ghlehman – COM Ambassador Blog

Zoe: Choosing BU

By Zoe Rahaim

Picking a college is huge. For most people, it’s not just about majors and classes, but where you’re going to call home for four years. As someone from a small state, Delaware, and an even smaller high school class, 72 kids total, I was fairly scared of moving somewhere new. I knew I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, but a huge change like college looming over me made it extra stressful.

I weighed my options on what aspect of college life was most important to me beyond academics, and I knew a city that was easy to get around in was my ideal place. If you’re looking at a big-city campus like Boston University, you should see it as an opportunity to live in a real city, not just a college green. My number one pro of going to BU is the opportunity to walk five minutes, hop on any transit heading inbound, and make a day out of exploring somewhere new. Some say BU lacks a campus, but our campus happens to be Boston. Your in-between class and weekend plans can be right in the city, and on a more serious note, it makes those internships a T ride away. When I had the opportunity to visit Boston before making my college decisions, getting to know the city really cemented my decision that a city school like BU was my ideal setting.

However, city school life comes with some cons. Boston is expensive, and you’ll find that as an incoming freshman, even with a meal plan or dining points, daily expenses can add up fast if you don’t budget yourself a little. That doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to pop into CityCo once in a while for a pick-me-up treat, but going from a sales tax-free state to Massachusetts was an eye-opener! Another major adjustment is the lack of a traditional campus feel. While the BU community is still tight-knit and you’ll find yourself running into people more often than not, BU is large and spread out along Comm Ave. So when it comes to getting around parts of campus, you may spend more time navigating the T.

When it came down to my decision for BU, being a student also felt like independence. Boston was my opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, but it’s pushed me to pursue faster-paced environments and approach these, sometimes, scary decisions with confidence.

Kerlin: Coffee + Matcha Recommendations Around Boston

By Kerlin Campos

Pavement Coffeehouse - BU

736 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA 02446

Really good bagels and good seasonal drinks. Coffee and matcha are relatively pretty good. Matcha has a bit of grainy consistency, personally, I like it but it can be a hit or miss for people. In terms of price, it is a bit overpriced but is a great place to study on campus. Has several locations around Boston.

Blank Street

647 Boylston St Boston, MA 02116

I love Blank Street. Highly recommend trying their Strawberry and Cream latte. Such an affordable price. The location in Back Bay is not suitable for studying. Several new locations have opened around Boston.

Greystone

123 Appleton St Boston, MA 02116

Really good matcha and can get quite packed. Good for a grab and go.

Capital One Cafe

711 Boylston St Boston, MA 02116

Amazing coffee! It tastes pure and fresh. A bit overpriced but has good seating for studying. The staff is really friendly. If you have a Capital One card you get 50% off on drinks.

George Howell Coffee

400 Newbury St Boston, MA 02215

Coffee is pretty good. Matcha is a bit on the bitter side. Prices are a bit overpriced but typical for the Boston area. Great study spot, great sitting inside and outside.

Blue Bottle Cafe

163 Newbury St Boston, MA 02116

Very well crafted coffee. One of the best coffees I’ve had. Minimal sitting and always busy. Not really a studying spot but more of a grab and go coffee to sip while walking on Newbury Street.

Thinking Cup

85 Newbury St Boston, MA 02116

Really good coffee and pastries, always super busy. Good spot for studying but always packed.

BON! Specialty Coffee

22 Beacon St Boston, MA 02108

BEST MATCHA I have ever tried. I got the strawberry matcha and it was just the perfect amount combination. Definitely, more on the expensive side but worth it. Very limited seating. I grabbed my matcha and went on a walk through Boston Commons as it is just around the corner. I highly recommend trying this place!

Chloe: Top Ten Asian Restaurants around Boston

By Chloe Huang

Desperately in need of a comforting Asian meal, but not sure where to start? Navigating college life in a new city can be tough, but finding a restaurant doesn’t have to be. In this blog, we’ll be listing the top 10 Asian restaurants around Boston to satisfy your cravings!

