handheld cameras and editing on my laptop, so working in Studio West was a whole new environment.

At my first Offsides pre-production meeting, I volunteered to work on a segment. New members were encouraged to start small by writing scripts, helping in the studio, or simply doing the open/close for the episode. But I pushed past my nerves and said yes to both writing and being on-camera for a segment.

The segment focused on the NFL pre-season with roster cuts, injuries, and what they could mean for the 2024-25 season. I thought to myself, Who am I to just jump into this? But I’m so glad I did.

Here’s a little secret that always shocks people: public speaking has never been my favorite thing. It makes me nervous every single time, even though it gives me an immense sense of accomplishment. But because of my passion for sports media, I’ve learned to push past that fear and embrace the uncomfortable.

Saying “yes” is what helped me find my place here.

At the same time, I was working on Live with Ty as a part of the in-studio crew, learning how to operate cameras, audio, and the teleprompter. When asked what team I was interested in, I chose social media. After meeting with the student running it, she constantly encouraged me and helped build my confidence. Soon, I was helping brainstorm content ideas for each guest we had on the show.

By second semester, everything changed. The social media manager was studying abroad, and Tyler, the host and producer, asked me to step in as associate producer while continuing to manage the Instagram account. Suddenly, I was coordinating props, taking photos, approving content, and even organizing team bonding events.

I never expected to become an associate producer in just my second semester of freshman year–especially without prior studio experience.

And that’s exactly the point!

Pro Tip #3: No matter what experience you have (or don’t have), get involved!

If you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone, opportunities will find you. And when you start to doubt yourself, trust the people around you who believe in you. My friends constantly reminded me that I was in each position for a reason.

Anytime I heard someone say, “The best thing you can do in college is get involved,” I used to brush it off. It sounded obvious. But it’s true. You don’t need to have everything figured out. Just start somewhere by getting involved. While this looks different for everyone, even joining one extracurricular is a step in the right direction.

I can’t tell you how many times my friends have told me they feel disconnected because they haven’t even joined anything.

Getting involved didn’t just give me hands-on experience–it helped me see how what I was learning in the classroom actually applied to real-world media and communication.

More importantly, I found my people.

I mean, it makes sense. When you surround yourself with people who share your passions, you’re bound to form meaningful connections. Some of my closest friends now are from Live with Ty and the Club Squash Team. I almost didn’t even try out for squash, but thanks to a friend encouraging me and reminding me how much I loved the sport, I went for it.

I always think about what if I never had taken that chance?

So what if you fail? So what if you mess up a segment and stumble through your lines? So what if you aren’t perfect? No one is! It’s all part of the process. What matters is your effort, your intention, and your passion.

Pro Tip #4: No one will ever fault you for trying your best.

And don’t forget to always Be U!

James M: Is the T that bad?

By James McIntyre

In all honesty, I’m the last kind of person who should write anything about the T. In my life, I live by the idea that if I can walk there, I should. You add in access to headphones and a great new playlist, and the world becomes my oyster. That being said, Boston does have a tendency to become very very cold to the point that walking becomes substantially less desirable. That’s when the T becomes your best friend.

I won’t sugarcoat it. Is the T late sometimes? Can it get packed? Can it be somewhat confusing, especially when using it the first few times? All true. Don’t even get me started on how going from West Campus to Cambridge looks like on the Green/Red Line. But I argue that the fact we are lucky enough to have something be late at all is a great privilege!

A safe and consistent form of transportation, the T can be the gateway to any great night and the under appreciated hero to the end of any great day. As someone who grew up in a car-dependent California, I give a double thumbs up to Boston Public Transportation. I would be remiss to not mention that the Amtrak is also great (if not a little too expensive).

However, to all BU students who get a chance to go to London….everything feels lesser than the double decker red buses.

That’s all for now.

Cheers!

Willem: Being Performative at Boston University

By Willem Schiener

Salutations to whomever this blog post may find. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Willem Schiener; I hail from a small town in upstate New York called Geneseo. I’m studying public relations and film/television here at BU's College of Communication.

