Places On Campus – Page 4 – COM Ambassador Blog

Hannah: The Balancing Act

As one quickly learns, college is primarily a balancing act. Suddenly you are expected to maintain your grades, stay healthy, and make a new life for yourself. There will never be enough hours in the day, but hopefully these quick tips can ease the time crunch.

First, find a system that helps you keep track of anything important going on from breaks to assignments to midterms. I recommend making a calendar. By keeping all of my important dates and assignments in one place, there is less room for mistakes. I carry a day planner with me at all times and each morning, I write my schedule for the day on a big dry erase board. Somehow I still miss the occasional Spanish worksheet, but for the most part, this has been fool proof for me. My roommate on the other hand uses color coded sticky notes; green for homework assignments; pink for projects; orange for important dates. Then she papers her desk with them. Everybody has a different way to go about it, but organization is a key component to maintaining balance.

Next, take advantage of office hours. They are an asset. It may seem counter productive to cut extra time out of your day to go ramble on with a professor, but in reality talking over upcoming essays and assignments with him or her will only expedite the completion process. Not to mention, professors like to see that you’re invested in the class! A little extra attention can go a long way. If you build a nice repertoire, those relationships can be great connections and recommendations for future internships and job opportunities.

Next is the issue of making time to keep in shape while keeping on top of classwork. Everybody loves FitRec, but sometimes there just isn’t time to make it to the gym (especially for those east campus residents.) But instead of skipping a workout altogether, find some dorm room workouts on sites like Pinterest or Tumblr. For me personally, the Undressed Skeleton blog has become my college fitness bible. Not to mention, this blogger includes dorm room recipes that never require anything more than a microfridge. This leads to my next tip. Everyone has the occasional late night snack binge, but keep healthy food rather than your typical junk food. It will at least curve your appetite and you don’t have to feel so guilty.

Finally don’t procrastinate. This is a dangerous custom that many fall under, but fight the urge! If you get your work done now rather than later, you will only have more time later. So enough procrastinating by reading this blog post, go get to work!

Will: COMmunity

I don’t know about everybody else, but in the months preceding freshman year I was most anticipating living in an atmosphere where everybody is as enthusiastic about knowledge and education as I am. Not long after beginning my first year I realized how naïve I truly was. Wherever you go you’ll find that nobody is completely the same. It won’t take long to discover the kid who couldn’t care less about skipping class or the kid who spends every waking hour in the library. However, that is the beauty about college: you have a population of tens of thousands of people of whom you can pick and choose from (to an extent, of course).

COM, on the other hand, is an exception to the stigma. I have found that everybody in the College of Communication shares a passion. They don’t all share a passion for the same thing necessarily, but every student in COM is in COM because they want to be. Whether they want to be the next big Hollywood director or a columnist for the New York Times, they have all come to COM to get them there.

The students of COM provide a COMmunity for one another where one can be creative and experimental while having the rest of the student body, professors, and student resources to fall back on. The beautiful thing about this COMmunity is that it extends outside of the COM Building and into the rest of the BU Campus.

The event that inspired this post occurred last night: I was performing in my first Liquid Fun show. Liquid Fun is an improv comedy group on campus and some students had decided to focus on us for a Production class project, a documentary I believe. Another photojournalism student also asked if she could take pictures of us. And after the show, a journalist for the Daily Free Press wanted to ask us questions for an article she was writing. In the matter of an hour or so, BU Central was the location of not only a Liquid Fun show but also an intersection of three different branches of COM: Film/TV, Photojournalism, Journalism.

As I came into contact with all of the people conducting the interviews and documentations, I could tell that they were there because they wanted to be. The picture taking and question asking wasn’t an assignment but a pleasure. COM isn’t a school, it’s a COMmunity.

Steph: How COM Gets You Internship-ready

For those of you who don't know, February and March are the prime times to be finding and applying for summer internships. So, naturally, for the past four weeks my brain has been filled with cover letters, resumes, and internship postings. As this is my first real internship search, I turned to COM to help me get internship-ready.

COM Career Services

In my frantic internship search, I have become a regular at COM Career Services. These people are here to help you every step of the way: from actually finding an internship (in Boston, or anywhere else!), to helping you edit your resume and finally perfecting your cover letter. They have been so incredibly helpful that I've become that girl that won't hit send until everything has been looked over by someone in the office. They have appointments available and also have resume and cover letter walk-in hours every week, which has been great for multiple "quick check ins" when I have an hour in between classes.

COM Faculty

While I know how intimidating in can be to reach out to your professors, trust me when I say that they really want and love to help their students. I reached out to two COM professors and they both were totally willing to meet with me and discuss options for internships. Meeting with one of the amazing faculty members can be really helpful in getting a first idea of whats out there, and they can even help you out with their connections!

