Alex: The 5 Lessons I’ve Learned (So Far) From Moving Off-Campus

 It has only been  three weeks since I’ve moved into my off-campus apartment in Allston, but I feel that I’ve learned enough in this short time to have lived there for months! Don’t get me wrong, though, I’m so glad I made the choice to move off-campus! It’s been so awesome having my own kitchen, my own room (with enough space for a bed bigger than a twin XL!!!), and a clear separation between school and home. But there are definitely some differences with living off-campus that can require more effort.

            I’m sure I have plenty more lessons to learn on the way, but for now, here are the five things I’ve realized from ~~Allston livin’.

1.      Be friendly with your neighbors!

You definitely don’t have to be BFFs, but it’s good to at least have a friendly relationship with your neighbors so that you can trust them, help each other out with favors, or just rant about your landlord together. There’s no RAs when you’re off-campus so if you get locked out of your apartment, it’s nice to be friendly enough with your neighbors that you can ask to wait at their apartment until your roommates get home.

2.      The Semester T-Pass is a need, not a want.

Okay, so I’m probably exaggerating that it’s a need but the Semester T-Pass been my absolute saving grace in the short time I’ve been off campus. If I’m running a little bit late to class or if I’ve just had a long day and not feeling the 30-minute walk home, I can usually count on the T or the 57 bus to be there in five minutes or so. I also love using this pass on the way home from Trader Joe’s runs so that way I don’t have to feel guilty about being too lazy to lug my groceries home.

3.      Set aside an hour each week (at least) for groceries

If you’re in a rush to buy your groceries, you’re more likely to spend unnecessary amounts and not really pay attention to what you’re buying. I’m a huge fan of Trader Joe’s because their food is so inexpensive but still good quality, but it can be a bit of a trek for some people. Take the time instead to look through the coupons for Star Market so that you can shop close by and still save a good amount of money!

4.      Make sure you have your own checkbook.

I’ve had my own for years but only written three checks at most so I’m excited to finally make a dent in my checkbook. Rent might get a little bit more difficult to pay when you don’t have checks to write out to your landlord (and by difficult, I mean not possible). You can also print out online checks too if you’re able to pay your rent that way!

When your roommates tell you not to name the mouse living in your kitchen, listen to them. You will get attached.

Speaking from personal experience. RIP Tiger the Mouse <333

Hannah: The LinkedIn Self-Stalk

In COM we do two things: 1) We tell stories, and 2) We gain as much experience as possible so that after graduation we can get hired to tell stories.

The sum of those experiences usually tells a story itself; there’s a narrative aspect of our resumes. Once in a while, I stay up late, my laptop screen the only source of light in my room, reading LinkedIn profiles as bedtime stories. I search CEOs and industry leaders to see how their previous positions equal current top spots. And in past years, I’ve peeked at the profiles of upperclassmen, trying to read how their undergraduate endeavors led them from one position to the next.

Now that I’m a senior, I’ve seen three lightning-fast years fly, and I wonder, What even have I done?  A quick scroll down my own LinkedIn profile answers my question. Oh. Yeah. That’s what. Three years of volunteering, studying, interning, teaching, mentoring, and butt-busting laid out on a web page remind me exactly how those years flew.

Last summer, the story my resume told did not impress employers as I thought it would. I applied for countless summer internships when I was in London, and I only heard back from one, informing me I, unfortunately, was not one of the 150 chosen from 13,000 applicants. Odds were not in my favor.  Eventually, I took a job teaching English to first-time US visitors from China, and I loved it.     

It’s up to me now to connect my varied work experiences so I can tell my story.  This is where a thorough resume read-through or perhaps a cheeky LinkedIn self-stalk helps.  It’s a good idea to look at your LinkedIn as a bit of an autobiography.  All your experiences can be linked together if you view them as parts of your bigger narrative.  Telling your personal tale is easiest when you identify how past experiences shaped the potential employee you are.  How coursework, networking, landing the right job, maybe even landing the wrong job has made you knowledgeable, connected, able, resilient. 

