Comm Ave Fair 2011

September 3, 2011 at 10:39 AM

The second annual Comm Ave Fair is happening in two days! This BU tradition in-the-making brings together all the schools and colleges as well as departments like the Educational Resource Center in a festive environment where each office can showcase its programs and students can see how rich the BU community really is….Class of 2015, this is the SPLASH of academic resources on campus.

If you didn’t get a chance to take a close look at all the resources Orientation pointed out, the Comm Ave Fair steps will remind you about everything that BU offers to support their students.

This year, for the ERC’s table, we want to hear from YOU. The ERC wants the BU community, the 2015 terriers especially, to get involved with helping to educate us and their fellow classmates. Throughout the upcoming days, we’ll be tweeting our questions to you- about study skills and tips, what you’re looking forward to about the upcoming school year, anything and everything! Reply to us with your answers and there’s a chance you could win an ERC t-shirt to rep your pride wherever you are. Any superb answers? There’s a chance you could write for our blog to really get the opportunity to share your viewpoint with classmates (in more than 140 characters!).

We’ll see you Monday from 2-4 at the Comm Ave Fair, Terriers!

By kurban12 | Posted in Takeaways | Comments (0)

August Reflections

August 1, 2011 at 10:47 AM

Today is August 1st. I absolutely cannot believe it. Does anyone else feel like cramming for finals and itching for summer was just yesterday? Right now, as many of you are, I'm a little bit anxious for school to start back up. I'm excited for everything that comes with a new school year- seeing friends who went away for the summer, getting ready for new opportunities, welcoming the class of 2015 into our Terrier family and so much more!

Sometimes I get a little ahead of myself in excitement of all these new things. It's always a hard transition going from a relaxed summer setting to the fast pace of September at BU. With all the events going on, it's really easy to neglect your academics and get wrapped up in all the excitement. Try taking a few deep breaths before you come to school and get your head in the game. Relax for a bit and ask yourself these questions:

1. What kind of student were you in elementary, middle and high school? This might seem like a silly question, but it serves a purpose. Even for rising seniors, there is always time for you to change the type of student you are or get back to your roots.

2. What messages did you get about the importance of school and your academic abilities from your friends, family and teachers?  Surrounding yourself with people who have the same standards of your academia is extremely important, especially with your friends at school. Spending nearly all your time with them, your friends at college truly become your family. You need people that encourage you to study as well as have a social life!

3. Why did you choose to attend college at this time? Why Boston University? It's extremely easy to lose sight of why you chose BU (especially on days you are absolutely 100% convinced it should be a snow day). By taking a moment to really appreciate the reasons why you decided to attend BU, you'll start to feel that love again, no matter the weather.

4. What kind of student are you now? Are you proud of your accomplishments as a student? Are you going to be able to look back when college is over and feel good about your studies as well as your social scene? Would your freshman year of high school self be excited wtih your progress?

5. In addition to "a student", how else would you define yourself? (example- a dance, a runner, a musician, etc...) How do those things impact one another? Academia is a huge part of college, but it's also a time to grown into an adult. You aren't defined completely by your education and the career you establish because of that education. Reflect on the other portions of your life and think about the person you're becoming as a whole.

So take a deep breath, Terriers and enjoy the rest of your summer. Before you know it, it's going to be September 6th and you're thrown into the rush of life at BU. Think about what you want from your fresh start and go out there and do it!

-Kaitlin

By kurban12 | Posted in Takeaways | Comments (0)

The Perfect Dorm Room

July 27, 2011 at 10:42 AM

As much as I like to ignore it, the new school year is quickly approaching (okay, that's a lie- I am obviously counting down the days until BU starts back up, I have clean slates in all my courses and all my friends return for the year!). With that, companies are already advertising "back to school shopping", making you get into panic mode about summer ending too quickly and you aren't prepared for the school year. For those of you in the class of 2015, there's even more stress about making sure you have absolutely everything necessary for college. As always, we at the ERC have tips for you to make sure you have the items you might forget about if it weren't for our years of experience!

