Esra: How to enjoy fall even if you hate it

Let me start off by saying I love fall, and fall in Boston is particularly beautiful. It never even occurred to me that someone might dislike fall until I was having a conversation with a friend who said she hated it because it gets colder, darker, and the days get shorter (touché). So, if you are one of those people who hates the sudden pumpkin obsession this time of year, I’ve got you covered with some ways to enjoy fall anyway!

1. Go apple picking or go to a pumpkin patch

Usually pumpkin patches and apple orchards are in the same area- so yay for two-in-one! Bonus: you can make an apple pie afterwards.

2. Make pillsbury holiday sugar cookies (the halloween ones are out in the fall)

I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t like these cookies. I think the fact that they’re not available all year round adds to how great they are.

3. Check out the foliage

Even the biggest fall hater can’t deny the leaves are incredible this time of year. Bundle up and take trip to Boston Common or a nice walk down the Esplanade.

4. Boston Public Market

Don’t have time to make a trip to an orchard? Stop by Boston Public Market and get your fix of apple cider and apple cider doughnuts! A taste of fall without having to go far from campus!

5. Head of the Charles Regatta

This one is not quintessentially “fall” which is perfect if you’re not into the usual fall activities.

Eliza: Wait, I have to think about next semester already?

It may seem like the semester just started, but it’s already time to start thinking about the spring term.  Schedule planning has been available for a few days, and registration is going to sneak up in a flurry of colorful leaves and Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  For some people, it’s no worries – they know exactly what to do to stay on track for graduation, study abroad plans, or just their major. If you are not one of these people (I am not), then there’s a few ways to make sure that your registration process isn’t the most stressful experience of your semester.

  • Make an appointment with an advisor: This one may seem super obvious, but sometimes people forget that these amazing people are available to help you figure your life out. You can make an appointment by calling the office, or by stopping into Undergraduate Affairs during the week.
  • Check your curriculum guide: On the COM website you can find guides explaining what courses you might need to take for your major, or a guide to help remind you that you need to take another history class.  Either way, they can make keeping track of your progress way easier than just guessing.
  • Talk to your COM Ambassador: Especially if you’re a freshman, you’re COM Ambassador can help you out with figuring out what classes you’ll take in the next semester.

The most important thing about registration is making sure you don’t let it stress you out too much! It should be exciting, not terrifying, deciding what direction you’ll take with classes.

Kreag: Tips for Surviving The School Year

Going into my sophomore year, I have discovered that returning to college is vastly different than arriving here for the first time as a freshman.  I already have an established group of friends, as well as a wide range of activities that I was anxious to return to.  There is no awkward adjustment period; instead I was able to jump right back into the college lifestyle I developed over the course of my freshman year.

However, there are still some universal challenges that I feel like all college students go through, whether you’re a freshman or a senior, so I’ve decided to compile a list of tips for surviving the school year.

Tip One: Learn to Balance Your Time

This is a problem I still encounter as a sophomore.  As a freshman, it is definitely harder trying to balance social life, homework, and activities, but it is certainly possible.  However, I was able to learn what worked and what didn’t in terms of balancing the various aspects of my daily life.  For example, I realized that getting work done during the day is so much easier for me than waiting until night.  During the day, I often find myself with a huge amount of free time, which I always managed to spend doing nothing, and then it would come to the evening and I’d be spending hours with friends instead of finishing up and essay or studying for a test.  So, if you find yourself with an hour free between classes, sit down and do some reading, or maybe write a couple paragraphs for your next essay.  Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later.

And along the same lines, don’t overwhelm yourself.  I know it may be tempting to involve yourself with seven different clubs, or begin working three part time jobs all while taking your four classes,  but trust me, it is so easy to become overwhelmed by doing this.  Make sure that you have enough time to breathe in between all of your activities.  You have four years here, which means you have plenty of time to work various jobs or try different student activities.  You don’t need to throw everything on your plate starting first semester of freshman year.

Tip Two: Study Groups

One thing I discovered freshman year was how helpful study groups are.  Not only is it a great way to productively spend time with friends, it is also a great way to learn material by bouncing concepts and questions back and forth.  Especially for COM students, I found that this is a great way to get through the COM101 tests.

Tip Three: Don’t Procrastinate

This is a huge problem for a lot of students.  I know that I still procrastinate on things like readings and essays, but it is super helpful to get an early start.  My New School Year’s Resolution was to begin my essays at least a week before it was due (and that’s still cutting it close!)  I’ve found that even this small head-start on assignments dramatically reduces the stress that comes with essays, as I know I won’t be up until four a.m. the night before trying to write my way through a paper about the ancient history of Rome.

