Hannah C – Page 2 – COM Ambassador Blog

Hannah C: If You’re a Bostonian, You Need to Watch These Movies

Movies become ten times more fun for me to watch when I recognize their settings, especially places I go often. There’s nothing like watching a scene, nodding and saying, “Yep. I’ve been there.” So having lived in Boston for the past four semesters, I make a point to check out Boston-based movies, and I’ve created a list of my favorite ones. Some are classics, others are guilty pleasures, but all of them in some way involve our city.

Good Will Hunting: Even though I had heard rave reviews of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s film for a while, I hadn’t seen it until last year. Now I agree: it is a must-see. After watching, head to the Boston Common so you can sit on the bench from one of the film’s most famous scenes.

Legally Blonde: One of those movies I’ve seen enough times to quote from memory, Legally Blonde never disappoints. Set in Cambridge, the comedy includes a number of Harvard locations, although most of the film was shot in LA. But you can visit 45 Dunston Street, where Elle shows up to a party in a bunny costume.

Fever Pitch: Red Sox fans everywhere understand the importance of this one. It’s hilarious, cute, and relatable to anyone with a sports team infatuation. There are a number of Boston landmarks in the film, but its most memorable scene occurs right in Fenway Park, practically in BU’s backyard.

The Social Network: A film based on the true story of Harvard students Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin, creators of Facebook, The Social Network features an all-star cast. There are plenty of chances to recognize places, including Kirkland Hall and the Phoenix – S K Club at Harvard, the Thirsty Scholar Pub, and the indoor rowing tanks at BU, where the crew repainted all the red oars crimson. Terriers beware: in the opening scene, Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg, underestimates us, assuring his then girlfriend you need not study “because you go to BU.”

21: Inspired by the group of MIT undergrads known as the Blackjack Team, who counted cards in Las Vegas, the film highlights locations across the campuses of MIT and BU. Protagonist Ben Campbell returns to his dorm room through the doors of The Towers and plays basketball on the courts of FitRec, while the team meets in a CAS classroom to practice. Almost every scene based in Boston shows off a part of our campus.

See if you can spot more locations in these films than I could, and try not to geek out as much as I did. Enjoy!

Hannah C: It’s Great to Switch Majors

"It's okay to change your major!" an adage you'll likely hear throughout freshman year, doesn't always calm fears as often as it's meant to. "I don't want to be just 'okay,'" you think, "I want to be great. I want to spend college chasing the same dream, and follow one straight path to my destiny!" At least that's along the lines of what I thought.

And besides, there was no way I would ever even consider switching majors. Abandon journalism? The career choice that guided my application process and led me to BU? Never. When my high school Spanish teacher assured me I would return a year after graduation having changed my mind about my major, I thought I would prove her wrong. I was born to study journalism, and there was no other line of work I would rather do. Now, about two years later, I'm here to admit she was right.

After three semesters at BU, I'm a believer that changing majors isn't merely okay, but rather it's good. It is a good thing, for not only your sanity but also for success in your chosen career, to realize that what's best for you might be deciding to weigh your options, rather than staying married to one major.

For me, involving myself in journalism-related extracurriculars and writing for publications on campus opened my eyes to the nature of the work I was pursuing. I found that my own personality didn't quite mesh with what I thought I wanted to do to make a living. Reading course descriptions for other majors, I became genuinely enthralled with classes offered for Communication studies majors. Now that I'm registered for two of them, I cannot wait to begin.

Allowing myself to switch majors has already opened doors for me, in terms of internships and possibilities after graduation. It took me some time to figure out that not everyone is cut out for the same career, and not every major is made for all students. But I'm happy to be chasing new dreams, no better or worse than my old ones. And I'll happily say that changing your major, in cases like mine, can be better than okay.

Hannah C: Keep COM and Tweet On

As the most social media savvy college on campus, COM rules the Twittersphere when it comes to school pride. Last week we proved it when our #myCOM100 campaign, celebrating 100 years of COM, put the hashtag among the list of worldwide Twitter trends. Yes, that’s right -- worldwide!

Social media is integral to what we do at COM. Everyday Twitter gives us the power to inform (through 140-character blurbs), story-tell (through microblogging), and keep up-to-date on what’s happening in the world. If you want to be in-the-know about what’s happening at BU, head over to these Twitter accounts and click “Follow.” Become a follower of these handles, and you’ll never be out of the loop.

@comugrad – Official COM twitter

@COM_Ambassadors – Your favorite group of COMrades

@BU_Tweets – Official BU twitter

@butoday – For BU news stories

@dailyfreepress – For stories from our student-independent newspaper

@WTBU and @butv10 – BU radio and TV stations

@BUPolice – To stay safe on campus

@BUdiningservice – For all things food

@BostonTweet and @BostonCalendar – For local events, free prizes, and Boston-related fun facts

Keep COM and tweet on, terriers!

Hannah C: Freshman Housing

CONGRATUALTIONS if you’ve been accepted to COM, also known as the most spectacular place to receive a degree in the field of communication. In my book, that’s not an exaggeration. One year I received my own acceptance letter, I know just how pumped you are to be one step closer to joining the next generation of film directors, PR professionals, journalists, and creative directors. You should definitely be proud. You might even be #proudtobu.

If you’re one of the high school seniors who received a thick envelope and are seriously thinking about attending COM, make sure to check us out at our Open Houses April 12^th and April 19^th. If you’re unable to make those dates, you can take a tour of COM any weekday at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. And, if you can’t to meet us at those times, I’m writing today to answer one of the most common questions I’ve received guiding tours: Where should I choose to live as a freshman?