 A good alarm clock - Don't always rely on your phone. Those late night text sessions might result in you forgetting to set an alarm and no one wants to be the student that sleeps through an exam.
 Bed risers- Make sure they're not too tall or you won't be able to climb into bed! This really does open a lot of storage space under the bed and in a dorm room, you need all the space you can get.
 Desk organizers/calendar - We're always a proponent of good study skills and organization is key for that. Keeping your desk organized and a clear calendar to keep track of due dates and important events will drastically help your study skills!
White board - Write down daily goals and to-do lists in order to keep yourself motivated and focused on what you wanted to accomplish for the day.
Extension cords and power strips- Be able to plug in wherever and whenever you need to in your room!  You will never appreciate these things as much as you should, but they are definetly a neccessity!
Snacks - Pretty sure you're going to be a little bit broke entering college, so ask Mom and Dad to get you as many goodies as possible while they're still moving you into school. These are great for late night study sessions when you don't want to break your stride.

Don't forget to check your Student Link as well to look at the check-list for incoming students to make sure you have all your affairs settled before coming to BU- you'll be glad you did!

Can't wait to have you all back here with me in the fall!

OA Love,

Kaitlin

By kurban12 | Posted in OA Corner | Comments (3)

A new Trac…

July 15, 2011 at 11:03 AM

Requesting a tutor at the ERC just got easier. As part of our former application process to get a tutor, students were asked to fill out a sheet of paper describing their need for a tutor and general contact information. Students had to fill out their availability on a grid, often with colored pens and pencils we supplied at the front desk. I often made beautiful, color-coded examples to show students what we expected them to turn in. But paper forms are now a thing of the past.

Enter TutorTrac, our brand new online system. It's actually incredibly convenient and there are so many improvements to the way tutoring at the ERC is going to happen. In my opinion, the coolest part is our new "weekly" vs. "single" appointments. Weekly is based on what we previously had; you are able to sign up online for a group session with the same tutor for a class for a set time every week of the semester. It's great for forming a relationship with your tutor so you can jump in where you left off previously and tutors can really get to know your learning strengths, which means you can get the most out of your session.

On the other hand, sometimes you might be doing great in a class and there's this one topic you can't wrap your brain around. In that case, you'd use a "single" appointment which is a one time, one hour meeting with a tutor. This is great for understanding single concepts or if your schedule is too busy to make a weekly commitment. Basically, the ERC now offers the best of both worlds.

After countless surveys and taking your opinion into consideration, our wonderful ERC professional staff (specifically Mike, our Academic Support Specialist, and Michele, our Peer Tutoring Coordinator) worked so incredibly hard to make this happen. While I'll miss creating beautiful faux schedules, TutorTrac is phenomenal! I can't wait for the entire BU community to experience it in the fall, but for anyone taking summer classes, it's up and running now! Check it out here.

OA Love,

Kaitlin

By kurban12 | Posted in Takeaways | Comments (1)

Office Hours Organization

July 1, 2011 at 11:06 AM

Office Hours Prep Sheet

Professors' and teaching assistants' office hours can be some of the most useful meetings in your college career. Going into them, however, can be a little bit intimidating. To help prepare yourself for the one on one meeting, come in with questions and exact issue areas for what you need help understanding. This will help you utilize both your time and your teacher's time. Check out this handy takeaway to have your thoughts organized for an office hours' meeting!

By clalama | Posted in Takeaways | Comments (2)

Summer Check List

July 1, 2011 at 10:11 AM

As a rising senior, I've been noticing this new problem in my life- I've been thinking about the future a LOT. I will be out with my friends, casually eating some Mixx when I realize my college career is nearly done (stop, I know there's a year left, that doesn't mean I'm frightened beyond belief). It seems strange that while my summer at the ERC has been revolving around the incoming class of 2015 and the beginning of college, I'm actually about to start the last of my four years here. I spend my days talking to incoming students and their parents about how to make the most of their time here, constantly saying "be proactive!" Therefore, I give you another one of my lists that I love so dearly about how to use your summer time wisely and avoid that stressed, panicked feeling!