 

Stacy: How to Read the News as a Busy College Student

Reading the news is one of the most important things you can do as a COM major. Whether it's local news, campus news, national news or beyond... as a communications major you are expected to know about breaking news before other people.

For some, reading the news comes naturally. For others, it's a bit more of a chore. Here are some easy ways to stay educated, current and relevant in the news cycle:

1. Twitter.

I use it strictly as a news source. Start following the news shows you watch, radio shows you listen to, journalists you admire, government officials, sports teams, fellow journalism students, etc. In the morning I always check Twitter for 15 mins. Sometimes tweets lead me to videos, sometimes to articles or sometimes I just read the headlines. Either way, Twitter is an easy way to get connected and know what's going on in the world.

(Also try TweetDeck, you can separate your news tweets from your social tweets. This makes reading the news more efficient as your favorite comedians or Madison from down the hall won't be in the way while you're trying to read.)

2. News Apps

I personally like AP Mobile (Associated Press) and the New York Times App. You can get notifications for any breaking news. Sometimes I'll get the alert before the story appears on television or radio. Super nifty.

3. Student Subscriptions

As a student, you get a discount for a lot of publications (Boston Globe, New York Times, etc.) Definitely use these discounts while you still can! Also, in the second floor of COM by the elevator... there are papers (USA Today, New York Times, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, etc.) that are up for grabs! Free news is the best news.

4. Podcasts

A lot of radio stations have podcasts that outline what the major news stories of the day were. Only takes a few minutes of your time to get updated.

5. Buzzfeed

Buzzfeed does have a News section. Usually isn't as in depth as other news sources, but it keeps it brief and usually has some fun feature stories you wouldn't see in other places. Buzzfeed also has news quizzes - to check if you are in the know of what happened each week.  A good tool to evaluate how well you're keeping up.

Hopefully you found this helpful!

Zach: Stars- The Best Starbucks on Campus

I drink a lot of coffee. Like a lot of coffee. While I’d love to be a coffee snob, I’m not and nine times out of ten I settle for Starbucks. Luckily, I go to a wonderful university that facilitates this nasty habit! So freshmen/prospective students, I’ve done the work for you that would have taken you a whole semester to figure out: which Starbucks locations on campus are better than the others?

I WILL RANK FROM WORST TO BEST:

5: Warren: Ew. Oh my gosh. The line is OUTRAGEOUS, the coffee is ALWAYS burnt, and there are NEVER any pastries. Did I mention the seating is uncomfortable? Only go to this Starbucks if you are in dire need of caffeine and need an IV drip of espresso.

(This Starbucks was ranked lower because they do not accept dining points.)

4: Questrom: I would assume if you are reading this blog you are not in Questrom. If you are not in Questrom this Starbucks is not a fun place. There is a dress code for this Starbucks, and the seating is more like the floor of the stock market than a café. Drinks are meh. I’ve seen better.

(This Starbucks was ranked higher because it does accept dining points)

3: West: So here’s the sitch, this Starbucks is not a BU Starbucks. It’s like a real one you would find in a real strip mall. I know… crazy. So it’s nice to have one that accepts rewards and coupons and actually has the full menu. However, this was ranked a little bit lower because as a zombie freshman, using real money is a foreign experience and can be jolting in juxtaposition to the coffee you’ll receive.

TIE: GSU: Oh how I love the GSU Starbucks even though it is kind of cruddy. There is nothing better than being able to emerge from the 6th floor of Mugar and only take about 100 steps to get a pick-me-up, or being able to have a Basho sushi bowl in one hand and your venti iced coffee in the other without much extra time in the intermix. However, this only goes to tie because it is a smaller location with a long line almost always.

(This Starbucks obviously takes dining points… it’s in the GSU.)

TIE: Kenmore: THIS STARBUCKS IS CLASSY!!! The interior design is like WOW! There is a HUGE variety of seating options, and OUTDOOR seating!!! What else could a hyperactive yet bougie college sophomore want? Well, it would be nice if they accepted either dining points or rewards, but the ambiance of this Starbucks (and general lack of line) puts this Starbucks in a tie with the most convenient Starbs location on campus.

BONUS TIP: The coffee at Rize is NOT bad at all!! Try that if the line is long elsewhere!

Kaley: How about them Apples?

So it's fall and you're ready to pumpkin spice up your life -or, okay, maybe you're just looking for an Instagram to caption with the orange leaf emoji. So understandable. Either way, look no further.

That 'gram is just a few bus rides, or, even more strategically, an Uber-pool away. You're going apple picking.

Red Apple Farm is only a 17 minute drive from BU, and there are about 700 different Instagram opportunities. Pet a pig, hop on a hay-ride, try their famous "apple sundaes" and hashtag #eeeeaaats. Most importantly though, as its name suggests, Red Apple Farm is prime for picking apples.