Naksan Korean BBQ (1414 Commonwealth Avenue)

Starting this list off with a bang, Naksan is the perfect place for authentic Korean barbecue. They serve an amazing variety of banchan, from perfectly fermented kimchi to marinated celery, and the staff cooks all the meat for you (perfect for any college students whose cooking experience stops at instant ramen).

Cicada Coffee Bar (106 Prospect Street)

Vietnamese cafe by day, and aesthetic restaurant by night! From 8am to 3pm, Cicada serves your classic brunch items with a Vietnamese twist. However, starting at 5pm, the beautifully-decorated cafe dims its lights and turns into a reservation-only restaurant serving elegant takes on Vietnamese dishes.

Mahaniyom (236 Washington Street)

Mahaniyom is a tapas-style restaurant serving delicious plates of pad thai, crab fried rice, and much more. Located in Brookline, it’s an easy 15 minute T ride from Boston University. Tables fill up quickly, so make sure to reserve in advance!

Kenzoku Mazesoba (506 Park Drive)

Continuing with another fan favorite, Kenzoku Mazesoba specializes in brothless ramen noodles with flavorful toppings. Among the most popular dishes, their Tan Tan Mazesoba is my personal favorite! Additionally, this restaurant serves great portions at an affordable price, and it’s located extremely close to Boston University’s South Campus.

Mala Town (194 Harvard Avenue)

Located in Allston (an extremely student-populated neighborhood, Mala Town is also a popular destination amongst BU students looking for an affordable and comforting bowl

of mala hot pot. You’re able to select your own variety of ingredients, and for a pro tip, load up on the light food and reduce the amount of heavy food to save money!

Spring Shabu Shabu (304 Western Avenue)

As a hot pot connoisseur myself, Spring Shabu Shabu is one of the best places to go for hot pot around the Boston area. They have a massive selection of vegetables and other additions for you to grab yourself (perfect for those who want to try everything without breaking the bank).

Merai (14 Harvard Street)

Although Merai is on the more expensive side, it’s a great chic, upscale restaurant perfect for a date night. They have an extremely creative take on Thai-inspired dishes, from their yukhoe to tom yum pasta.

Tora Japanese Restaurant (20B Tyler Street)

Although it’s a bit pricier than a quick sushi spot, Tora is known for their beautifully crafted donburi bowls that are a perfect “treat yourself” meal. Located in the heart of Chinatown, their interior cozy vibe offers a much more intimate feel than other sushi restaurants in Boston.

Mountain House (89 Brighton Avenue)

With lots of shareable plates, Mountain House is a great casual and lively place to go with friends after a late-night study session. This restaurant is famous for their authentic Sichuan-style dishes, especially spicy dry pot and grilled skewers.

10.Yume Ga Arukara (70 Pier 4 Boulevard)

Last but certainly not least, Yume Ga Arakara is my personal favorite to get good quality udon! While there is another chain located in Cambridge, the location in Seaport is a great way to explore more of Boston’s views. I would recommend their Signature Cold Niku Udon for a perfect, refreshing bite.

Kenna: Advice to Freshman at BU from a Senior

By Kenna LaFitte

It feels like just yesterday I packed up four suitcases and moved 3,000 miles away from home into my dorm at Warren Towers. Time has truly flown by. Now, a month into my senior year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my time at BU and share a few pieces of advice for incoming freshmen, especially those arriving here without knowing a single person, like I once did.

Join clubs.
Clubs were a great way for me to get involved and meet people across different majors and backgrounds. I also found it really helpful to have older peers I could turn to for advice about classes, internships, and navigating college life.
Make friends in your classes.
This one might seem obvious, but having familiar faces in class makes the experience so much better. Studying, sharing notes, and even just having someone to walk to lecture with can go a long way.
Try new things.
Some of my favorite memories come from stepping outside my comfort zone. As someone from the West Coast, I had never been to a hockey game before but it quickly became one of my favorite ways to spend time with friends.
Invest in good shoes.
Walking up and down Comm Ave every day is no joke, it’s basically a workout. A solid pair of shoes is an underrated essential.
Stay out of your room.
One of the best decisions I made was challenging myself to get out of my room every day. It pushed me to be more social and helped me spend more quality time with friends, even during busy weeks.