I can’t deny that even though my summer job was not the internship I originally envisioned, the teaching position made me more culturally aware, completely comfortable leading lectures, and better prepared to bounce back from rejection. The narrative of my undergraduate years is dynamic, unconventional and diverse. Telling my story will be important as I apply to post-graduate opportunities to work, volunteer and travel.

If you’re like me, in the middle of the application process, remember to practice your interview questions and dress for success.  And, most important to your personal story, don’t forget your LinkedIn Self-Stalk. P.S. You can do anything good.

L.E.: Unconventional Internships

This summer I made the unconventional decision for a Film & TV major and accepted an internship that was "technically" a Public Relations internship. I spent my summer as a Social Media Intern for Boston Children's Hospital.

Every time someone in the office asked me what my major was they would expect me to say "Communications" or "PR." They were even more surprised when they found out that what I actually wanted to do in Television was to write and produce for comedies.

So why did I do it?

I, like many others in the industry, have noticed just how Social Media has taken the world by storm. Every single show you see on television has a twitter or Facebook or instagram or all of the social media platforms. I also had done social media for COM and for some groups on campus so I had enough experience to get the job in the first place.

Currently, there are no classes for Film & TV that really focus on social media so I knew that this opportunity would expand my knowledge base and understanding. And isn't that what internships are for in the first place??

So what did I learn?

I learned A TON. Don't fret- I DID get to go on shoots and actually help film a lot of the videos that BCH uses on their Media Platforms. However, when I look at Social Media now, I understand the marketing and analytics behind it. I also understand the process it takes to create media content and advertise it online. These are processes that can be directly applied to the Television industry.

How so?

One example is a project that I got to work on my own. One of the Directors had informed me that the Boston Police Department was coming to visit a patient and bring him gifts while he was recovering from his 17th surgery. Owen is 6 years old and loooooooves the Police Department. So this was going to be a big deal.

All I had to do was go to the Hospital and get iPhone footage of the visit and then come back to our offices in the Landmark Center and get the story ready. I edited the footage together in FinalCut and sewed together the story I wanted to tell. I also had to contact his Mom and get some information so I could write the social copy for the video.

Once I got the story together, the video went live. It turned out to be our most successful post of the week, receiving 140,000 views, 4,000 likes, 1,086 shares and 140 comments. The story was also picked up by all of the local news affiliates and on Littlethings.com, which filters media through a multitude of platforms such as NBC News and the Today Show. So cool right????

Through this I understood the importance of telling stories like Owen's. I also got to have a hands on experience of finding a story, producing the story and telling the story.

Another jobs of mine was to go through all of the comments on my video and respond to the many viewers. As a producer this was amazing because I got to see first hand what my viewers were responding to my content.

You can see the video here: https://www.facebook.com/BostonChildrensHospital/videos/10157095426895333/

Lessons Learned

By the end of the summer, I couldn't have imagined myself in a better position. I learned so much about how video is taking over the internet and it gave me a perspective on the industry that will help guide me through my entire career. So no matter what your major is, if there's an experience that you think will help shape you as a person then go for it! Don't be afraid to branch out and try new things. If you want to work in Comedy like me, when else are you going to get to work for a Children's hospital??

(the legendary Landmark Center where the Communications and Marketing department for Boston Children's Hospital is located)

 

Aidan: Thoughts from the last semester of college

Hey COM-panions! So, for those of you that don’t know, my name is Aidan, and this is my last semester here in the College of Communication! It’s really great to be saving money by graduating a semester early, but also really sad that I will be leaving pre-maturely. If you have been considering graduating a semester, or even a year early, I thought it might be helpful to let you know how to do it, and what you are getting into.

First, to be able to graduate early, you have to get done all of your 128 credits fast, and you have to cover all your major requirements and your focus. For me, getting out of here a semester early meant making a couple of sacrifices. First, I started with an English minor, but had to drop it to save time. I love English, and wish I could have done the full course load to get my minor, but there came a time where it became more of a burden to find a way to get it done than it was a boon. So, sad as it was, I was not able to do my minor.

