COM Ambassador Blog

Hanna: Winter Visit Day From the Other Side

As a freshman, I have still been getting used to a lot of what I do as a Student Ambassador for COM. I have given a few tours and written a few blog posts, but each day still teaches me new lessons about the job I am so fortunate to do. However, a few days ago, I got my first taste of what it feels like to help someone as a COM Ambassador. I got my first wave of satisfaction about what I was able to offer prospective students, and I was reminded why I was passionate about presenting COM, a college, program, and community I love, in the most positive light possible.

It was Winter Visit Day, a university-wide event filled with special programming for prospective students and families to demonstrate what Boston University has to offer. I arrived at COM Student Services, as I do every Friday at 12:50, knowing that this tour might be slightly bigger than those I’d already had. Most of the few tours I had given thus far had one or two students and their parents – nothing too overwhelming. But as I walked in on this particular Friday, a crowd was already forming around the usually lonesome desk. Students, siblings, and parents stood waiting to see the building and hear about the program, and it was my job to help them fall in love with it the way I had.

Wow, I thought to myself as I snapped my nametag to my shirt and greeted the other touring Ambassador, Lauren Haslett, a senior Advertising major. Lauren had given me tons of tips about touring before, but with a huge group like this on our hands, I knew today was the day to really turn her advice into action.

As the tour progressed, I found myself making personal connections with students and their families over common interests, backgrounds, and goals. One student wanted to get involved in student theatre, so I jumped on the opportunity to tell her about my experiences with student groups like BU On Broadway and Stage Troupe, as well as the acting opportunities on some of the shows on BU’s television channel, BUTV10. Another student was interested in Film & Television Production, like me, and just as I had been, he was apprehensive about whether he would struggle in the program without having lots of previous experience with film. I saw the nervousness in his face melt away as I told him about the opportunities to learn everything there is to know about filming, editing, and other aspects of the field before even getting into a Production class, but the curriculum is also set up in a way that would expose him to everything he did not yet know without setting him behind other students.

As I connected with students on a personal level, Laura did the same. She told prospective students interested in advertising about her experience, and even about how she had just been hired for a fabulous job after graduation. The size of the tour was not big enough to keep us from sharing our passion for COM, and a few days later, I knew we had succeeded.

An email showed up in my inbox from one of the prospective students on the tour. The student spent paragraphs expressing appreciation for our insight and enthusiasm, and he even highlighted specific moments where we had hooked him to the idea of BU COM. I beamed as I read and I could barely contain my excitement. It seemed Lauren and I had made a true difference in this high school student’s life, and perhaps we had helped him better pave the way toward the future he wanted to obtain.

I now understand firsthand the impact I can have as a COM Ambassador. It took less than a semester for me to confidently call COM my home, and the ability to share my passion with others is a gift I am so grateful for. I cannot wait to help as many other prospective students find their way in the complicated college process, and I hope my tour this coming Friday is even bigger than the last.

Kate: Where To Get the Most Important Meal of the Day at BU

You know that saying, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day"? Well while it might be true, I've never been one to live by this motto. Until recently.

I've always been part of the camp that would rather sleep an extra 15 minutes than make a bowl of cereal. But when I started working out with a trainer at the BU Fitness & Recreation Center, she basically told me we would have to stop working together if I didn't start eating breakfast. So here I am, trying to navigate my first meal options for the first time as senior in college. I know, the most responsible. The one advantage: I can share with you all the best places on campus to grab the most important meal of your day.

Pavement Coffee House. Previously known as Espresso Royale, Pavement owns the bagel sandwich game here on campus. Not only do they have a variety of decently healthy options and extra fresh bagels, they also house a wonderful study space on campus that is frequently packed with students. Go-to order: Sunrise Sandwich with sausage on a multi-grain bagel.

Starbucks. I'm not gonna lie, coffee for breakfast is not uncommon in the college student world. However, with the recent transition of the five (yes, five) on-campus Starbucks to the La Boulange bakery options, there are a variety of favorites that can now be heated up for your enjoyment. Go-to order: Grande iced coffee with whole milk & blueberry scone with butter.

T. Anthony's. For those students from the tri-state area who are used to greasy diners, T. Anthony's is the place for you. It is also a favorite of mine for weekend morning feasts. They have all the bases covered for those who enjoy the stacked omelette, the breakfast sandwich, and the syrup-topped specialties. Go-to order: T's Big Breakfast - french toast, two fried eggs, home fries, bacon, & coffee.