COM Student Servcies

As a student worker in COM Student Services, you can trust me when I say that Student Services is the one-stop spot for any and all questions regarding internships. If you have any little questions, like how to get credit for an internship, who your internship coordinator is, or how to get an internship form signed, Student Services is the place to go.

Good luck to all of you that are on the hunt for an internship this summer! When you get stressed out about it, just remember that COM is here to help.

Taylor: Miss COM-geniality

The yearning for WORLD PEACE isn’t absent from my mind as I compete, with the scholarly and ever-dashing Christopher Schretzenmayer, in the 2013 Mr. & Ms. BU pageant. I am extremely humbled to be bestowed the title Ms. COM; words literally can’t express my gratitude to all the many congratulatory text messages and Facebook posts and endless support. I truly believe that this award is universal, for in my eyes, everyone within our college embodies the essence of communication.

Here are the top 5 things to expect from me during the race:

What pep talks sound like with Chris and Micha:

http://orawrsco.tumblr.com/post/42535372922/lolzpicx

Once I walk into Metcalf hours early:

http://teacherthoughtbubble.tumblr.com/post/43746984064/when-i-walk-into-the-classroom

Can you guess my talent?

http://idlesarah.tumblr.com/search/sandra+bullock

If I win:

http://doublesjess.tumblr.com/search/miss+congeniality

All jokes aside please COMe out and support us Thursday March 21^st as we showcase our knowledge on BU, passion for COM, and unique talents.

Jason: Docs, Concerts, and Skiing Down Comm Ave

Can you guys believe it's already almost March? I feel like time is flying!

So I promised I'd tell you all about the project I'm working on. A few weeks ago I began work on a new documentary. Over the next four months I'll be following Boston University student and musician Peter Hung. Peter is an international student from Taiwan and soon to be BU graduate, who is spending the next four months on his final attempt to land a record deal with his band Surefire before his visa expires 30 days after graduation. This project is extremely exciting because Peter is risking his ability to stay in this country, but also the respect and financial support of his family.

I've already filmed a ton of material including Peter's comeback concert last Saturday. My team and I had a three camera set up: an overhead of the crowd and stage, one on stage toward the crowd, and another at Peter and the band. That was my first multi camera shoot and it went great- and more importantly the footage looks awesome. I'm working on the website and first teaser video now, and let me tell you: this plus my three classes- I'm definitely keeping myself busy.

Bad news is Lady Gaga got hurt and needs surgery so that concert won't be happening. Good news is Matchbox Twenty is next weekend and I'll get to go home to Connecticut for the weekend so I'm looking forward to that.

I hope you guys checked out the last COMlife episode! I ski down Commonwealth Avenue so that makes the entire episode worth watching. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWtKXiahWp8

How is your second semester going? For the seniors, I hope the stress of college selection has calmed down a bit. And for the juniors- get ready for some fun times!

As always, let me know if you have any questions about anything!

Tiffany: Producing Elements XIII–A Hip Hop Dance Competition

On Saturday, February 16^th, a year’s worth of hard work and planning will come to fruition as my dance team, Fusion, hosts the largest hip hop dance competition on the east coast for the 4^th year in a row. For an entire year now, my fellow teammates and I have been working out logistics with our show that include, but are not limited to, carefully selecting teams to compete for the $1000 cash prize, recruiting exhibition teams including crews who have been on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, coordinating with lighting and sound production, promoting the show, and so much more.

I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to head such a large production within the confines of my own school that supports its student organizations with a plethora of resources for success. The planning process has taught me a lot about teamwork and has allowed me to implement many of the skills that I learn in the classroom such as design for promotional material, branding, and budgeting. It is opportunities on campus like these that I believe have refined my skillset and given me a unique experience to put on my resume.

My dance team has not only given me the outlet to dance and introduced me to a group of amazing friends who share my common interest, but has also has also given me real world event planning experience that will be invaluable as I enter into the work force in a few short months. It has been a crazy roller coaster ride of a year planning this show but I am nothing but excited to see it all come to life. Wish me luck!

Sara: The Amazing Race-Internship Edition

The arrival of February brings about a vitally important time in the school year. That’s right, it’s summer internship hunting time. For me, it’s a time to bundle up indoors and daydream about warmer days-- and hopefully interning in California. It’s time to get your game face on and the blizzard this past weekend presented the perfect opportunity to get myself organized and begin what I like to think of as my own personal version of the amazing race.

Having been a transfer student, I feel a bit behind when it comes to seeking out internships. However, the best thing I have found to do in such circumstances (if you’re like me and have never had an internship) is to research, research, research.

