Eliza: Thank you, Trader Joe’s

Since moving into an apartment at the beginning of this semester, two things have become evident to me: I didn’t appreciate my dining plan the way I should have, and Trader Joe’s may or may not be the promised land.

My appreciation for Trader Joe’s comes largely out of respect for the way it has provided me with things to eat other than Annie’s mac & cheese (although I will never lie about the deep sense of love I have for that gift from heaven).  Don’t get me wrong, I love to cook – I find it relaxing and enjoyable – unfortunately between classes, work, exams, papers, and my rigorous Netflix schedule, the time isn’t always there.  I quickly found my saving grace in Brookline, thankfully only a short 20 minute walk from StuVi.

So, this is it.  My shout out to the frozen foods and snacks sections at Trader Joes, thanks for getting me through this semester with semi-proper nutrition and my sanity.  Late nights on the 26th floor of StuVi2 wouldn’t have been the same without Inner Peas and mandarin sparkling water.  Getting home late from club meetings or work would have killed me if not for frozen burritos and pineapple salsa.  Afternoons writing papers would have been much less enjoyable if not for frozen peanut butter cups (shoutout to my roommate for always keeping them stocked) and pre-brewed iced coffee.  It’s been a semester of the books, for the books, and by the books, and I couldn’t have done it without snacks. Here’s to study period and finals week, I can’t wait to snack my way through it.

Jen: When One Door Opens, The Opener Comes In

 

Recently, I was on the phone with my mom and she asked me what I was doing this weekend. I told her I was going to a concert and her response was “another one?! Haven’t you been to enough concerts this month?” Now, I don’t go to a ton of concerts, but I do go to enough to make my parents and friends wonder if I do anything else with my free time. I love going to concerts in Boston. I’m from a place where the only concerts are basically Dave Matthews Band and Rascal Flatts (not that there is anything wrong with those bands, it’s just those are basically the only ones that come to where I’m from) (and sometimes it’s exhausting). I’m fortunate to go to school in a city where a bunch of my favorite bands and artists play. One of my favorite parts about going to a concert (besides getting there an hour early to get in the front, and then eventually getting hearing loss the day after) is seeing the opener before the main act! I think that any indicator of a great concert is if there is a great opener. Not only do you get to jam out to a band you may never had heard of before, but you also may find your next favorite band! So, enough beating around the bush, here are a few of my favorite openers from concerts I’ve seen here in Boston!

Young Rival (opened for Born Ruffians, 10/29/2015): I knew this band was going to be great as soon as they walked on stage in gold glitter blazers. They were the second opener for Born Ruffians at The Sinclair in October. They have a pretty chill vibe that’s perfect to listen to if you just want to mellow out and hang with friends.

Listen To: That’s Chemistry ( on Spotify )

Jamie N Commons (opened for Catfish and the Bottlemen, 10/16/2015): This was one of the first times where I knew the opener before I went to the concert. The reason why is because one of their songs was in the trailer for the new Coen Bros. movie Hail Casesar! This bluesy/folk-rock band gives off a gritty vibe that makes it hard for you not to jam to their songs. You probably have also heard their song “Jungle” in the Pitch Perfect 2 trailer. They also had another one of their songs in The Walking Dead!

Listen To: Rumble N Sway ( on Spotify )

Tess and Dave (opened for Father John Misty, 4/22/16 ): Okay, this couple is my newest obsession. This couple, who are in the band for Father John Misty, also have a very chill vibe. They gave me a chill space alien couple vibe. They probably had one of the best performances I’ve seen by an opener. I don’t even know what I loved more! Was it because the had synchronized dances? Was it because the lead the audience in a sing-a-long to one of their songs, which is about a Subaru? Was it their rainbow lights? Please please please listen to them!