Once you decide to become a BU student, the next step is filling out a housing interests survey. On it, you’ll rank your top housing choices and choose a meal plan. But which ones should be your top choices? Here’s a current first year’s take on some of your possible freshman residence options.

Warren Towers: Many freshmen in COM live here, since it’s right next-door to the COM building. If you’re the type to roll out of bed and into class, this is probably the dorm for you. There are also major-specific floors where COM students can live and learn together. It’s in the center of campus, amid Comm. Ave. excitement. There’s a Starbucks, a CityCo, and a Jamba Juice at street-level of the dorm.

West Campus: Located adjacent to Nickerson Field, the three dorms on West Campus have less of a city vibe and their own sense of community, although they are somewhat removed. Some students in West enjoy the walk home from classes and proximity to FitRec, our gym, and restaurants such as Canes or BugerFi.

The Towers: Nothing compares to living on Bay State Road, lined with its trees and brownstones, where this residence is located. The Towers dorm is near SMG, SED, and relatively close to CAS. It has single-sex floors, some of which are major-specific.

Kilachand Hall: If you plan to be a freshman in the Kilachand Honors College, this is where you’ll live. You may even have a class or two within the building. Also on Bay State Road, it is directly across the street from my personal favorite dining hall, Marciano Commons. There is a newly renovated study lounge on the first floor, as well as a study lounge on the ninth floor with great views of the Charles River and downtown Boston.

Hope this gives a bit more insight, and I hope to meet you soon!

Hannah C.: Study Spaces

If you’re like me, always torn between the need to get work done and the desire to explore, you know the value of being on the lookout for new study spaces. For me, studying in my dorm is impossible thanks to the fact that all my friends live on my floor, and Mugar gets monotous after several nights spent among its desks. Since my mind constantly wanders when I’m in a familiar setting, I often need a change of scenery in order to be productive.

After a semester and a half at BU, some of my best-kept secrets have been the uncommon study spots I’ve found throughout Boston. So without further ado, here are my favorite places to study in and around BU. You can thank me later.

1. Hogwarts-style studying

Bates Hall at Boston Public Library has been compared to Hogwarts for its majestic dome ceilings and long rows of tables. It’s beautiful to say the least, and doing work alongside its bookshelves always makes me feel like a proper scholar. It’s impossible to go in and out without having done some work.

2. Trident Booksellers

Going to Trident means great food paired with great atmosphere. Plus it’s an opportunity to venture to Newbury without breaking your wallet. Chances are you’ll be in good company with other students who visit Trident to study, especially on the weekends.

3. Coffeehouses

Starbucks in Kenmore Square and Pavement Coffeehouse on Comm. Ave. each offer a great place to read texts or write essays for the price of one cappuccino or latte. Frequented by students, both spots makes it hard not to get to work done with people busy at laptops all around you as you enjoy your coffee.

4. Rooms with a view

For East Campus students, the 9^th floor of Kilchand Hall, and floor twenty-six of StuVi2 for those in West provide study lounges up and away from the noise. Take a break from staring at your laptop screen to glance at the Charles or the city skyline from these lounges with spectacular views.

5. Group study spaces

Need a little background noise to be productive? The COM study lounge on the first floor is a great place to do work in between classes in a creative atmosphere; this is where groups meet and TAs hold office hours. The first floor lounge of Kilachand Hall, open 24/7 to students, is a favorite setting for study groups as well.

6. Smaller study spaces

Less room equals less people equals less distractions. On the fifth and sixth floors of 100 Bay State, the tiny spaces with couches and chairs are perfect for quiet reading. This is where meetings with Career Services take place, but if it’s empty it’s yours to claim for working.

Hannah C: Wicked Proud To Be A Terrier

I’ll just go ahead and let you know—being a student in Boston is wicked pissah. (Translation: really awesome.) Any Bostonian will tell you that, and I surely won’t be the last. If you’re exploring the COM website as I did a year ago, looking for more insight into BU, there’s a few things you should know about what sets BU apart from the rest. First and foremost, BU is located in the heart of the city known not only for its latest World Series win, but also for its reputation as a hub for higher education.

Earning a degree in Bean Town means being in the company of more than two hundred fifty thousand other students. That’s something only Boston students can say about the city we call our second home. Boston is so widely populated with college students that it has been aptly dubbed America’s College Town.

Living and learning in a college town makes it possible to meet people from a variety of backgrounds. As a freshman new to college and to the city of Boston, I feel so lucky to spend time discovering what makes the city so unique while also finding common interests with students from all over the country and the world.

So far, during my first year, I’ve learned the meanings of New England phrases such as “wicked pissah” and the correct pronunciation of “clam chowder.” (It’s chow-dah). I’ve had the chance to get to know Boston and its residents when I interviewed them for articles for The Daily Free Press, BU’s student independent newspaper.

And at BU, I’ve met people from as close as my own hometown in New Jersey to as far as China, where my roommate calls home. My experiences meeting people at BU and throughout Boston have allowed me meaningful conversations with people I’d never had the opportunity to know otherwise.

Although I’m only one eighth of the way through college, I’ve had countless new encounters with people throughout the city, at BU, and from a dozen neighboring schools. And after countless introductions, I can sincerely attest to the unique pride that comes with the privilege of saying, “I go to Boston University.”