Words of Wisdom: Part Two

4. Manage your time.

You’ve probably heard this one a lot too. Sixteen hours of class a week, getting involved in student organizations, studying, eating, showering, sleeping, and having some type of a social life may seem a bit overwhelming. But you really will have time to accomplish all these things and get involved as long as you manage your time. Get yourself a planner and make deadlines for yourself. What’s awesome about a college class schedule is you might only have a couple of classes a day. Instead of going back to your room to watch TV in between class, head to the study lounge and get some reading done. If you’re going to be too tempted to socialize with your floormates in your dorm, head to the library on weeknights so you can go out with them on the weekends.

5. Manage your money.

 I unfortunately learned this lesson the hard way. There are so many wonderful things going on in Boston from trying out the latest appetizer at Charley’s Saloon on Newbury (my favorite restaurant ever), seeing a movie at the Fenway Theatre (Water for Elephants anyone?), or purchasing the latest design from Coach at the Pru. Unfortunately, none of these things agree with a college student’s bank account. I’m not saying you can’t splurge once in a while. But give yourself a weekly budget and stick with it. It’s how I’ve survived the last two years at school. (Yes, it took me two years to figure this out.) If you end up with extra money at the end of the week, tag it on to next week’s allowance. That way you can still enjoy the wonders of Boston without going bankrupt.

6. Explore the city.

Boston is made up of so many diverse areas from Kenmore Square, to Back Bay, to the South End, to Faneuil Hall, and the North End – each have their own personalities and secret gems. Take time to visit each one and explore everything from the restaurants to the shops to the nightlife and figure out your favorite. 

Words of Wisdom Part 1

After speaking with several nervous and curious prospective students for the past month I've decided to express some words of wisdom to incoming students. I've got nine of 'em but here are the first three. Stay tuned for more to come...

1. Get involved.

You’ve probably heard this a million times, and you’ll probably hear it a million more. There are so many resources and opportunities at your fingertips so make sure you take advantage of them! At BU there are countless academic resources, career experiences, and social organizations waiting for you to get involved in. Don’t sit back. Get out there and get involved. A perfect opportunity to do so is during the first week at school at SPLASH - an event that takes place on Nickerson Field for new students to check out all the clubs and activities BU offers, sign up, and get free stuff!

2. Step out of your comfort zone.

 Transitioning from high school to college can be challenging. Every incoming student is in a new place and is trying to get used to new surroundings – everyone’s feeling a little awkward. But the more outgoing you are, the less awkward you’ll feel. So instead of silently sitting beside the kid that lives on your floor in class, introduce yourself! Before you know it you’ll be bonding over how much you both love Warren.

3. Be open-minded.

Your life in college is going to be significantly different than your life at home and it can take a while to get used to the changes and differences. Rather than complain about your small dorm room look at it as an opportunity to get really close with your roommate since you’re going to be sharing such a close space. Intimidated by that 5-page syllabus? Just think of how great you’ll feel once you complete those papers, tests, and presentations by the end of the semester! College is a journey that is going to be much more enjoyable the more positive you are. 

Bruins, Celtics, and Sox. Oh, my!

At the end of April Bostonians can be seen celebrating the end of harsh New England winters by sporting flip-flops with a Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee in hand. The warm weather is not the only thing to look forward to. The end of April is a sports lover’s dream. Play-off season is underway for the NHL and the NBA and it marks the beginning of the MLB season. And this year the Bruins, Celtics, and Sox are all representing Beantown.

 BU students can find themselves in the middle of the action with Fenway Park practically on campus and the TD Garden, where the Bruins and Celtics call home, just a T ride away. Whether trying to get last minute tickets or just watching the game at a local bar or restaurant, cheering for local teams is a perfect way to get integrated with the Boston community and get a sense what being a Boston sports fan is really about.  

Cheering for the Bruins and the Sox has kept me busy the past few weeks. Although every Red Sox home game since May of 2003 has been sold out, sniping tickets is actually doable.  Last week I had the opportunity to attend a Sox game with my roommates at the last minute. We literally ran down Comm. Ave. to get the tickets from a couple that didn’t want to brave the cold weather on a chilly Friday evening. And sites such as StubHub, TicketZoom, and BargainSeatsOnline offer discounted tickets. Tickets tend to be cheaper in April and the beginning of May when it is still in the beginning of the season. In the past BU has even released standing-room-only tickets to students at the end of the semester. Attending a Sox game is the perfect way to get a sense of the pride and passion Bostonians have for their city.

