BU – Page 4 – COM Ambassador Blog

Alexa: The Registration Process

Registration is one of the most magical and yet one of the most terrifying things a student will go through every semester. Here’s why:

1.There are so many classes to choose from.

Should I take Psychology of Sport or should I take Philosophy of Sport? What level of history should I take? Should I take Nutrition or Astrology? BU is a big school so there are so many different classes to choose from, which of course is a blessing but also a little bit of a curse.

2. You can’t go to sleep because you are terrified that you will miss your registration time.

This is more important than waking up at 7 AM on Christmas morning, or your birthday. There are many situations where you can over sleep, apologize and it will all be fine. This is not one of those times. To prepare for registration I like to strategically set 7 alarms on my phone in 10-minute intervals. I figure one HAS to trigger my brain to wake up.

3. You wake up in a state of panic during the middle of the night because you think you overslept and missed your registration time.

This happens about three times the night before registration. I quickly wake up at 3 AM thinking that the journalism class I have sought after and stared at through my computer screen is going to have zero seats left and I’m going to have to explain to my parents why I am a failure.

4. It is your registration time, and the page won’t refresh.

I wish I could accurately explain to you the minute before your registration time. For example, I registered at 11 this year and at 10:55 I was fine. I was cool, calm and collected but then at 10:59 my heartbeat started to accelerate. This is the moment before the race starts, the moment before you figure out if you won’t have class on Fridays, or if you’re going to have to start mentally preparing yourself for an 8 AM. I would most like to refer to this moment as the Hunger Games moment. The moment before the twelve tributes are allowed to step off of their circle and into the realm where only one will be victorious. Do you understand the picture I am trying to draw? Yes? Good. But then, the page is taking to slow to refresh and you think to yourself…oh my goodness I am being sabotaged! Then finally, the page refreshes and you go to your planner and try clicking on the classes you want so fast that your hand is shaking. You click, click, click, click and then press submit. Here it is the moment of truth…

5. You get the classes you wanted.

This is the moment of disbelief. The moment where Taylor Swift stands up on stage staring out at her audience in utter disbelief that they all came to hear her perform. You realize you are registered for 16 credits and that class you thought would fill up before you got a chance had 3 seats left, and you were able to grab one of them. This, my friend, is the state of grace, the perfect moment.

The look on your face when you get the class you want

Disclaimer: While sometimes you aren’t able to get the certain section you wanted, or the certain teacher you wanted, rest assured that you won’t have a problem getting a full schedule. One of the great things about BU is that although they are one of the bigger universities, students aren’t left trying to fill their schedule. Go BU!

Happy thanksgiving!

Dany: Must-Follow Twitter List

Hello everyone! Hope these last few weeks of the semester are going well. Hard to believe we’re almost done with the fall semester. I hope your classes have been going great and you’re adjusting to the COM life flawlessly. In my opinion, the most important part of this lifestyle is being ridiculously fluent in social media. So to help you guys along, I decided to make you a short “Must-Follow” list of BU-related Twitter handles. You should already be following @comugrad, @DeanSaboSays, @COM_Ambassadors, and me of course, @danyvasquez_. So who’s next?

@BU_Tweets

Self-explanatory. Whether you want to brag about how great BU is, get the word out about an event, or just give a shout-out, you definitely want to be following this Twitter. They give updates when things are happening on campus, re-tweet student groups, and even ask you some fun questions every now and then.

@BUDiningService

Probably the most popular BU Twitter. Speaking from a PR student perspective, they are a great example of how to use social media to improve customer service and satisfaction. They are extremely responsive and up-to-date with everything going on. As an example, my friend and I went to Rize Late Night a few weeks back and had a terrible experience. We waited over an hour for fondue and when it finally came, it was basically a layer of oil with a murky chocolate base. We tweeted a picture of it to BU Dining Services and got a response within seconds. They apologized, talked to the manager, and invited us back for dinner on them. So, even if their many constant tweets get annoying sometimes, it’s definitely worth it to follow and interact with them.

@theGSU

Named Activities Info, this Twitter is like the GSU Link. It knows everything about every student event going on throughout campus. Whatever organization you’re involved with, you’ll definitely want to make sure you follow them and they follow you! It’s a great way to spread the word about events or meetings. They re-tweet student groups, give shout-outs, and keep you updated. So no matter what you’re involved with, make sure you follow them so everyone at BU knows it too.