1. Set up your BU Google Mail account - starting in the Fall, all of Boston University will be using this new system. It's going to be amazing to have everyone synchronized not only on a new mailing system, but on all of Google and their resources (aka I'm excited for the day when we leave the world of Facebook behind and starting Google+ -ing every day!) Speaking of Google's different apps..

2. Set up your gCal, iCal or planner - I am a firm believer in organization as a means of getting things done. There are lots of different organizational methods; I prefer having my digital ones synced, but always have my hard copy on me. BY putting certain important dates in your calendars before the school year starts, it's a great way to have a head start and feel good about coming back to school with a plan.

3. Update your LinkedIn - First of all, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt that everyone is on LinkedIn because it is quickly becoming a necessity in the job market. If not, sign up immediately and start networking! It will give you the sense of being proactive about your future career prospects

4. Visit the CCD - The Center for Career Development, at 19 Deerfield Street in Kenmore Square, offers a plethora of resources to help you land a job or an internship. While many of us already have summer employment, it's great to look ahead to fall internships. It's also great to sit down and have a practice interview where you get to walk away with a handy DVD of yourself, learning from your mistakes and the nervous habits you might do while in an interview. Sharpen your resume and get yourself hired!

5. Relax - So this might be my mom's advice more than my own, as she's always telling me to slow down and smell the roses. Summertime, as busy as it may be for a college student, is still less hectic than having to balance the school year and everything that comes along with it. Enjoy Boston's weather while we still have it because even though it might be raining on occasion, it's still better than the snow we'll inevitably get this winter.

Keep on truckin' terrier fam
OA Love

Kaitlin

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Happy #SMDay!

June 30, 2011 at 10:26 AM

So I get that a lot of you out there might think the title of this blog is strange. To translate, I'm wishing you a "Happy Social Media Day!" and if you're at BU right now, "Happy #SMDayBos" to be specific.

I think that, as a culture, social media is helping to improve us. I get that it can be argued that our brains are turning to mush with the constant staring at computer screens and that our generation is becoming self-obsessed, constantly updating the world on what we're doing and where we are- but the benefits of social media completely outweigh any of these possible negatives. As an Educational Resource Center, it's imperative we embrace this emerging technology because it is one of the major ways students, and the public in general, are informed and it is only seeming to grow greater as time goes on.

The world is finally giving social media the respect it deserves. I remember when I first started at the ERC a year and a half ago, I was shocked that there was no social media presence in the office. As time has gone by, we've adapted it and evolved greatly. Boston University makes me incredibly proud to be a student here with the way social media has been embraced on campus. BU's Community Service Center used a common hashtag for their Alternative Spring Break 2011 this year so students at home or on other service trips could follow along with their adventures. Dean Elmore, our ever present Dean of Students, interacts with students and other administrators, even asking students for music selections. BU Athletics keeps me in the loop about men's hockey and the numerous other sports BU has to offer (yes, there are others- I, myself, am a huge BU basketball fan. Welcome Coach Jones!). For college students on such a large campus, social media is a way to stay connected and allow the large campus to feel smaller and homier. BU has implemented SCVNGR hunts, Foursquare tips (for us Blackberry loyals) and countless other incentives for students to get involved via social media.

BU incoming students are welcomed into the community at orientation where they register for classes, get to know the campus and their fellow classmates and begin to acclimate to the Boston University lifestyle. In addition, they are encouraged to use social media throughout orientation with SCVNGR hunts and talks focusing on the presence of social media. Orientation and social media are joining hands, just as the university has already done. Hey, if the Pope is now tweeting, everyone should be embracing social media, right?

If you want to learn more about social media in general and at BU, I'd reccomend checking out these sites for more information:

Social Media at BU - Read this blog to stay up to date with different social media events, tips on how to utilize BU branding in social media and in general SM knowledge.

Dean Elmore's Blog - Dean Elmore interacts with his students in many different ways, but my favorite is definetly his blog. Through his many book and music reccomendations, Dean Elmore shows his personality as well as his dedication to his students.

EmmaTangerine - Emma Tangeron, a rising sophomore in the College of Communication and the Program Assistant for Digital Media in the Dean of Students Office (that's a mouthful!), is a social media queen at BU. I link to her recent blog article about defending BU's rightful spot on USA Today College's top 20 social media colleges list. Read her insights to stay in touch with the student perspective!