Even if you aren’t able to snag tickets, local bars and restaurants are a great place to watch games and get into the action. This past weekend Barstool Sports Boston hosted a pub-crawl event before the Bruins beat the Canadians in double overtime. During game time bars and restaurants are crowded with fans that are grabbing a bite while they cheer for Boston and run out any opposing team fans that seem to think they can get away with loitering on home turf.

The end of April is exciting for any sports fan whether you’re into hockey, basketball, or baseball. Becoming part of this hometown loyalty will definitely make you feel connected to the Boston community. After all, there are no fans like Boston fans.

Marathon Monday

This past Monday students across the city of Boston celebrated what can be argued as the best holiday ever. Marathon Monday.

Marathon Monday falls on the third Monday in April each year, also known as Patriots’ Day (a state holiday in Massachusetts). The event began in 1897 and is the world’s oldest annual marathon. Each year over 26,000 runners participate in the 26.2-mile hilly race from Hopkinton, MA to Copley Square in Boston, while over 500,000 spectators line the sides of the course to cheer and encourage the runners. To add to tradition, the Boston Red Sox play a home game at 11a.m. on Marathon Monday each year.

Between the thousands of runners trekking through the streets of Boston, the passionate spectators, and the rowdy crowds from Fenway, Boston is bustling with excitement all day long during this historic holiday. Because of this, local businesses and universities in Boston are closed so that employees and students can enjoy the festivities.

Between the (usually) warm weather, a three-day weekend, and the end of the academic year in sight, there’s no holding back when it comes time to celebrating on campus. Rather than waste the day sleeping in, my friends and I wake up early, like excited kids on Christmas morning, to enjoy a hearty breakfast of pancakes and eggs before traveling to South Campus or Kenmore Square to support individuals running for a cause (we usually don’t make it to see the elite runners break records). Many of the runners have their names on their shirts - one of my favorite parts about the Marathon is personally encouraging people to keep running. Since turning 21, we’ve spent less time watching the actual race and have spent more time visiting local bars that are open by 10a.m. The day usually catches up with us by 4p.m. and we’re ready for an afternoon Marathon Monday nap, much like the popular Thanksgiving Day nap. We’re awake by 7p.m. disoriented and confused as to how this wondrous day went by so quickly and already looking forward to the following third Monday in April.

While other universities celebrate the end of the semester with a “Spring Weekend” BU students look forward to partaking in an elite, historical event each April to mark the beginning of spring and the end of the semester. Although my days of celebrating this great holiday as a student are officially over, regardless of where I am next year I will be up bright and early the third Monday in April excited to celebrate Christmas day. 

Home Sweet Home

After months of applying to several colleges, weeks of waiting for acceptance letters, and hours of debating about which university to attend, thousands of prospective students have made that difficult decision in deciding where to spend the next four years of their lives.

So future BU Terriers you thought the hard part was over, right?  Well this past weekend I interacted with many prospective students who all had the same dilemma – Where should I live on campus? Fear not. BU offers a diversity of housing options to fit the personality and needs of its students. Here’s my advice on choosing the right housing option for you.

West Campus – Claflin, Sleeper, and Rich Hall

- Thirteen-story buildings, large dormitory-style

- Majority of rooms are doubles

- Singles and triples available

- Community style bathrooms

- Coed floors (separated by sides)

- Dining hall located on the first floor of Claflin and Sleeper

Because I lived here my freshman year, I’m a bit partial. West is the best. Because it is a large dormitory it’s a great place for incoming students to meet a lot people and socialize. Students enrolled in the College of General Studies, the College of Fine Arts, and the School of Hospitality often choose to live here because it is so close to their classes. However, West is integrated with students who are part of every school and college. Some of the rooms in Claflin, Sleeper, and Rich overlook Nickerson Field. There are also several grassy areas outside of the buildings making the area feel like a traditional college campus. For outgoing students who love to socialize, eat great food, and enjoy spending time outside during nice weather – West Campus is the home for you.