Secondly, I had to overload and do summer classes….a lot. I came in with some external credits, which helped, but overloading and taking courses over the summer is what made this all possible. Overloading, to a certain extent, is free (once you qualify to overload without charge). So, overloading is the most effective way to knock out extra classes. For those classes you can’t fit in the schedule, Summer Courses are the way to go. What I did was I found a job on campus that provided housing for free (a lot of them exist!) and also had a schedule where I could take the courses I needed to take over the summer! This freed up a lot of my semester time, and was a great help, but summer classes cost money! So be warned!

After a combo of all of these things, here I am. Not only is this my last semester, but I am part-time (meaning you take less than 12 credits) which means I don’t have to pay for a lot of the fees of being a student here. Financially, this is the best situation I could personally be in. If you think that graduating early will help ease your financial burden, I highly suggest it. But just remember, most of your friends won’t be doing this, which means that your senior year with them may be cut into by your choice to go part-time. Also, overloading and taking summer courses can really put a dent in your free time (which can also barely exist even as a regular college student). This means you have less time to do extra-curriculars, and also less time for perhaps a part-time job or internship.

What I am trying to get across is that this option has both pros and cons. You can save a lot of money, but it can also severely alter your college experience. This was, personally, the best choice for me, and I don’t regret it, but it may not be the best choice for you. If you think you should go this route, talk with your academic advisor! They can tell you if it will be beneficial, and how you can do it. And, if you want, we can sit down and chat about it. Go to Undergrad Affairs, and they can get you in contact with me.

As always: keep it cool, COM

- Aidan

Jimmy: COMe on People!

Fun Fact: When trying to think of broader name for their newly established School of Public Relations, the 1947 Boston University Board of Trustees were stumped. All they they knew was that they really liked the three letters “C,” “O,” and “M.” After failing to arrive at a consensus, they eventually ditched the idea and went with “Boston University College of Communication.” The acronym however, stuck.

After spending INNUMERABLE hours in Mugar doing research, I was able to dig up some of the original contenders. Here they are below:

College of Optional Math

Classes with One Male

Carefully Ornamented Macbooks

Competing for Opportunities and Money

Critical-thinking Overwhelms Me

Compulsively Over-watches Mad Men

CS6 Only, Mom!

Cameras, Overacting, Microphones (oh my!)

Copywriting: Objectively better than Marketing

Care for Overhyped 80’s coming of age Movies?

Continues to Overthink Major

Concise, Objective, and Missing punctuation

Caffeine Over Maintaining sleep

Contemplates the Oscars’ Motives

Convinced OITNB is Magic

Canonize Our Dear Mindy Kaling

(Just to clarify: these are all jokes or hyperbolic observations based off my limited experience as a student in the School of Communication. “COM” is short for “Communication,” obviously)

Megan: Dealing with 8 AM Classes

8 a.m.

A time that strikes fear in the hearts of many a college student forced to wake up way too early and pay attention way too long before the sun has officially woken up for the day.

8 a.m. classes strike in different ways. Some are requirements, and some are classes you really want to take but have to be up at an ungodly hour to go to.

I have been through both of these situations, and I have the answers on how to survive Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 until 9:15.

  1. Wake up wicked early. Like 6:40 early. That way you can either take a shower to regenerate yourself or just lounge around and give yourself ample amounts of time to be awake. Checking Twitter/Instagram/Facebook/Snapchat makes you feel more engaged and ready to start the day.
  2. Go somewhere for breakfast. I recommend Einstein’s. It is fantastic, has so many options, and, best of all, takes dining points. Even if you feel like you can’t have a full breakfast that early in the morning, have a little snack just to get some energy. I always get a bagel and the orange juice.
  3. About the orange juice. Don’t drink it while you eat your bagel. Save it for class, because that’s how you really stay awake. The best trick I have (and that I absolutely swear by) is taking a sip of OJ every five minutes in class. Sometimes I’m so awake I miss a sip, and that’s how you know you’ve conquered your 8 a.m. Its just something to focus on so you don’t fall asleep!
  4. Don’t wear lots of layers. If you are feeling warm and cozy you might get drousy: I wear light clothes so I’m cold and awake the whole lecture. The goose bumps are worth it!