Eastern Standard. ES is a big favorite among students when parent's come to visit. A little more expensive than the other options on this list, ES is unqiue for having an early morning breakfast option (you can thank their attachment to the Hotel Commonwealth for that) in addition to a brunch menu. Go-to order: Breakfast Breads & Buttermilk Pancackes with Blueberry Syrup

Dining Hall. A very necessary addition to this list, the on-campus dining halls are the mecca of breakfast for the underclassman still on the meal plan diet. With unlimited options like cereal, waffles, omelettes, and pastries, how could you go wrong? As a senior, I am always open to the gift of a guest meal by a lower classman (wink, wink). Go-to order: Waffle with a side of pizza (while you wait in line for the waffle machine more commonly known as line pizza) and bacon.

This is obviously not an exhustive list and I'm sure I've missed some crowd favorites (Einstien's and Brugers to name some honorable mentions) but just a few of my favorites. Keep COM & Eat Breakfast.

Sara: Top 10 Reasons to Study Abroad

I confess I have been a bit of one-track mind lately, and so I apologize for this gushing blog post in advance. But, wherever you find yourself in your college career please do this one thing: make time to go abroad! I know it can be difficult to work in when there’s so many requirements to tackle but take it from someone who is overloading on credits for two semesters just to make it happen, its worth it.

The last six weeks I have found myself in London and I am completely in love. So therefore, I present to you a totally buzz-feed style list of ten convincing reasons why you should go abroad (sorry for the lack of gifs illustrating exactly how you should feel).

1. Meeting New People-Not everyone from your program will be from BU necessarily and even if they are, chances are on a campus this big you’ve never even seen their face in a crowd before. There are loads of new people you might never have met otherwise. If you’re lucky enough they just might become your best friends.

2. Easy Travel- With inexpensive trains, planes and buses to take you to wherever your heart desires, it’s so easy to see other cities and countries while you’re abroad.

3. The Food- I personally believe the best way to get to know another culture is through your stomach, or maybe that’s just because I’m a foodie wannabe. But in all honestly, trying new foods has been one of my favorite parts of being abroad.

4. New Perspective- It’s easy to judge other cultures from afar but once you’re standing in the middle another country where you don’t speak their language, I guarantee any preconceived notions you might have had will be erased. And bonus, you’ll also probably gain a new love for your own home.

5. Personal Growth- It takes a lot of courage to put yourself in a completely unfamiliar environment for months but once you do it, you find yourself growing as a person in ways you never thought possible.

6. Getting a Break From Your Normal Routine- Because who wants to be on the same general schedule every day of their college career?

7. Unique Resume Boost- In some programs you get to intern while you’re abroad which is something not everyone can say they did and will definitely set your resume apart from other students in internship and job interviews.

8. The View- From the top of anywhere, over any city- go on the London Eye, go to the top of the Duomo in Florence, climb up a hill to the castles in Lisbon and appreciate the view. No matter where you go, looking over an entire city is so captivating, its life changing.

9. TRAVEL- oh, I already mentioned this one? Well, I think it deserves to be mentioned again

10. Why not?- The best reason of them all. You’re young! What better time to see the world when college has already allowed you to perfect the balance of minimal sleep and maximum productivity.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about going abroad or need any help with the application!

Cheers,

Sara

Tom: The College Experience from Little to Big

Four years flies by in the blink of an eye. I feel like it was yesterday that I said goodbye to my parents, settled into Warren Towers 1102C and embarked on the adventure that would be my four years at Boston University. Now I’m a second semester senior, looking at job possibilities and the future, and thinking to myself, “How did four years fly that fast?”

Well… It flew by with 12 musicals, 2 plays, 3 Open Houses, 1 Mr. and Ms. BU Pageant, countless tours of the College of Communication, and dozens of great friends. So I can’t say nothing happened in my time here. But I have spent my last semester of BU reflecting on the time I spent and the time I have left.

My favorite aspect of being a senior at BU is watching students just a few years younger than you, grow up and come into their own at Boston University. When you become a junior, a whole slew of new freshmen come at you that you literally get to watch grow up until they become upperclassmen themselves.

In “On Broadway,” the musical theater group I undeniably devote most of my time to, we have an informal “Big” and “Little” system, which is where we informally take underclassmen under our wing, who we feel are most like ourselves. I have taken so much enjoyment in watching all of these “littles” grow and get ready to take over our place in the group long after we’re gone. Being an upperclassman in college makes you half-father/half-sidekick/half-best friend with many amazing underclassmen and it has definitely been a highlight of my BU experience.

To any incoming students, I encourage you to look up to upperclassmen and learn all you can from them. This knowledge you will then use to pass on to the next batch of “littles” who will make your BU experience all the more worthwhile.