The apple Insta is easy and minimalist. It's chic in a way only an apple, on a farm1 in New England, can be. Bonus points: leave a leaf on the apple's stem for a nice earthy touch. Apples don't just make for a fresh, filtered 'gram, though. They're multi-functional. Turns out, you can eat them.

Just kidding. But seriously, get two bags of those puppies and bring them back to the first Boston kitchen you can find. There's one more fall opportunity waiting for you there: baking an apple crisp.

Maybe the most magical and underrated experience of autumn, apple crisp is easy and, warm and paired with the right vanilla ice-cream, it's heavenly. Follow the recipe below. You're welcome.

-Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

-Peel two bags of apples

-Chop them into small slices

-Put them over a pie-crust in a pie-tin

-In a bowl, mix together one stick (1/2 cup) of softened butter, 1 cup of flour, and 1 cup of sugar

-Spread the flour/butter/sugar mix over the apples

-Bake for 30-45 minutes

Donald: Cramming 101

It’s time for your first big midterm. You’ve known the date of the exam ever since your professor reviewed your syllabus on the first day of class. In fact, she’s even brought up the date in class several times to remind you. She’s also warned that this is an exam you cannot begin studying for the night before. However, time has magically flown by and it’s the night before your exam. It’s extremely easy to panic in these situations, but as someone who has been in your shoes countless times before, here are a few tips:

Chose Snacks Wisely

If you’re up late at night, you’ll undoubtedly get hungry. And it’s super tempting to run to CityCo at 1 AM and grab your favorite chips. But if you’re going to be up late, remember that your body will respond to the foods that you put in it. Healthier snacks may not taste as great as Doritos, but they’ll give you the energy you’ll need to continue doing the readings that were assigned to you weeks earlier. Plus, they won’t make your crash the way junk foods do.

Chose A Good Study Spot

One of the biggest obstacles to studying can be choosing a bad spot. It’s really important that you take the time to learn about your studying habits and what works best for you. If you like nosier places, picking a spot in your dorm or in the GSU may be better than going to Mugar. Although it can be scary to go places alone, it’s definitely more important that you don’t study with friends who distract you.

Take Timed Breaks

When you’re cramming late at night, it can be easy to think that you can’t take any time to stop because you have a ton of information to learn. However, if you don’t take any breaks, you’ll easily burn out and not remember anything you’ve been studying. My best piece of advice is to set a timer and schedule 10 minute breaks every hour (or whatever intervals work best for you). If you time your breaks, you’ll prevent yourself from procrastinating for too long.

Remember to Sleep

It can definitely be overwhelming when it’s 4AM and your exam is only hours away. However, if you don’t sleep for at least a little, your brain won’t retain any of the information you’ve stayed up cramming. At a certain point in the night, it’s important to grab some shut-eye for at least a few hours so you’ll have the energy to get through the actual exam.

Breathe

Lastly, yet probably the easiest to forget, is that it’s important to breathe while studying. Looking at the amount of information you have to remember can be scary and overwhelming. Yet, you’ll accomplish nothing if you just freak out about all of the things you have to do. When you find yourself panicking, pause and take a deep breath. Then just start reading one page at a time.

Obviously, the best way to avoid all of this is to actually begin studying before the very last minute. Yet, it happens to all of us sometimes, so just remember that you’ll get through it if you take everything one step at a time. Cramming is extremely stressful and no one loves it, but there is definitely an art to it that you’ll learn as a college student.

Kate: Getting off campus this October

Congratulations, BU 2019! You’ve made it through your first month as a COM freshman at BU. In this first month, you’ve probably made some great friends on your floor and you’ve also probably gotten a little more comfortable navigating the Charles River campus aka you know where the closest Starbucks is at all times. Well now, it’s almost October and I’m daring you to get off campus!

Now that you’ve finally figured some BU stuff out, why leave campus? October is a beautiful time in New England, especially in Boston. The fall foliage is showing its true colors (literally) and the weather cools down from our 92-degree nights in Warren (seriously we need AC) to a comfortable fall evening, cool enough for your new fall boots and that favorite chunky sweater.

Check out one of these three off-campus spots this October, Boston and New England still has a lot of surprises for you in store!

1) Salem, MA

The town of Salem is historically known for the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, which resulted in the hanging deaths of 19 men and women due to their “diagnosis of bewitchment.” Today the town offers visitors and residents alike, rich New England heritage, historic architecture and amazing stories told for almost four centuries. October is the best time to visit Salem because the town gets all decked out for Halloween! In addition to the town’s Halloween spirit, there is always restaurants and shopping, land & sea tours/cruises, parks and commons, Salem Witch Trial museums and memorials, and much more to do! Sold on Salem? Just hop onto the MBTA commuter rail at North Station, and take the Rockport line to Salem. You’re there!