College is what you make of it, and BU has so much to offer if you’re willing to put yourself out there. So join the club you’re curious about, strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you in lecture, say yes to something new, and don’t forget those comfy shoes!

Derek: How To Enjoy A Boston Halloween

By: Derek Olson

The leaves are shifting colors, there is a certain crisp in the air, and pumpkin spice lattes are back on the menu. For all of the fall fanatics: we have made it. My favorite part of fall is October 31st…(pause for suspense,) Halloween!

Fun fact: the now-candy-infested holiday began as the Celtic – a collection of predominantly Irish and British tribes’ – celebration of Samhain. This festival marked the day of the year, as Celtics believed, when the souls of the dead were able to return to Earth; therefore, they set bonfires and wore costumes to fend off any evil spirits.

To prepare you for the festivities, if you choose to celebrate, I will give some tips as to how to best enjoy your 2025 Halloween:

Trick r’ Treat at Beacon Hill. I understand that Halloween falls on a Friday this year. It may be easy to get caught up in other plans, but there is nothing like going trick or treating on Beacon Hill. The gorgeous cobblestone streets are your path to the passionately decorated homes where you can receive candies galore. Last year, I saw a Star-Wars-themed house where a frozen Han Solo was

positioned outside of the house and an old man dressed as Obi-Wan Kenobi handed out candy. I am nothing short of excited to be going back again this year, and I hope that you consider taking a trip over!

Find Your Costume at the Garment District. The simple route is to dig whatever you can out of your closet and call it a day. But, going to the Garment District is an experience in and of itself, and you would get a Halloween costume out of it! I highly suggest breaking the crossing-the-river stigma and taking the T over to Cambridge to see what kind of costume you can craft with their collection.
Take A Trip To Salem, MA. I think it’s a reasonable argument to state that Salem, MA is the Halloween capital of the world. Home to the history of the Salem Witch Trials, you can spend $10 on a weekend commuter pass and take the commuter rail to experience the festivities for yourself. This is a bucket list item of mine that I have yet to experience, but do plan ahead before going since it can get very overwhelming very fast.
Take a Haunted Ghost Tour of the city. While this is another activity I have not done myself, I have heard great things. A Haunted Ghost Tour of Boston perfectly tows the line between silly, interesting, and scary: costumed hosts take you around the city, by either walking or trolley, as they explain the paranormal history of Boston. This is one of those one-of-a-kind experiences that you can always laugh about with your friends after you have done it.
Visit the Fourth Floor of Kilachand Hall. If you are not feeling as extravagant about your Halloween celebrations, but still want to be in on the fun, take a trip over to Kilachand Hall in East Campus and visit the fourth floor. This is where acclaimed playwright Eugene O’Neil had lived and then passed away. Since then, residents have described strange occurrences on the fourth floor, like lights flickering, strange scratching sounds, and elevators suddenly stopping at the floor for no reason. Who knows? Maybe you will have a story to tell, as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read through these tips for the Halloween season. Hopefully, you can test out at least one of them to see if it is something you would like to keep doing each year! Have a great rest of your fall semester Terriers, and don’t forget to manage your time well so that you are not stuck finishing homework at 8:00 p.m. on Halloween night.

Maya: 3 Reasons Why You Should Add a Minor

By: Maya Lubaroff

As an incoming freshman, I had a limited idea of what I wanted to major in. I knew that several aspects of Public Relations interested me, such as media relations, crisis communications, and social media. However, I slowly began to develop an interest in media law. This is what led me to discover my interest in Sociology– a social science discipline that bridges the gap between justice, law, and societal relationships.