Listen To: Social Chess ( on Bandcamp https://tessdave.bandcamp.com/releases)

 

Some More Bands ( Quickfire! )

Milo Greene ( listen to White Lies, on Spotify )

Dirty Bangs  ( listen to Pleasures, on Bandcamp https://dirtybangs.bandcamp.com/album/standards-4)

Cherry Glazzer (listen to Had Ten Dollaz , on Spotify)

Night Terrors of 1927 ( listen to When You Were Mine, on Spotify)

Kreag: Surviving the End of the Semester

I don’t know how many other people deal with this problem, but for me, the end of the semester typically signals stress-time.  This isn’t necessarily due to the amount of finals or final papers I have, but sometimes everything coming to a close for the semester becomes very overwhelming.  Whether its projects in the weeks leading up to finals or the stresses of trying to figure out your summer situation, things seem to pile on quicker than ever as you approach the end of the school year.  Today I am going to share with you some of my favorite ways to escape the stressors of the end of the semester.

  1. Go see a movie-  This is my favorite thing to do when things start to get crazy.  I know it could potentially just sound like I’m avoiding my responsibilities, but sometimes you just need a break from reality, and a movie is a perfect way to do that.  Recently, I went to see Zootopia with a few fellow COM Ambassadors after Open House, and it was a super fun time.  Also, if you haven’t seen it, I totally recommend Zootopia.  It was better than Inside Out.  And I’m sure you know how people feel about Inside Out!  Zootopia is that good.
  2. Take a walk/go on adventure in the city- We are in Boston!  There are so many places you can reach just by walking for a little while!  At the end of last year I would walk with friends from campus to the harbor and then spend some time in the North End before typically getting some form of pastry (a lot of people would recommend Mike’s for a cannoli, but I really enjoy Modern).  You could also just walk to the Boston Public Garden and spend an afternoon doing some reading or work there.  Its one of my favorite places to go in the city, especially on a nice April/May afternoon when the sun is out and the weather is warm.  Alternatively, you could just take a walk along the esplanade.  Its beautiful in the spring with all the trees in bloom, and if you walk down far enough you can end up at this super fun playground with this weird spider-web playscape.
  3. Go to FitRec- I have found that this is one of my favorite ways to escape the stressors of finals period.  Being able to go and  work out is a great way to take your mind off things.  An hour on the elliptical can work wonders fro your mental state.
  4. Go to Target- Whoever decided to build a Target near Fenway is my personal savior.  There is something very therapeutic about entering a Target and wandering around for hours while you do your shopping, and that’s a feeling you are most definitely not going to get at other stores like StarMarket.

I know that a lot of these suggestions could just sound like tips to procrastinate doing your work, but remember, breaks are necessary!  The last few weeks of the semester can be a rough time, and if you don’t take a moment for yourself every so often, stress is just going to build up even more.

Good luck with finals, and enjoy the last few weeks of the semester!

Claudia: COM Ambassadors

Move over Taylor Swift’s girl gang, there’s a new squad in town — The COM Ambassadors! As a COM Ambassador, I have met some amazing, interesting, talented and overall wonderful people. Some have already graduated and others are fresh faces, but either way, I have made friends for life.

Open House is the deciding factor for a lot of admitted Terriers and each year COM kicks off the day with a fun video.

This year for Open House, a group of us got together and created a Full House parody to introduce the COM Ambassadors. The video was a blast to make as we all channelled our favorite family sitcom!

 

Want to watch the whole thing? Check out the link below!

https://youtu.be/lJm2DQW37h8

(I promise the theme song will be stuck in your head for WEEKS)

The COM Ambassador program has not only helped me adjust to life at BU, but has also introduced me to some fabulous people! So no matter who you choose as your CA (THERE ARE SO MANY AMAZING PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FROM YOU LITERALLY CANNOT GO WRONG), you’ll not only have a mentor, but also an amazing new friend.

We had such a fun time meeting you guys at Open House and cannot wait for the fall! Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions throughout the summer!