@DeanElmore

Our very own Dean of Students is super active on social media. Whether it’s cheering on our Terriers at a hockey game or Instagramming the first snow of the year, you can bet he’ll be tweeting about it non-stop. He also shares really interesting articles or information about a variety of subjects. Sometimes, he’ll even tweet back at students and join in conversations. A lot of student groups use him to help spread the word about events or even invite him to come!

@BUAthletics

Again, pretty self-explanatory. Whether you’re following hockey, basketball, soccer, baseball, golf, rowing, or any other sport, this Twitter’s got you covered. They’ll tweet about score updates, game times and any changes, shout-outs to exemplary student athletes, and just general BU pride. There’s no better way to keep up with the Terriers.

BU is an extremely social media oriented university. It’s one of the things I love the most about it. This is only a glimpse of all the BU-related Twitters out there. There’s hundreds when you consider all the amazing student groups, and thousands when you consider all the individual students, faculty, and alumni. It’s an incredible network and as a COM student, it’s the best way to hone those skills and always stay up to dated with everything going on. This list skims the surface. It’s up to you now to dive in.

Tiffany: Fusion Practice Makes Perfect

Although midterm season was full of hectic and busy days, the hard work does not stop at the end of midterms. Right as my midterms wrapped up, my dance team, Fusion Hip Hop Dance Troupe, kicked it into high gear to prepare to debut our new set. Each semester, my dance team produces a new set that includes 5 to 6 pieces, which typically takes us nearly the first 2 months of the semester to prepare and to become stage ready.

But despite the craziness and stress that comes along with putting our new set together, it is always so rewarding to finally perform the final product on stage. This week is our final week of preparation before we debut on Friday night and will be full of long nights of rehearsal. I actually, strangely enough, look forward to this ‘hell week’ because it usually brings our team closer together. The endless nights of rehearsal all throughout the week force our team to collectively work together as a team to push each other to our own personal best that allows for us to be the best possible team we can be. Looking back to my freshman year, ‘hell week’ was what truly made me realize that I had joined the right student organization on campus that gave me a sense of family here at BU. At rather large universities like BU, student organizations are the perfect way to make a big ocean seem like a small pond where the water is shallow and safe. Each semester’s Fusion ‘hell week’ takes me back to my freshman year where after much adjustment, I truly felt at home in Boston and at BU.

Wish me luck at Fusion’s first big performance of the semester and more updates about Fusion and other happenings of my final year here at BU soon!

Jon: ‘Round, ‘Round Get Around

Hey all,
I hope everyone’s starting to get excited for the start of the school year! I know I can’t wait to get back on campus and hit up all my favorite haunts, from the SMG Starbucks to the shady lawns of the Esplanade. There are so many places on BU’s campus to hang out, you might wonder why anyone would ever go off campus.
However, Boston is a great city with an awesome night life and plenty of cool spots to check out. So, you might want to venture beyond the BU bookends of Kenmore Square and West Campus once in a while. But how’re you going to go out on your city excursion you wonder? Boston’s a big town!

Not so! One of the amazing bits about Boston is how easy it is to get around. The public transit is great (though if you’re going inbound, walk the block down to Kenmore Square – you’ll find a train much quicker that way), and the city’s small enough that you can walk from campus to the Boston Common in only a half hour or so. However, for those who are really inclined to explore, I can only recommend one mode of transportation. The bicycle.

The bicycle’s roots come from the 1800s, and there are nearly one billion bikes worldwide, which is twice as many as there are cars. This elegant form of transportation is one of the most efficient machines in use today, and is a fun and healthy way to get some exercise. But, even more important, it is a fast and easy way to get off campus when the urge to explore strikes you.

I’ve spent some time biking around Boston this summer, and what amazes me is that a seemingly long trip – like walking to Faneuil Hall – takes almost no time at all when you bike. It normally takes me a half an hour to walk over to Northeastern University, but on my bike, I made the trip in ten minutes flat. Now that’s efficiency.

Boston makes it incredibly easy for you to bike around, with the Hubway rental bike system and comfortable bike lanes on most roads. What’s even better is that BU offers indoor bike parking at several locations, in a swipe-access garage with security cameras monitoring the area, to give you the best security for your bike. A strong U-lock is basically a requirement as well, as the cable locks are just too easy to cut, as I’m sure the BUPD showed you at Orientation.

So, when you’re preparing to come to school, think seriously about bringing your bike or picking one up here. You won’t regret it, and you’ll probably find some friends to bike with too!