My minor has helped me view my major courses in a new light, encouraging me to make connections I would not have otherwise recognized. Here are three reasons why adding a minor can transform your academic experience:

1. Helps you find your career niche

A minor can help you find the unique intersection between your interests. It might help you find out which industry you hope to work in (Example: a major in Journalism and a minor in political science can lead to a job in political journalism!) For me, combining Public Relations with Sociology has allowed me to explore the connections between media portrayal and how society views itself.

2. Broadens your interests

Adding a minor pushes you outside the boundaries of your major and exposes you to entirely new ways of thinking. This can spark passions you didn’t know you had, give you a wider academic toolkit, and even shape the kinds of classes you most enjoy. My Sociology courses have encouraged me to think critically about the systems and structures that influence communication, which has deepened my understanding of PR on a broader scale.

3. Builds transferable skillsets

A minor doesn’t have to just be about knowledge; it’s also about cultivating versatile skills that can be applied anywhere. From research and analytical writing to public speaking and problem-solving, the skills you gain in your minor can strengthen your performance in your major while making you more adaptable for future career paths.

Emily: Five freebies and student discounts to take advantage of

By: Emily Wyrwa

Boston is the college town to end all college towns — and local businesses know that! It’s always hard to manage a student budget, but there are lots of ways to get out and explore without breaking the bank. Here are five amazing student deals to take advantage of with your Terrier card.

1. Student 9s

Fenway Park offers $9 tickets to select Red Sox home games to students! You can enroll in their text program, and they’ll release tickets the morning before the game. Grab your seats for just $9 and you’re good to go!

2. Free museum admission

The BU Office for the Arts gives students free access to the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), and the Harvard Art Museum (which is free for all visitors). All of these have amazing selections and exhibits — a great way to spend a weekend afternoon or a rainy day in Boston.

3. Zipcar & Bluebikes

If you find yourself wanting to get out of the city or having a project that requires you to get somewhere by car, Zipcar offers discounted memberships to students. Bluebikes also offer discounted memberships to BU students! If you’re looking to get around by something besides T or the BU BUS, these are great options to keep in mind.

4. Free fry deal

Saloniki Greek runs a promotion (at least at their Newbury Street location) where you can get a free order of fries by presenting your student ID if you order at the counter. I take advantage of this deal myself at least every few weeks; they’re delicious!

5. Theatre and arts

Students are eligible for free concert tickets at the Boston Symphony Orchestra by purchasing a one-time $30 College Card. The Boston Ballet also offers $20 rush tickets for students, or $30 tickets if you sign up for a student subscription. Students can also get $25 tickets at The Huntington Theatre at most performances.

Christina: How I set up my Triple Dorm & tips for dorm organization

By: Christina Chen

While I’ve only lived in an on campus dorm for one year, I frequently get asked about organization and my room decor. My entire for you page on TikTok lately has been freshmen at Boston University decorating their dorms. Each of them are killing it and it’s making me wish I could do it all over again because decorating a college dorm for the first time is so fun. Or maybe I'm just a bit nostalgic and slightly in denial that I only have two more years left at BU.

Freshman year I made a TikTok of my side of the dorm, it got over 21K views and a good amount of likes and saves. The fact that it reached so many people had my freshman self delusional and thinking I was going to be an influencer– I am not. However, I am super organized and like to say that I have an eye for interior design. My only credentials are compliments from my friends regarding the aesthetics of my apartment and my pinterest boards.

I lived in a triple dorm in Sleeper Hall my freshman year. It was set up with bunk beds where the desks and dresser were underneath the bunks. This was not a problem for me, I did lots of research on the dorms at BU before coming. Although there weren’t very many photos or videos, I managed to find one and got to work. I planned everything I could to make this dorm a home.

I’ve made some diagrams to help visualize how my dorm was set up!