Hanna: Classes

I wanted to take this blog post to give a shout out to my favorite classes/professors at BU! I know many of us have already registered for the Fall semester, but there still may be time to switch around a bit! Here are a few of the courses that have truly made my time in COM, and at BU, worthwhile:

 

  1. Creative TV Producing.

Professor Garland Waller is a gem. She is a talented producer with a phenomenal work ethic – one that I try to emulate every day. Every project we did felt practical and useful. I knew I would be able to apply everything I was learning to my work in the real world (gasp!) and that cannot be said about every college class. We focused on reality TV, talk shows, and documentaries, learning everything from pitches to premieres. I was challenged in the class. Her grading scale is based on industry standards and will force you to question everything you thought you could do well. However, the end result is improvement beyond any expectations, and possibly new found skills, goals, or interests you wouldn’t have stumbled upon otherwise! I will owe my career to this class, as well as to the genuine care and kindness of Professor Waller.

 

  1. TV Theory and Criticism.

This graduate-level course was TRICKY. Lots of readings. Many readings with big words I had to look up and look up again. But the discussions, contributions from other classmates, and chose subject matter by Professor Deborah Jaramillo (she’s amazing) were mind-blowing. I thought I loved being a Film & TV major, but this class gave me a brand new respect for the field and its possibilities. Especially during such a fickle time, media and television specifically are places to watch. I’m sure you already know that, but exploring the theoretical basis for how we got where we are, where we’re going, and what can be done to influence that future dives deep into scholarship and philosophy – all of which will challenge you intellectually. Sure, it took a lot of reading, but it took me to a new level in terms of my understanding and appreciation of TV.

 

  1. International Relations and Religion.

Maybe not for every COM kid, but if you’re an IR or Political Science minor/concentration, check it out! Professor Menchik leads this graduate-level course with great precision. He is subtle, but every move he makes guides the class toward very important, relevant, and innovative lessons. I personally love the study of religions, especially from an objective perspective, and this class has not only taught me so much but has given me many ideas for great stories...every COM kid’s dream! Religion affects the world on a larger scale than world leaders appreciate. Especially in global affairs, secularists often neglect the political role of religion, the influence of its philosophy, and the potential its study can have for improving relations. Maybe a Film & TV major can take that understanding and apply it to a project or two.

 

  1. Production 2.

I have this class with Professor Mary Jane Doherty, a funky and beautiful filmmaker who teaches you to work from your heart and your gut. It is important to come into the class with a strong foundation in the technical side of filmmaking, but you certainly do not have to know anything. You never will, and MJ knows this! She wants you to make mistakes as much as you can. This gives her opportunities to dance around the room as she points out to the class how that mistake could teach every single person a thing or two about film language. She loves the world and she loves to capture it with a camera. In a sense, she’s a cinematic choreographer with the ability to bring you into a world where you forget about the frame and the screen – a brilliant role model if I’ve ever seen one. More than that, she encourages you not to follow the herd. Try everything, find your fit, and allow that fit to work for you and guide you toward better versions of yourself. Those lessons are more valuable than anything I could find in a textbook.

 

  1. Writing the Situation Comedy.

Not only is Professor Loman a skilled professional with an IMDB list that will make your jaw drop, but he is fantastic to work with in a classroom! This class taught me what it might be like to sit in a writers’ room, surrounded by loony people trying to create and improve and improve and improve. For me, writing as a team was a brand new experience and one that I appreciated more than I could have expected. It’s incredible to know that you are all working together on a joke – that your initial idea could be just the thing that sparks the perfect punch line from someone else. I wrote a useable spec script in this class…that’s not too shabby! But more than that, I felt like my work inside the classroom mirrored what I may find outside of BU, and I did this while getting to know some wonderful, talented students in COM. Hopefully I’ll get to work with them for real someday!

 

These are just a few of the many inspiring classes offered at Boston University. I have been lucky to meet great professors, learn important lessons, and surround myself with enthusiastic students every step of the way. It even makes an 8am class or two worth it in the end!