I skip coffee because the taste and smell makes me sick, but if that’s your thing try it out! A secret of mine is that I don’t even really like orange juice, but it has really saved my grade the past two semesters.

Surviving your 8 a.m. is all about finding the tricks that make you awake and alert. Some days will be harder than others. You may have noticed that I skipped going to bed early because that’s pretty much impossible in school. Just do your best!

Tyler: The Life and Times of a Boy in Boston (during the Summer)

A summer in Boston is a summer in heaven.

JK. It’s not that amazing. But it’s pretty close.

This past summer, I was fortunate enough to stay in Boston while I worked on campus and interned nearby. Both were excellent educational/professional experiences, but in additional to that, I got to spend more time in the place I called home.

Okay, so here’s my summer low-down:

INTERNING AT PBS

I was ecstatic to work at WGBH, the largest PBS affiliate and content producer. WGBH is a great opportunity for any BU student looking to get into a media-related field, as it is such a major player in public radio/television -- and it’s only down the road from campus! I was hired to intern (alongside fellow CA Claudia) in WGBH’s Studio Six, which produces a variety of nationally-syndicated PBS lifestyle series: Simply Ming, Rough Cut Woodworking, Moveable Feast, Lidia Celebrates America, and the new Point Taken. The position was primarily administrative and was specifically titled under “National Content Development.” I worked with producers to conduct research and development on existing projects and oversaw production operations for the above shows. In addition, I aided the development of new pitches for PBS and outside networks (but my lips are sealed!).

Now that I’ve said the official details of the internship, let me tell you about the actual experience: it was fantastic. Not only did I gain a solid network of industry professionals, but I got to watch so many exciting things occur. I was lucky enough to shadow on set for the season 14 shoot of Simply Ming, where I met nationally-acclaimed chefs and watched a real the unfolding of real TV production. Or there was the time I spent several days calling Norwegian production companies to recruit crew members for an international shoot. Or how about that time that Claudia and I found our supervisor’s closet full of Emmy awards? Yeah. That happened. I was meeting with producers from other major PBS series like Frontline and Nova for lunches. To say that I learned a lot and that I enjoyed it is an understatement.

For those of you interested in a local, highly-regarded internship: I would recommend WGBH. Not only is it a great, accessible starting point, but it’s a huge accomplishment.

WORKING AT BU

During the school year, I work as a desk assistant at the Boston University Center for Career Development and Educational Resource Center (a.k.a. the BU CCD and ERC; the former is just a mouthful). I extended my employment through the summer, and I was granted housing in a South Campus apartment. Balancing this with my internship was simple and allowed me to live in Boston at no charge, and I couldn’t have been happier.

The CCD and ERC are great resources on campus, of which everyone should take advantage. They are at virtually no cost to you and offer professional services that aid in your job search/application/hiring process, assess and develop work skills, help you to find out what to do with your life (the dreaded question), receive peer tutoring, and improve academic skills. Their resources are endless, and the staff members are the friendliest people I’ll ever meet.

After spending two months with them and my luxurious view of the Charles, I was more educated on what BU has to offer and formed deep connections with BU faculty that will endure for years to come.

WHAT THE HECK IS A SOCIAL LIFE?

Between these two things and other commitments, I was sometimes spending up to 50 to 60 hours/week at some form of a job. And, surprisingly, I was okay with it. I was doing things that I enjoyed. And, with the exception of some long hours, I still found time to have a life.