Dany: On That Internship Hunt

Hey guys! I imagine some of you are starting to think about what you want to do this summer. I know I’ve been a job-applying machine the past few weeks. Luckily, the pressure to find an internship is much less than the pressure to find a job, and as a seasoned internship hunter I’ve got a few tips to help you on your search:

Know where you want to go

It helps when you have a few set locations in mind of where you want to intern. It narrows down the search, and makes it a lot easier to find what you’re looking for.

Know what you’re looking for

Similarly, nailing down your specific interest will further narrow down your searches. You want to make sure that what you find will give you the best learning experience and long-term benefits.

The Search

Start browsing on internship websites and follow them on Twitter and Facebook. Some of the ones I use are InternMatch.com and YouTern.com as well as following @InternsNtheCity (which tweets about opportunities in NYC), @BostonInternshp (and no that’s not a typo!) and @PRJobLA. Twitter is an incredible resource. Even by just typing “Intern” and the location you want to work in the search bar will give you a ton of solid results. After exhausting that, browse the Center for Career Development and the COM Career Services databases. Update your profile and look for jobs that match you. And of course, don’t forget to look up specific companies if you have a couple in mind!

Get Organized

After searching every last form of “I need an internship” on Google, you’re bound to have a couple solid leads lined up. Bookmark all the ones you find and organize them into priorities. Some applications may have deadlines. Work on those first, as well as the ones you’re most interested in. Don’t leave your dream job for last! While you’re getting yourself organized, be sure to follow their social media. When they look at your application and begin doing some research on you, it looks good when they see the extent of your interest.

Tailor your resume to each company

Before you send in your resume, make sure it is organized in a way that will best represent your skills and what you can do for that specific company. Go to COM Career Services and get a second opinion if you’re having trouble. When you’re absolutely satisfied, send away!

Tweet about it

Continue to show your interest in where you are applying. Keep an eye on your email and your phone calls.

Finding internships takes a lot of work. You need to be proactive. With a little bit of luck and motivation though, it will all pay off. So get searching, applying, and hope for the best!

Donald: How To Not Be Socially Awkward On Campus

For an aspiring publicist, I’m a pretty awkward guy. However, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks to avoiding as many awkward social interactions as possible here at BU. Here’s a few that might help you out:

Take the stairs as often as possible. It’s a proven fact that elevator rides are extremely awkward 99% of the time.
Try to leave your dorm before the class change time. Here on campus, classes are let out 10 minutes before each hour and a massive crowd of students takes over Commonwealth Avenue heading to their next class. In order to avoid the huge crowd (and the huge potential for awkward social interactions), leave your dorm a little bit earlier.
Always wear headphones while walking to class. That way you look busy and people will be less likely to come up and talk to you.
When a professor is looking to call on someone for an answer in class, immediately put your head down. The first person who makes eye contact with the professor will be the person he or she calls on.
Always have your cell phone easily accessible. When you’re walking down a hallway in the College of Arts and Sciences or when you’re just walking down Commonwealth Avenue, there’s an 85% chance that you will walk past that person that you met one time, but don’t remember their name and are unsure if you should say hello to them. Therefore, always have your cell phone nearby, so you can pretend to be texting someone instead of making eye contact with that person.
A general rule: AVOID EYE CONTACT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!
If you’re eating alone in the dining hall, bring a bunch of textbooks with you and spread them out over the table so you look extremely busy, even though we both know you’re not studying at all and you’re probably watching something on Netflix. Then, put your book bag and jacket on the chair across from you so it looks like you have friends.

Last but not least, don’t overthink things! People on campus are just as worried as you are, and most people are too busy to take notice of the small, weird things you do. If something awkward does happen, if you laugh it off, others will probably laugh too! Don’t sweat the small things, and be as friendly as possible. People are a lot nicer than you’d think!

Kaley: Sorority Recruitment

Recruitment. The word makes me sound like an athlete or a member of the armed services. In BU’s spring semester, though, the word stirs images that are 100% the opposite of either: to 2,000 female students, recruitment means pink, pumps, and Pinterested décor.

I decided to get involved in Greek life before I ever set foot on BU’s campus –it was a factor I considered when narrowing my college options during senior spring. So, after waiting all of first semester and some of second, formal recruitment finally rolled around this weekend. To say the least, it’s an experience like none other.

All 700 “potential new members” –that’s me and about 699 other hopefuls who are striving to join sororities –are guided through the Marriott in Copley Square, and we spend different amounts of allotted time with each chapter in their own spectacularly decorated ballroom. In the past 48 hours, I’ve spoken in-depth with more than 100 BU women. And I’m barely halfway through the process.