Claire: Boston Marathon 2K16

The Boston Marathon is upon us! For those of you who are not familiar with the Boston Marathon, it is a BIG deal here in the city. In honor of Patriot’s Day and the race, Boston University and most business are closed. So, that means everyone takes it to the streets to celebrate with friends and cheer on the runners.

The Boston Marathon has always been one of my favorite days in the city because there are an endless amount of fun things to do. The city fills with excitement and it is simply just happiness.

The race begins just before 9AM in Hopkinton Massachusetts and passes right through Boston University South Campus, Kenmore Square on Commonwealth Avenue, all the way to Boylston Street in Copley Square.

This is a day to set your alarms nice and early so you can meet up with friends for breakfast before the race begins at 9AM.  Then, you don’t even need to leave campus to be right in the thick of it. You can cheer on all 30,000 runners as they make their way to the finish line right on Commonwealth Avenue.

This will be my final Boston Marathon L tears I’m so sad what

Here is a picture of my first Boston Marathon ever, oh boy time flies.

Chris: Moving Off Campus – A Step into the Real World

One of the decisions students have to make toward the end of each academic year is where they're going to live the following year. Because I was abroad last semester, I had to make the decision during the fall as to where I was going to live this Spring.

Unlike the previous three years, I made the decision to move off campus and in neighboring Allston, which is down the street from BU's West Campus. As mentioned in the title, moving off campus while in school is a bit of a step into the adult world.
One of the first things you have to do is pay bills. The basic bills include rent and utilities (electricity, heat, and water). Sometimes apartments will include utilities in the rent price. An additional bill that many people will pay is to a cable company for some basic cable channels as well Internet. One thing to also keep in mind is that it's important to pay these bills on time so that you do not hurt your credit score.
Another basic part of living off campus is you probably won't have a dining plan (fun fact: once you live off campus or in BU apartment style housing you're not required to have a dining plan). However, that does mean if you don't have much cooking experience, you'll have to start learning. Thus far, my forays into the culinary world have produced half decent omelettes, overcooked steaks, and plenty of evenings in a smoky kitchen.
The area where living off campus really pushes you into adult world is when things go wrong. While living off campus, if something goes wrong, you can just call your RA, they'll call the facilities department who will take care of the issues. However, while off campus if something goes wrong like the leak I had a few weeks ago, you have to get the landlord involved, as well as repair people. The biggest thing there is working in repair people with your class and work schedules, which for us COM students can be very full at times.
All in all, much like college in general, moving off campus is a step towards more independence as we move closer to adulthood. However, with that step come several more responsibilities, which people should keep in mind if they choose to explore the option.