2) Topsfield Fair in Topsfield, MA

The Topsfield Fair began in 1818, when the Essex Agricultural Society was granted a charter to preserve the land for agricultural activities. The fair has been held annually since 1818 – with a few exceptions. The fair was suspended for 3 years during the Civil war and for 3 years during World War II. I think that’s fair reasoning- haha, get it? Today, the fair includes carnival games and rides, many musical acts and attractions, 4-H agricultural and arts exhibits, parades, a petting zoo and much more. Head on over to Topsfield to experience this New England tradition anytime October 2-12 this fall. For this trip, you may need to find a friend with a car as it is about a 45 minute drive from Boston.

3) Apple Picking

My favorite place to go apple picking is Honey pot Hill Orchards in Stow, MA. This 200-acre family owned farm has operated since 1923 and brings you on a adult (aka fast) hayride through the orchards before dropping you off for some apple picking. Apples not your fruit of choice? Come along for the ride because this orchard has farm animals, hedge mazes and hayrides to entertain you. And make sure you end your day with a stop at the Apple Store – you can see their beehives making honey, buy fresh produce, jams and jellies, and you HAVE to try their apple cider donuts. I am not a patient person, but I will and I have waited about an hour in line for my ½ dozen bag of cider donuts. You don’t want to miss this delicious treat. Again, find a friend with a car or perhaps look into getting an enterprise or zip car account if you love off campus excursions. It’ll be worth it!

Caroline: Adulthood: Part 2

Last semester I wrote about how searching for an apartment made me feel like a real adult. Today, I can tell you I feel more like an adult that ever. Yesterday I walked Beacon St. with grocery bags on either shoulder after dropping $80 at Whole Foods. The day before, I vacuumed my entire apartment and used a duster. A DUSTER. I got excited the other day when I received the Xfinity and electricity bills. Who does that? I was just very excited that I was finally living what feels like real life. I paid a bill with my own money (on my kitten checks, but that’s besides the point) and felt legitimate.

Probably my favorite part about feeling like an adult is cooking dinner. I have been gathering recipes for months now and I can finally make everything I’ve been salivating over. I use finally lightly because I had many test-cooking sessions at home before I was on my own and still often text my mother “What temperature do I cook the fish at?” I’m not saying anything I’ve cooked so far has come out stellar, but at least we’re not ordering takeout every night.

My favorite meal I’ve made so far is tofu-veggie stir fry or pesto pasta with broccoli. Things I’ve learned so far while cooking for myself and my roommates: water takes a long time to boil, it’s hard to time everything out to be finished at the same time, the kitchen gets really hot, and something will always go wrong. I’ve under cooked rice, steamed soggy broccoli, and boiled a pot over; and it’s only week four!

My favorite part of the week is when my three roommates and myself all coordinate our schedules and eat dinner together. Nothing is better than sitting down with three of your favorite people to eat a meal you just cooked yourself. And, if I’m lucky, someone else will offer to do the dishes. 🙂

In the past three weeks I have learned a lot about myself and my roommates, as well as life on my own. My biggest take aways are: communication is key, clean your dishes right after you’re done using them, and the walk to West campus feels way shorter on the way home after a long day.

Joe: S-T-R-E-S-S-E-D

The one thing Hollywood got right is how stressful college is. It’s a constant game of time management, while somehow still remembering to eat. Currently, I’m neglecting to eat in order to get this post in on time, so L.E. doesn’t kill me.

You may be expecting some deep, emotional wisdom from this post. Don’t. Stop that. We’re getting ahead of ourselves. Instead, I’m going to give you an insight into my current state of life and how to learn from my mistakes.

#TBT to that time when I was so stressed out over homework that I almost cried in front of all of B.U. Here’s a tip: breathe. Prioritize. These are things I’m not good at. But you have time to perfect them and be in a much happier place.

Try not to bite off more than you can chew. Find the classes you know you’ll get the most out of and commit to them. The others that aren’t as important don’t require every ounce of your attention and for you to go above and beyond.

College is just as much of a social learning experience as it is an actual learning experience. Like from books and stuff. So prioritize. Can that reading wait because the Emmys are on and you really just want to hangout with your friends and analyze everyone’s acceptance speeches? The answer is yes, it can. Bonus tip: be sure to practice your own Emmy acceptance speech during commercial breaks.

College is hard. Life is harder. Homework is temporary. So don’t freak out. Or do freak out. Who am I to tell you what to do? Just remember that the weekend will be here before you know it. And you’ll be able to forget your responsibilities for a little while. Until Sunday night comes around and you’re scrambling all over again.

Stay in school, kids. Say you’ll remember me standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset when you’re famous and I’m still paying off my student loans.