See you in the fall (on my bike),

Jon

Kate: Tips for Tackling the Study Abroad Application

Kate Image

This semester, I began the grueling process of applying to a study abroad program. When I was on the college hunt, I realized that studying abroad opportunities was a must where ever I ended up. And I definitely picked the right place for that. BU has programs all over the world doing any types of program you could think of. A girl in my sorority just got back from a Creative Writing Trip to Greece. My other friend spent a semester at sea. My plan: London Internship Program for Fall 2012.

The following are a few tips I have for those beginning the application process and how to make sure you get accepted to the program of your choice!

Plan ahead. There a certain requirements to go on a study abroad program, especially ones that have an internship component (check out those requirements here). Decide early what semester or summer you want to go abroad and plan your schedule accordingly. There are no exceptions for the class or GPA requirements so make sure you’re all set when it comes time to apply.
Get your recommendation letters. Most applications require 1-2 professor recommendations. Contact your recommenders early. It is not okay to expect them to finish it in a day so consider reaching out to them at least a month before the application is due. Don’t be afraid to send them a reminder email if the deadline is closing in but don’t badger them.
Apply early! This may be the most important piece of advice I have to offer you. Applications and decisions are made on a rolling basis a.k.a. the sooner you get it in, the sooner you find out your decision. I had one friend who turned the application in almost two months before it was due and heard back in 12 days (the usually time is about four weeks). Also, many of the popular programs will fill up before the application deadline. Procrastinating your application may lead to a rejection from your program of choice.

Once you’ve been accepted (congrats!), get all your forms and deposit payment in fast! Once you do that, you can select your housing and classes for your upcoming time abroad. It is a very exciting time--remember these tips to make sure you have a semester you will never forget!

Check out the study abroad website for more information on abroad programs and to being your application!

Brittany: The Beanpot

In my last blog, I spoke about my Hockey East internship with NESN. Over the course of the last few months, my big project has been to work on Beanpot feature stories—this year was the 60^th Anniversary of the Beanpot, and I spent hours working on footage of interviews with past and present Beanpot players for the celebration of that anniversary. The culmination of the project came this past Monday when BU met BC in the Beanpot Finals.

For both teams, there was a lot on the line for the game: either BU was going to with its 30^th title overall (half of all 60 Beanpot tournaments ever played!) or BC was going to win its 3^rd straight. As I walked through the Garden on Monday night, I recognized the faces of many Beanpot greats—many faces that I had become very familiar with while logging their interviews. The atmosphere was exciting, and I knew it was going to be a good game.

Being a current BU student and a NESN intern presents an interesting situation—I’m really supposed to be unbiased, but in a crowd of scarlet and gold it gets a little tricky. During the overtime period, I was watching the game on a tiny screen right outside of the BC locker room. Every time something happened, I would make the opposite reaction of the people around me, prompting the NESN producer I was with to say, “Let’s go over to the BU side.” (Good idea.) So for the rest of the overtime period I watched with some of the BU athletic staff in the setting below:

With about 10 seconds left in overtime, BC retained possession of the puck and skated it into BU’s zone. The man standing next to me started saying, “Don’t do anything stupid…don’t do anything stupid—” and then BC sophomore Bill Arnold put it in the back of the net with 6.4 seconds left to give BC the win. Because I was there with NESN and not with BUTV, I had to run back over to the BC side of the locker rooms, where I watched the celebrations, postgame interviews, and trophy presentation from the BC bench. Talk about rubbing salt in an open wound.

The Beanpot taught me an important lesson on being a sportscaster in a situation where I might be biased. Journalism needs to be impartial, but I can’t imagine myself wanting to work anywhere besides in Boston. If everything eventually works out and I end up back in the Bean as a professional journalist, I will have had this time to practice my internal cheering and external neutrality. But for now—GO BU!

Julianna: A BU Style Guide for any Occasion

What to wear to your first day of classes as a college student:

It’s like the first day of pre-k all over again, minus the Power Rangers backpack. You’re a whole lot of nervous, but also really determined to have the best day EVER. Hold on a sec, and put down that curling iron and brand new fall cardigan. No need to glam yourself up on the most important day in September. Why? Because Boston is as hot as the Sahara Desert. I hate to be the bearer of bad news ladies, but you won’t be breaking out that new fall wardrobe until the middle of October, the earliest. So if you want to appear all calm, cool, and collected on your first day of school, then dress the part (emphasis on the cool). Wear a pleated chiffon maxi skirt with a tucked-in loose cotton tank. Belt it at the waist and strap on a pair of leather gladiator sandals. If a floor-grazing skirt is not your thing, then wear a white tunic button-down in a light-weight fabric over a printed sundress. A pair of classic Sperry Top-Siders is perfect for this look. For the guys, you know that you actually care about how you look today. I mean, come on it’s the first day! So remember to shave and put on a pair of chino shorts with a v-neck tee. Your shoe of choice this semester will also be the Sperry Top-Sider.