BU and COM both provide numerous services and workshops to help you with resumes, cover letters, and your overall search. Every week the Center of Career Development, located in 100 BSR, sends out an e-mail about their different career building workshops, so be sure to look out for those! Last week I attended one of their resume workshops and they were really helpful. COM career services also offers resume and cover letter reviews daily- check out the @comugrad twitter handle for more information or visit the career services website. You can also view samples of resumes and cover letters.

To find internships online that are available through COM, check out The Career Insider. This database is a gold mine. You will have to create an account through the website but after that you will have full access to everything it has to offer. I personally used it as a basis for my internship search, typing “publicity internship” for the keyword and an LA zipcode, which brought me to a list of numerous summer opportunities at companies such as The Walt Disney Studios and NBCUniversal.

Because of my highly organized, type A personality, I also chose to make a list of all the internships I want to apply for along with individual requirements, descriptions, documents to submit, and addresses with contact information. This helps me when it comes time to personalize cover letters and figure out whom I need to send references or transcripts too. Also make sure you research the different companies you’re applying for! This is extremely important when it comes to writing a cover letter or an essay so that you can really mold the descriptions of your experiences and accomplishments around exactly what their company stands for and what they are looking for in their next intern.

Of course you can always look outside of BU for summer internships as well, using the ever-so-glorious Google or other resources you can find. One website I have heard a lot of positive feedback about is Intern Sushi which I’m just starting to explore. Another website is Intern Queen powered by Lauren Berger who completed 15 internships during her college years. She regularly tweets about different internship opportunities as well @InternQueen, and has published a book entitled “All work, No Pay” which gives her perspective on how to build your resume, make connections and gain job experience.

I guess overall my point is just to explore your options! There are a lot of resources out there to aid you in the overwhelming process that is your first internship hunt, it doesn’t have to be as stressful as competing on The Amazing Race. You’re putting yourself in the best position possible by doing your research and getting organized.

Good luck everyone! And maybe the odds be ever in your favor 🙂

Will: Embrace Your Place

As I sit at my desk, looking out at the glorious combination of snow, wind, and more snow, I feel thankful. I’m so fortunate to live in a city that keeps everything interesting. Boston must know that it’s filled with hundreds of thousands of college students, all of them yearning for adventure, because it never disappoints.

Last night, I made the long trek through more than a couple of inches of snow from one side of campus to the other. I saw only a handful of people at a time when Comm Ave is usually bustling with students on their way to hang out with friends, cars filled with business people on their way home from work, and the T, the 57 bus, and the BU shuttle going every which way. I thought how unfortunate it was that so many people weren’t experiencing what I was experiencing! Granted, I am from Wisconsin (I deal with winter’s fury a little better than the next guy). In the moments that I stood still, knee deep in icy powder, glancing around at the serenity around me, I realized how lucky everybody here really is (and not only because Friday classes were cancelled).

People found great, productive ways to spend their snowy Friday. Snowmen were popping up everywhere over campus, probably the products of Floridians and Californians who didn’t experience the building of snowmen in their youth. Marsh Plaza was home to an entire army of Snowmen and Snowladies. It broke my heart to see a few of them tumble over with the blustery winds – may they rest in peace. A few students (and by a few I mean a couple hundred) – conquered the Esplanade in what was named Snowbrawl 2013. Boston PD didn’t have quite as much fun, but it isn’t a real snowball fight until the police show up, am I right?

I found that a blizzard is a great way to catch up on things you usual don’t have time to do, like sleeping and homework! Just kidding, it’s actually a great opportunity to put on some long underwear, make some hot cocoa with that Kuerig machine (that doesn’t really exist because everybody knows those aren’t allowed in dorm rooms, silly!), grab all the blankets, and read a book, write a poem, watch a movie, or anything else that suits you. The only thing that could’ve made it better was a fireplace. If only I lived in StuVi2 where every room has a fireplace, a butler, and king size beds. I’m kidding they don’t actually have fireplaces.

You can make Boston as great as you want. You can look outside and see inconvenience and frigid temperatures or you can look out and see opportunities for new experiences. As always, make sure to help others have as great a day as you are having. If you see an ambulance with its tires spinning, go out there and give it a budge. If you see somebody get hit in the face with a snowball, help them seek revenge. And if you see a snowplow coming, just get out of the way!

Happy sledding,

Will Dowsett

Morgan: How to Have It All-A Lesson in Time Management

So you’ve got 18 credits, a part-time internship, multiple extra curricular activities, oh and you want to have a life. As COM students who are constantly trying to get a leg-up in the industry, it can seem like you’re expected to truly “have it all”. So what’s the trick to balancing all of these necessary steps on the road to COM success? A little bit of time management can go a long way.

First off – take those time to between classes and savor them. Don’t head back to your dorm/apt only to get distracted by Netflix, your comfy bed, or Temple Run 2 (seriously through – how great the new one?!). Find a spot on campus and hit the books. Try to accomplish a few tasks on that growing to-do list and you’ll feel significantly better about your day.