Mashable - Mashable is a blog all about the world of social media. I link to the SM day page so you can read about the meet-ups in your location to start a conversation about social media!

So as I leave you to go blog, tweet, check-in and creep around Google+, remember the wise hashtags of Orpheo Speer, Assistant Director of the Community Service Center, #happysmday #notarhiannaref !

OA/SM love!
Kaitlin

By kurban12 | Posted in OA Corner | Tagged | Comments (1)

It’s Summer but we’re still Students

June 21, 2011 at 10:29 AM

Not to toot my own horn, but I'm a pro at summers. Back in the day, I could lay by the pool or play Frisbee at the beach with the best of them. I grew up near the water and lived the epitome of summer every summer. Transitioning to summer at BU was a bit of a struggle for me last year. I was confused about what to do here. Sure, I worked my 8:30-5 at the lovely ERC Front Desk, but what was summer without water and tanning and laziness?  I thought the campus was dead with most of the 18,000 undergrad population heading home.

 Over the next few weeks, I'd like to share some of the amazing things going on now at BU that I've had the pleasure to learn about and bring me back the same relaxed and engaged feeling I used to have with summer. Whether you're an incoming freshman getting to go through the experience of orientation (I'm jealous of the 4 years you have ahead of you, 2015) or a rising senior like me, there's something for everyone here from late May - August.

First, I would like to share what I've learned about summer classes at BU. Classes are either broken down into a Summer1 session, a Summer 2 session or a plain and simple Summer session. Sessions 1 and 2 are each 6 week courses while the rest run for the entire 12 week program. Classes meet for a minimum of 2 times a week, 3.5 hours every time. Here are some tips about summer courses:
   Take something that genuinely interests you - use this time to take a class that you might not be able to fit into your courseload otherwise.  For me, taking classes that keep me engaged and interested help remind me why I'm at BU in the first place- to get an education in something I genuinely care about.
    Look at the syllabus carefully and write down all deadlines - sure, 6 weeks sounds like a long time now, but in reality, it's going to fly by. Keep an eye on due dates and assignments so you're not surprised when the course is wrapping up and you've barely started!
   Do all of the reading and be prepared for class- this sounds like a no-brainer and something you should do year round, but it's extra important during summer courses. Your class sizes are going to be much smaller during the summertime and it's going to be a lot more noticeable if you slip up and forget one day.
   Bond with your professor - take advantage of the smaller class sizes and use this as an opportunity to get to know your professor on a better level. Who knows- maybe you'll bond over your love of British literature and then you've secured yourself a job reccomendation!

 Good luck with classes this summer Terriers! Stay tuned for more advice about summer at BU!
OA love,
 Kaitlin

By kurban12 | Posted in OA Corner | Tagged | Comments (0)

Welcome 2015

June 9, 2011 at 9:57 AM

While many Terriers are at home working on internships, summer jobs or their tans, the campus is ready to come back to life today. You guessed it- Summer Session 1 of Orientation begins today! We so excited!

For all of us, the Class of 2015 means something different. The class of 2014 now knows their way around BU and will feel cool being able to point out where exactly the Howard Thurman Center is or be able to explain the difference between the salad themes at Loose Leafs (not Leaves, don't worry, I just noticed the grammar fail for the first time in 3 years at BU). For my class, 2012, it's the beginning of the culture shock of Senior year (honestly, 2015?! I feel like a nana). For 2015, however, it's the beginning of this amazing college experience- don't mind me, this posts will get more and more nostalgic as the year goes on- and it begins with a bang. Welcome to #otation11.

Now, as a rising senior (we should keep a tally of how many times I'll say that in this post), I'd like to offer 2015 some wisdom about how to survive orientation at BU.