Now, you may be thinking, “Oh boy, another performative male," and while yes, sometimes I can have a flair for the dramatic, this blog post is for current or prospective students looking to find a place in which they can express themselves through different kinds of performances.

Here at Boston University, there are many different ways one can perform. The most obvious place to start is the many theater organizations. There are four main theater groups here at BU: Stage Troupe, BU on Broadway, Wandering Minds, and BU Shakespeare Society. Each of these groups performs multiple shows throughout the semester and gives us non-acting majors a chance to grace the stage again.

Perhaps you’re looking for somewhere to make people laugh. Well, don’t fret. BU also has multiple comedy groups. If you are interested in sketch comedy, then look no further than Slippery When Wet, the sketch comedy team. If it's improv comedy, then Liquid Fun would be more your speed. For any film/television majors wanting some experience in filmed comedic content, BUTV10 has two comedy programs, Terrier Tonight (live sketch comedy) and Pals and Friends (pre-recorded sketch comedy).

For those of you more musically inclined, BU also has many different choirs, bands, and a cappella groups. The best part of all these groups is that you don’t need a major in the CFA to join them. We all have passions outside of our respective majors, and here at Boston University those passions don't need to be shelved or forgotten. The world is a stage, and BU is no different, so keep being performative.

Olivia: Say Yes

By Olivia Fletcher

Speaking from personal experience, starting college can feel overwhelming, especially at BU. Though BU provides a cache of resources, as a freshman, certain spaces and rooms can feel untouchable. If I could give one piece of advice to freshmen, it would be this: say yes. I know it sounds cliché, but it genuinely makes all the difference, especially in those first few weeks.

My first semester at BU was honestly really hard, and most of the time I felt lost and unsure of where I fit in. But the reason I wasn’t completely miserable was that I pushed myself to say yes, even when it felt uncomfortable or spontaneous, two emotions I had famously steered clear of before college.

One of those moments actually came from my COM ambassador (funny enough), who suggested I check out a film club info session happening in 20 minutes. I had no plans, no expectations, I just went. I physically ran there, joined the club, and ended up getting involved in ways I never imagined. Through that experience, I held positions, met incredible people, and learned something really important about myself: my passions actually extend outside of film. I don’t think I would have figured that out so quickly, or had the confidence to pivot, if I hadn’t taken that initial risk.

More importantly, that one ‘yes’ led me to some of my closest friends, people I still have in my life today. That’s the thing about college: everything is a domino effect. One decision leads to another opportunity, another connection, another path you didn’t even know existed.

So go to the club meeting. Introduce yourself to someone new. Try something that might not seem like “your thing.” You’re not wasting your time. You’re building experiences, learning about yourself, and creating the foundation for your college life. The more you show up, the more you’ll get out of it.

Ellie: How To Get Around BU (and Boston) To A T!

By Ellie Posen

Growing up in a city with a mediocre transportation system, I found Boston terrifying when I first arrived. Although I have mastered driving in Los Angeles traffic, I have yet to learn how to navigate a subway or city bus system.

Another shock when I got to BU was how crucial my daytime hours were. Sometimes I have over an hour between classes to eat a meal in a dining hall or study in a library, though I often find myself and other students racing across the nearly two-mile campus to get to my next class or destination.

Using a bus or the T was a life-changing skill that made navigating campus just that much easier.

Keeping all this in mind, here are my personal biggest tips for navigating BU and Boston:

When you’re on the BU Campus, and you either don’t have time to walk or you begrudgingly have to get from East to West Campus in 15 degree weather, knowing all your transportation opinions is easily the most important part.

While on campus, the BU bus can be your best friend, if you learn how to time it right. Just make sure you leave early because it is not always perfectly on time… Using the Transloc website or Terrier Transit App allows you to track the BU buses.

The city buses are helpful on campus, and especially when going off campus. Buses are underrated and WAY more affordable than an Uber.

Now, my personal favorite, the MBTA, also known as the T.

Many hate the T, though I have grown to love it. It isn’t always the fastest or most reliable, but it can’t get stuck in traffic like a car, and it is an inexpensive option. The different lines of the T can take you to all the incredible places that you should explore in Boston.