The amazing thing is, each of the individuals I’ve spoken to has actually been an awesome person. The friendships I’ve forged during this process are authentic, and although the days at recruitment are long and the concept can seem intimidating, the first two days alone have reaffirmed the reason I ultimately chose BU last May: the people here are real. Sorority-land is considered a superficial place at many schools, but at BU you will only find more honest, confident, down-to-earth students. In my opinion, that speaks to the character of our student body.

Amy: Productivity Placement

After a semester of college one thing I've learned is that it's really important to study somewhere that helps you be productive. There's nothing worse than knowing you have to get a big paper done, only to be distracted by your surroundings for a solid two hours.

For some people that means heading to the library where it's quiet and everyone around you is studying or getting work done too. Mugar is a great environment for people who really thrive in that atmosphere, plus if you get bored of your surroundings the Boston Public Library is just a few T stops away.
Similar to the quiet library but not quite as immense are the top floors of StuVi2, Kilachand Hall (known as Shelton to many students), and the 6th floor of 100 Bay State. These are quiet rooms where many students go to study, and they've got gorgeous windows that give you a great view while you work.
Personally, I choose to opt out of the library whenever possible and head to cafes and coffee shops where there's a slight buzz of conversation and music, but nothing too distracting. The environment is relaxing, but not so silent I feel like every sound I make is resounding through the room. On campus, Pavement, Starbucks, or Blue State Coffee are great options for cafe setting study areas. During finals week they're especially popular for group study sessions! Another favorite of mine is the Thinking Cup Coffee Shop on Tremont St. because even though I'm still studying, I feel like I'm getting away from the campus hustle on Comm Ave. (plus it's right near the park).
Another great, albeit seasonal, option is studying on the esplanade looking out at the Charles River. If you can resist the urge to lie back and daydream, the esplanade is a great stress-free study spot in the spring and fall!

Wherever you go, the only requirement is that it should be right for you! Don't force yourself to study somewhere that doesn't work for you. Everyone's got their preferences, and sometimes it's nice to switch it up and try out someplace new. All you have to do is grab your laptop and textbooks and go find your spot!

Morgan: A Little Perspective from a Second Semester Senior

As I’m well in to my last semester of my senior year, I’ve started to reflect on my entire college experience. Being a transfer student, my experience might be somewhat a-typical. Two schools, two orientations, two different cities to explore, and two great groups of friends and tons of awesome professors who have helped shaped my life to what it is today. But the one thing that, when I look back I wish I did more of, was to document this entire experience.
Don’t get me wrong I have just as many Instagram pics of the Pru at sunset, Fenway Park in the summer, or the Common in the Fall as you do – but those aren’t the things you’ll need help remembering. What about the night before that snow day when you and your roommates decided to dance around in your PJ’s to pop hits circa 2002 while baking cookies and drinking hot chocolate until approximately 4am? Or the time the Red Sox won the World Series and you ran down to Kenmore Square to scream and celebrate with the rest of this awesome city? Or that time your club did something super cool like a big performance or created something cool or WHATEVER. The point is, these are the experience that you can only ever have in college – right now where you are.
As we’re getting all caught up in this exam and that class and that project and whatever roommate who you’re fighting with this week, we forget to appreciate this time and this experience.
So basically what I’m getting at is, take more pictures, videos, and even screenshot those hilarious Tweets you may want to look back on someday. 30 years from now you’re not going to want to remember the exam you took on February 12th for the psychology class you needed to graduate, but you’ll probably want to remember how you celebrated after.

Tom: The Power of iCloud Calendars

Hi all!

Hope your semester and winter has been off to a great start (don’t let the snow get you down!). My semester has been off to a racing start following my auditions at the start of this semester, and I’ve already felt the excitement setting in. However, although exciting, a busy schedule can sometimes cause your stress levels to rise.

I’ve been living relatively stress free at the start of this semester by making use of my iCloud Calendar. If you are someone who has a plethora of Mac products, such as a Macbook and an iPhone, I strongly recommend calibrating your iCloud Calendar.

iCloud allows you to link your computer and phone calendars so that you have a consistent calendar on the go. Sitting with your MacBook answering emails and need to add in an appointment for next week? Just pop it in your MacBook iCal and it also pops up instantly on your phone. Want to add an appointment on-the-go? Pop it in your phone calendar and it will show up on your iCal.

I have found this technique of scheduling and managing deadlines key to living this busy semester stressfree. I am happily getting the opportunity to act in three shows in my last semester, which has been overwhelming, but I am so glad to be able to manage it all. Huzzah for technology!