Donald: Advice to My Freshman Self

In just a few weeks, I'll be walking across Nickerson Field in a red cap and gown and leaving BU, a place that has become a new home for me for the past few years. Graduating college is one of the weirdest things I've ever experienced. It makes you feel super nostalgic and reflective.
Thus, leaving behind the COM Ambassador program, a program that has allowed me to meet many students who have walked through the doors of COM and attempt to give them advice (even though I'm still trying to figure out my own life), is another example of a very difficult goodbye I'll have to give.
If I could do college over again, there are definitely a lot of things I wouldn't do. I probably wouldn't have gotten a dining plan with a lot of meal options (the GSU seriously has the best food on-campus), I would not have left my bass guitar at home freshman year, and I would have moved off-campus earlier. While this list could go on forever, I've decided to list the 6 major pieces of advice I'd give to my younger self in the hopes that they may possibly help an incoming freshman next year.
1. Get off-campus more!
I didn't truly venture into the city of Boston until later in my sophomore year. I regret not going to more concerts and shows and art galleries in the city so much earlier. Boston is a fascinating city, which is constantly attracting different speakers and celebrities all the time. Explore! And no - going to the Boston Common (while fun) does not count as exploring the city. Venture to the Jamaica Pond and attend Porchfest, a summer concert series on the front porches of people's houses. Venture out to Quincy and visit some cool shops. BU has an amazing campus, but you're only in Boston for so long. Take advantage!
2. Don't be afraid of upperclassmen
I spent a lot of time freshman year looking at upperclassmen, especially seniors, and wanting to befriend them but being afraid that I was too young or too much of a freshman to actually hang out with them. Little did I know, when I just asked to hang out, many upperclassmen said yes. As an upperclassman now who hangs out with freshmen, I've learned that class years really don't matter. All of those fears you have about going up to someone "cool" shouldn't be real! Upperclassmen have been in this city, and at this school, longer than you have. They can give great advice and show you the ropes while you're still adjusting.
3. Leave room for electives outside of your major
If you only take required classes, you'll miss out on the array of amazing and interesting courses offered all over the university. Maybe you're a PR major who takes photojournalism just to learn how to take better photos at family parties. Or maybe you take a course in the College of Fine Arts just because you were never able to. Try to budget room in your schedule to have fun and take classes you'll enjoy - even if they don't satisfy a requirement. I took a course called Urban Sociology my sophomore year. Even though it did not count for a requirement, it is still one of my favorite courses I've taken at BU and has reshaped many views I've had about urbanization, how cities function, and my role as a citizen in a city.
4. Changing your major is OK
This is something that can NEVER be said enough. I think what makes students more anxious than actually satisfying requirements after changing majors is telling people (or coming to term yourself) that you've changed your mind. But that is OK! While the logistics of changing may be more or less difficult depending on when you decide to do so and what you decide to change to, follow your passions. Major in whatever program makes you the most excited and has the most interesting classes. And even if that major isn't in COM (which I surely hope it is), that's ok too! What matters is that you're happy and excited about classes you take.
5. You learn a lot more from talking to people than any class you'll ever take
While my last two points talked a lot about classes, I just wanted to remind you all that there is so much you gain from BU outside of the classroom. I changed my major to journalism after getting involved with WTBU and meeting amazing mentors who talked to me about the program. After meeting leaders in non-profits at the Community Service Center, I've decided to pursue a career in service work and education, rather than journalism. I've learned more about systems of injustice from interviewing people around Boston than I have in sociology courses. While classes are important and have given me a huge intellectual and academic understanding of the world, meeting actual people - whether BU students or members of the Boston community - will stay with you much longer than any classroom lesson. The world is filled with amazing people and make the extra effort to go out and say hi before you graduate.
And lastly, have fun! College will fly by before you know it.

Eliza: Flying Solo: Abroad Alone

In case you haven’t heard, study abroad is kind of a big deal here at Boston University.  We love it, we won’t stop talking about it, and all the cool kids are doing it.  For a lot of people, (especially Communications people), study abroad comes around during junior year, mostly second semester, and involved taking on some other city with close friends and peers.  Going into college I always knew I wanted to study abroad, but I also assumed I would go with friends and enjoy the time with people I already new, but now I am going off into a summer and semester abroad with only a few distant acquaintances.  Last year, I made the choice to go abroad my junior fall, hoping that some other friends would do the same. In the end, it turns out that they didn’t.

This coming fall semester I will be traveling to London essentially by myself.  I’ll have friends in Geneva, and Dublin, and Florence – but will be alone in London.  Sure, I was upset at first but then I really thought about it. It will definitely be tough at first but I am so excited for the chance to explore a city and to meet new people.  It will be a totally fresh experience, almost like starting college all over again, but I will still have my incredible support system back in Boston who will be only a call or text away.  Moral of the (annoyingly personal) story is that I’ve realized it’s totally ok to strike off on my own if it means pursuing what I want, which is exactly what abroad is.