Take advantage of transportation as well. As Abby mentioned in her latest blog post, reading on the T on your way downtown to that internship can be a great way to get ahead. For exam preparation, take advantage of technology and get yourself the Study Blue app. It allows you to make mobile flashcards that sync to all your devices (iPhone, iPad, laptop) so that you can study anywhere you go.

When the weekend comes – evaluate how much work you need to do before you make any plans, then plan accordingly. You certainly don’t want to be going out three nights in a row when you have an exam on Monday.

Now the dreaded tip of the day… actually pay attention in class. I know, wild idea, but hear me out. I used to be the type that sat in the middle of the lecture hall with my laptop out, and hardly hearing a word the professor said (I mean the slides are online, who needs to listen?). I would send emails, check the social scene, and even fill out applications or edit articles for one of my extra-curriculars. But this semester, I decided that I’m going to see what paying attention actually does, and let me tell you, I’m amazed. I find myself already knowing more of the material in my Abnormal Psych class just by listening. Now I’ve started to challenge myself to come up with the answer in my head before the professor says it – just to see how much I know. This will certainly make me better prepared for the upcoming exam, and its also kinda therapeutic. Not being able to communicate with the outside world for a whole 80 minutes is pretty nice.

Finally, just relax. You’re going to get overwhelmed and stressed at times, but just remember that you will get through it and be better off because of it. Lean on your friends and classmates for support and don’t try to take on more than you can handle. Also, try to get some sleep. It does wonders.

Abby: How to live your life and still read 400+ pages by Monday

In light of recent events (aka, I was assigned over 400 pages over one weekend and still wanted to live my life), I decided to construct a “how to” that I hope you will never have to use but will prove helpful if you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

Read while doing laundry- From start to finish, doing a load of laundry usually takes about an hour. I use to put my laundry in the washer, go back up to my room (and wait at least 5 minutes for the elevator), then have to head right back down in less then 20 minutes (another 5 minutes in the elevator.) This is a lot of wasted time, my friends! So I had a stroke of genius and decided to bring my reading down to the laundry room with me. An hour later, I had plowed through two whole chapters and even did reading check questions.

Read while eating- Another place that I sometimes feel takes up an unnecessary amount of time is taking a trip to the dining hall. While eating with friends and socializing is fun and a necessity of college, it is not always practical. If I go to the dining hall with a group of friends, I expect to spend at least an hour to an hour and a half there. With a lot of reading on your plate this is not the best idea. Instead, bring your work with you and multitask. In the beginning of the school year I thought it was nerdy or lame to share a meal with your laptop, but this is college! And if you look around you will notice that more people then you think bring their work with them to eat. A couple dinning halls on campus even have quiet rooms or study areas that are specifically designed for this purpose.

Some foods to avoid while also trying to read- soup and cereals (too many drips) and sandwiches or anything involving both hands (you will lose your place when your book flops shut.)

Read on the T/BU Shuttle/Other Public Transit- At first, reading while on the go seemed impossible to me- I mean who wants to lug around huge texts when all you have to read is a couple pages? With the popularity of e-readers, this option is more do-able. If, like me, you don’t have an e-reader(I personally prefer real books to e-readers, but that is an entirely different blog post), you can take a picture with your phone of the passage you need to read. I will also add that this requires some precautions. Be smart about using your phone in public- you don’t want to get it stolen! And reading too much on a tiny screen may cause your eye to twitch… Even with all that in mind, it gets the job done. If the passage is available online, another option is to print out the pages you need to go over and take it with you.

*This method works best if you have a short passage or excerpt from a text to read.

Read at FitRec- Okay so you’ve caught me- I don’t go to the gym as often as I should. But every time I do go, I see at least one person reading while on a treadmill or elliptical. (Don’t they only do that in romanticized movies about college??) Personally, I am not coordinated enough to read, understand what I am reading and, oh yeah, run all at the same time. But if you are gifted with this talent, go for it!

How to not fall asleep while reading (not that that has EVER happened to me…)- So far I have found that the best way to avoid getting sleepy while reading is to change up where you read. Read for 15 minutes sitting at your desk, then for 15 minutes on your bed (but not lying down), at your roommate’s desk, then sitting on the floor, in a chair that spins, while pacing the length of your room, at a booth in a coffee shop, on a couch in the study room… You get the idea. One other thing I have found to help keep me alert is to take tiny breaks. During these breaks don’t just sit there and think of how much more reading you have to do. Get up and do some jumping jacks, take a shower, dance to some fun music, call your mom, re-organize a desk drawer, paint your fingernails, or microwave some popcorn.

* REMEMBER- Sometimes part of your education is the problem solving needed to get it all done and not just in the words you read. So don’t stress if you miss a couple of pages.