I was doing all of the tourtisty things (roll your eyes all you want, but it’s FUN), exploring areas of the city I’d never been to before, and making memories with new friends. It was probably the most important component of the summer. For a number of BU students, the #1 reason they came here was to be in Boston, and it was time to take advantage of that.

So, I guess the point of all this is to say, “STAY IN BOSTON!!!” I think every BU student should experience at least one summer in the city. See what Boston has to offer you year-round and experience the city when it’s above 60 degrees outside. Make this place your home.

Katie: Best Non-Committal Shows to Binge Watch on Netflix

While some of us are already diving head first into our schoolwork for the semester, some may still have some free time to kill. And how do we kill that time? Netflix, of course! But starting a new binge-watch can be pretty dangerous, especially when the show is so addicting you’ll think of nothing else throughout the day. Don’t get me wrong—I love a good “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Jane the Virgin,” or “Breaking Bad” binge. However, instead of getting sucked into an hour-long dramedy, consider the following short-term options that allow for breaking away once classes and jobs get more demanding.

1.     Friends

 I’ve seen the entirety of Friends three times now (and then some), but something about this show never gets old. 

2.     Parks and Recreation

There are some episodes of Parks and Rec I watch over and over and never get sick of. I’m a firm believer in the fact that Leslie Knope is one of the best female characters ever written. And you can’t go wrong with Ron Swanson, Tom Haverford, or Andy Dwyer, either.

3.     The Office

The Office was never my first choice when I was in high school, but now it’s impossible to resist. Every character has such a distinct personality, and Michael Scott really changed the game in comedic television.

4.     New Girl

 I myself have only seen a few episodes of New Girl, but I’ve definitely enjoyed it. It’s funny, sentimental, and just quirky enough.

5.     Bob’s Burgers

Again, I’ve only seen a few episodes, but Bob’s Burgers is not one to miss. I am usually not a fan of adult cartoons (they just don’t do it for me), but this one has me laughing out loud whenever I watch.

What I love about these shows is that they are all so well done, but few require a deep understanding of plot and most can be stopped for a few weeks or months and picked up again pretty easily. Go forth and binge! 

Hanna: A Vegan Senior

Here are two things I didn’t think would ever happen to me:

            1) I would become a senior.

            2) I would become a vegan.

Senior year of college was inevitable, but that did not make its arrival any easier to believe. To make the transition even more bizarre, I found myself having a strange burst of inspiration to try this new route to healthy living. I have had my fair share of food-related health goals in the past. I have gone weeks of cutting out bread, pasta, and other carbs I convinced myself were satanic, only to falter after a night out ended at T. Anthony’s. I tried Isagenix, a 30-day intensive eating system that provided meal-replacement shakes, guided cleanses, specific snacks, and a very serious limit on which foods you can and cannot consume (the only unlimited items were celery and cucumbers, basically crunchy water). This summer I tried a hip diet called starving-intern-living-in-New-York-City-by-herself-for-the-first-time. My internship provided enough of a salary for me to cut my parents slack and pay for my entire existence, but as soon as I excitedly headed to the store to buy ingredients for all the healthy recipes I had found on Pinterest, I learned the true agony of what it really takes to be healthy: lots and lots of money.

For example, every recipe I found on exercise-related sites suggested I incorporate chia seeds into my diet. Stick ‘em in your shake, in your oatmeal, in your salad, in your birthday cake (they did not suggest this but I’m sure the health icons of the internet wouldn’t shy away from doing that. If they even eat birthday cake). Do you know how much a small bag of chia seeds costs? DO YOU? Guess. Nope, more. At least where I was shopping in hipster little Brooklyn, those suckers were about $15! My resentment toward chia seeds has yet to shy away.

Needless to say, I took advantage of the free food in my office and ate a whole lot less due to my fear of losing all my money. I would suggest that others avoid this lifestyle.