Warren Towers – 700 Commonwealth Avenue

- Three 18-story towers

- Majority of the rooms are doubles

- Singles and quads available

- Community style bathrooms

- Coed floors (separated by sides)

- Dining hall located inside the building

This is the most popular housing choice for BU freshmen. Like West Campus, it is a large dormitory with community bathrooms and co-ed floors. Students who wish to immediately immerse themselves into an urban lifestyle choose to live in Warren Towers because it is located on Commonwealth Avenue, which is the heart of our busy, urban campus. Some of the rooms in the Fairfield Tower (A Tower) have a view inside of Fenway Park!

Whether you’d like a traditional campus or want to dive right into city life, I would recommend either of these residences to incoming students. Although at least 10% of freshmen live across campus, a majority of incoming students live in West Campus or Warren because students have the opportunity to get to know their classmates in a friendly and welcoming environment. A Resident Assistant lives on each floor of both these dorms and is there to offer guidance and advice when needed and also plans monthly floor events so students have the opportunity to socialize and get to know the people who live on their floor.

Although the Bay State Brownstones are really pretty and it would be really nice to have a bigger room like the ones offered in the 1019 suites, I think it’s important to experience the typical college community living situation in a dorm. If you ask any current student, I’m sure a majority of them will say that most of their friends were their floor mates freshmen year.

And if you’re lucky, junior and senior year you’ll have the opportunity to live with friends you met freshmen year and will have a view like this.     

For more information about other BU Housing options visit the housing website at www.bu.edu/housing

And remember, the sooner you get your housing request in the better your chances of getting your first housing choice! 

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

BU is a big place. This probably isn’t news to anyone. With 18,000 undergraduates BU is the fourth-largest private university in the country. This can be an overwhelming and a scary concept to incoming students – take it from someone who joined the class of 2011 from a high school class of 196. However, if you ask current students many will agree BU gets small pretty fast and it’s easy to find your niche by getting involved in student organizations and campus activities that interest you, which can help shape your BU identity.

Certain individuals have made themselves known to the entire BU community just by being themselves and sharing their passions with the rest of the student body.  Whether they’re students, faculty members, or alumni, bringing up these individuals’ names are sure to result in entertaining dining hall conversation.

Learn more about some of these BU community standouts - 

DEAN ELMORE

Dean of Students Kenn Elmore is by far the coolest dean you’ll ever meet. Dean Elmore is passionate about getting students involved on campus and making BU feel like a second home. He takes the time to develop relationships with students by attending a variety of BU sponsored events. He uses social media such as Twitter - @DeanElmore, his blog - http://www.bu.edu/dos, and even appears in promotional videos to engage with members of the BU community. He’s always open for discussion with students - especially each Friday at weekly Coffee and Conversation in the Howard Thurman Center where students are invited to discuss current issues with him. Once on campus make sure to say hi to the King of Student Life at BU. 

THE HOT DOG AND JESUS 

Sadly, these two Dog Pound members graduated in 2010 but their legacy lives on. Brian Fadem and Ross Lichtenberg showed their BU pride by attending a variety of athletic events from men’s hockey to women’s lacrosse games during their four years in Boston. What’s unique about these two Terriers is that they attended each event dressed as a hot dog and Jesus to show Terrier pride and create a sense of enthusiasm in the student section. Hot Dog and Jesus inadvertently created a following and encouraged other students to share their BU pride in creative and unique ways. Section 118 at Agganis Arena is filled with students sporting anything from masks to capes thanks to the leadership of a yummy snack and one of the world’s most influential figures. 

THE COMM. AVE. RUNNER 

Although not officially affiliated with BU, this feisty warrior is known by all students who travel across Comm Ave. on a daily basis. Through rain, sleet, and sometimes snow, this mysterious man can be seen trekking across Commonwealth Avenue wearing arm and leg weights, a do-rag, a wife beater, and shorts at anytime of day. It is the mystery of this guy that makes him so well known. Why and what is he running for? Students have many theories and speculations about this mysterious figure that can be viewed in the video below.

Like these stand outs, the BU community is made up of diverse figures from sports lovers to theater enthusiasts. And although BU is a big place, there are plenty of characters that stand out from the crowd. Each day these individuals are sharing their interests and passions across campus in unique ways.

How will you shape and share your BU identity?