Category: Ellie

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.

After three years of living on campus at Boston University, this is the first year I have been able to live with all five of my closest friends. Everyone knows living with your favorite people on campus is the dream and crucial to the college experience. However, there will always be challenges with friends, especially if you all live together. So here are some tips to make the best out of living with the people you love most at Boston University.

 

Create a Chore Wheel

No one loves telling someone to do something, especially chores. So a great and fun way to keep your living arrangements clean and tidy is by creating a chore wheel. 

 

Have a Weekly Show/Movie Night

School can be very busy and it will often feel like you never get to see your friends. A way to combat that feeling is to have something your group can watch every week. It’s a great way to wind down and can be a great reward after a bunch of homework.

 

Respect Alone Time

Something really important when living with your friends is understanding that alone time is a good thing. Sometimes you just need time to read a book, watch a movie, or hang out by yourself. Your friends won’t mind and will appreciate you being in your best mood.

 

Be Open to New Things

Sometimes it’s a good thing to branch out from the usual day-to-day things. Whether this be new people, activities, foods, or entertainment there are so many ways to spice up your life. This will help keep you from getting bored or annoyed with the people you see every day. 

 

Decorate to Match Your Group

This is a very simple thing that allows you and your group to work collaboratively to make your housing feel like home. Add your favorite movie posters or quirky inside jokes. Overall, make the rooms feel like your friendship.

 

These are just a few of the tricks that can be used to make living with your friends the best experience of your college career.

 

When I first came to Boston University I found it hard to find an outlet to give back to the community. I was lucky enough to be a part of FYSOP my first semester. FYSOP is the first-year student outreach program. It’s a great opportunity to find different organizations around campus that strive to help different aspects of the community. I also found that FYSOP helped me and other first-years learn more about Boston and integrate with the city. When I was in FYSOP I was part of the food justice initiative. Food justice was interesting because it was one of the programs that had the most physical labor. I cooked food in a kitchen, worked on a farm, and managed a food pantry in Cambridge. It was all a lot of fun and I made a lot of friends through this program. It also got me back into finding opportunities to give back to the community, because the best part of FYSOP was the warm feeling you get when you help others.

I am currently a member of LIME. LIME or Learn, Inspire, Mento, & Empower is a student-run organization at Boston University. This is one of BU’s many mentoring programs. In LIME I mentor a local high school girl. What I like about mentoring is it allows me to look at my past and analyze what I should have done differently in high school. But it also allows me to move forward and help someone younger learn from my mistakes. The best part of LIME and mentoring is similar to what made FYSOP so special. It provides me with a great opportunity to give back. There are many ways to give back at BU these are just a few examples, but the community is a core value at Boston University.