Here’s a list of good things about going abroad alone:

  1. Choosing what sights to see and when to see them:   I tend to want to see everything always, and being abroad without any close friends will give me the chance to really plan my own travel.
  2. Meeting new people:  Being abroad without people I already know will really force me to meet you new people, and could help me immerse myself in the culture there more.
  3. Adventure: It’s out there! And as much as it might be scary, being alone will add another whole level of excitement to being abroad!

Kreag: Open House 2016

As a COM Ambassador, some of my favorite activities from the past two years have been the annual Open House events for prospective students.  I think part of the reason I love Open House so much is mainly due to the wonderful experience I had back when I visited Boston University for the second time.  Being able to go behind the scenes in a way is really eye opening as to how much Boston University and specifically COM itself cares for its students.  It is amazing to see how much work the Undergraduate Affairs department and the COM Ambassadors themselves put into Open House in order to ensure that it is the best experience that it can be for potential Terriers.

However, not all of our accepted students are able to make it to an Open House.  I am aiming this blog post at all of those students who cannot attend so that they can get a bit of a look into just what happens at our Open House events.

There are definitely some highlights to every Open House that we host, and its definitely very hard to determine what exactly my favorite part is, so I’m just going to go through Open House step by step and talk about what makes it so amazing!

The morning typically begins around 7am, which is definitely the only bad part of the day.  However, we move to Tsai auditorium very quickly after that, where we are provided with Starbucks coffee and some fantastic bagels, which really makes up for the fact that we have to wake up before seven a.m. on a Saturday.

From here we move into a variety of presentations.  COM’s Dean Fiedler talks to the prospective students and their parents a bit about the school and everything they will encounter here.  Then it was time for both Claudia and I to talk to the audience, which was a very fun opportunity.  Last year, both of us were just regular ambassadors, but this year as the Coordinators of the program, we were able to get up on stage and help run the show, which was a fantastic experience.  As someone who did a lot of public speaking in high school, it was a lot of fun to be able to bring back those skills.

After this we presented the Open House video, which was Full House themed this year, and featured quite a few of our COM Ambassadors.  Big shout out to Claudia for shooting that video and putting it together!  It was a lot of fun and got a lot of laughs from the audience, and will be online sometime in the next few weeks, so if you want to see it, keep an eye on the COM Ambassador twitter!  The video serves as an introduction to all of our COM Ambassadors, who come rushing down the isles an not the stage, where they tell us a bit about who they are.

We then broke into the three different departmental presentations- Journalism, Mass Communication+Advertising+Public Relations (I like to call it MAPs), and Film and Television.  These are always a lot of fun, and this was my first time attending the MAPs presentation, and it was very cool learning a bit more about their programs since I’ve ever heard Film and Television presentations before. Though I did miss sitting in on the FTV presentation and seeing all of the cool stuff they show, I think all of the departments do a fantastic job of explaining just what it is that they offer the students.

After the presentations we break down into the student and parents lunches.  Its a great chance for students or parents to get to know each other as well as the ambassadors.  Its a lot of fun for us to be able to sit down with prospective students and tell them about all of the experiences we have had here in COM.

Next is one of my favorite parts of the day: The student panel.  This year we had five students who sat down with us to answer all of the questions that students and parents had to offer.  There was a great variety on the panel this year: two seniors, a junior, a sophomore, and a freshman expanding across the various majors that we offer here in COM.  It is a great opportunity for students to find out about life here at BU from the perspective of current students.

We end the day with tours of the College of Communication, where all of the prospective students are able to tour the school with our COM ambassadors, which is yet another great way for them to see some of the great things that COM has to offer.  They get see the wonderful resources we offer such as Undergraduate Affairs and the Career Development center, as well as some very cool places in COM like the BUTV10 studios.

I would like to end this post by congratulating all of the students accepted into the BU Class of 2020, and if you aren't able to make Open House and have any questions at all about BU/COM, please feel free to tweet me @kreagsheehan or email me at kreags@bu.edu!