  1. Bring a fan- My orientation session hit the 90's and, being a local girl, I had the common sense to bring a fan with me to orientation. Come midnight in Rich Hall, I was the most popular girl on the floor and everyone wanted to hang out in my room.
  2. Read about your classes beforehand- Registration can be a little tricky to handle the first time around. While you most likely will be taking 100 levels and it may be harder to get the exact classes you want as a freshman, it feels better going into the process.
  3. Use your SA's- Your orientation leaders the SA's (the Student Advisers for the 2015ers who aren't used to BU's affinity for acronyms yet) are all amazing members of the BU community. They're just as excited about orientation as you are so participate with them and ask them anything and everything. Shameless plug- COM students in Group 31, you have the BEST SA an incoming freshman could ask for- our very own OA Corner superstar, Mike! I already miss my partner in crime.
  4. Take a picture with Dean Elmore- I have one from my freshman orientation and somehow someone from the DOS Office hunted me down, professionally printed the picture out for me and left it in my West Campus mailbox. SO COOL. Since Dean Elmore is our own celebrity, I'll cherish it forever and plan on getting a matching one at Senior Breakfast (Side note- If you read this Dean Elmore, I apologize for making plans for you).
  5. Keep in touch with your Orientation friends- While you might not meet your best friend at orientation, you will make lasting friends. It's so nice to be able to run into them on Comm Ave and be able to catch up or see how many mutual friends you've made by the end of the school year. At the end of the day, it feels good to say "This is my first BU friend".
  6. Don't worry about your Terrier card picture- Let's be honest. You will lose it. Plus it's funny to see how much you've changed over the years.

So that's all the wisdom I've accumulated in the past 3 years. I hope that you use it wisely. I'll see you all at the orientation presentations and, as always, feel free to stop by the 4th floor of the GSU to learn more about the ERC. I'm here and eager to hear from you Class of 2015.

OA Corner love,
Kaitlin

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Twitter Celebrities

June 9, 2011 at 9:57 AM

Hi there Terriers!

So I just assumed that everyone used Twitter as obsessively as I do. However, the other day in my COM class, there became a heated debate if the 140 character social media platform was going to be a lasting trend. My jaw dropped- most COM students I know have their smart phone attached to their hand and tweet their every thought. How could my peers possibly think that Twitter was not the most amazing thing in the entire world?! I've decided that this might just be because they are naive and have not yet experienced the world of Twitter yet. They're nervous and confused. Personally, I got one back in 2009 to follow Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) and Dean Elmore (@DeanElmore). However, BU has embraced and expanded on the Twitter phenomenon, making all things BU accessible in 140 characters. Here are some of my favorites.

  • Boston University  (@BU_Tweets) - The official Twitter of BU, it's a must follow for all BU students. It provides updates on need to know activities, new events in the BU community and is excellent at retweeting important information from various different users. It's the hub for BU tweeting.
  • BU Dining Services (@BUDiningService)- An excellent way to communicate directly with the amazing Dining Services staff about every college student's favorite thing- food. BU Dining Services allows for an open forum for students to ask questions and actually get answers. Where was the Captain Crunch in Warren this morning?! What is the Loose Leafs theme?! What time is Jamba Juice open until?! Ask away and they will answer.
  • BU Athletics (@BUAthletics) - Keep up to date with all of the Terrier's sports teams. I've learned about everything from track, to basketball, to Quidditch- yes. Seriously. Quidditch. Follow BU Athletics if you want to be in the know about all our hardworking student athletes and their teams!
  • BU Educational Resource Center (@BUERC) - Shameless plug. Follow us! Learn about study tips, our academic workshops, tutoring deadlines and more. I'd like to think it's definitely something worthwhile and will improve your academic awareness at the same time.
  • The GSU (@theGSU) - Yes, everyone/everything at BU tweets- even the buildings. Just kidding- it's our Mavens keeping us in the loop. Not only do they tweet BU on-goings, they interact with the students and offer us amazing student deals- free Red Sox tickets? Cake? Movie discounts? The GSU will soon be one of your favorites as well.

There's an extremely limited list of some of the Twitter actives at BU and just some of my favorites. Chances are any organization you're interested in is going to be on Twitter. Try it-- follow them! It'll start with a few and soon you'll be addicted as I am, if not more so.

OA Loving,

Kaitlin

By kurban12 | Posted in OA Corner | Tagged , | Comments (2)