What to wear to a normal day of classes:

So it’s past the middle of the semester. You are now a certified pro at this thing called “college life,” and your new best friend is the Venti coffee. Get dressed, wash up, and be in lecture in T-minus 10 minutes? Psssh. No problem. Here’s how to roll out of bed and look decent on a time crunch. Comb that wild Ke$ha bed-hair and slip on an embellished headband. If all else fails, hide your rats nest under a knit beanie. You have no time to fidget with pesky buttons, so throw on a boatneck jersey top, skinny jeans, and velour loafers. Stay warm and get some insta-glamour with a black faux fur vest fur. Guys, layer a half-zip sweater over a thermal top with jeans and a pair of Converse. Oh yeah, don’t forget to get that morning gunk out of your eyes. Ew.

What to wear to your part-time job/internship:

Time to network and make that résumé golden, so dress to impress! A navy or black blazer is your business wear must-have. Wear it over a stretchy wool dress, and cinch it at the waist with a thin bright-colored belt. Try a suede pump or a ballet flat. Why not try a fashion risk by color-blocking an outfit? Skip the boring black trouser, and get a pair in mustard color with a skinny cropped leg. Wear a royal blue button-down shirt , nude flats, and a statement necklace. Boys, style that classic oxford shirt and black trouser with a gingham print tie. The next day reverse the look: wear a gingham print button-down with a solid-colored tie.

What to wear while out and about in Boston:

Whether you’re hitting up the Pru or exploring the South End, dress with comfort (and style) in mind. Boston has some bi-polar temps, so everyone should master the art of LAYERING. Girls, try a bright long-sleeved top under a faded chambray shirt. Wear ultra skinny black jeans or an a-line skirt with opaque tights. Try an olive green utility jacket, a chunky scarf, and a cross-body bag. Invest in a pair of black combat boots, such as Dr. Martens. I basically live in my combat boots, and I’ve learned that they go with almost anything. Guys, why don’t you get yourself a chambray too? Yay, chambray shirts for everyone! Get it unisex clothing! Charcoal colored chinos rolled at the ankles, canvas sneakers, and a neutral-colored utility jacket completes your look.

What to wear to Sunday brunch:

Respect the Sunday brunch. It will instantly become your favorite meal of the week. Whether you and your crew keep it economical by choosing to go to the dining hall or pretend that your lives are The Hills and go to some mildly “classy,” yuppie-filled cafe, just know that it’s totally okay to bum it out. So ladies and gents, bust out your beloved flannel button-down, 1,000 times worn-in jeans, and the band tee that makes all your friends super jealous. Girlitas, throw on something knit, such as a cute ear-warmer or circle scarf. Just don’t get too comfy in your brunch attire by staying in your fuzzy slipppers. Lace up those beat-up Chucks, and go off and nom on some bacon!

Kate: We Made Our Mark

Every January, about a week before classes start, the campus fills with girls—thousands of them—all getting ready for sorority recruitment. Whether a sorority woman or a potential new member, everyone has a certain excitement and anxiousness that can only be found during recruitment.

This year, over 600 PNMs came out to the Marriot Hotel in Copley to “Make Their Mark” on Greek Life. Only five days later, the same 600+ girls received their bids and excitedly joined their new sisters!

I’ll be honest, Greek Life is not huge at BU, definitely nothing like the “Go Greek or Go Home” schools I grew up around in the Midwest. But we are a growing community and each year, more and more freshmen and sophomore women are joining the nine chapters we currently have on campus. I went through recruitment as a freshman and it was a stressful, exciting, tiring, thrilling, and completely worth it week of small talk, pictures, cheering, and lots and lots of girls. But without it, I wouldn’t have met some of my best friends on campus and future bridesmaids… yes, I went there with that cliché…but its true.

And in addition to the sisters, one thing about BU Greek Life that I really love is the support. We attend each other’s philanthropy events, help when our community is in need, and encourage each other through everything. Last year, the nine sororities worked together during Sigma Chi Derby Days, a weeklong philanthropy event to benefit cancer research, and raised almost $30,000! And when a house that members of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity live in caught on fire this semester, the entire community bought supplies and food to get them back on their feet. That service and support will always make me proud to be a member of the Greek community.

