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.

Chloe P: Three ways to stay organized as the semester kicks into full gear

Just around three weeks of the Fall 2023 semester have gone by — in a flash. Classes are picking up, extra-curricular activities are in full swing, and work schedules are finalized. Everyone stays organized in different ways, but here are three ways that help keep me prepared:

  • Google Calendar

I am a huge advocate for Google Calendar. As August winds down and the Fall semester approaches, I am adding my classes, work schedules, and e-board meetings into my Google Calendar so that once the semester starts, I pretty much know when I’ll have time for other stuff — like eating, doing homework, and office hours when I inevitably need help in one of my classes. GCal has features to add events, but you can also add things like “focus time” or “tasks.” Tasks benefit me, especially during syllabus week, for big-ticket items like midterm exams, significant papers, and final projects. Focus time can help build time into your schedule when you can do work or be productive in another way. Whether it’s exercising, doodling, or painting, finding time for de-stressing is key when the semester is busy! Google Calendar lets you do all of that!

  • A handy-dandy notebook

Have you ever been in a big lecture hall when a professor is explaining an upcoming exam? Everyone is trying to get every word down about the exam format, but because of the volume of students, the wifi goes out! There is nothing more frustrating.

Another way I stay organized is by keeping a small notebook — mine’s actually a reporter’s notebook — on hand to write down quick notes. In class, I’ll have it open to write down reminders to myself if an assignment deadline is changing or the professor mentions something I want to remember. The equivalent of this is using the Notes app on your phone, but I love writing things down. Not only is it easier to remember the things you write, but sometimes you can’t always have your phone out in class.

The small notebooks are also helpful for the other random things that come up during the day, like tasks you remember you have to do, grocery lists, and more. 

  • Writing to-do lists daily

The third way I stay organized is by writing to-do lists for the next day, every night. You could splurge on the fancy to-do lists you find walking around stores like The Paper Source and Target, but I prefer to use my notebook (a multi-talented queen!) to write my list. I start by writing down my schedule for the following day, which includes class, work, and any other meetings or events that may have popped up. Then, I’ll write down any assignments or discussion points I have due. Finally, I write down anything I should do to get ahead of the syllabus if I have any gaps in my schedule. I also write down if I have any errands, like a grocery list or picking up textbooks. This keeps me organized during the day, especially as the chaos of being a student is distracting!

With all sorts of things going on, staying organized is the key to success for your grades, but, more importantly, for your mental health. As my dad (and Taylor Swift) says, “Failure to prepare is preparation for failure.”

Chloe P: Major Clubs at COM

Blog

No matter what, coming to college leads to adjustment, anxiety and excitement! One of the things I was most excited for when coming to BU was all the different extracurricular opportunities that BU has to offer, but specifically, all that COM has. Here, I’ll try to share all the varying activities you can join in COM. While there is some overlap, each department has numerous options to practice what you’re learning while connecting with others interested in the same things. Personally, I’ve made some of my best friends through my extracurriculars!

Mass Communication (Advertising, Public Relations, Media Science)

The most prominent Mass Communcation clubs are AdLab and PRLab. While these are technically classes that you can take as you advance through your degree, they are each great opportunities to work in an agency setting while in undergrad. Before AdLab, AdClub is a great option for young professionals to learn so much about what it’s like to be part of an agency. Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) helps PR students gain important knowledge and experience for a successful career in PR.

Journalism

One of the most prominent clubs for journalists is The Daily Free Press, BU’s independent student-run newspaper. There is something for everyone on the FreeP, whether it’s news, feature or lifestyle writing, writing an opinion column, covering a sports team, photography, or working on social media.

Another major publication at BU is the Boston University News Service (BUNS). This publication promotes student work and is run through submissions, meaning content you produce for class has the chance to be published through BUNS.

WTBU is Boston University’s student radio station. A fully operational radio station that broadcasts live music, news, and sports for 20 hours a day, WTBU is a great organization to dip your toes into radio with.

There are numerous other publications that focus on a more niche audience. These include Strike Magazine, which cultivates creative communities across numerous college campuses; BU Buzz, an editorial lifestyle magazine; The Bunion, a multimedia satirical publication; and Off the Cuff, another fashion, arts, and culture magazine.

Film and Television

The most prominent club for FTV students is butv10, a student produced and managed content distribution network. The network has everything ranging from news to sports to dramas to comedy to even game shows! Another film club is The Redlist, which specializes in short films. The Film Society, which is, self-proclaimed, “as much a social club as it is a movie club.”

Miscellaneous

There are two groups that COM also has that don’t necessarily fit into a specific department. One of them is the College of Communication Student Government, which serves as a liaison for students, faculty, administration, and alumni.

The final group is COM Ambassadors, which provides tours to prospective students and mentor first-year and transfer students during their first year!