For buses and the T, using your go-to navigation app, like Google Maps or Apple Maps, is pretty useful for finding out what route to take, though the MBTA or ProximiT app is more accurate for tracking times. Use these apps to make sure you get on the right train. I’m guilty of accidentally going the wrong direction when first arriving in Boston.

Although there are many hacks and tips to share, the most important is to remember to stay safe when navigating the city. Always be aware of your surroundings and extra careful at night.

Boston is a wonderful city with a transportation system that can be incredibly helpful, if used properly.

Zoe R: 3-Step Survival Guide For Surviving Freshman Year

By Zoe Rahaim

I’m about to graduate from BU this May, and as much as people like to remind me I’m a senior, my first semester at BU still feels fairly recent. In my first semester, I was prepared for the shock of starting at a big school, but I picked up other tips that helped me stay afloat. Reflecting on my own start, I was leaving a high school class I had attended for most of my life and had grown up in a small town. When it came to tackling a larger school in a much larger city, this advice truly helped me.

When you’re a freshman, everyone is just as eager to meet new people, so don’t hesitate to reach out! Building a community from scratch can feel daunting, but everyone is in the same boat. During my first week, I aimed to have a conversation with at least one person in each of my classes. I turned towards the people on my floor and used platforms like GroupMe to reach out and grab dinner. A simple "hello" is often all you need.
You can’t skip out on Splash! Join clubs that genuinely ignite your curiosity. BU offers a wide variety of organizations, and if you’re looking for like-minded people, COM hosts clubs that cater to journalism, advertising, PR, and FTV. These groups are a great low-stakes environment to explore interests outside of your classes. I found WTBU during my first Splash visit, and after taking a chance at their interested member meeting, I ended up falling in love with college radio and built a show with fellow WTBU members. Whether you consider clubs useful for your career path or purely for fun, getting involved is a great way to meet new people.
Time management and establishing a routine were my best friends when I started college. I realized that it was up to me to track my obligations between my courses and extracurriculars. I turned to tools like Google Calendar to track my classes, and I relied on a physical planner to visualize deadlines and my daily to-do lists.

College is your time to explore, grow, and have fun. BU offers countless opportunities to meet new people and try new things. As I’m coming up on my last few months as a student, I realized how BU allowed me to explore my passions and broaden my horizons.

Chase: 3 Ways to Cruise Through Midterm Season

By Chase Pasekoff

As BU students return from spring break, midterm season is still in full swing. With exams, papers, and projects all piling up, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Here are three ways to keep midterm season low-stress:

1. Find a study spot that works for you

Establishing a good study environment is your key to success. Last year, I spent most of my time studying on the 4th floor of Mugar because I needed an isolated, silent environment with limited distractions. Last semester, however, I found myself studying mostly in study lounges, like the top floors of the Kilachand Honors College and Stuvi 2. It was more enjoyable to study when I could sit with my friends and admire the city view at the same time. This semester, my main study spot has been the common room of my suite. With most of my midterms being group projects, I haven’t needed to separate my living and work space to get everything done. So, whether it’s Mugar, a study lounge, your room, or anywhere else, make sure to find a study spot where you can focus while feeling comfortable!

2. Create a study plan you can stick to

Every midterm is different. Some require dozens of flashcards, while others are less memorization-based. Either way, making a day-to-day study plan is essential to cover all of the content you need before exam day. For my recent psychology midterm, for example, I labeled each day I wanted to study each chapter on my Google Calendar. This kept me organized, on top of my work, and most importantly, prevented me from cramming all six chapters the night before the test.

3. Take advantage of office hours

Although it can feel awkward or uncomfortable, going to your professor or TA’s office hours can be super helpful, especially right before an exam. One tip I have is to write down the questions you have as you’re studying, so you can refer back to them when you go to office hours. Some professors require an appointment for office hours, so it’s important to give yourself enough time to figure out whether or not you’ll need to go. Either way, it’s a great resource that you should definitely take advantage of if you think it could help you out.

As long as you keep these three things in mind (and remember to prioritize yourself), your midterms will go off without a hitch!