Greek Life at BU is one of those things that you get out what you put into it. If you want to get really involved, that opportunity is absolutely available to you. And if you want it to be one of the many different things you do on campus that's fine too. But it has provided me an incredible support system over the past year and given me some of the best experiences I’ve had at BU!

For more information about Greek Life, check out www.bu.edu/greeklife or @BUGreeks on Twitter!

Anna: It’s not too early to think about summer!

Anna Hey everyone! I hope you all had an awesome winter break.

I can’t believe it’s January and I’m already getting started on my last semester at BU. Really though, every time I look at a calendar and see that it’s 2012, I get a little confused. Time really does fly by!

I recently decided to finish up my time at BU by going back to work at a place that has had a huge impact on me throughout the past four years. I’m talking of course about Boston University Orientation! I first started working there as a Program Advisor the summer after my freshman year and had an absolutely amazing time. Since then, I’ve worked in the office as an academic year Program Advisor and now I’m back as a Coordinator of Programs.

Not only have I met a ton of cool people through Orientation, but I’ve also learned a lot more about BU and what it has to offer… all while getting paid. (For everyone dreading finding an unpaid internship this summer, listen up!)

Each spring, Orientation and the Community Service Center (CSC) hire Program Advisors, Student Advisors, Community Advisors, FYSOP Coordinators, and CSC Program Assistants to work all summer long. As a Program Advisor in the summer of 2009, my main responsibilities were to help the parents of incoming freshman and transfer students learn about BU’s academic and social programs and also to introduce them to the city the Boston.

Whether you want to help parents (like I did) or you want to welcome new students to BU through Orientation or FYSOP, there is an opportunity for you at Orientation or the CSC. Check out our website bu.edu/orientation for more info on specific jobs!

Now, I know you may be thinking, ‘Shouldn’t I be getting COM related internship this summer?’ Sure, you totally can. I’ve had three great journalism internships since being in college, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything, but I will tell you that working for Orientation was an equally rewarding experience. I gained incredibly valuable communication and public speaking skills, networked with BU administrators and parents, and developed as a leader.

Also, working for Orientation or the CSC is just simply fun. You get to hang out with people from all over campus that you may have never otherwise met, and you get to stay in Boston for the summer (for free…housing is paid for)!

We are now currently accepting applications for Summer 2012 Leadership positions, so again totally check out bu.edu/orientation or bu.edu/csc for more information about some of the best summer jobs on campus. The application deadline is on Wednesday January 25^th, though, so if you’re interested, get going!

Brittany: COM-portunities

The last time you heard from me, I was interning at Chronicle on Boston’s WCVB Channel 5. I told you all what a great experience it was for me, but the best had yet to come. By the end of the summer, my hard work earned me the opportunity to be an associate producer for a segment of a show! I came up with my own story idea, organized, planned, made contacts, filled out paperwork, and accompanied the crew on the day of the shoot—all the responsibilities of a real (read: salaried) producer. The episode aired a few days after I left for school, and it was the best way I could have ended my time at the station.

After Chronicle, I started working for New England Sports Network (NESN) in the fall. I’m a Boston Bruins/Hockey East Studio Production intern—a position I’m convinced is the best job in Boston. When the Bruins are home, I ride along to the Garden, where I do one of many things—learn how to run tech equipment from the truck, stage manage the pre-, post-, and intermission reports from the in-house studio, or stage manage the color and play-by-play commentators from their booth. After the game, I usually run tapes of post-game interviews from the locker room to feed them back to the office. There’s a lot of running around the Garden, but there’s no place I’d rather be on game day.

Recently I’ve been doing a lot of work for Hockey East. I was the time out coordinator for the Frozen Fenway games (check out the picture that Dean Sabovik took off of the TV that day!), and I’ve put in countless hours working on Beanpot features in preparation for the tournament in February. My internship at NESN is so multifaceted, I never know what to expect as I walk in in the morning. COM has given me the preparation to handle whatever is expected of me at any given time, and complete the task at a professional level.

Last semester, I applied and got into a class going abroad to London this summer to cover the Olympics with COM. Come next year I will have graduated, and I’m so thankful that I will be able to cap out my three years at BU with such an amazing work experience. You can read more about it here: http://www.bu.edu/com/2011/12/13/students-tapped-to-cover-olympics-in-london/.

The point of my post is this—everything that I talked about truly is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Through COM, I’ve had opportunities and experiences that many college students can only dream of. I’m happy to answer any questions about internships that you might have, and I look forward to sharing my contacts with the next batch of COM students!