Some of the diets were great. I lost some weight, I felt energized, but they certainly took a hit at my enjoyment and my wallet. Plans are expensive and the mindset they require was difficult for me to maintain. Everything was an uphill battle to reach the end of the 30 days, to win the internal war of “I shouldn’t eat this but I want to…” every time something tempted, and to fight off the guilt when I cheated. I was constantly struggling to stick with whatever I was trying at the time, and while my usual habits are inherently healthy (I am an active person who enjoys a good run on the Charles and the Warren Dining Hall salad bar) none of the plans became my lifestyle.

About four weeks ago, a new co-worker named Alex mentioned she was vegan. Yikes, I thought. How can a college student with a meal plan and zero income pull off being vegan and healthy?

“It’s such an awesome way to keep up your ideal health in college. And it’s cheap!”

That chick read my mind. I had always thought veganism, and even vegetarianism, would not be worth the costs; I’d resort to eating unhealthy snacks and too many carbs, I’d spend too much money, or I’d go hungry due to limited options on a college campus. But suddenly a person with my lifestyle was raving about it.

“I have so much more energy, and my body has been able to regulate itself in terms of eating enough, eating enough of the right things, and adjusting to the food I avoid now. There are vegan alternatives to everything, too, so while most of my diet is the right protein and nutrients and stuff, I can still have great food. Oreos are vegan!”

Oreos are vegan? Sold. Alex, my vegan spirit guide, encouraged me to start small with just a few meals for a week, but after that I was hooked. All of the mental struggles of previous diets disappeared when I didn’t even have the option to debate certain temptations. I didn’t feel a huge void without meat, and I felt way less bloated and gross from cutting out dairy (Sorry. TMI). Excessive vegetables became a great source of protein and fruit became a perfect dessert. Every now and then I allow myself to “cheat” out of convenience for others or, again, a late night ending at T. Anthony’s, but because my daily habits are so much more naturally healthy, I don’t feel the same guilt I used to whenever I slipped in a slice of pizza.

Alex was nice enough to share a little guide she’d made for how to keep it up in college, and I thought I’d share some of it here!

Breakfast

An essential start to your day! This should be full of carbs to power you through a workout or busy morning.

  • Cereal: grape nuts/rolled oats with almond or soy milk and lots of fruit
  • Oats: these should be your go-to breakfast, GREAT before a workout!
    •  Add-ins:
    • Maple syrup
    • Fresh or frozen berries
    • Cocoa powder
  • Hash Brown Waffle with mixed veggies
  • Fruit
  • Toast with jam, low-fat peanut butter, Engine 2 hummus, veggies, etc.
  • PRO TIP: your bananas should be a little spotty for optimal digestion and nutrition (they also taste better)

Lunch/Dinner

 The bulk of this should consist of a grain/starch, vegetables, and beans/legumes.

  • Basics: rice or potatoes, veggies (fresh or frozen, at least 2 cups), beans/lentils
  • Idea: Burrito bowl: rice, refried beans (TJ makes a great vegan kind), veggies, salsa, whatever you want!
  • Sushi wrap or bowl: rice with avocado/carrot/cucumber in a seaweed wrap or a bowl, add soy sauce, sriracha, wasabi, or anything else.

Flavor

Rice, beans, and veggies can get boring if you don’t change up the flavors you’re adding!

  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Oil free dressings and sauces
  • Salsa
  • Hot sauce
  • Garlic powder/onion powder/paprika are my favorite spices to add while cooking
  • Nutritional Yeast
  • Maple syrup

A lot of people think this lifestyle is “boring” because it can be repetitive, but most Americans cycle throughout the same 4 or 5 meals…just saying.

Reminders & Eating Enough

  • It is SO IMPORTANT that you are eating enough!!!! You shouldn’t be feeling weak or hungry and if you are, start eating more food.
  • A lifestyle change like this is a big adjustment and it takes some time and getting used to but it is SO worth it. If you are ever feeling unsure, remember why you are doing this and how great you feel, your body will thank you.
  • It does take a while to figure out how much food you need because you’re now eating much less calorically dense diet, give it time and do what makes you feel the best.
  • You should never feel deprived! If you are hungry, eat a snack!
  • Eat intuitively, eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full; don’t obsess about calories and macros. If you are constantly hungry/thinking about food, you aren’t eating enough.
  • If you are craving something specific, it’s ok to treat yourself (to a vegan treat, i.e. TJ’s coconut based ice cream/vegan snacks) every now and then but look for a healthy option most of the time.
  • Don’t be overly concerned about protein, if you are eating enough calories, you are getting enough protein.