Delia: A Texan’s Guide to BU Winters

By: Delia Rune

It’s always hard to imagine that the sweaty, sticky BU campus students encounter in their first month in Boston will eventually be blanketed in snow and ice. But, regardless of how hot it is when students first arrive on campus, inevitably, winter will come. I’m originally from Texas, and I’ll never forget my first Northeast winter freshman year and how ill-equipped I was for it. If

I could go back in time, I would give my freshman year self a few tips to help her get through the cold New England winters.

1. Put off pulling out the “big coat”

I’ve found that once I pull out my biggest coat (for me, the Aritizia superpuff), I find that I end up wearing it every day and surrender to the fact that winter has officially begun. As a result, I’ve learned to procrastinate pulling out my big jacket – the longer I wait to wear it, the longer it takes for winter to “officially” start.

2. You might not need snowshoes

I bought snowshoes before classes started my freshman year, and it only snowed once! I’ve rarely had to pull out my snowshoes and think there’s a high chance you might not need them.

3. Keep track of what jackets work in what temperatures

When I first started dressing for the cold, I wasn’t sure what different temperatures meant. Does 40 degrees mean I need to wear my thickest jacket or a sweatshirt? My freshman year, I found it helpful to keep track of what clothing felt appropriate for different temperatures, so I could better interpret the weather forecast before leaving for class.

4. Invest in fun winter accessories

Having a scarf and hat is not only necessary to stay warm, but it can make getting ready in the morning more fun too! Try to pick out some gloves, hats, and scarves that you are excited to wear – it’ll make putting them on a little easier.

5. Prioritize sunlight

For me, the hardest part of Boston winters isn’t the cold – it’s the darkness! The sun sets early in Boston in the winter, so make sure you get outside as much as you can while the sun is out, even if it’s cold.

Hopefully, these tips will help other southerners adjust to New England weather. But, for now, try to appreciate the sun and the heat – soon you’ll be wishing it was 90 degrees again!

Elaina: Meeting New People and Cultivating Connections in College

By: Elaina Fuzi

When I first came to Boston University as a freshman, I knew no one. I had only attended a virtual orientation and had gone random with my roommate selection. It was incredibly daunting.

However, looking back as a junior, I’m glad I didn’t know anyone because it forced me to go outside my comfort zone and focus on connecting with people. Thankfully, I had two great roommates who I got along with (I was placed in a triple in Rich Hall my freshman year) and tried to introduce myself to at least one person each class.

As an introvert and not the most outgoing person, that scared me a lot. But I found that people were much more willing to connect and exchange phone numbers than I previously thought because they were also new and wanted to make friends. I am still friends with some of the people I met on my first day of classes (one from COM101 and one from an Intro to Sociocultural Anthropology course). That following Saturday, I also met my current closest friend at BU when I went to my second COM Ambassador group meet-up. I then met that friend’s roommate, and we’ve all been close friends ever since (they are my current suitemates).

That’s another thing I discovered quickly. It is way easier to build a network of friends in college because each person you meet has the potential to introduce you to some of their friends as well and the cycle continues. Expanding your network of friends naturally slows down over the years, but I continue to make new friends every semester—that's mostly due to gathering a few seconds of courage to introduce myself. And not every person you meet must become a close friend. Most end up being what I call a “class friend,” who I can sit next to and get notes from if I miss a class but don’t end up hanging out outside of that. The good ones you really click will stay if you’re willing to put in the work to keep in contact. This concept of networking doesn’t go away and is also very applicable to a professional setting where connections can be the most powerful tool.

However, you shouldn’t feel pressured to have a friend in every class. There are plenty of classes I’ve had where I didn’t have a designated friend, or there have been instances where I haven’t become friends with people until I've had one or several classes with them. For such a big university, you see familiar faces more than you’d think in your classes, major and nonmajor, and even just walking around campus.

You also shouldn’t be afraid to go to things alone. Whether it’s an event, club meeting, concert, going to a cafe to chill or do homework, or anything else, don’t let having a lack of people to go with stop you from going and potentially having a great time. It’s not a guarantee that you will have a good time, but it’s a learning experience either way. Regret is sometimes stronger and lingers longer than fear.