Tips

  • Drink a BIG glass of water every morning right when you wake up! It’s a great way to feel awake, get your digestion going, and get hydrated!
  • Bring a piece of fruit or a bar with you everywhere you go! Being hungry sucks so always be prepared!
  • When eating out, breakfast tends to be the most difficult meal to order; my go-to is normally a few slices of dry wheat toast with jam or avocado or a bowl of oats with a big side of fruit!

Exercise

  • A high carb lifestyle such as this is actually ideal for active and athletic people, you will feel so strong and energized during your workouts!
  • CARBS are your main source of energy so try to eat a serving of whole grains/starches about 60 minutes before a workout.
  • You can have a serving of protein after a workout if you feel your muscles really need the help with recovering, but you don’t need things like protein shakes or powders as much as you may think.

And so, four weeks later, here I am: a senior vegan. Sure, it hasn’t been so long, but the improvements I’ve felt through something that has seemed so easy makes me confident in keeping it up. This is the first time a health change hasn’t been a conscious burden. I do not feel restricted about what I can eat nearly as much as expected, much thanks to the diversity of BU Dining options, killer salad bars, and the affordability of meatless options (really! Saving money is motivational! Woo!). I also have liberty to eat as much of the healthy stuff as I want…you can never have too many vegetables, so I really don’t ever feel hungry. Easing myself onto this lifestyle has been a very positive experience, and I’ve managed to do it at college no less. Hey, it also helps animals and the environment! With all my previous inhibitions busted, I can’t even remember many of the negatives.

If you’re thinking of trying vegan out, give the above guide a try, know that your food will not taste like cardboard, and enjoy the feeling of an energized, low-stress, refreshingly healthy lifestyle. Have a great year and stay healthy, kids.

Zach: Best Apps for College

I am always on my computer and phone, in fact I should put them down more. But whatever! Here are some apps that have made my life easier at college!
1: Mint
I’ve mentioned this app in a blog post before but it’s a banking app that allows you to see how much money you have in all of your accounts. It allows you to set budgets (like ONLY SPEND $30 ON STARBUCKS THIS MONTH) and keep track of how much you spend and in what ways.
2: GroupMe
If you are like me, you hate it when people have green texts. We all know what that means, especially in terms of group chats. So, anytime you need to have a group chat, save yourself the hassle of seeing if everyone has an iPhone and make a GroupMe! There’s ton of fun things you can do that you can’t in a normal group chat (like “heart” people’s posts) and it’s super fun.
3: Find My Friends
This one is a recent discovery for me, but it’s built into an iPhone. You can track your friends. I know how creepy this sounds but its amazing. You will never have to send a “anyone in the GSU” text again, because YOU’LL KNOW! Things can get weird when people leave campus and you know where they went but whatever.
4: Foursquare
I eat out very sparingly, and when I do, I make sure it’s a damn good restaurant. In my option, Foursquare is better than Yelp because it collects your tastes and foods you like and matches restaurants to you. It also has a tips section, where people can let you know what is good on the menu, Plus, there is a more specific scale for rating restaurant than just 5 stars.
5: Transit 
THIS APP SAVES LIVES! This app tracks the MBTA and tells you when the T or Bus is coming! It also shows you where Hubway’s and Uber’s are!
6: Overcast
I love podcasts, but don’t have time for them. This app lets you listen to them quicker. It has a feature where you can erase silences and where you can speed up the tempo, without messing with the pitch. Amazing!
7: Self Control (for Mac)
BLOCK FACEBOOK! BLOCK BUZZED! SET A TIMER AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK!