Eagle's Eye View...a Boston College Student Blog on Liberal Arts

Newton Prom

2011-04-30T18:08:00.003-04:00

If you think that senior prom will be your last prom ever, then think again. If you are lucky enough to live on Newton Campus once you come to BC, then Newton Prom will surely be one of the most highly anticipated events of your freshman year. This year's newton prom is tonight, and all of the students on Newton Campus are dressing in their finest clothes and are ready to dance the night away. If you happen to live on Upper Campus next year and you want to go to Newton Prom, then you must ask a student on Newton Campus to invite you as it is a closed campus event. As one of the most highly anticipated events of the year, Newton Prom is always sure to be a great time for all students on Newton Campus.

Easter Tease

2011-04-26T11:15:00.003-04:00

Hello all!

It's been a while since I've posted but I figure now it's a good time with Easter vacation over and done with and finals getting so close. In total, we had 5 days of Easter break, not counting the "unofficial" first day, Wednesday. In general, everyone seemed to enjoy their time off from their busy schedules here in BC and caught up on their much needed sleep. I've heard, however, that many people felt this short break was a tease, a sweet sign of what is soon to come but very far away. Before our official summer vacation begins, we have 2 more weeks of classes and plenty of work and studying to get done since finals are almost here! Some people felt that Easter break will make it that much harder to get past these 2 weeks. I have to disagree. I had a wonderful time at a friend's house and simply escaping my hectic schedule "renewed" me as a person. I am now ready to begin the long process of preparing for finals. If you're ever in doubt of what to do during Easter break, just make sure you get plenty of sleep and relax. This will boost your spirits for the upcoming exams. Oh, but don't procrastinate! Manage your time wisely and do get some work done over break...even if it's a little bit of reading or completing a major paper. This will ease your transition into study days.

Well, that's all I have for now.

-Brenda

Spirit Week(end)!

2011-04-13T14:16:00.003-04:00

With several of Boston College's most highly anticipated events occurring this weekend, many students here have began dubbing this upcoming weekend Boston College's Spirit Weekend. Several of these highly touted events include the annual spring concert, BC's spring football game, Battle of the DJ's, the Black Student Forum's annual Black Family Weekend, and most notably, Marathon Monday and The Boston Marathon.

This three-day weekend is jam packed with great entertainment, an excellent showcase of student talent at Boston College, and of course, lots of fun. From watching spring concert acts J. Cole and Wale on Friday night to cheering on fellow students and athletes from around the world on Monday morning, Boston College's Spirit Weekend will provide countless events to suit everyone's desires.

Undefeated

2011-04-11T11:05:00.003-04:00

If some of you reading this are females, can swim, and are interested in water polo, BC is the place for you. Boston College's Women's Club Water Polo team just went undefeated this weekend at BU. We played 4 games over two days and boy was it fun.

Club sports are a lot different than the varsity sports on campus. Yes, we get very limited funding, but we are given a greater flexibility with practice times, tournaments, attendance, and there's just a different sense of camaraderie on the team. Maybe I feel that way because I'm on the swim team here and that is more of an individual sport and water polo is most definitely a team sport. But regardless, I'm so happy that I have been able to participate on this club sport team because for the short months that I have been on the team, I have had the best time here.

So ladies, if you fit the criteria, definitely consider joining BCWWP (Boston College Women's Water Polo)!

Chrissy

Social justice. What does it mean to you?

2011-04-06T10:42:00.005-04:00

As an incoming freshman, I can’t say that I’d given it much thought. Social justice just wasn’t a phrase that got tossed around at my high school very often.

But social justice is a big part of Boston College, and of the school’s Jesuit mission. You can’t leave freshman orientation without having at least some idea as to what it means.

And once you arrive on campus in the fall, there are an overwhelming number of opportunities to further develop your understanding of social justice. It is discussed in an academic setting in courses such as Courage to Know and PULSE. It is the undertaking of service organizations such as the Pedro Arrupe Program, the Appalachia Volunteers, and the Eagle Volunteer Corps. Even walking through the quad on an ordinary day, you are bombarded by students and signs calling for social justice in Boston, and Japan, and El Salvador, and Haiti, and Palestine…

I have come to understand this phrase largely through my involvement in 4Boston, a service organization on campus, through which I serve as a tutor and mentor at an afterschool program for underprivileged kids. Although I am far from having developed a complete understanding of social justice, I have come to understand that it has to do with equal opportunities for everyone for health, happiness, and prosperity. And as a tutor, I am working alongside my friends and fellow students to help create these opportunities for the kids we serve.

I don’t believe that there are many schools that share Boston College’s enthusiasm for social justice, or that push its students as far outside of their comfort zone so that they may better empathize with the poor, the suffering, and the forgotten. And while most of us don’t go into our college search looking for these things, perhaps we should.

--Rosie

Class Selection

2011-04-02T17:30:00.003-04:00

Class selection is coming up in a couple of weeks, and most undergrads here at BC are preparing to choose the classes that they will be taking next semester. There are several things to keep in mind when choosing classes here at BC, the most important being the University Core and PEPs.

The University Core is a set of basic topics that all students must complete before graduating from BC. These classes range from sciences and math to philosophy and social sciences. Some may see these requirements as annoying, but all students come to realize with time that the Core helps expand intellectual horizons and creates a well-rounded student. Without the Core, I wouldn't have discovered my major, a realization that many students here at BC come to when they think about the Core.

PEPs is a website sponsored by UGBC that has rankings of many professors here at BC. If you are thinking of taking a class but don't know what the professor is like, then PEPs is the place to go. It rates university professors in many categories, giving a comprehensive overview of what a potential student can expect if they enroll in a given class. PEPs is a key tool when class selection comes around, because it is the go to place to find the best professors here at Boston College.

-Emyr

ALC SHOWDOWN!

2011-03-29T20:35:00.004-04:00

I know this is a bit late, considering the fact that the ALC Showdown was about 3 days ago. Nevertheless, I still felt the need to post something about it. Here it goes...

ALC Showdown was very impressive :) and that's about it...

Below is the video of this year's 1st place dance winner, Fuego Del Corazon. Enjoy!

Housing

2011-03-23T13:34:00.003-04:00

Unfortunately, housing in BC can be a bit stressful at times. Being a rising sophmore, I'm currently facing the fact that I will most likely end up in College Road ("co-ro") next year. However, the upside to that is my friends and I are going to try to block, which means we'd all be living right next door to each other. Hopefully all goes well. I'll keep you posted. :)

Housing Dilemmas

2011-03-22T21:23:00.004-04:00

The stress of housing has really began to take its toll. My group of friends and I applied for one of the coveted 8-man suites, but to our dismay, we were not able to secure one of the highly desired rooms. Now what? We applied today for two 4-man suites, hoping to stay together and make the most out of the situation, but as luck would have it, we were unsuccessful in acquiring those as well. The stress and anxiety are really starting to come on full force now, because both time the rooms available on lower are running out, and fast. Our last hope is to try and secure one of rare 6-man suites scattered throughout lower campus, but this alternative comes with its consequences. We had to sever 2 friends from the group applying, which causes both drama and hurt feelings, but it is a necessary evil.

Listening to everyone on campus talk about their rooming situation and comparing locations is one of the worst drawbacks of not having my rooming situation resolved yet. The more I hear about 90 St. Thomas Moore, Walsh, and Vanderslice halls, the more stressed I become about my housing situation. If tomorrow does not work out, then I am bound to be one of "those" sophomores who live on the infamous College Road, better known on campus as "CoRo".

While CoRo is not the most desirable option, I think I could survive a year there. After all, I am not the only sophomore who ends up living there despite taking all the possible steps to avoid the shunned sophomore residence. If worst comes to worst and I am bound for College Road next year, I will be sure to make the best of it, because after all, Boston College is Boston College no matter where you live on campus.

Emyr

Housing Selection Time...

2011-03-22T00:47:00.006-04:00

Yes, that's right; we are in the middle of housing picks for next year. Luckily, I was solidified into an 8-man today on Lower in Vanderslice Hall, but others might not be so lucky next year. There's nothing wrong with living on Co-Ro, but it seems that everyone just wants to be on Lower. What's the allure? Well, it's steps away from the Plex (there's really no excuse for some of us to not go to the gym now), Lower Live Dining Hall is also just steps away (finally, you can enjoy Addie's almost every night), and the majority of the sophomore class lives down there.

Regardless of where everyone ends up though, I'm glad that I do not have to deal with the housing matrix for another year or so. The next challenge will be to get one of the coveted Mods, but that's too far down the road.

Chrissy

Middlemarch

2011-03-21T23:52:00.005-04:00

For all of those who have not heard of the traditional Middlemarch dance that occurs every year in Boston College or for those of you who have not yet attended...you should totally look into it! My friends and I were on the committee for the past month and it was an extremely fun experience.

The theme this year was Nickelodeon and we had the opportunity to decorate one of the main rooms in O'Connell House with the theme of The Wild Thornberry's, one of the classics of this television network. There was catered food, great music played by a professional DJ, and lots of cute picture opportunities. Everyone dressed up as their favorite Nickelodeon character and had the chance to show off their creative costumes. All in all, it was a FABULOUS night :)

Top 5 Reasons to Be an Art History Major at BC (or to at least take a class sometime during your 4 years here)

2011-03-21T18:47:00.006-04:00

1. The Department is all-around amazing. I’m convinced we have some of the best, most passionate professors on campus. And hey, the students are pretty great, too.

2. The Museum of Fine Arts is just a few T-stops away. You haven’t studied art until you’ve studied it in person.

3. The McMullen Museum offers internships for undergrads, and you couldn’t ask for a more convenient internship location than Middle Campus.

4. Art History majors are required to take an Art Workshop class. I haven’t been able to draw, paint, and make cool prints in class since I was in the fifth grade.

5. Imagine how impressed your whole family will be when you causally mention your interpretation of an Abstract Expressionist work over Thanksgiving dinner. They’ll never be more convinced that all that tuition money was worth it.

--Rosie

Freshman Leadership Project (FLP) - Spring Break 2011

2011-03-14T16:26:00.003-04:00

This past week we had spring break. While some students went back home to visit their families and some went on exotic vacations, a handful of BC students served others for their week off. I was one of those students. I was fortunate enough to have applied to the Freshman Leadership Project which was offered by the First Year Experience (FYE) office. I applied in December and got in before leaving for the semester. I was excited, but not really sure what we were going to actually be doing. Regardless, I was excited for my alternative spring break.

So Sunday rolled around as I packed up all my clothes and supplies I needed for the week. A group of 11 other freshman met at Lower Dining Hall and we took the B-Line to the place we were staying....a hostel. I have never stayed at a hostel before, but what a great experience it was. We all got so close over that week, I mean, we were around the same people 24 hours a day for a week!

But anyways, everyday we had a different service project that we worked on. Some of these included working with children at the Commonwealth Tenants Association, listening to speakers from the Homelessness Bureau, working at the Boston Living Center, and helping out at the Urban Revisionary Farm. Everyday was different, but each day taught me a new lesson in this humbling experience.

I could not imagine doing anything better on my week off than this service trip. And I can honestly say that my new 11 friends would say the same thing. It not only gave us all a chance to get away from BC for a bit, but it gave us time to reflect on things that were going on in our lives and learn about the city that we all now call home.

Yes, other schools may have Appalachia Volunteers and other spring break programs, but BC is different because of the emphasis on the Jesuit mission and importance of service that BC preaches. You didn't have to be religious at all to partake in this, in fact, I'm not at all and that's also why BC is such a special place.

This experience was simply amazing and if you come to BC, I would highly encourage you to apply to go because it might just be one of your best freshman experiences. It was certainly one of mine.

Chrissy

Sun or Snow?

2011-03-09T09:43:00.003-05:00

It's spring break!!! Boston College students are currently right in the middle of their week-long vacation. It feels great to be back in my hometown Miami where the warmth and sun never ends yet many of my friends are on community service trips. I was personally torn between returning home for the week or participating in Appalachia or some other service project. My advice is: plan the four spring breaks you have in BC wisely! Go back home one year but make sure to involve yourself in the numerous and amazing service trips that BC has. So when wondering whether to go to a sunny place or remain in the cold climate...think of what you have done so far and what you want to accomplish in the upcoming years. Time is precious! I'm thinking of doing an international service trip during spring break next year! Can't wait :)

Here's a video showing an overview of the Appalachia volunteers. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmbHdjGKmQI

Erin go Bragh!

2011-03-02T23:19:00.004-05:00

Hi!

I've gotta say that I am so excited for Spring Break. The seven weeks we've been back since Christmas have been amazing but so exhausting! Between schoolwork, the Beanpot, midterms, and just hanging out it will be absolutely lovely to get some time off. I am even more pumped for this break as I will be in IRELAND with the University Chorale!!

I joined Chorale in September as a Freshman and am a 2nd soprano (whoot!). We rehearse twice a week (girls on Mondays, boys on Tuesdays, and everyone on Thursdays) and have three concerts each semester. Last semester we sang with the Boston Pops! in September, Mozart's Requiem in November, and a joint Christmas concert with BC's student orchestra in December. I have loved the experiences Chorale has given me and working with John Finney, the director, has been wonderful. Hearing the sound that 160+ voices produce gives me goosebumps at each and every performance- it is truly awesome.

This will be my first trip out the country, and oh, I cannot wait! I will be taking a ton of photos- maybe I'll post a few when I get back :)

Slán go fóill (Goodbye for now),

Sydney Barada

barada@bc.edu

And the Presidency Goes To....

2011-03-02T14:54:00.003-05:00

Mike Kitlas and Jill Long. After a much anticipated campaigning season, we finally have a new Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) president and vice-president.

On the platform of Building Community, we will soon find out how Kitlas and Long will enhance BC even further. On their website (www.kitlas-long.com) they state that they hope to build community through programming, outreach, accessibility, and formation. For all you freshman coming in, next year looks very promising for another great year (and your first!!) at BC!

Chrissy

It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing!

2011-03-02T12:19:00.006-05:00

Hello!

My name is Sarah, and I'm a freshman studying political science. I could talk about politics until the world ends (in 2012?) and I will happily do so, but I'll refrain from boring you all to death, because I want to talk about dancing instead.

One of the million reasons I love my roommate is that she is totally willing to try anything once. Now don't get me wrong, I am too, about most things. But September of my freshman year was so filled with learning to do laundry and finding the mail room to pick up my first care package that I was too busy to try many crazy things. I was all too happy, then, to let my roommate drag me to the swing dancing lessons happening one Monday night in O'Neill Plaza. Boston College Swing Kids spends the fall semester giving lessons in swing dance to anyone who cares to show up, and soon I found myself showing up every week, with or without my roommate. I have never danced apart from the ballet lessons I took when I was five, and I never thought I would dance, but there I was, learning to do the Charleston and Lindy Hop, feeling for all the world like a 1920s flapper in a jazz club. Monday nights from 7-8 in Eagle's Nest became my hour of release, when I didn't have to worry about the midterms I had that week and could focus on learning the Jesus Drop and the Texas Tommy. I was there so much that this semester I get to dance in ArtsFest, this huge weekend every April where every Arts-related group on campus shows off what they've been working on all year. Add that to the list of things I do in college that I never would have done in high school.

Joining Swing Kids is one of the best decisions I have made during my first year at BC. Not only did I learn to swing, but I learned that college is the time to try crazy things you would never try otherwise. You never know what you'll fall in love with.

I'm off to rehearsal - catch you guys later!

Sarah Ganton

ganton@bc.edu

Waddling Off-Campus

2011-02-28T18:38:00.004-05:00

Last Wednesday, I was faced with a difficult decision: should I attend one of the most important ACC basketball games of the season versus the University of Miami at Conte Forum, or should I give up my season ticket for the night and venture down to the Boston Aquarium for a member’s only event?

What can I say? I lead a difficult life.

After much deliberation, I gave my ticket to a fellow Superfan and headed down to Long Wharf on the ‘T’ with one of my best friends. We had a blast bopping around the aquarium and then over to the North End for legendary Italian pizza and pastries. And somewhere on the walk between Pizzeria Regina and Mike’s Pastry, it hit me: I wouldn’t be doing all of this anywhere else. Boston is awesome.

-Rosie

Photo Courtesy of Brian Raab.

The Craziest Season of All

2010-12-02T17:13:00.006-05:00

Hello, prospective students!

I know it's very late into the semester to be making my first blog appearance, but hey, better late than never, right?

My name is Catalina Tresky, and I'm a junior, majoring in communication and minoring in French.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday! Now that we're all back from a short and well-deserved, I must say, break, it's time to hit the books for the craziest season of all: finals season.

For those of you wondering what it's like around here at this time of year, I'm not going to lie: you can feel the stress in the air. We all have something due at least every other day, and the fact that we have to study for exams the week before Christmas is, simply put, not cute. But the great thing about BC during finals is the amount of de-stressors we have around us. RAs put together great "de-stressing" events, and the Plex puts on a great event called Inflatables Night. Yep, it's exactly what it sounds like - a gym filled with inflatables to channel your inner child during finals.

Every morning, our dining halls give us free coffee to keep us moving through our sleep-deprived days filled with studying, writing, and more studying. And the dining halls keep the love coming during Late Night when they put out breakfast foods to keep us fueled during the late hours of the night/the early hours of the morning.

So, even though finals are definitely not the most fun part about going to college, the BC community definitely eases the blow of least thrilling part of the year.

On another note, I hope everything is going well in your college process! Feel free to comment on this post with any further questions about BC student life.

Until next time!

Square Off: El Pelon v. Crazy Dough

2010-11-09T13:47:00.005-05:00

Battle of the BC Food!!!

When friends come from off campus to visit, it's usually considered good manners to feed them. (MY friends don't usually let me forget to feed them either way...) Boston College's dining halls offer a lot of variety, everything from the grill to the pasta station. Also, compared to other colleges I've visited, our food is pretty good. My personal favorite is the Wok-a-Way station on Wednesdays, I absolutely adore stir fry. However, unlike other schools, we don't have many commercial food chain companies on campus. Well actually, on campus, we have none. There's a Dunkin' Donuts across the street (try their hash browns sometime) but that's it for big names. There's also a Flatbreads sandwich store and White Mountain Creamery, both pretty delicious but clearly not your typical Subway or Coldstone's. This year we have TWO new power players on our off campus food line-up! El Pelon, a taqueria with funky t-shirts and a splash of cultural flavor, and Crazy Doughs, a funky dim lit brick oven pizza place. The food at both are wonderful, but which of the two reign supreme? Let's check some specs.

In terms of affordability, Crazy Dough's is a bit on the pricey side. A personal mini flat pizza runs a bit higher than the BC mini pizza price (which is not a good thing, over priced food is NOT as psychologically enjoyable). Also, the size of the pizza was a bit disappointing for the price and Crazy Dough's line also tends to be very long, so their space is VERY cramped. The dim lit seating area is nice, but the clunky black iron chairs detract from the natural lighting and are hard to move around, especially when the last person in line is an inch or two away from the back of your chair. BUT, their selection of foods are awesome; they have a new salad bowl that's in the process of being patented, and they give free refills!

El Pelon's prices range just a bit lower than Chipotle's, but their food is just as good. Their spacing tends to be a bit cramped, and their bottled drinks are on the expensive side. Also, though the El Jarrito soda bottles look and taste awesome, they can't be opened without a bottle opener, so woe be unto you if you decline their polite offer to have it opened. For me, one of the big things at a place like this is the meat quality and vegetable freshness. Burritos and tacos are made up of pretty much just vegetables and meat, so raw steak and wilted lettuce is a no no. I can happily say that El Pelon uses pretty good stuff in their meals. It's not like Chipotle, where you can often see into the kitchen and watch what's being put into your food. The kitchen's barred off and creation station is hidden, but so far this hasn't been cause for worry!

I still have yet to pick between the two. I've frequented both, both still have that "new" factor and both are BC friendly, but Crazy Dough's is a bit more so since you can use EagleBucks there. [Hurry and hop on the bandwagon El Pelon!] My advice? Come over and try them both for yourselves to pick a favorite!

O & O!

-Sam

Ice Jam

2010-11-09T00:04:00.003-05:00

Hello all,

a couple weeks ago I attended an event called Ice Jam at Conte Forum. At Ice Jam Conte was split into half and half between the ice and the basketball court. This event was hosted by Bob Costas and the legendary Doug Flutie even came not to mention the fact that Vanilla Ice performed his hit single "Ice Ice Baby." The purpose of ice Jam was to introduce the 2010-2011 Men's and Women's soccer and basketball teams. Each team was introduced separately with the coaches arriving in style. Everyone booed when a BC patrol Car delivered the women's hockey coach. The car drove onto the ice entering where the Zamboni usually does. Not only were the teams introduced, but they also put on a show. The women's basketball team did a dance off vs Aero K one of BC's many dance clubs. I'd say Aero K won the day but the basketball team put in a solid effort. Also 3 members of the men's hockey team and 1 member of the women's hockey team participated in a fastest shot competition. The highest shot by a member of the men's hockey team registered a whopping 99 mph. As if that wasn't enough a few of the hockey players participated in a trick shot competition. Then there was the basketball competitions. First there was a 3 point competition which Doug Flutie took part in and ended up losing. although he wasn't bad I think he should stick to playing football. Equally exciting, was the dunk competition. This was my favorite event on the night solely because one of our star players Reggie Jackson was able to Dunk over Josh Southern who is 6 ft 11. When he made that dunk, crowd went crazy. Finally, to round out the night, 1 student was given a 2 year lease on a brand new BMW covered in eagle designs. This was the highly coveted Eagle car that had been the subject of conversations for weeks, as it had sat on lower campus. About a week previous to the concert, all BC students received an email that told them about the car. In the email was a coded message. The instruction were to crack the code which would reveal a question and then to send in your answer to the question. From those who answered the question right, 10 students were randomly selected and given a chance to win the car. On the night of Ice Jam, the 10 students filed out onto the court. The car like the BC patrol car arrived through the Zamboni entrance. From a set of 10 keys each student chose a key. They were told only 1 key would start the car and they would have to go one at a time and try there key on the ignition. If the car turned on they would win the car. The crowd watched as key after key failed to start the car. Finally it started and there was a resounding yesssss from the student with the winning key. After that the crowd dispersed and the unforgettable night came to a close. BC plans to make Ice Jam an annual event. I can't wait to see what they come up with for next years event. As always feel free to contact me. I am a sophomore in the college of arts in sciences. My email address is rossmama@bc.edu.

Thanks, Matt

Shaw Meets with Father Leahy

2010-11-08T23:35:00.002-05:00

This past week, the Shaw Leadership Program Freshman got to meet with Father Leahy, the University's President. He spoke with us about leadership and the skills one needs to become a leader. His words were quite insightful and it was a great experience to meet and talk to our University's President. The Shaw Leadership Program fosters these types of learning seminars every week and through the program, I have only had great experiences. The influential leaders that have graced our presence have made significant impacts on how I interact with people during the day. Yet, it has also taught me to be patient and listen more. More to come from Shaw soon!

Stokes

2010-11-06T23:38:00.000-04:00

Hello Everyone

As everyone has probably noticed by now construction on main campus is underway. Between the remodeling of Gasson hall, and the building of Stokes hall (RIP Dustbowl) the noises of construction are starting to become a norm while walking through main campus. Although this may seem bad in the immediate view I believe that this is a great opportunity for Boston College and the students. If these buildings are built in the time frame the school has said, they will be done by the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year. As a freshman this is very appealing because this means that by the start of my junior year there will be two new halls on campus which will greatly increase the aesthetic appeal of the campus. Through this endeavor Boston College will become a even better university than it already is and will hopefully attract more perspective students to the college. To prospective students this construction should not be viewed as a determent to Boston College but a encouraging factor; moreover, those who will be freshmen next year will only have to deal with it for one year. The construction on the Boston College campus shows that BC is looking at the best interests of the students and trying to ensure that we can get the best education possible. On top of this it is showing that BC is trying to uphold its reputation as a top university in the country by expanding its grounds and attracting bright students around the world. Although the construction is going to be annoying at times, the benefits of this project will last a lifetime and let Boston College excel to new heights.

-MVM

Plex

2010-11-04T12:45:00.001-04:00

Hello Everyone

As bad as this sounds, today was my first visit to the plex since we got a tour of the place at orientation. The day started off bright and early with a run from Newton to the plex, which may I say is a brutal run when it is 20 something degrees outside. When we finally got to the plex, I have to say I was impressed. From what I have always heard, the plex isn’t that great of a facility. People always say how crowded, hot, and rundown the place is; however, with the exception of a few other people crazy enough to get up at 7 oclock, it was relatively empty and all of the machines were open whenever I needed one. On top of this I never realized how big the plex actually is; between the fitness equipment, basketball courts, tennis courts, and pool there are plenty of places to work out and stay in shape. Staying in shape is a big part of having a healthy experience and a great way to keep away the dreaded freshmen 15 (or 20). So next time your debating on were you would go to work out, (which usually doesn’t happen unless you live on Newton) try out the plex.

-MVM

Love It!

2010-11-04T10:22:00.002-04:00

Hello readers of this here blog. As I am writing this, I'm sitting in the Chocolate Bar, the on-campus coffee bar, sipping a hot chocolate. I don't drink coffee because it's gross, but I swear this place makes the best hot chocolate so it doesn't really matter. I make the hot chocolate even better by swirling in my own added mixture of cinnamon. I used to also add a bit of nutmeg, but they took it away this year for unknown reasons. Don't worry, I'm working on getting it back. Despite the absence of nutmeg, this drink is just the thing I need after my twenty minute walk outside in this nippy fall weather.

I've made getting a hot chocolate from the Chocolate Bar on Thursday mornings my own little ritual. My first class of the day is at noon on Upper Campus, not far from here, but fairly distant from just about everywhere else. Anyway, not only do I sip on my hot chocolate, but the school newspaper The Heights comes out on Thursdays and I always complete (or at least try and fail to complete) the crossword.

This ritual is really one of my favorites. It marks the beginning of the end of the week and the coming of the weekend. I reflect on what's happened such as my class discussions on abortion and Buddhism in Japan and lectures on Jean-Paul Sartre's philosophy of imagination and look forward to the coming events of my weekend from trivia in Lower dining hall tonight to the University Chorale concert tomorrow and on and through my trip into the city on Saturday finally landing on my favorite mass at 10:15 on Sunday night to start the week off right. This is what I love about Boston College.

Portico

2010-11-03T22:37:00.000-04:00

Hello Everybody

Portico with professor Cioni is perhaps one of the best classes I am taking this semester in the CSOM school. Although it is a required class for all CSOM freshmen, the course load is slim and the class is invigorating. As an intro to business/ business ethics course, the name doesn’t sound that appealing; however, the professors do an excellent job at making the student questioning their own judgment and ideology in business. Now I am not going to lie, the summer work that was due in the first week of august did put an obstacle in my summer plans of sitting around and being lazy; however, do not let the fear of summer work deter you from taking this otherwise enjoyable class. Another element of this class that I find very productive are the Monday night evening sessions. On most Monday nights the portico committee will either bring in a guest speaker from various companies in the US, or have someone from the CSOM community speak on the various topics we are learning that week. These evening sessions do a great job at taking the hypothetical ideas we learn in class and relate them to the real business world. Overall Portico is perhaps my favorite class due to its fair workload, invigorating discussions, and real world application. So if any incoming freshmen are debating on whether or not to go in to CSOM, I would say do it for this class alone.

-MVM

2010-11-03T10:25:00.002-04:00

Hello all. It has been an exciting couple of weeks since my last post. Football beat Clemson, and hockey won its first 2 home games vs Merrimack and last night vs Umass Lowell. I can't wait for Friday's University of New Hampshire match up. Its also been fairly busy academically as well as I had midterms last week though it was nothing overbearing.

Anyways, I would like to talk a little about a club I am in called Appalachia. We meet most Sundays throughout the semester and learn about the Appalachia region in the United States. During Spring break we will take a service trip to various Appalachia regions to help impoverished people. This is a great service opportunity because unlike most service opportunities at BC you don't have to apply to be involved you simply come to the meetings and follow the instructions of the trip leaders. There are a lot of students involved (around a few hundred at least) and there is something like 32 different sites that we could potentially go to in the spring. I can't wait.

Again if you want to contact me my bc email is Rossmama@bc.edu. I am a sophomore in the college of arts and sciences. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks Matt

A love of Newton that pays

2010-11-03T00:41:00.002-04:00

Hey,

Hope everyone out there is doing well! I just got back from a great shift at work and it inspired me to share a little about my experience working at BC and the special spot Newton has in my heart - I swear the two are related.

The summer before my freshman year, I received the news: I was going to spend my first year of college living in a quad in Hardey on Newton Campus. WHAT? Not exactly the double on upper I was hoping for. However, as cliche as it may sound, I immediately fell in love with Newton during the first days. Largely, I can attribute my love of Newton to the great friends I instantly made. I consider myself so lucky to be able to look at my pictures from my first weekend of freshman year and find most of those same people living in my 8 man suite in Walsh today. For me, Newton was the ideal place to foster such friendships. It was away from the hustle-bustle of main campus and never a difficult place to spot a familiar face.

Soon after school started, I began to look for a job with my friends Kathryn and Kristen. With the recent economic downturn, it was even difficult to find a position to fill a work-study. We ended up at our last resort - Newton Campus' very own Stuart Dining Hall. What was there to look forward to about wearing a uniform and serving food your peers - right? Wrong!

Work has always been a part of my life, and it soon became a very surprisingly enjoyable part of my student life at BC. When I even went in to apply for a job, I felt very warmly welcomed by my soon to be boss, Mark. To this day, I do not think I can say I have met a nicer, more admirable person in my life. In addition, Mark is always super understanding that we are all students and sometimes cannot make shifts because of papers or midterms. At Stuart, where I soon found out that a ton of students work, my friendships with Kathryn, Kristen, and others strengthened and I quickly formed positive working relations with my bosses and chefs. I found an escape from typical student life as I interacted with a variety of very interesting people. One day, I even had an entire conversation in French with one of my favorite chefs from Morocco.

At the end of last year, I applied and was accepted to the position of Student Manager at Stuart. Every year, there are about 7 student managers who are responsible for running the dinner, late night, and weekend shifts. In short, we make sure that everything stays clean, breaks are taken at the right times, everything is stocked, everyone works an equal amount, and all necessary tasks are completed. Already, I have learned so many skills in management that I know will help me in all aspects of my life. And by the time I graduate at twenty-one years old, I will have about three years of a management position under my belt. Although I am not in the Carroll School of Management, I know that management skills are an invaluable asset for all careers.

Ok, so now for the sappy, sentimental stuff. I will never forget the wave of emotions that overcame me I first took the bus back to Newton this year for work and looked in the window of my beloved Hardey. Living on Lower Campus has been a big adjustment for me this year, and I nearly teared when I saw the lawns, the lounges, and the trees of Newton and was flooded with the memories I associate with them.

Now, twice a week, I journey back to Newton for work at Stuart. More than ever, I look to this as my paid escape from busy student life on main campus. My boss always asks how my week is going, I get to catch up with my work friends, eat a DELICIOUS Stuart meal for free, and feel a great sense of accomplishment at the end of the night. I could not be happier that I lived my freshman year on Newton and that the only job I could get was at Stuart. Though I live on main campus now, I know that Newton and Stuart will be defining parts of my college experience throughout my four years.

Later,

Alexandra

Off Campus

2010-10-28T17:13:00.002-04:00

Hey there!

It's time to tackle a technicality about Boston College, namely the fact that no one is guaranteed four years of housing that comes to BC. It's kind of annoying since I personally only got three years. Some people luck out and are on campus for all four years, though, and there's really no problem. However, there are some pros and cons about living off campus.

Some of the cons are that you have to either walk or take the bus to class every day. This is a bit annoying, especially since I lived on Newton freshman year and had to take the bus then too. Another con is that you may be separated from friends for a year who have four years of housing and may be stuck living with people you know a little less about. The final con I would say is that it is just plain stressful finding housing, especially if you don't start early. Once you do find a place to live, though, it's smooth sailing and you can avoid on campus housing drama.

Now the pros abound. First of all, it is a great experience living on your own for a year. Paying bills and keeping responsibility is a great life lesson. Also, housing tends to be cheaper off campus than on. Another pro is that you can stay around the BC area during Christmas break and the summer since you'll have a place to live. This is great if you have a job or just plain want to come back early from break. Finally, you can find a greater deal of independence living off campus.

Overall I feel living off campus has been a great experience, but I would not want to do it for a second year, especially since I didn't live on main campus freshman year. While I love living off campus right now, I cannot wait until I move back on for senior year and spend that time with all of my friend's together again!

Let's Go Eagles!

2010-10-26T23:28:00.017-04:00

It’s no secret that Boston College’s football team is on a bit of a losing streak. The student body certainly hasn’t hesitated in letting their frustration at our 2-5 record be known, and even though quarterback Dave Shinskie has been pulled from his starting position, the mention of his name still has the potential to evoke angry outbursts from students.

Despite our less-than-perfect season, home football games continue to be an essential aspect of Boston College culture. On game days, students take a break from endless homework and reading assignments, put on their distinctive Superfan yellow t-shirts and shades, and then head down to Alumni Stadium with their friends to cheer on the BC Eagles. The student section is always packed, and if we’re playing a decent team, the rest of the stadium is filled with returning alumni and fans of the opposing team. All in all, it is nothing short of a good time.

Our second-to-last home game is this Saturday, and I have to say that I’m a little sad to see the end of yet another football season. We’ll be playing Clemson, and it just might be the time for us to score our first ACC win of the year. If not, there’s always basketball season to look forward to.

Until next time,

Rosie

*****
Post-game edit: We won! There's still hope!

Newton

2010-10-26T01:57:00.002-04:00

Hello everybody!

When I originally found out that I was going to be living on Newton Campus last summer my heart sank (along with about 900 other freshmen); however, my perception of this campus has significantly changed since that first week.

First off I am not going to lie and say that living on Newton doesn’t isolate you from kids on upper, because it does; however this only makes the freshmen on Newton that much closer.
The people on my floor are some of my closest friends, and I know some of them more than my friends back home just by being with them for a little over a month. From hall sports to Wednesday night abs our floor finds fun ways to connect and emulate the “action” of upper campus.

Now to tackle the issue of the dreaded bus. The Newton bus can defiantly be a pain sometimes; for example, when the bus driver decides to take his break when you're already late for class, or missing the last 2:00am bus; however, truthfully the bus isn’t that bad and waking up 15 minutes earlier in order to get the bus is not really that big a deal. Also the 2:00am bus is perhaps one of the funniest trips you will ever make and everyone has to do it at least once.

In terms of dining, Stuart is awesome, mainly because the law students need a good place to eat, but we’ll take it. Newton is also awesome for all of its fields, especially given the new construction on main campus. Everywhere you look on Newton you see green fields that are ideal for any sport you want to play, and I cant wait till the winter for some intense sledding down Newton’s many hills. In short Newton is an amazing campus that is wrongfully viewed as boring by most incoming freshmen. We have just as much fun as those freshmen on upper and form a great bond with those people that we are “stuck” with. So to all those Eagles that live or lived on Newton be proud, and to all those incoming freshmen Newton is the place to be.

-MVM

Classes

2010-10-25T00:31:00.005-04:00

Hello everybody!

Now, my last post stated that I am a history/philosophy double major with a minor in American studies. I've already delved into what I may do with this concentration - so let's look at what it is I do currently as a liberal arts major, why don't we? Now I've finished all my core so I'm only taking classes that apply to my concentrations for the remainder of my undergraduate career.

This semester I'm taking "Kierkegaard and Nietzsche" and the "Philosophy of Imagination" for my philosophy major, "Public Culture in Post-War Japan" and "Age of Decision, United States 1877-1929" for my history major, and "City in Literature and Film" for my American studies minor. Interesting classes all, and I may talk more about each individual one in future posts, but, for now, my workload:

All I do in my free time is read. Read read and read some more. This reading is occasionally broken up by writing on the reading I have been doing, but then I go back to reading. Some might find this workload slightly taxing and monotonous, but I really do love every minute of it. Being post-core, I'm able to focus on topics I find interesting and am finally able to avoid math like the plague.

That's all I really have to say about my workload. If you have any questions about specific classes, or anything else in general, feel free to contact me at nick.f.clements@gmail.com...I'll find some time in between readings to answer them fully. Have a great week!

An Update From Shaw

2010-10-24T11:31:00.003-04:00

Hey Guys!

I'm Chrissy Suchy and I'm a freshman. Additionally, I'm a member of the Shaw Program. Shaw is a leadership program that offers students of the incoming freshman class to live in the Shaw House on Upper Campus their freshman year with all the 20 members (half boys half girls).

So far, its been a really rewarding experience. I've been able to meet people that are from all over the country and have different outlooks on all walks of life. Its also really nice being able to live in an actual house (with a full kitchen and lounge in addition to all the rooms that we have). But regardless, the Shaw program offers students to attend weekly seminars with influential leaders in the BC community and learn about everything Boston College has to offer. I personally have really enjoyed meeting with the head basketball coach (Coach Donahue), various Jesuits, and I am looking forward to meeting with the university's president, Father Leahy. So far, Shaw has been really great to me, and I look forward to the year to come. I'll keep you all posted!

There's no time like Procrastination Time

2010-10-21T18:14:00.004-04:00

Hello from O'Neill Library!

A very cheerful "What's up?" to all the prospective students who are viewing this blog! Pleasure to make your acquaintances, my name is Samantha BUT all that's necessary is the first three of the eight letters (lucky guess on which ones?).

I've chosen a very special time to begin documenting my junior year at Boston College. Right now, most of us are in the "throes" of midterms! It's like Christmas; the teachers are overly generous with handing out the gifts of paper assignments, tests, quizzes and extra work to make sure that we are all well aware of certain things (like who Boniface VII was) to prepare us for our futures in Marine Biology, Neuroscience, Criminal Law or any other career that isn't the least bit remotely connected. In a way, midterms are fun though. I get a warm feeling in my heart as I delve into my books, staring at the sunset over the Boston Skyline (Check it out actually! This is what I see from these fantastic half wall height windows!) and resurface to a beautiful sunrise about thirteen hours later with a serious cramp in my legs and hunger growls reminiscent of a passing truck. But it's nice to know that in these times, you're definitely not alone. Studying together with other people around this time is definitely recommended, it makes the time pass faster, you have a system of support of other friends who can certainly relate to how you feel, AND breakfast at 7:30 a.m. is a GROUP activity! Just make sure you can focus, distraction is a blessing in moderation!

So, who is the writer behind this sarcastic yet pleasant dose of reality? My name is Sam Augustin, and I am currently a junior at Boston College. I am an English and Communications double major with a pre-law concentration in both. [I am also currently studying for a gorgeous midterm with a matching 10 page paper.] I'm involved in Student Admissions Program Online and Office Management, I'm on the Undergraduate Government of Boston College's (UGBC) Student Rights Team, and I am the Vice President of a culture club's executive board. I do more around campus but currently, these are my favorite and most active commitments! Getting involved at BC is easy to do, a lot of fun and extremely beneficial if you commit to a reasonable amount of different activities and stay responsible and active in those that you do chose to commit to. Ask if you have any questions about any of the groups I'm currently involved in!

Blogging is serving as a great way to unwind after a few hours straight of studying though. A good way to make sure that the studying continues is a program for Mac Users called SelfControl. Temporarily blocks several sites that I may slightly obsess over (Facebook, BCMail, Google, NYT.com, StumbleUpon, Kayak [I love to travel!]) and keeps them blocked from your computer until the timer has run out. Supposedly even if you try to uninstall the program, the sites remain blocked for the sake of "self-control" until the timer is done. Needless to say, I've found away around the timer, but I set it back up so that I could be a good student. Now, if you do decide to try looking this up at some point, please be aware that downloading links from the internet can harm your computer, so be careful what you download! Also be wary of scams, p.b. & jam and other programs. You get the gist!

One last note: Many people work well under pressure. However, high school "work under pressure" and college "work under pressure" are two very different concepts. Time management is a MUST, especially after you get your first potent dose of "All Nighters". So, if you haven't already, practice managing time wisely. Balance is key, the golden mean is a wonderful standard, and I'm looking forward to finding my inner balance again after this hectic week! Enjoy your weekends and look out for my Thursday postings! If you have any questions at all, feel free to comment or shoot me an email!

-S

Hello

2010-10-21T16:27:00.002-04:00

Hello! My name is Matthew Rossman and I am a sophomore in the college of arts and sciences. I am currently undeclared but am heavily leading towards becoming a history major. BC has a lot of great history courses to offer and a great history staff. I am currently taking a class on the Vietnam war which I am thoroughly enjoying. My professor took a lot of acting classes in college and he incorporates his skills into the lectures constantly changing his voice to match the person who is quoting. I find this very entertaining and comical. I am also taking a sociology class called peace or war where we look critically at why the US gets involved in wars. As an American this course can be disconcerting at times because we have read articles by people who believe the United States is an empire and we go to war solely to advance our society. However, I think this class has given me a new perspective on war and how it is not always clear cut.

Anyways, while classes and homework do take up a substantial period of my time, I still have plenty of free time to become involved in activities on campus. I currently write for the heights newspaper which is very easy to become involved if you so choose. Basically you just show up at a weekly meeting, the editor will give off a list of articles he needs and then first person to claim it gets to write the article. Last week I got to cover BC's hockey team versus Denver. Since the games were not televised on BC cable, I was allowed to go down to the men's locker room and watch the game on direct television with some student managers. Also, after the second game vs Denver which we won, one of the captains called me to do a post interview. I am so excited for the hockey home opener on October 29th. Even though the team was national champions last yr, they appear to be even better.

I am also involved with intramural sports. Intramural sports are a great way to continue playing sports if your not quite at the varsity or club level. Right now I am playing Softball and Hockey. The cool thing about hockey is that we get to play in Conte Forum which is where the actual BC hockey team plays its home games.

Thanks for reading my post. This is my first post this yr and there will be many more to come. If you have any questions pertaining to student life or just want a perspective from a current student feel free to email me at Rossmama@bc.edu. I know I have a funny email. Anyways if theres anything I can help with feel free to contact me. Thanks

Matthew Rossman

Life on Newton

2010-10-21T16:24:00.007-04:00

Hi all! I hope wherever you are, October is treating you nicely! It's getting a little chillier here in Chestnut Hill, but the leaves are turning, so it's beautiful all the same.

My name is Lexi Schneider and I am a freshman in the College of Arts and Science. I am a history major, and I will most likely double in theology. I'm not entirely sure what I want to do with my life (then again, who is?), but I'm currently thinking about law school and high school education in terms of a career path.

I live on Newton Campus in Keyes South (dubbed the Newton of Newton Campus because it's separated from the other two dorms). Originally, I was a little disappointed about being out on Newton. I was not excited about being away from the action of main campus, and feared that dreaded bus. However, my outlook has significantly changed during the past two months. Newton is only freshmen, and about 900 students get placed here. Many argue that the food is better at our lone dining hall, Stuart, which has been debated by many of my friends on Upper. Whether or not that is true remains to be seen, but Stuart is by far my favorite dining hall to eat in. It's really "homey" because it's so small; I know the employees and they know me, and the dining is really intimate. There's also a lot to say for the community. I LOVE my floor! They are all really amazing. We've all meshed really well. My entire dorm gets along well together as well which is great. Keyes has its own library and laundry services, which is really convenient, and each floor has at least one common area. The bus is not really all that bad, although inconvenient at times. It only runs until 2 a.m., but you can always call Eagle Escort for a ride back after that. Sometimes I also just spend the night on Upper too.

Best of luck in the college search, and I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have about Newton, or college in general!

Introduction

2010-10-21T09:25:00.002-04:00

Hello! My name is Nick Clements and I am currently starting my Student Admissions Blog for this year. You, the reader, will get to hear all about the life and times of a junior history/philosophy double major, American studies minor in Boston College's undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences! Get excited!

Now, reading my concentration, one may ask oneself (as many ask me), "What, exactly, is he going to do with a degree in that? Liberal arts!? I mean, come on!" My normal answer to this question is a snide "something impractical," but, this being an informational blog and that being a valid question to ask, I will answer truthfully. I am currently planning on going to graduate school for American studies, an interdisciplinary course of study which focuses more on cultural and social trends throughout history and currently. Many of those who go down this track either work in museums and the public humanities, or, rather stereotypically, teach. American studies is an enriching and interesting program that covers all the bases of American life.

Anyway, thanks for paying attention to my first post, there'll be many more to come!

My First Few Weeks at BC!

2010-10-19T20:40:00.003-04:00

Hello!

My name is Maggie Reeves, and I am in the College and Arts& Sciences. I am currently an Economics and Mathematics major, but that will probably change over the next four years. My majors probably sound odd for someone in Arts&Sciences, but I never thought of applying to business programs. So, for any of you thinking about applying to "CSOM", the business school at BC, DO IT because it is so much easier to transfer out of CSOM then transfer in. Still, a lot of my classes have a majority of CSOM students so I do not feel as thought I am missing out on anything not being on CSOM. Pertaining to the academic transition to college, I felt really prepared for the core class I am taking. However, because of AP placement, I am in a lot of classes for sophomores and juniors, and for these classes, it can be kind of overwhelming at times. This is partially because as a freshman it is kind of hard to find someone to study with or sit with in class because it feels as though sophomores already have set friends.

Social transition has been a lot easier. Concerning the Newton vs. Upper debate, Newton is where it is at. I was originally placed in a forced triple on Upper, so I was desperate to get my own closet even if it meant coming to Newton. I am so glad I did too. It is true that everyone knows each other. Also, the buildings are a lot smaller so you really know everyone in your dorm. I feel like Upper is like an apartment complex while Newton is like a home as corny as that sounds. If you end up living on Newton, you are guaranteed not to have a forced triple. Social life here is amazing. Between football games, movie nights, and random fun nights, time really flies.

My favorites class is PULSE, which fulfills both my philosophy and theology university core credit. I like it because it counts as two classes, but class only meets the same number of times as a typical class. However, the difference is that I have to do ten hours of community service a week. However, it does not seem like work at all. I volunteer at "Another Course to College," which is a public high school in Brighton, MA. Here, I tutor and form friendships with the students.

Aside from working with SAP, I am on an intermural co-ed flag football team. Intermural sports are really low commitment and a lot of fun. As a freshman, I am signed up for a lot of clubs but have not really picked which ones I really want to be committed to. I do not want to mention any that I have only been to one meeting and look foolish to anyone really involved to that meeting, but I will definitely keep you updated.

Come for a tour and fall in love with BC like I did! For me, coming here was just intuition for me, so you should definitely come see if its the same for you!

Maggie Reeves

Hello!

2010-10-19T19:33:00.011-04:00

Hi Everyone,

My name is Sarah, and I am a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. I’m double majoring in economics and political science. In addition to the Student Admission Program, I'm involved in Cura and the women’s rowing team.

This is my first year participating in Cura. Each of the groups has 6-8 people and meets for an hour once a week to talk about faith and life at BC. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to reflect and take part in small group discussions with other students when I went on a 48-Hours trip during my freshman year, so Cura seemed like a great way to continue to do this on a regular basis. I’ve been to one meeting so far, and I can't wait to get to know the other people in my group.

Midterms are currently underway, so I took a much-needed break from studying and went with my roommates to see The Social Network last weekend. I was especially excited to see it because the film crew came to the BC boathouse on the Charles River last fall to shoot the rowing scenes. Unfortunately, I never saw Justin Timberlake or any other actors during the filming, but it was still really cool to see clips of the Charles in the movie. One of the many things I love about being a student at BC is that the city and everything it has to offer are just a T ride away. Exploring Boston with friends is always a great way to relax after a hectic week.

Thanks for reading!
Sarah

Friday!

2010-10-15T11:48:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone,

Thank goodness its Friday! This was a hectic week with two midterms, but I can't complain as I made it through! During each semester at school, there seem to be about two two-week long periods full of papers and mid-term exams. Generally, this time is really as stressful as you make it. If you do your readings when they are assigned, take good notes, and generally don't procrastinate, then you should be fine. But, alas, as many of us occasionally neglect to do so, it can all come crashing down on you quickly.

Newbury Street

So long as it does not absolutely pour tonight, my friends and I are going to Newbury Street in the city for some shopping and dinner. Granted some of the stores on Newbury are very expensive, it is a gorgeous street with a ton of cool shops and just a great atmosphere. In a lot of ways, Newbury Street reminds me of my favorite place at home, Church Street in Burlington, VT. Tonight, I hope we try out this Thai restaurant I have really wanted to go to.

With a stressful week behind me, the weekend should provide a great opportunity to embrace some of the culture Boston offers!

Later,

Alexandra

Sophomore Year!

2010-10-08T00:43:00.003-04:00

Hey guys!

This is my first post, so I'll just introduce myself a little to all of you potential Eagles!!

My name is Lauren G, and I am a sophomore in the School of Arts & Sciences. I am an Economics major and International Studies minor.

Currently, I am involved in a couple of things on campus. First off, is the Student Admissions Program, where I volunteer as a Tour Guide, Day Visits host, and a blog writer! Yay!

I am also involved in BC's ONLY sketch and improv comedy group on campus, Asinine. Being a part of Asinine is so much fun, and it's an awesome way to get involved in something I might never have the opportunity to do after college.

So, I only mentioned two out of the HUNDREDS of clubs and organizations at BC. There's a club for basically anything you can think of (and if not, you can always start one up!)

I can't wait to share with you all the great moments I experience during my sophomore year!

Hope you all come on back, and stay tuned!

Thanks for reading!

-Lauren G

(PS. If you have any questions you want answered, or want me to discuss something in my next blog you want information on, please don't hesitate to contact me at: ghazall@bc.edu .

Relationships at Boston College

2010-10-03T17:29:00.007-04:00

Hello again!

I hope you all had an exciting weekend - I certainly did (with one glaring exception being the loss to NOTRE DAME AT HOME on Saturday - it was still wicked fun though). Although this is a kind of taboo subject at colleges, I thought I'd write to you about my experience with relationships at BC.

I came to college still in a dying relationship from high school. After months of childish and immature fighting, I felt like it was time for something new; a new beginning at a new place, with new people and new places to see. I would just like to say that not all relationships from high school end when college begins, but mine did.

I was not looking to get into a relationship right when I got here. I felt like most freshman guys - ITS COLLEGE. Parties, girls, maybe some classes, right? That's when it all started to happen.

It was actually pretty crazy how this relationship started. My friend and I decided on one slow Friday night in September that we'd go to Newton to see what life was like on the other side of Commonwealth Ave. Little did I know that I would meet one of the most amazing girls I have ever met in my life. Her name was Erin. Like most freshman from Upper, I thought to myself "great, another one of those Newton kids, I'll never see her." As it turns out, she lived right down the hall from me in Gonzaga! Who knew??

October was when things really got started, though. We had been hanging out for a while, and I felt like she was fast becoming my best friend. I saw her almost every day, and we always stopped to talk. When she talked, my attention naturally turned to her. She was smart, funny, cute - she had it all. I won't bore you with all of the details (sorry, Erin!!), but one thing led to another; a few awkward McElroy Commons dinner dates, one Hillside dinner date (big spender, right?) and ONE off campus movie date in Boston later, and it was official. It was the start of something wonderful that is still going strong after 10 months (two semesters of school, one winter break, and one summer).

I had no idea what I was getting myself into, that's for sure. Relationships in college are actually quite different than relationships in high school (for me, at least). There are two things that are different to me. First, you wind up seeing this person multiple times a day every day, so I feel like we've gotten to know each other REALLY WELL. This is great for us because we like each other's personalities. Of course, this isn't always the case, but if you find the right person WITH A PERSONALITY YOU LIKE, chances are it will work out. The second is that although you may live down the hall from each other 9 months out of the year, there are the other 3 months to worry about (namely, summer). Luckily, we live pretty close (Massachusetts and Rhode Island...go sox), but it was certainly a change not being able to see her every day.

College relationships are "fluid" in this way; there is constant separation and reunion. Its not easy to get used to, but once I realized that our relationship would be this way, it became much easier to just focus on staying in touch and enjoying the time we have together at school, or in the summer.

One final note: for some reason, people think relationships "never" happen in college. This is ABSOLUTELY NOT THE CASE. Boston College will inundate you with meetings, emails, clubs, and activities that talk about the "hook-up culture" and how it is related to the downfall of dating and relationships. Although there is a "hook up culture" that is alive and well at BC, people still get into committed relationships. It's all about who you meet! I never thought I would be in a relationship so early, but thats just the way it happened.

So, if the time is right and you find someone you really want to get to know in a special way, go for it! Ladies, feel free to take a bit of initiative also - this is the 21st century, and I'm sure Erin could attest to the fact that guys don't always get it right away. Sometimes, you need to show a little bit of initiative to get it back from the guy - and that's fine.

If you ever have any questions about relationships and dating, there are a number of different resources available to you as a student that can help you through troubled times, or just give you someone to talk with. University Counseling Services is one place that probably isn't utilized as much as it should be. Also, there are a multitude of seminars, events, and "meet and greets" held throughout the year by the Office of Residential Life (through your RAs and hall staff) and by Nights on the Heights (an organization that plans weekend events throughout the year). Finally, if you ever have any questions, feel free to contact me at ficcagli@bc.edu. I'll do my best to help you out or point you to someone who can.

My advice: get out and meet some people. You never know what you may be starting. I met someone randomly who I now love dearly, and who will always have a special place in my heart. Its worth it!

Until next time,

The Quest Continues,

-Greg

An Introduction...and some basic thoughts

2010-09-29T14:03:00.004-04:00

Hello there!

Since this is my first post, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Greg, and I am a Sophomore at BC. I am sitting right now in the Loft over the Lower Dining Hall (its probably my favorite place to study/eat on campus).

You may have noticed that I am searching for all 11 dining halls on campus. I read somewhere in some literature floating around the admissions office that we have 11 PLACES TO EAT. When trying to name them, I could only name about 5, so I'm searching for the other 6 to enhance my food experience. Of course, I will keep you all posted on how the search is going, and there will be pictures to go along with the descriptions. I LOVE FOOD, and the food on campus is pretty good. That being said, it is still college food, and probably nothing like food that you would get at home. But you've got no choice but to love it enough to eat it, or risk spending a small fortune on take out.

Besides eating, class is also one of my favorite activities. And, like a true college student, I am procrastinating studying for this test in Research Methods (a communications class about how to do communications research) to introduce myself to you. There will be lots more where this came from!!

Thanks for reading
Keep it classy,

- Greg

Back from Abroad!

2010-09-23T15:48:00.005-04:00

Although classes started nearly three weeks ago, it was only yesterday that fall officially began. Wednesday marked the beginning of the new season, and also the consequent end of summer. However, my summer memories won’t soon be forgotten.

This summer I studied abroad in Bordeaux, a small town in the south of France, right in the middle of wine country. It was an incredible five weeks, during which I lived with a French family while taking Intensive Intermediate French. I completed the entire Intermediate French curriculum during that time, a feat that normally takes two semesters. The immersion experience catapulted my progress in French forward, and this semester I am taking French Conversation, Composition, and Reading I. Although I’m still pretty far from obtaining fluency, my level of proficiency amazes me in comparison to where I was just last spring, when I was finishing Elementary French I. My class is taught entirely in French now, and I am well on track to graduate with a minor in French.

BC’s study abroad programs are one of the many great opportunities available to students here. Nearly half of BC’s undergraduates study abroad at some point during their four years here, whether it’s a summer course like my trip to Bordeaux, or a one- or two-semester program during their junior year. I’m yet to meet someone who didn’t love their experience abroad, which I think is a real testament to the quality of the programs run by the Office of International Programs. Even though I’ve only been back for a few months now, I’m already looking into studying abroad in Italy during the spring semester of my junior year.

Please feel free to comment or email me at chandlro@bc.edu with questions regarding study abroad here at BC, as I serve as a member of the Office of International Program’s Student Advisory Committee and would love to answer any questions you might have.

Until next time,

Rosie

And in case you’re new to the SAP blog, a little bit about me. I’m from Charlotte, NC, a sophomore here at BC, and pursuing a double major in Philosophy and Art History with a minor in French. I blogged last semester, so check out some of the older posts if you’re interested in my freshman year experience.

To Newton or Not to Newton?

2010-04-30T16:04:00.006-04:00

That is the question. But according to the latest edition of The Heights, an independent student newspaper, the Class of 2014 will not have the option to choose whether they would rather live on Newton or Upper Campus. To be honest, I feel like this is probably for the best, as eliminating housing preferences means that incoming freshman will no longer have to deal with the anxiety of deciding which campus is the right fit for them. I remember last spring, when I was torn between the idea of living in a small community like Newton Campus, or enjoying the convenience of living on Upper Campus.

After a lot of debate, I ended up requesting to live on Upper. However, I was assigned to live in a double on Newton. When I received the news, I was devastated. I thought that living on Newton was going to be the worst thing in the world, even though I had been so torn between the two just a few weeks before. But as it turned out, I was wrong. Funny how often that has happened to me this year.

Newton has been great. Yes, it’s inconvenient to live a mile away from Main Campus, and yes, the buses do get annoying at times. But at the end of the day, getting on the Newton Bus feels like going home. I wouldn’t trade my experience living on Newton—good people, good atmosphere, good food, and slightly larger dorm rooms—for anything. Although everything didn’t work out exactly as I planned, I feel like it all ended up working out for the best in the end. So, keep my story in mind as you all receive your housing assignments this summer. No matter where you end up, it has the potential to be great.

Until next semester,

Rosie

Spring Time

2010-04-29T20:40:00.004-04:00

Hey Everyone,
So this weekend a lot of great things are happening. There's a Lose the Shoes soccer tournament for AIDS awareness. Yes, that means barefoot soccer and a lot of fun. You make a team of five to seven people, give a little money for a good cause, and play soccer! It's supposed to be gorgeous weather...or so the weather channels says, which can be deceiving. But also, one of my favorite events at Boston College all year long, it's Arts Fest! It actually started today with various creative performances. There are films, poetry readings, dance groups, comedy troupes, singing, artwork, and more. There's even free food! (Dessert presentations...last year there were free chocolate strawberries and it was absolutely amazing) Springtime is such a great experience on campus, with everyone out in the Dustbowl, in the Quad, prowling through O'Neill Plaza. It's a weekend of culture as the year comes to an end, even if it means finals are fastly approaching.
I'll be out in the sun anyway!

Thanks!
Hannah Wheeler
Class of 2012
wheeleha@bc.edu

Marathon Monday

2010-04-20T09:30:00.005-04:00

Hi again,

Just a reminder, my name is Hannah Wheeler and I'm a sophomore international studies major in the college of arts and sciences. This past Monday Boston College celebrated the annual Patriots' Day with a day off from our studies. With no classes to attend, students flocked to see the famed Boston Marathon that passes right by the campus. Not only is it an inspiring event to cheer on thousands of men and women from around the country who have been training mercilessly for this day, but for many at BC, we had fellow peers running the race.

The Campus School of Boston College sponsors students to run the race by only suggesting that they raise money for the school. This means those interested in running don't have to have a qualifying time, only have to participate in fundraising and awareness of the Campus School. Just a little bit about the Campus School--it's a non-profit, private day school part of the Lynch School of Education for students from the surrounding communities, aged 3-21, with various disabilities. Boston College students can find many ways to get involved with it other than the Marathon, if running 26.2 miles isn't really your thing. The school is always looking for students to come and volunteer their time, just spending time with the kids. Just another way Boston College gives back!

Thanks,
Hannah Wheeler
Class of 2012
wheeleha@bc.edu

Elements

2010-04-18T22:08:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone,

Clubs and activities are a big part of any college student's life. Whether it be EcoPledge or Special Olympics, there is always some way to get involved. Many students who come to Boston College are heavily involved in clubs in high school, and want to continue with those clubs or publications here at BC. However, college will also provide you with the opportunity to branch out and do things you may not have done in high school, and that is what this post is about.

One publication that I have recently become involved in is Elements, the Undergraduate Research Journal of Boston College. Elements began in 2004, and since then has grown into what it is today. As a member of the editing staff, I will play a part in deciding which articles are selected for the journal. What makes Elements so unique is that all of the articles are written by Boston College students, so any undergraduate student at BC can submit a paper he or she has written for a class and it could be published in Elements. So, if you were involved in a literary magazine in high school, or if you were not, definitely consider joining Elements at Boston College.

That's all for now. Until next time!
Ali McDonald
mcdonaay@gmail.com

And So It Ends...

2010-04-12T16:39:00.004-04:00

Last Tuesday, forty-nine of my fellow freshmen and I celebrated our graduation from Boston College’s Emerging Leader Program. ELP, as it is fondly known, is just one of the many leadership opportunities available on campus for freshmen. Several other notable programs are the Mentoring Leadership Program through the Undergraduate Government of Boston College and the Shaw Leadership Program.

While I don’t know as much about the others, ELP is essentially focused on leadership development; it requires that its members attend weekly meetings, each of which is devoted to a topic that is in some way related to leadership. The program also has a community service requirement—each semester, every member is required to complete 10 hours of community service, in addition to the occasional group community service project in which everyone participates. Oh yeah, and ELP is the best (in my perfectly biased opinion).

To be honest, I’m not sure if ELP made me a better leader or not. But what I truly do appreciate about the program are the people that I met through it. Coming from North Carolina, I knew virtually no one upon my arrival here at Boston College last September. However, after the 2-day ELP retreat before the fall semester began, I already had found a community in which I felt welcome. Eight months later (where has the time gone?), I now consider some of these people among my closest friends. I cannot imagine my Boston College experience without them, or my freshman year without having done ELP.

ELP was a truly wonderful experience for me, and I encourage any incoming freshmen to consider applying for it (look for an application in the mail this spring), or one of the other leadership programs available here on campus. Getting involved in co-curricular activities is, in my opinion, what makes one’s time at BC truly worthwhile. You can take classes anywhere, but rarely can you find people as committed and passionate about such a diverse range of extracurriculars as here at BC.

Until next time,
Rosie

Culture at the Click of a Mouse

2010-04-12T15:58:00.002-04:00

Hi again!

I want to talk about a great service BC provides. Boston College has so many opportunities that it offers us as students. We have access to great classes and amazing professors. We have so many clubs to choose from. We have pretty enjoyable dining services. We have outstanding athletics. We have a GORGEOUS campus. In addition to all these outlets and activities to keep us busy BC also provides a place for lectures and speakers to come from around the nation and even the world to bring us a little taste of something outside Chestnut Hill.

We've had creators of different technologies, businesses, and ideologies, various political leaders, and more come to campus and give us a slice of the real life. And yes, we are busy college students, so say you have a class during a time that you really, really, really want to see a speaker, BC has got you covered. BC Front Row films and uploads various lectures around campus for us to see at our leisure. Just a warning, it can be a huge procrastination tool when the papers and the readings start piling up...but it's better than Facebook! So if you're bored or just want to check up on the type of speakers we get, check Front Row out!

Have a good day!

Hannah Wheeler
Class of 2012

ASK ME QUESTIONS
wheeleha@bc.edu

Course Registration

2010-04-11T17:14:00.006-04:00

Hello everyone,

It's that time of the year again! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and everyone is trying to figure out which courses they should take next year.

Don't worry, you won't have to do it alone. When you come to Boston College as a freshman, you will be assigned an academic advisor, who will help you with questions that you have about Boston College life. Your first registration experience will be during summer orientation, where summer faculty and your orientation leader will help you choose courses that you might be interested.

Once you arrive on BC's campus, you will be assigned a pre-major academic adviser, who will help you navigate course selection until you declare a major, at which time you will receive a new adviser in that field. For example, as an purposed English major, it wouldn't make much sense for my adviser to be in the Chemistry department, so once I officially declare my major, I will be reassigned an adviser in the English department.

Before I register for my courses, I will have a meeting with my academic adviser, who will help me figure out which courses I want to take, and make sure I am on track with completing my core requirements. Then, all of the registration is done online. You will receive a registration date and time, and you can register at any point after your registration time. The rising seniors will register first, followed by rising juniors, and then rising sophomores.

If you're not exactly sure what you want to take, don't worry! We have drop/add week at the beginning of the semester, which will allow you to try out courses and see the syllabus without having to fully commit to them just yet.

Well, I'm going to go relax outside on this beautiful day. Until next time!

Ali McDonald

mcdonaay@gmail.com

A Breath of Fresh Air

2010-04-08T17:42:00.005-04:00

Hey there,

It's been awhile, but just a reminder: my name is Hannah and I'm a sophomore here at BC. I wanted to talk about one of the many opportunities that Boston College offers that you might not think you need...but is greatly appreciated after participating.

I'm talking about the many retreat programs you can partake in. Recently, I decided on a whim to try out Halftime, a program created by a department of BC called Intersections. Don't get me wrong, I love being on campus, but sometimes when the work piles up and life gets too stressful and you're just dying for a change of scene, getting away from the daily grind can be more than needed. There are many locations and different weekends that Halftime is located but my specific section was in Dover, MA where BC owns a retreat center.

It was an amazing and refreshing experience and completely free. We were divided up into small groups where we just got to unwind and talk about anything that was stressing us out lately, what we thought about the paths (academically, career-wise, etc. etc. etc.) that we were leaning towards for our lives, and just reflect on what we've accomplished so far in college. It was comforting to just refocus and affirm that I'm making the right choices in life. It's that feeling that Boston College is really looking out for you and providing a community spirit that makes me love it so much here.

Intersections offers some other great programs as well. In addition to Halftime, there are other retreats offered by various groups on campus. There's the freshman retreat offered through first year experience, 48hours, to get you adjusted to your first year of college, Kairos - a religious related retreat that is pretty secretive but everyone loves after they go on it; sorry, I haven't been yet so I can't offer any input, but I've heard great things. Many clubs on campus also have their own retreats.

Before coming to college I never really thought about the importance of reflecting and giving yourself some time to actually let yourself think, but these retreats allow you to realize how much this can center you in the business of balancing life at college.

Until next time!

Hannah Wheeler
wheeleha@bc.edu

ALC Showdown

2010-04-01T00:05:00.005-04:00

I wanted to let everyone know about an amazing AHANA dance event, the ALC Showdown, that took place last weekend. AHANA stands for African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American, and it is an acronym that replaces the word minority on campus. The show was put on by ALC, or the AHANA Leadership Council, and showcased the AHANA dance groups on campus, including groups like the Vietnamese Student Association and the hip-hop group Phaymus.

It opened with an exhibition showing Lil' Phunk, a dance group of 6-13 year olds. Not only were they adorable, but they were amazing dancers. The show alternated between traditional and contemporary dances, with many of the groups performing more than one dance. A lot of the more traditional groups, like The Philippine Society of Boston College (PSBC), performed a traditional dance and two hip-hop dances. The show was had three hosts, all of whom were hilarious and put on small skits in between the acts.

At the end of the night it was time to announce the winners. The showdown was split into two categories, one for the best dance group and one for the best culture group. Synergy, a hip-hop group, won first place for best dance group, and Fuego, a Latin dance group, came in second, while Aero-K, the Korean Students Association's dance group, won first place in the best culture group and Masti, the South Asian Student Association's dance group, placed second in the best culture group. It was a wonderful show and I can't wait until the show next year!

Ali McDonald
mcdonaay@gmail.com

Bring-On the Ne-On

2010-03-29T15:14:00.003-04:00

Although I’m not exactly a connoisseur of techno music, I have harbored for quite a while a secret desire to attend a rave. Something about the idea of blaring music, glow sticks, and ridiculous clothing in various shades of neon has always appealed to me. Lo and behold, last weekend Boston College’s Nights on the Heights — one of the many programs that provide on-campus entertainment for students — made this secret dream of mine a reality.

Neon Newton, as it was called, was every bit as fun and ridiculous as I had hoped. It was held in the Quonset Hut on Newton Campus, the pint-sized gym located just a hop, skip, and a jump from my dorm room in Hardey Hall. The gym was packed with freshmen from Newton and Upper Campus alike—the event had drawn enough publicity to persuade even the Upper kids to make the journey. And the event was, for lack of a better word, absolutely bumpin’. By 10 o’clock, a line literally had formed at the door as students waited for others to leave so they could gain admittance. The dance lasted until midnight, at which point most of the crowd headed to the dining hall on Lower Campus for some Late Night munchies—pizza, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, and other delicious, fattening snacks that have become indisputable staples of BC culture.

Neon Newton was the first Nights on the Heights event that I’ve attended this year. However, after last weekend’s ridiculousness, I definitely will be headed to another one soon. Roller skating at O’Connell House, anyone?

Until next time,
Rosie

Random Wandering Leads to Great Discovery at the Boston MFA

2010-03-22T22:37:00.008-04:00

Until this semester, my experience in the art world consisted pretty much entirely of finger paintings and macaroni necklaces. I had never taken a course in art history, and the last time I’d taken an art class was in the fifth grade. Needless to say, I was not exactly sure what to expect after making a last-minute decision this past January to enroll in Art: Renaissance to Modern. Although I had no idea whether or not I would find the course interesting, I felt that this semester would be a good time to go ahead and get my core requirement in the arts out of the way.

Midway through this semester, I’m happy to report that it has become one of my favorite classes. I have learned a great deal about the artwork of the Italian Renaissance and the Late Gothic period in Northern Europe, a subject that I never thought I’d find particularly interesting. I’ve even made several journeys to the Boston Museum of Fine Art this semester, as it’s a requirement to visit the MFA in order to view the work of art on which you write your papers. These trips have been surprisingly interesting. Not only does viewing these works in person provide you with a different perspective than viewing them online or in class, but also my random wanderings through the various exhibits have turned up some remarkable works of art.

My personal favorite is a piece of installation art by Candace Breitz entitled “Queen (A Portrait of Madonna),” which I discovered one day by following the sound of “Like a Virgin” into the Foster Gallery. I was shocked by what I found: a collection of televisions stacked on top of one another, each featuring a different individual singing one of Madonna’s greatest hits in imperfect harmony. I had no idea that art could be so weird. Or so very, very fascinating. Although I initially wasn’t sure whether or not I liked it, I found myself unable to turn away. Yet standing there staring amongst a group of equally spellbound spectators, I began to develop an appreciation for it. It’s not everyday that you stumble upon something that captures your attention so fully. And I have to say, I never expected to find it at the Museum of Fine Art in Boston.

Until next time,
Rosie

Oh, and did I mention that admission is free with a BC student ID? Yeah. A good thing just got that much better.

Finally, sun!

2010-03-17T16:27:00.001-04:00

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Here in Boston, this mid-March holiday is a really big deal, and lots of fun, as many celebrate their Irish (or not so Irish) heritage. This year, it is exciting that Saint Patrick’s Day is coinciding with what feels like the first real day of spring, it is beautiful, sunny, and around 63 degrees.

After a long winter, we are happy to come out of hibernation in New England, hang out outside, and celebrate the new season. In Boston, Saint Patrick’s Day is a multi-day event: it began this Sunday with the annual parade in South Boston, also known as “Southie”. I did not brave the rain to journey downtown, but my friends that went assure me that it was a lots of fun, regardless of weather. Also, BC has a proud Irish heritage, and the largest collection of Irish archives outside of Ireland.

Today on campus, lots of people are wearing festive Saint Patrick’s Day gear, everything from green hats and shirts to necklaces, shamrock headpieces and face paint. This afternoon, I could hear someone on campus playing bagpipes outside in the sunshine, and it smells like students are grilling burgers and hot dogs.

It’s hard to believe that soon it will be warm here all the time, and the year is almost over. Any questions, feel free to email me!

Rachel Craft
craftr@bc.edu

Spring Break Service - Appalachia 2010

2010-03-09T20:54:00.003-05:00

This past week was Boston College’s spring break, a time for students of all ages to take a break from school and go on vacation.

This spring break I chose to go on Appalachia, a service trip sponsored by Boston College's Campus Ministry. Appalachia is one of Boston College’s largest service organizations, and with 35 sites all over the Appalachian region, the program sends over 600 undergraduates to areas in need.

Throughout the year I attended weekly meetings on Sunday nights where I learned about the types of problems that plague the Appalachian region, and I discussed the importance of working for others. There are two types of trips within the Appalachia program: Habitat for Humanity, and Community. With the Habitat for Humanity trips, BC students work with the Habitat for Humanity organization at their site to work on a house. Meanwhile, community trips involve more interaction with the people in the area, and projects could include anything from working with students in schools to painting fences.; basically you do whatever the community needs you to do.This year I went to Waverly, Virginia on a Community trip. Though our trip was technically a community trip, we spent most of the week working on houses doing everything from hammering insulation, to putting up siding, to replacing roofing shingles. I had a lot of fun and I met a lot of new people both from Waverly and from Boston College.

Boston College also has other service trips to other areas of the world, including Arrupe, a service trip over winter break, as well as trips to places like Jamaica, and trips over the summer. Boston College always has a way for you to get involved, and I would definitely recommend Appalachia to anyone who is looking to serve others and having fun doing it!

Ali McDonald
mcdonaay@bc.edu

A Non-Dancer's Introduction to BC Dance

2010-02-25T17:00:00.004-05:00

Boston College is in the full swing of the second semester. Just in case you don’t remember me from last semester, my name is Ali McDonald and I am a freshman English major in the College of Arts and Sciences. One thing you should know about me is that I have no artistic skill whatsoever: no drawing, no singing, no acting, no dancing. However, there are plenty of people on campus who have fully taken advantage of the many wonderful arts groups we have on campus, and that is the focus of my post.

In addition to offering dance classes, Boston College has several dance groups on campus, including the Dance Ensemble and the Dance Organization of Boston College. Both of these dance groups are entirely student run, performing student-choreographed pieces throughout the year. In January, I went to the Dance Organization of Boston College’s show Revolution at Robsham Theatre, and it was phenomenal. The show incorporated different styles of dance, including jazz, ballet, and tap. My personal favorite dance was “Higher Ground,” which was choreographed by a senior dancer to The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ song of the same name. Overall, the show was fun to watch and you could tell how hard all of the dancers worked to put it together.

For people looking for something a little different, Boston College also has dance groups like Fuego Del Corazon, which is the Latin dance group on campus, as well as an Irish dancing group. So, if you are interested in dance, Boston College has many wonderful opportunities for you. If not, grab a few friends and go to a show; you won’t be disappointed.

Until next time!
Ali McDonald

Almost Spring Break!

2010-02-22T19:10:00.002-05:00

Welcome to 2^nd Semester!

Just to reintroduce myself, I’m a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. I’m a history major and a French minor. At BC, I’m a coxswain on the Men’s Rowing Team, I volunteer with the Student Admissions Program (hence this blog; I also give tours, host day visits and reach out to prospective applicants), I tutor a local elementary school student and try and find time amidst everything to hang out with my awesome friends and roommates.

This is a busy week for many students, as we finish up 4 final days of class before spring break. Spring break is earlier at BC than for many other schools, yet we also have a few days off at Easter. It’s nice because having time off twice really breaks up a busy spring for students and faculty alike.

This year, I will be staying in Boston for spring break. As a coxswain on the Men’s Rowing Team, we will be practicing on the Charles River twice a day, getting ready for our spring racing season. There are lots of great options for Spring Break at BC – ranging from going home for doctors appointments to trips to a warm sunny beach. One of the most popular spring break activities is a service trip. My roommates are going to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and rural Virginia to help those less fortunate than us. College service trips are a lot of fun; you often travel with other BC students, professors, and sometimes even priests! I am jealous of my roommates’ upcoming adventures and I can’t wait to see pictures when they get back.

Unfortunately, I still have a lot of reading and homework to complete before break begins this Friday that I need to get back to – please post or email with ideas or questions!

Rachel Craft
craftr@bc.edu

The Glory that is the Rat

2010-02-22T17:50:00.002-05:00

Hey guys how's it going? Just to let you know I'm a new blogger so I'll give a little introduction. My name is Hannah and I'm a sophomore International Studies major with an Islamic Civilizations and Societies minor. I'm originally from a small town relatively near Reading, Pennsylvania....for those of you who know anything about PA.

Anyway, so I realized something today while I was having lunch in what's known as 'The Rat', one of the many dining halls here at BC. I have friends that go to colleges all over the US that incessantly complain about the quality of their food, but I've never really been able to relate. BC food is good - and even though not all of it is 5-star restaurant status, let me tell you - The Rat is an amazing place to experience. I'm a huge soup fan and the Rat always seems to have a different and more delicious soup every day. For example today I enjoyed the absolute heavenliness of a cup of Cream of Broccoli, but they've been known to have Thai Chicken Curry, Chili, White Bean Escarole, New England Clam Chowder (duh!), Minestrone, Italian Wedding Soup, Butternut Squash and Apple (surprisingly amazing...no really, it's life changing), your typical Chicken Noodle Soup, and more. Maybe I'm just a little bit too obsessed with soup, but it's so delicious. And you know, on those days when I feel like branching out for some breaded items, a.k.a. sandwiches, the great thing about the Rat is that once you buy your sandwich (which could be anything from the Tomato and Pesto to an Italian Sub to Turkey and Swiss on Multigrain) you can take it out and use the panini machines conveniently located seconds away, grilled to personal satisfaction.

So if you haven't noticed, lunch is my favorite time of the day. Seriously though, you won't starve coming to BC; there's such a variety of places to eat and it's easy to take back to your room. That's another thing which is great about the system. Some colleges work on a swipe plan where you get a weekly allotted amount of swipes where you eat as much as possible (Freshman Fifteen anyone?) and can't really take anything with you to go, then run out of swipes for the week. But here you get a certain amount of money per semester, and then buy food when you want to and as much or little of it as you decide, obviously budgeting it to some extent. You don't really ever run out unless you eat a lot all the time. I think it's a lot better system.

So that's just a little scoop on BC Dining Services and some of the reasons that contribute to the amazingness of The Rat. There are so many more...the daily specials like Chinese food or sausage ciabattas! The apple-cinnamon waffles! The myriad of cereals! Anyway...I could go on forever, but I'll wrap it up for now.
If you have any questions about BC Dining or even anything general, send me an e-mail; I'd love to help you out!

Thanks,
Hannah Wheeler
wheeleha@bc.edu

Hey Everyone!

2010-02-20T20:48:00.005-05:00

I'm a new blogger, so I'm going to quickly introduce myself: My name is Pat, I'm a freshman with an undeclared major, and I'm from Massapequa, New York (which is on Long Island).

Now that that's done with, I can't believe how beautiful it was earlier today! It was sunny with a high near fifty degrees, which is a rarity in the Northeast during the middle of February. Although I did have some homework and essays to work on, I was able to find time to enjoy the great weather and go outside. During our study break, a friend and I decided to explore Newton Campus. Even though we've been living in Newton for a few months now, there were some places which we had still never seen. One of those places was Edmands Park, a small, forested area west of the campus, behind the Keyes dorm.

The park isn't a typical park - no slides, swings, etc. - but it's more of a mini piece of wilderness in our own backyard. Dirt paths wind around the park, going up and down the many hills. Though the park isn't too large, at points the woods become so dense that neither Newton Campus nor the surrounding suburbs could be seen through the leafless branches. It was also surprising to see how busy the paths were; during our hike, we ran into many locals who also wanted to take advantage of the great weather by getting some exercise with their dogs. It's pretty amazing to think that such a cool piece of nature is so close to campus and in the middle of the suburbs. I guess this just adds to the (long) list of why Newton Campus is awesome!

That's it for now! If you have any questions, feel free to email me!

Pat Kane
kanepf@bc.edu

Hey y'all!

2010-02-18T00:09:00.008-05:00

There’s a small blizzard going on outside right now. Will classes be cancelled tomorrow? Probably not. This is typical Boston weather and, I’ll be honest, it’s been a bit of an adjustment for me.

Hi, my name is Rosie Chandler, and I’m a freshman from Charlotte, North Carolina—not quite The Sunshine State, but a place that is nevertheless a consistent 20 to 30 degrees warmer than here. An inch or two of snow, and chances are the entire city will shut down for a week. So the question you’re probably wondering is, “Is she starting to regret her decision as the snow rapidly accumulating outside her dorm room window makes it more and more evident that the cold weather isn’t going away anytime soon?” Or maybe, “Should she have gone somewhere warmer, maybe stayed a little closer to home?” My response: absolutely not. Boston College is awesome, and I plan on using this blog to tell YOU exactly why this place has become so near and dear to my heart.

Today’s reason to love BC: the community that we have here. As you may or may not know, BC does not have any of the social fraternities or sororities that tend to dominate the social scene of many colleges and universities (particularly south of the Mason-Dixon line.) The result? A campus that isn’t divided among something as arbitrary as letters of the (Greek) alphabet. We’re not ADP or KA or DKE or ATO. We are BC. Each and every one of us. And I feel that this gives us the opportunity to get to know one another through our common interests—writing for The Heights, dancing with Synergy, taking a class on social justice, joining The Emerging Leader Program, or whatever your bag happens to be—rather than because we happen to share some extraneous label. It enables us to create meaningful friendships with one another, and for each of us to grow our social circle in a really positive way. A semester and change deep into my BC experience, I can honestly tell you that deciding to come here was one of the best decisions of my life. I may not get to wear my sandals anytime soon, but the strong sense of community that exists here is more than enough to make up for the snow boots. And, after all, spring break is only a week away.

Feel free to comment or email me at chandlro@bc.edu with any questions that you might have (preferably ones that are relevant to your decision about coming to BC) and thanks for reading my blog!

Until next time,
Rosie

Italian Class

2009-11-19T10:58:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone!

I know that a lot of students on this blog have given their personal stories about how they have been impacted by our wonderful Boston College professors, and even as a first semester freshman I can definitely say that my professors have already left their mark. One professor I can definitely say has impacted my education is Professor Brian O’Connor, who teaches my elementary Italian class.

I took French for 10 years before coming to Boston College, and I did not like it. I never really received the foundation I needed in primary and middle school to succeed in my high school French classes, and therefore I was never a stellar French student. French was a struggle for me, and so I decided that I no longer liked foreign languages and that I was looking forward to never taking one again. This, of course, was not really possible, because Boston College has a language requirement, so I knew that I would be taking some sort of language, I just didn’t know which one. I knew for a fact that even though I could take one semester of French and fulfill the language requirement, I wanted a fresh start. I chose Italian because I have been to Italy a few times and I really love the country (plus the food is amazing!).

I went to class on my first day not really knowing what to expect, but preparing myself mentally in case I was as bad in Italian as I was in French. Instead, I was greeted with a very energetic professor who made class fun and very stress-free. I can definitely say that I love going to my Italian class twice a week, and at 9am as a college student, that is saying a lot! I think what I have learned from this is that no matter what you are taking, you should keep an open mind and feel free to try new subjects, even those you might not be too excited about, and you may even get a professor who will change the way you think about a certain subject.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Ali McDonald

Holidays in Boston - Part I

2009-11-19T09:53:00.002-05:00

Happy almost Thanksgiving! In the real world, Thanksgiving is still a week away, but here at BC students are counting down the hours until classes cease and a much needed break begins. Classes technically end next Tuesday afternoon, but some students with light class schedules are heading home this weekend. It’s hard to believe that the semester is almost over, but when we return from Thanksgiving break there will be only a few short weeks until finals and Christmas! It seems that this week, everyone either has a lot of work (my roommate) or no work at all (me). At BC, it all depends on your professors – some classes have midterms early, around Halloween, while others are just taking them this week. Regardless of test schedules though, everyone at BC is eager to get into the holiday spirit! The great part about fall semester is that there are lots of holidays to celebrate with decorations, special events, and of course, great food.

This week, lots of roommates and friends are having their own “Family Thanksgivings” where one person, or lots of people, cook a Thanksgiving dinner in very small residence hall or apartment kitchens, to feed anywhere from 4 to 17 people. Although it’s often hard to find time at BC to cook, it is one of my favorite things to do, and a really great way to chill out after a lot of tough schoolwork. On Sunday, I cooked a new Italian soup recipe, and made a pie by myself for the first time. I had some questions about my pie crust, but luckily it came out delicious.

Anyway, I have to go get ready for class, but have a great Thanksgiving, and stay tuned for more about the decorations and events for a great Boston Christmas!

Rachel Craft
craftr@bc.edu

Winter Weekends

2009-11-12T20:54:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone!

Here at Boston College, it could be argued that nothing is more important on a Saturday afternoon than filling the Alumni Stadium student section and cheering on the football team. So, with football season winding down, what is there to on campus on weekends? Plenty! Just as the regular football season is about to end, the basketball and ice hockey seasons begin. Personally, I love ice hockey, and it is so much fun to walk into Conte Forum and cheer on the team in my Superfan shirt. Last weekend we beat Northeastern 5-1. Go BC!

If you don’t like sporting events, or even if you do, Nights on the Heights is also a great way to have fun on the weekends. Nights on the Heights is the name of a group of activities put on by students and faculty. One event coming up is the Black and White Soiree, which will be a fun black and white dance complete with fondue. Other events include movie nights and open mic nights, and all the events are free, so you can have fun without breaking the bank.

Winter also brings a new group of intramural sports, including ice hockey, basketball, and tennis. Intramurals are a lot of fun and a great way to continue playing a sport you love now with your new Boston College friends.

Until next time!

Ali McDonald

Professors

2009-11-09T20:20:00.001-05:00

Hi all, from unseasonably warm Chestnut Hill!

As midterms (finally!) end, I thought that it would be a good time to talk about my relationships with professors, and how it’s one of BC’s biggest strengths. Yes, BC is an undergraduate research institution with around 9,000 undergrads. That said, this is not an impersonal place. It may take a little bit more effort to find professors you like and build relationships, but once established, professors become your advocate, your mentor, and a great sounding board for ideas and worries. When you first arrive freshman year, you will be assigned an advisor. If you are an undecided major, you will be assigned a professor to mentor you until you declare and become involved with a specific department. As a part of the Honors program, my first year professor automatically became my advisor. This was fantastic because he got to know me very quickly. He became familiar not only with my life goals and plans, but also with my work and personality inside the classroom. Therefore, when I had a question about choosing a course or a major, he was all the better informed and able to help. This isn’t just an opportunity for students in the honors program though – if you elect to take either Perspectives (a philosophy and theology class), Courage to Know (an English class) or a freshman topic seminar, your professor in this class will become your advisor. Whether it’s through a class or just in office hours, take advantage of the opportunity! You never know when you’ll need advice or an advocate, it’s a great feeling to know exactly who to call, email, or see.

While my relationship with my freshman advisor has continued through this year, I’ve also come to know professors from my other classes. I’m a French minor and a History major, so it’s especially helpful build relationships with professors in the Romance Languages and History Departments. I now have a new History advisor, and he has been especially helpful in advising me on major classes, helping me get overrides into classes that are full, and providing specific advice when I have questions about my history classes and history professors. Professors absolutely love it when you go to their office hours, and it doesn’t have to always be about a specific class. I’ve gone to office hours with questions about papers and homework, but also about study abroad, research opportunities, and just to say “hi”. Some fantastic and brilliant people have already shaped my BC experience.

That’s all for now, don’t hesitate to email or comment with questions!

Rachel Craft
craftr@bc.edu

Men and Women for Others

2009-11-04T21:25:00.004-05:00

Hey Everyone,

One of the things I love most about Boston College is this school’s mission to shape students into “men and women for others.” We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to attend college, especially a great one like BC. The students here really reflect the Jesuit ideologies that this school was founded upon. Students here are committed to serving others through a variety of different ways. On campus there are a number of different service organizations, clubs, and trips that are designed to help those less fortunate than us.

One of these campus groups is Appalachia Volunteers, a BC organization that sends around 750 student volunteers down to the Appalachian region during spring break. During the trip, students work on a variety of different service projects. There are also a number of international immersion trips, such as Arrupe, that give students the opportunity to learn about the reality of those living in situations of “economic, political or social marginalization.” In addition to these, there are a number of groups and organizations that focus their attention on those in need in and around Boston.

I am involved in one such program called Peer Health Exchange. PHE is an extraordinary program that trains college students, like me, to teach a comprehensive health curriculum to students at high schools that lack health education. I felt especially compelled to become involved in this program because I know how important this type of education is. Especially as these students grow older and near college-age, it is even more important for them to have the knowledge to make healthy decisions, hence the programs mission. PHE aims to “give teenagers the knowledge and skills they need to make health decisions.”

One thing I enjoy most about PHE is that I get to go into the classroom and teach teenagers who are close to my age; they are my peers. I feel that, not only can I talk more openly with them about the importance of all the things we teach in the program but they also feel more comfortable asking me questions. Sometimes it is just too hard to talk about these subjects with adults.

I absolutely love the program and feel fortunate to be involved in it. At BC, service is not a chore nor is it used as a resume builder. Students here feel strongly about helping others. There are great opportunities to get involved, and these experiences can teach you things that could never be learned in a classroom. If you come to BC I assure you that you will find yourself doing some sort of service. However, this is just a small window into the many extracurricular activities available at BC. I implore you to check out the Boston College website to learn even more about the service opportunities, as well as the various other clubs and organizations, here on campus.

I’ll write again soon,

Greg Sacharoff
College of Arts & Sciences '12

Fall Comes to Boston!

2009-10-25T20:54:00.003-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Its Madeleine again! Just a refresher about me if you missed my first post, I'm a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Communications.

So, I just finished up all my midterms this past week, and I'm so happy to have a little free time to post on the SAP blog. Recently I've been up to a lot of things on campus that I want to tell you about. First of all, I'm a Teaching Assistant for a class in the Communications Department called Interpersonal Communications. I helped proctor a test two weeks ago which was really cool. I stayed after the test and helped my professor grade the multiple choice portion of the exam. My professor is really great so I love when I get to spend time with her. She's also my adviser, so she gives me really great personal advice on classes and what I might do after I graduate.

I've also been having so much fun lately in University Chorale, the singing group that I'm part of. We're all going to Germany this spring on a tour of the country and singing some wonderful German music. I'm so excited for this. Chorale was a great way for me to make friends, so I really encourage everyone to join a group when they come to Boston College. I'm also planning on running for an officer position in Chorale in the spring.

Today me and my roommate made a video for our Business Law class. I got the camera from Media Services here at BC and they were really helpful in showing me how to use the camcorder. I love how my professor makes fun assignments for us that really help us make the material relevant and stick in our minds.

Well that's about it for me tonight. Thanks for visiting the SAP Blog, everybody!

Peace,
Madeleine

We are BC!

2009-10-25T20:14:00.001-04:00

It’s almost Halloween in Boston! Sorry for the long time between posts; the middle of the semester often turns into a crazy whirlwind of school, extracurriculars and fun. I’m writing from the Amtrak MetroNorth, just outside of Boston. I was in NYC this past weekend with my family, and am just returning to campus. The train is a great way to get up and down the East Coast; I often take it home to Philadelphia and have time to do lots of reading and napping.

This weekend I met my family in New York. It was great to get off campus for the weekend, but I’m wishing my train would arrive in Boston faster. Lots of BC students were traveling this weekend, but most were traveling to South Bend, Indiana for the BC-Notre Dame football game. Sadly, Notre Dame prevailed in the end, but my friends and roommates assure me that it was still a great experience, whether they traveled by plane, car or RV across the US.

One of my favorite things about BC is the school spirit. In New York, South Bend or Boston, it’s likely that you will meet another BC fan. Current students, families and alumni all traveled to cheer BC on at Notre Dame. It was cold in Indiana, but our gold “SuperFan” T-shirts filled the crowd.

I personally felt the reach of BC school spirit last weekend at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge and Boston last weekend. Held every October on the Charles River, Head of the Charles (HOCR) is the world’s largest regatta. Boats large and small compete on the twisting, narrow waters of the Charles to be the fastest. It’s a “head race”, so boats start every 12 seconds, trying to pass the boats ahead and hold off the boats behind. This makes it entertaining for spectators, as boats often crash into bridges or each other

I raced in the Collegiate Men’s 8+ event last Sunday. The BC Men’s and Women’s rowing teams had a banquet at our new boathouse Friday night, and there were a plethora of races Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, I spent the day with my parents watching races in the beautiful, chilly sunshine. Sunday dawned cold, rainy and raw. As I was putting on many layers of spandex pants, BC fans were braving the rain to travel to the Charles. Even in the rain and snow, roommates, friends, parents, former rowers, and alumni came out to stand along the bridges and riverbanks to cheer us on. From the windy racecourse Sunday afternoon, we heard the shouts of encouragement. Near or far, BC fans are always there.

Voice from last year!

2009-10-21T02:00:00.004-04:00

Hello friends!

Its been a LONG time since I posted so I will re-introduce myself. My name is Justin and I am a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The traditional intro on my major is kind of complicated because I am majoring in American Studies, an independent major here at BC. Basically, that means that I did not find a major I loved and decided to create my own. I wrote a proposal to incorporate English, History, and Sociology into my new major and study the culture of American cities...it should be interesting. I am particularly excited these days because after a great deal of work, the major finally got approved!

I am also involved in the Undergraduate Government of Boston College! I am the Executive Director of the University Affairs department and have the pleasure of leading directors of Sustainability, Diversity Development, Academic Affairs, Student Formation, and Service issues. Its a challenge to manage such a large group but its hugely rewarding and something I love to do.

Getting involved here at BC is very important and I would recommend doing so whether you end up at BC or not. Coming to college you have MUCH more free time and its always better to fill it with things you care about and eventually people you grow to respect and enjoy.

That's what I have for now. Happy application writing!

Justin
pikeju@bc.edu

4Boston - My First Day

2009-10-19T23:09:00.006-04:00

Hello again!

A few weeks have passed since I last posted and a lot has been going on. I am ecstatic to report that after finally completing all of the necessary forms, I was able to start volunteering with 4Boston, which is an amazing program unique to Boston College.

Within 4Boston, a program run through Boston College’s Office of Campus Ministry, students spend four hours a week volunteering in Boston and one hour a week in a group reflection. It was founded based on the three pillars of community, spirituality, and social justice, and as volunteers we strive to help those in the Boston area who may be poor or marginalized while looking inside of ourselves to reflect on our experiences and grow as people and as members of the community.

4Boston has many different kinds of placements, and mine is with the Jackson-Mann Pre-School. I volunteer on Mondays from 2-6 pm. I volunteered in a pre-school in high school, and I loved it so much that when I graduated I promised myself that I would look for some place at BC where I could continue to work with children, and so this program with 4Boston was perfect for me. If you don’t like working with small children, don’t worry; 4Boston has many other placements that allow you to tutor, volunteer in a hospital, cook meals for the homeless, and much more.

On my first day, I hopped on the T (Boston's public transportation system), conveniently located right across from Boston College’s lower campus, with my two co-volunteers and arrived at the Allston stop, which is just a short seven or so minute walk from the pre-school. I entered the school and walked to the pre-school classrooms where the children were silently napping. My friends and I were in charge of making snack, which today consisted of macaroni and cheese, apples, and pears. When the kids woke up from their nap, I brought in their snack and met my class for the year. They were all very cute! For the rest of the afternoon we played fun games in the classroom, ran around on the playground outside, read books, and played with play-doh until all of the children were picked up by their parents. Needless to say it was a very fun and busy first day!

I would sincerely recommend the 4Boston program to anyone at Boston College. Today was only my first day and I can already tell that this experience is going to be rewarding for both myself and the children in “my class.”

Until next time!

Ali McDonald
College of Arts and Sciences Class of 2013
mcdonaay@gmail.com

A Typical Tuesday

2009-10-07T10:16:00.004-04:00

Happy (rainy) Wednesday from Chestnut Hill!

This week, I thought I would talk about a “normal” day on campus for me during the week. Every day is a little different: my class schedule is such that Tuesday and Thursday I have the same classes, and Monday, Wednesday, Friday are another set of classes, although I only have one class on Fridays. It sounds confusing, but there is so much more free time than in high school so you get the hang of it pretty fast. So, this is what my day looked like yesterday:

5:35 AM: My alarm goes off for practice. I’ve laid out all of my clothes and my backpack the night before, so I’m at the corner of campus by 5:45 to get a ride down to the boathouse.

6:00-8:30 AM: BC Men's Crew practice along the Charles River. The guys start with some warm up on land, then we launch from the docks of our boathouse. Sometimes we see a gorgeous sunrise from the water.

9:00 AM: Back on campus, either for breakfast with my team in the dining hall (I have oatmeal, the guys love the breakfast burritos) or breakfast in my room. Yesterday I came back to my room, went to the gym to bike for half an hour, took a shower, and made myself breakfast.

10:10 AM: Leave my room to start walking to my class at 10:30 in Gasson Hall. Leave an extra 5 minutes early so I have time to stop at Dunkin Donuts for coffee.

10:30-11:45 AM: HS524 US Bill of Rights. The first of my two history classes of the day, this is a 35 person class about the US Bill of Rights.

12:00-1:15 PM: HS171 Islamic Civilization. My other history class this semester (I’m a history major), it’s a lecture about the culture, religion and history of the Islamic world.

1:25 PM: Back in my room for lunch and a nap.

3:00 PM: Wake up, start my homework for the day. Read A Man for All Seasons for my honors class – we’re talking about Sir Thomas More and Utopia this week.

4:00 PM: My roommate is home from her organic chemistry lab. We hang out and talk about our days and decide that we’re going to hang out in our room and have dinner while we do some homework.

4:30-6:30 PM: Head to Hillside Café on campus to do some reading and homework before dinner. Order a Caramel Macchiato before I start my French writing in hopes of becoming inspired.

6:30 PM: Dinner in my room with my roommate.

7:30-8:30 PM: Attend a Maison Française event on campus. The Maison Française is primarily an option for specialized living on campus where the residents agree to speak French in their dorm. But, they also host events: last night there was a presentation on becoming an English Assistant teacher in France.

8:30-9:30 PM: Meet a friend in Lower dining hall to study for our Islamic Civilization test, finish up some homework.

10:30 PM: Bedtime, it’s another early morning!

This is just a sample day, and clearly everyone’s day will be different depending on their activities, their test schedule, and even the weather.

Feel free to ask any questions, or if I failed to explain something clearly, please let me know!

Rachel Craft
craftr@bc.edu

Just a Few Things Happening @ BC

2009-10-01T23:29:00.009-04:00

Hey all you prospective students, my name is Greg Sacharoff and I am a sophomore enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am currently majoring in Communications with a concentration in Broadcasting. I hail from Glen Rock, New Jersey, a small suburban town about 25 miles outside of New York City.

As Rachel stated in her post, it is a beautiful time to be in New England right now. Fall is upon us and up here the leaves are beginning to change. Very soon our hilltop campus, and everywhere around us, will come alive with color. For those of you who don't live in the Northeast, it is truly a sight to see. The changing leaves signal that we are now well into the beginning of our academic year. By now all students have really had a chance to settle in and brush off the last remnants of summer. Classes are in full swing and with it, the work has slowly been piling up. But nonetheless, there are a variety of different activities and events going on campus all the time for students. It is just one of the great things about attending such a well-regarded and respected university. Especially now, during fall, our campus is buzzing with activity before the cold and wind of winter arrive.

This past weekend, many BC students got to enjoy a little time off from their day-to-day routine because of BC's annual Parents' Weekend. Though, my parents were not able to make it up this year to see me, it was still a fun experience meeting all my friends and roommates parents. Parents typically arrive here on Thursday or Friday and spend the day going to a variety of different events. On Friday, many parents came to class with their student to get a sense of what academic life is like at BC. It is an interesting sight to see so many parents walking around campus, but even more interesting to see those students who would have clearly preferred their parents not come with them to class. Throughout the weekend, parents and students got to enjoy a benefit concert at Conte Forum with the Boston Pops and a football game on Saturday afternoon; this year BC played (and won) against Wake Forest. Both of these events are a lot of fun. Parents' Weekend also gives students an opportunity to get off campus and get into the city or surrounding areas with their families. Whether or not you enjoy every moment with your parents over the weekend, it is always nice to see them for just a little...plus you always get a few free meals out of it.

This coming weekend (October 3rd & 4th) we have another home football game. The Boston College Eagles will take on the Florida State Seminoles at Alumni Stadium. Every football game here is an all day event. Our campus comes alive on game days as alumni and BC football fans take over. There are an endless array of different things going on all over campus. Though each game is exciting, this weekend BC will play host to ESPN's College Game Day broadcast. It’s going to be a really great time and a really unique experience that you can only find at a Division I school. I can't wait to see all the different things that ESPN brings to our campus, though mostly I am hoping that I get on TV. Hope you guys tune in to ESPN on Saturday to watch the Eagles play. Plus you’ll get a little taste of what it’s like to be a Boston College Superfan. You can’t miss the student section. We are always a cheering sea of gold because all BC students receive a gold superfan shirt when they arrive here for freshman orientation.

Another great upcoming event is Homecoming. Unlike at others schools where Homecoming coincides with a football game or large sporting event, at BC Homecoming is a huge dinner and dance. It is one of the few big dancing events that is hosted on campus. It’s a great event hosted under a huge tent that is set up on Lower Campus. Last year I couldn’t get a ticket to it because there is such a high demand, but thankfully this year I was able to snag one. I’m really looking forward to it.

So those are just three big events that happen on campus during the fall. However in addition to those, there are lots of other different things always happening. There are lectures, seminars, game nights, movie nights, club events, and a variety of other different programs going on every single day. If you’re interested in finding out more about all the different things that are going on at BC right now, just check out these two links: UGBC.org and the University Calendar.

Well unfortunately it’s time to get back to work; midterms are already here. Seems like just yesterday I was just starting classes. I’ll post again soon.

Peace,
Greg
College Arts & Sciences '12

Student Activities Day - A Freshman Perspective

2009-10-01T15:38:00.005-04:00

Hi everyone!

My name is Ali McDonald and I am a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am from Summit, New Jersey, and I am currently an English major. In my first semester, I am taking Western Cultural Traditions (my honors seminar, which counts as two classes), Introduction to Psychology as a Social Science, Elementary Italian, and Studies in Poetry. I absolutely love all of my classes.

Although it happened a few weeks ago, I would like to talk about my first Student Activities Day experience. At Student Activities Day, student clubs and organizations set up tables along the Dust Bowl (the big, grassy area on campus in front of McElroy used for activities, barbeques, etc.) and students are given the opportunity to walk around in between their classes. It is basically a huge club fair that typically takes place in September after school has started. Although I heard about all of the activities and ways to get involved on and off campus at Boston College, what I saw on the Dust Bowl that day was above and beyond what I had imagined. BC has tons of clubs to join, whether you are interested in club sports, dance, drama, a cappella, mock trial, community service, language clubs, and much more.

As I walked around to the different tables, everyone was so eager to talk to me about what their club is, and all of the club leaders patiently listened to any questions I had. I signed the e-mail lists of about eleven clubs, but the best part is that you are in no way required to actually participate in the clubs you sign up for, which makes it easy for you to “shop around” and find the club that is right for you. Sign up for anything, even if you have never done it before. I signed up for Mock Trial (a club in which you work on and then try a case against other schools in competition) having never been on a Mock Trial team before, tried out, and made the team! Don’t be afraid to try new things; that is what college is for, and you could surprise yourself! That being said, a lot of the clubs I did in high school are also at BC in another form, like Ecopledge (the environmental club), or Special Olympics, so BC also has plenty of opportunities for you to continue with what you loved to do in high school.

Well, I have to go to class. Until next time!

Ali McDonald
Class of 2013
mcdonaay@gmail.com

Fall, Sophomore Year

2009-09-28T13:52:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone!

My name is Rachel Craft and I’m a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. I’m from suburban Philadelphia, about 5 hours from BC. I’m a history major, a french minor, and maybe an art history minor as well. This fall I’m taking 4 classes, although one is a “double” so technically I’m taking 5. I’m taking Western Cultural Tradition (part of the honors program requirements, it’s a double credit class), Islamic Civilization, US Bill of Rights (both history classes), and a French class called Artists and their Writings, all about artists such as Van Gogh and the relationship between their writings and their art. It’s a good balance between small discussion and lecture format, although even in my Islamic Civilization lecture, they ask questions and people participate. Last year as a freshman I took art history for the first time and loved it, so I’m hoping to have time to take some more and add a second minor. But, if not, there are plenty of opportunities for art in my major, and within my minor. Both Islamic Civilization and my French class this semester have visual/artistic components.

In terms of other activities, I volunteer with the Student Admissions Program (SAP), and with the Red Cross, but my main activity is that I’m a coxswain for the Men’s Crew team here at BC. It’s a serious time commitment, but one of my favorite things at school. I had never been a part of crew or rowing before coming to BC, and I barely knew what a coxswain was. FYI, a coxswain is the person who steers the 4 or 8 man boats, and acts as a coach within the boat, talking over a microphone to correct technique, keep the rhythm and motivate the rowers. I ended up trying it last fall, and loved it! Despite the fact that I get up very early (5:35 on weekdays), I love my team and what I do. This year, one of my goals is to find some more activities to take part in on campus as well, but crew has given me something to be passionate about, to be very involved in, and I have found some amazing teammates, mentors and friends.

It’s a beautiful time to be in New England, the leaves are changing but it’s not cold yet, and I’m going to take advantage of the sunshine and do some reading outside before my next class. Email or post with any questions, now’s the time to ask!

Rachel Craft
craftr@bc.edu

2009-09-15T17:38:00.003-04:00

Hello everybody on the SAP Blog!

Thanks for visiting our site. My name is Madeleine and I'm a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, majoring in Communications.

The start of school has been exhausting and exhilarating, with classes starting, football season, and all of the activities that are starting. I went to the first rehearsal of University Chorale (a great music group that sings lots of wonderful church music) and as usual had a blast singing a ton of fun music with my friends. We're getting ready to sing with Bernadette Peters and Keith Lockheart (two major players in the world of music) for Parent's Weekend. I also did some work for my job on the yearbook, Sub Turri. I'm one of two Assistant Business Managers so more work is coming my way as I get closer to becoming an actual business manager next year.

I finally got all of the classes I wanted (just in time!) since Add/Drop (our class shopping period) ends tomorrow. I stopped by one of my old classes to chat with all the new students today which was a lot of fun. One of the things I really love about Boston College is how upperclassmen consistently reach out to freshman to try and help them have the best BC experience they possibly can.

Well, that's all for me today, I've got to get back to my math homework!
Peace,
Madeleine

Anything but Trivial

2009-08-04T10:45:00.002-04:00

Hi everybody,

It's Brennan, you local friendly English/PoliSci major. It’s been a while since my last post; sorry about that – the volume of visitors here at BC has skyrocketed in the last few weeks. It’s exciting, but very tiring.

Last night, a bunch of us from SAP went to the Applebee’s right next to campus for trivia night. We had a blast – teams from BC took 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th place. Eagles represent!

To me, events like trivia night do a lot more than showcase what fun things happen off campus. They show what kind of people we have here at BC. During the day yesterday, we all worked hard to help visitors get to know BC, talking about all of our experiences and accomplishments during our time spent here. Later, we played a hard-fought game against Northeastern in softball (besting our Husky friends). Then, we all put our brains to work trying to guess which animal has legs but cannot walk (actual question!).

As a whole, yesterday really illustrates how multifaceted BC students are. We love to work hard but have fun. I couldn’t ask for a better group of friends.

-Brennan Harkins
A&S '11
harkinbr@bc.edu

All She Wants To Do Is Dance!

2009-08-04T10:22:00.002-04:00

Hello again, everyone! Summer is winding down a bit too quickly for my liking, and I’m anxiously anticipating my final year at Boston College. I’m looking forward to living in one of the senior apartments and to taking interesting (yet albeit challenging!) classes, but what I’m most excited about is my chance to perform in what may be my last dance performance ever. As a member of the Dance Organization of Boston College (DOBC), an audition-based, student run dance group of 40 to 50 dancers, I will dance in our yearly showcase in late January. Here’s a bit more about DOBC and other dance opportunities at BC and in the greater Boston area.

My experience with DOBC didn’t get off on the right foot (no pun intended…): I auditioned for DOBC during my freshman year but did not make the cut; only a handful of freshmen were chosen that year. I also auditioned for the Dance Ensemble, a group which is very similar to DOBC, but failed to make the cut. Although I felt quite discouraged, I didn’t want to give up my passion for dance, so I became a part of the studio class program in DOBC. DOBC is split into 2 groups: one is made up of dancers who made the cut during auditions and perform at the yearly showcase, and the other is made up of students at all dance levels who take open studio classes for enjoyment or technique practice. I took studio classes every night during my freshman year and when I auditioned again at the beginning of my sophomore year, I made the cut for the performance group! DOBC, like the Dance Ensemble and all of the other Boston College dance groups, is entirely student run—we have a board of directors who choose dances, plan out rehearsals, devise a theme for the show and work with Robsham Theater to make for a great performance. Unfortunately, I could not perform with DOBC last year because I was off dancing in Paris, but I can’t wait to come back this year.

Aside from DOBC and the Dance Ensemble, which focus mostly on traditional dance styles such as tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and modern, Boston College has a number of other dance groups. Synergy and Phaymus are two of the most prominent hip-hop groups on campus and are well-known for their innovative choreography and creative music mixes. Fuego del Corazon is our Latin dance group and always impresses with its classic male-female partnering and snazzy footwork. The Boston College Dance Team performs with the Marching Band at every football game and wows the crowd with their formations and spirit. Boston itself offers a variety of dance companies and programs for students who wish to take classes outside of BC. The Boston Ballet offers open adult classes for students 16 and older; for just $15 a class, students can take ballet at the elementary, intermediate or advanced level. The Dance Complex in Cambridge is my new favorite spot: the studio is located in an old apartment building in Central Square and boasts an enormous class offering in everything from beginners tap to advanced modern to African dance. At $10 to $13 for an hour to two-hour class, the Dance Complex offers the perfect opportunity for all dancers. I’m already looking forward to my next ballet class there!

Until next time friends, keep on dancin’!

Courtney Kipp
A&S 2010
Resident French Translator, Theology Girl, and Dance Buff

More about BC Professors

2009-07-28T09:56:00.005-04:00

Hello everyone;

Courtney's post below does a great job of explaining how the professors here at BC are really top-notch. I just wanted to add my own story about how the professor-student relationships here have affected my education.

First, I should begin by noting that I was originally solely a Political Science major. How I came to add English as my second major is the subject of this blog post.

I was always good at English in high school - I took AP English Language when I was a junior and AP Literature during my senior year. I liked writing, but I wasn't sure I wanted to continue with it as much in college; I thus declared my Political Science major and assumed that my English career was all but over.

Fast forward to sophomore year here at BC. I took a literature course called 19th Century Irish Literature with Professor James Smith (of the English & Irish Studies departments). The class was structured around 2 essays and a final exam. When I turned in my first essay, I expected the grading to work just like in high school: the teacher/professor running through my paper with red pen and handing it back in due time.

When I did get my essay back, I was happily surprised. Professor Smith wrote a writeup of my essay (essentially an essay about my essay), complete with detailed analysis of what he thought I did very well along with what I could improve to become a better writer on the college level. I went to Prof. Smith's office hours (which all professors have) to discuss the essay; we talked for about a half-hour about writing.

As a result, I became a better writer, and wrote better for all of my English courses. More importantly, I rediscovered how much I loved the English language, spoken and written. With that in mind, I declared English as my second major and haven't looked back since.

Everyone at BC has a story like mine - that of a professor who went the extra mile and made their experience at BC richer. Professors who care about undergrads are truly the rule, not the exception, here at BC.

Brennan Harkins
BC A&S 2011
harkinbr@bc.edu

Professors Will Pump You Up!

2009-07-20T09:35:00.006-04:00

Before I begin my next blog, I should probably introduce myself, as I failed to do so in my first entry—I was just too excited to write about my experience in Paris that I forgot all about it! My name is Courtney Kipp, and I will be a senior this fall in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am pursuing a double major in French and Theology, and I’m originally from North Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Even though it’s summer and you don’t see them as often, there are still professors who, like us summer student employees, can’t seem to get enough of Boston College. Upon running into my Theology professor and adopted advisor Professor Kilcoyne last week, I began reflecting on my experiences with my professors during my past three years at BC. Many of them have had a profound impact on my academic trajectory, and their involvement in and care for their students’ lives make BC professors one of the school’s best assets.

Upon arrival at BC, every student receives an academic advisor in his or her major. The advisor gives the student his or her registration code and offers advice as to which classes to take and whether or not the major is right for the student. For double majors, students only have an advisor in their primary major, or the major listed first on their degree audits. Since French is my primary major, it was up to me to find a professor in the Theology program to give me advice. Luckily for me, when I came to the Admitted Students Day at BC in April of my senior year of high school, I went to an informational session about the Philosophy and Theology programs given by Professor Kilcoyne, a prominent professor in the Theology Department. He spoke about the Theology major and minor and introduced the 5-year BA/MA program in Theology, which allows BC students to begin taking graduate courses during their senior year and stay at BC for one extra year after graduation to obtain a master’s degree. I went to Professor Kilcoyne’s office early on in the year and talked to him about my “theological aspirations” for my next four years at BC. Before long, he had become my adopted Theology advisor, and to this day, I return to his office a few times a semester to ask for advice and receive guidance in the major.

As I enter my senior year, Professor Kilcoyne and other professors in the Theology program will continue to play a significant role in my academic experience. I have been accepted into the 5th year BA/MA program and will take my first graduate course in the fall. My senior thesis, which will combine both of my majors, will be nearly impossible to complete without the expertise and guidance of my Theology professors. No matter what you study here at BC, you will inevitably find professors who will become your mentors, advisors and, perhaps more importantly, friends. They are the ones who will shape your academic experience and not only help you make the most of your four years here but also mold the rest of your academic life. Until next time!

Courtney Kipp
A&S 2010
kippc@bc.edu

525,600 Minutes...and only 25 Dollars

2009-07-17T10:50:00.012-04:00

Hello everyone - and welcome to Boston College's A&S blog! A brief intro: My name is Brennan Harkins and next year I will be a junior here, majoring in English & Political Science.

While I can't say enough great things about BC's academics, I'll dedicate my first post to what is (in my humble opinion) the greatest college town in America (if not the world) - Boston.

Last night, I went into the city with another one of our admissions councilors to see Rent, which is on another tour off Broadway. It took us only a half-hour or so to get downtown. Beforehand, we ate at Papa Razzi's, an amazing Italian restaurant downtown. Boston is chock full of places like this - the dining scene around here is second to none.

Rent was playing at the Colonial Theatre an elegant performing hall on Boylston Street, right across from Boston's Public Gardens. The best part? Tickets were nearly $60 for regular patrons, but just $25 for students - and our seats were 10 rows from the stage. Boston is home to over 250,000 students and businesses of all stripes cater to us - it's awesome to be 25 and under around here.

Once the play was over, it was great to come back to our own campus - mass transportation took us right back to BC (there's actually a Boston College line on the subway). So while the city is right at our fingertips, we have our own community to come back to at the end. If you visit BC, be sure to not neglect the amazing city at our doorstep.

-Brennan
A&S 2011
harkinbr@bc.edu

Where In The World Is Courtney Kipp?

2009-07-13T13:01:00.003-04:00

It’s been over 6 months since I returned from my study abroad experience, and I’m finally beginning to readjust to life back at BC. While I still miss waking up for my morning run to the smell of freshly-baked pain au chocolat at the nearby boulangerie and long to do my back-to-school shopping on Rue Saint-Antoine and Saint Germain-des-Près instead of Newbury Street, my experience has given me a greater appreciation not only for the beautiful city I called home for nearly five months, but also for my three and a half years at Boston College.

As a French major, studying abroad was a no brainer. I spent the fall semester of my junior year studying at the Université de Paris IV: Sorbonne. To say I was a bit nervous to leave is a complete understatement; I was absolutely petrified. Coming from North Attleboro, a tiny town just an hour south of BC, I thought that entering a school of 9,000 students was a huge step. As an only child, I’m incredibly close to my family and, before leaving for Paris, I had never gone more than a month without seeing my parents. The first week of study abroad was a challenge: my airline switched my connecting flight from London to Paris four times before throwing me onto a plane five minutes before takeoff, my luggage was lost and held hostage by the aforementioned airline until late into my first night in Paris, I couldn’t figure out Skype if my life depended on it, and my French speaking skills were mediocre at best. But on my sixth day in Paris, something changed. All of the girls in the BC in Paris program gathered at my apartment, a gorgeous, three-bedroom on the fifth floor on Boulevard Morland, located between the Marais and Bastille districts. We headed off to a club in the Bastille district just after midnight—this is all too typical of the European lifestyle and could even be considered “too early” to go out. As I danced and laughed my way into the wee hours of the morning, I began to realize why everyone raves about studying abroad.

My next few months only got better. Once I figured out my courses, I was engrossed in medieval religious history and 19^th century French literature during the week. Through the lectures, papers, and discussions with my fellow Parisian students, my French drastically improved, and I found myself chattering with friends before class and understanding jokes made by my professors. I went to Mass at the Notre Dame Cathedral on a weekly basis and explored the city by foot, uncovering delicious cafés and neat clothing shops that would never be mentioned in a guide book. Outside of my circle of BC friends, I met international students from England, Spain, Italy and Switzerland, and I even began dating one of the English guys (clearly, a transatlantic romance is quite impossible, and I’m sticking with American guys from now on!). When January 9^th came, I sat in my bare bedroom and stared at my packed suitcases as I tried to find a way to stay in Paris; I really did not want to return to the States. I had lived a fairytale life for four and a half months, and back in Boston, I couldn’t help but compare everything to how it had been in Paris.

In the recent weeks and months, I’ve finally been able to look back on my abroad experience in a new way. Before, I would have given anything to go back to the loud techno clubs, late nights, whirlwind romances and fascinating places, but as I spend more and more time in Boston and think about my senior year, I understand that I have come full circle. It is because of Boston College, with its wonderful study abroad programs and preparatory French classes, that I was able to go to Paris in the first place. I have grown and matured since living in and returning from Paris, and as I consider all the friends, professors, and opportunities I have at BC, I can finally say that I am thrilled to be back in Boston, and this time, I would give anything to stay here. I certainly wouldn’t turn down another trip back to Paris, but this time, I know I would be looking forward to coming home to BC.

An important Q+A inspires me to return

2009-04-28T21:44:00.009-04:00

I've been slacking on the blogging lately - sorry everyone! Final exams are one week away, and as a result I've been scrambling to get caught up on my reading, work on my papers, and finalize my summer plans.

But I was inspired to post again when a reader sent me an email asking an important question about BC.

The emailer asked me about the sense of community at BC. Specifically, he wanted to know whether BC felt like a community, or just a bunch of people going to college in the same place.

My answer:

"First and foremost, congratulations on being admitted to [School X] and to BC. Both are great schools and whenever someone has a tough decision like this, it’s because they have multiple great choices to pick from.

Honestly, in my opinion, nothing defines what it means to be a BC person more than cultivating a sense of community. BC was founded by underprivileged sons of immigrants. They became successful by looking out for fellow BC grads and creating a great network that allowed the university to flourish. If it weren’t for the strong sense of community that has always existed at BC, we never would have risen to the level that we’re at today.

So, in short: yes! A sense of community is a big part of what makes BC what it is, and you’ll find it on service trips all across America and around the world, in cultural clubs and organizations that create vibrant life on campus, or at Conte Forum cheering on the Eagles.

Good luck with your decision-making process and take full advantage of your opportunities wherever you end up going."

**An important addition to the above: The idea of the BC community extends well beyond the students and alums! One of my favorite things about BC is that the staff - from the faculty, to the maintenance workers, to the dining staff, to the admissions office, to the coaches and trainers in the athletics office - all share a deep commitment to doing their part to make BC a better place. You'll find a fierce loyalty among BC employees and that dedication enriches the life for all of us on campus.

Yours,

Joe Gravellese
Boston College 2010
gravellj@bc.edu

Disneyland, Chestnut Hill?

2009-04-15T08:07:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was one of the busiest days of the year in the admissions office. As I waited in the office to give my tour, one of the admissions counselors came over and said something to the effect of "it feels like Disneyland in here... we need a tram to get everyone around to where they have to go."

While the big groups can be a little overwhelming at first as we divide them up in to tour groups of 40-50, I enjoy the larger tours. Ultimately, it means that a) more people are interested in learning about BC, and b) the groups ask a broader range of questions, which always makes giving tours more fun.

The big spring crowds are yet another sign that summer is approaching in Chestnut Hill. I've finally put my winter jacket in the back of the closet, and I feel confident in saying that it's not coming back out.

Summer in Boston is mind-blowingly beautiful - from strolling through the streets of the great city, to relaxing in Boston Common, to just sitting outside enjoying the warm weather. Winter is tough here, but the spring and summer are amazing.

I'm still a bit out of school mode after my relaxing Easter break. Yesterday was my first day back in class, but I only have one class on Tuesdays, so I'm not entirely in the groove yet.

-Joe

BC ' 10

gravellj@bc.edu

A welcome break

2009-04-11T09:56:00.006-04:00

Sorry that I haven't posted since Monday. It's been a busy week. Luckily, we are in the midst of a nice little break - we get off from Holy Thursday through Easter Monday, so most students take advantage of the extra-long weekend to go home and spend the holiday with their families.

This week was pretty much dedicated to making progress on my term papers. I have two major papers to complete this semester - one for Mass Communication Theory and another for Rhetorical Criticism. My Criticism paper is comparing the rhetorical techniques used by President Obama to those used by FDR during the Great Depression. I haven't finalized my topic for my other paper yet (oops).

My presentation for the American Culture War Seminar that I mentioned in my last post went quite well. The class was entirely composed of student presentations, plus Q+A sessions afterward - and it was one of the best classes of the semester. We had good, thought-provoking discussions on the debates over stem cell research, welfare, school vouchers, and more.

Next week looks less crazy than this past week, so I will definitely give a few updates throughout the week.

Good luck to all of those deliberating where they'll be enrolling in the fall.

Joe, BC '10

gravellj@bc.edu

Still got some catching up to do...

2009-04-06T14:06:00.008-04:00

I usually don't refer to Sunday as "Sunday." I always refer to it as "catch up" day. Everyone seems to be catching up on something: sleep (always a good thing), homework (Sundays are usually the day when O'Neill Library is its fullest), cleaning up around the room.

But since yesterday was such a nice day, I didn't do much catching up.

I spent the morning and early afternoon with Josh, my Little Brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer program. Josh is a middle-school student living in downtown Boston. We went bowling, went out to lunch, and played catch for a while. It's nice to just talk about kid stuff once every two weeks or so.

Later in the day, my girlfriend and I took my laptop outside, sat under a tree, and watched a DVD of season 2 of The Office (exciting stuff, I know).

Once 5 PM rolled around and it started to get chilly out, I scrambled to get out my books and get as much work done as possible.

Every Sunday night, I work at Corcoran Commons dining hall from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., serving everyone's favorite meal of the day - "Late Nite," which consists of chicken fingers, chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, buffalo chicken sandwiches, barbeque chicken wraps, and all of that wholesome, healthy stuff. I enjoy my job, and I enjoy the pay, but it means that while everyone else spends their Sunday nights cramming in the library, I'm working in the dining hall.

Corcoran Commons is the largest dining hall on campus; it's also the best place to go for "healthy" late night dining

Thus, I was only able to make a small dent in my pile of tasks for the night. I finished my news story for the Boston Metro newspaper, which I write for about twice a week. I also conducted an interview for my other writing job - I'm a staff writer for EagleInsider.com, an independent online magazine covering BC Athletics.

My story about last week's Bruins game in the Boston Metro. Clearly, I'm such a big deal...;)

The accessibility of Boston provides countless opportunities for internships and job opportunities, and BC's career center helps students through that entire process.

I then prepared my oral presentation for the class I'll be heading to in about 35 minutes, the American Culture War Seminar with one of BC's most famous professors, Alan Wolfe. I need to give a brief but insightful presentation on a 'culture war' topic of my choosing - in this case, school vouchers. It's not an opinion-based presentation; rather, it's an analysis of how people think about the issue, why people think the way they do, and what the debate says about American politics.

I started studying for my French exam, but most of that got put off 'til this morning, when I crammed for about 3 hours with my books and my laptop out at the dining hall over a nutritious breakfast of Corn Pops and tea.

It's off to the Culture War class now... I'll check in with an update on how my presentation went when it's over.

Looking toward the beautiful city of Boston from the quad at BC on a much, much sunnier day than today.

Go Eagles! (...and Red Sox. It's Opening Day, sort of - it got rained out, so the Red Sox begin their '09 season tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. Boo.)

gravellj@bc.edu

Easter Week

2009-04-06T13:32:00.004-04:00

Hi, everyone.

I can't believe we're already almost a week into April! The year has been flying by, and it's strange to think that almost a quarter of my college experience is over. We've been having some really nice weather here lately, so the spring has definitely arrived. Unfortunately, today it's raining, and I had a Day Visit student; I felt so bad that she had to walk around with me in the rain and wind!

This week is a big week for the class of 2012. Tomorrow and Wednesday are class registration days for next semester, and Wednesday is the first housing lottery for sophomore year. My friends and I are hoping to get an 8-man (as are most freshmen); of course, many more people apply than can be accommodated, so we are hoping for the best.

We also have off Thursday, Friday, and Monday for the Easter holidays, so I will be heading home for about 5 days. Then, when we get back, we have less than a month left before finals, and none of the weeks are full, five-day weeks! I am so excited for Marathon Monday on the 20th; it's approaching fast. Last weekend I saw a practice marathon going down Comm. Ave. and really started to get excited. Basically everyone here is excited; it's a pretty popular conversation topic lately.

Okay, I'm off to History. I hope everyone has a great week. :)

Senior year, staring me in the face

2009-04-03T03:35:00.009-04:00

Good morning, future Eagles. My name is Joe Gravellese. I'm a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, double-majoring in political science and communications. I'm a proud native of Revere, MA, a city located about 15 miles from BC - so that makes me the token local guy. I'm also the newest BC blogger. I have joined the admissions blogging brigade for two reasons:

The people who contribute to these blogs do a great job, and I really enjoy reading them - so I wish they posted more often. I tend to get very excited (maybe a little too excited?) about writing and blogging, so I plan on posting here at least every other day.
When I was a senior in high school, I was mostly interested in hearing from college freshmen, and I'm sure that's the case for most of you, as well. But trust me: you want to hear from upperclassmen, too. Think about how fast high school has gone by; multiply that by about 50,000, and that's how quickly college goes. I feel like I was just in your shoes - but now, here I am, staring senior year in the face. So like I said, you want to hear from upperclassmen. I hope to give you an inside look at my journey through my final year at BC, and discuss my forays into the dreaded "real world" away from Chestnut Hill.

As I mentioned, I love writing and blogging, so expect posts to hit on a little bit of everything having to do with life at BC - from what I had for lunch today, to what I learned in Mass Communication Theory class, to what internships or jobs I'm searching for, to how the Boston College baseball team is faring in the ACC.

This is a good time to start blogging. My goal is to eventually take you inside senior year, and my senior year unofficially began yesterday with two important events: the housing lottery, and fall class registration.

Once you get past freshman year, you have the privilege of choosing who you want to live with as an upperclassman; additionally, as a rising senior, you have a plethora of fantastic residence halls to choose from.

But the housing lottery has its perils. A word of advice: try to make an even-numbered group of friends. For senior year housing, you can assemble a 4-man or a 6-man group for a suite or an apartment. Literally 3 minutes before the deadline for the 6-man apartment lottery, my group had 5 people. Thankfully, we found one more roommate at the last minute using the online roommate search feature - a really convenient tool that the Office of Residential Life has to help upperclassmen fill out housing groups. (And, oddly enough, our newest roommate is someone I know well - I competed against him in high school debate, and have run into him many times at BC).

Our run of good luck continued, as we were blessed with one of the earliest picks in the lottery, and got our first choice - a room on the second floor of Ignacio Hall.

Home sweet home in '09-'10: Ignacio Hall.

Most of the early picks in the housing lottery spring for "the Mods" - modular apartments located in the heart of Lower Campus. They are very appealing, as the Mods have backyards - perfect for barbecues, especially on football game days.

But in the end, we decided that the spacious apartments in Ignacio were right for us, as Ignacio is about as centrally located as a residence hall can get. We'll pretty much have a 2 minute walk to classes, a 2 minute walk to Corcoran Commons dining hall (where I work on Sunday and Monday nights), and a 5 minute walk to Conte Forum, BC's hockey and basketball arena. Needless to say, I'm already excited.

The Mods, located on lower campus, are a popular choice for senior housing, as each comes with its own little backyard.

I also registered for my fall semester classes, which made the impending reality of senior year really set in. I still need to complete my core requirements in philosophy and foreign language, so I enrolled in Philosophy of the Person, and Intermediate French I.

My communications major is pretty much all done, but I took an extra communications elective anyway - a course called "Persuasion," with one of BC's best professors, Bonnie Jefferson. I've had Dr. Jefferson twice already, and both times were great learning experiences. She's so adept at blending classic texts, traditional political speeches, and modern popular culture (movies, commercials, YouTube clips) into a coherent course on rhetoric and mass communication. If you get here, I highly recommend taking any of her classes.

My other two classes finish off my second major, political science; I've taken a whole bunch of American politics classes, but I need to fulfill my requirements in comparative and international politics. Thus, I'm taking Rise and Rule of Islamic States, and The United Nations & International Security. Both topics seem important and interesting, although they also both seem to be pretty difficult, with a lot of reading and writing. (But if I didn't want to be buried in reading and papers, I probably should have chosen a different major - so no complaints.)

Oh, something else happened yesterday as well that seemed to signify a sort of unofficial passage into senior year - the BC women's basketball team's season sadly ended with an 82-65 loss to the University of South Florida in the semifinals of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (NIT). With that loss, all of BC's winter sports teams are done for the year - meaning no more trips to Conte Forum until next fall. :(

Conte Forum is now dormant until hockey and basketball start again in October and November, respectively.

Thankfully, the BC baseball team is off to their best start in years. They have a 17-9 record so far, including 2 wins against powerhouse Florida State. They host a 3-game series against NC State this weekend - and since BC baseball games are free to attend for all, I plan on at least attending some of all 3 games.

That's all for now - congratulations to all of you admitted students for the Class of 2013! And for those who are prospective members of the Class of 2014: you make me feel old. But it's all good. I hope my blog will be of service to you over the next year, and will help you decide whether or not BC is right for you.

If you have any questions about anything I blog about, or BC life in general, DO NOT HESITATE to email me at gravellj@bc.edu. Or you can just leave a comment on my post. Thanks for reading!

Go Eagles.

-Joe

Busy Busy Busy

2009-04-01T01:52:00.005-04:00

Hello Everyone!

So, acceptance letters have been sent and I am sure you many of you reading these posts are now potential Eaglets and soon to be full fledged Eagles. I know the time waiting for acceptance letters was stressful for me, so I am sure you are all happy to be getting decisions back, good or bad.

As I have mentioned in my previous posts, I applied for an independent major in American Studies. This major combines the English Department, History Department, and Sociology Department into one massive interdisciplinary major. Essentially, I thought up, designed, and proposed my own major and it has been almost entirely approved by the Educational Policy Committee, pending my addition of more upper level courses. One cool thing I found out about is that Boston College is in a consortium of Boston institutions which allows me to take classes at BU for no additional cost if I feel it pertinent to my major...very cool.

Also, I have been hired as a Residential Assistant for next year meaning I will live in a sophomore residence hall on College Road. I am very excited for the challenge this position will offer and also pumped that I will not have to pay for housing next year as that is the compensation for taking the job.

Finally, I will serve as the Undergraduate Goverment's Executive Director of University Affairs next year. As the manager of the University Affairs Department, I will be responsible for Directors of Sustainability, Diversity, Academic Affairs, Student Formation, and others all with the goal of making Boston College a better place. We are currently interviewing the many talented applicants for positions and will be announcing our decisions this Saturday.

If you haven't guessed by now, I am very involved here because I am happiest when I am busy. While I would say I have taken on more than the average student, my involvements are an accurate reflection of just how passionate students at BC are for their campus and community as a whole. If you're the type of person who would enjoy this atmosphere, go ahead and send in your deposit to BC. You won't regret it for a second.

In closing, I just want to say that Boston College has proven to be an amazing experience for me thus far. Everyone chooses the college they attend for different reasons and I am no exception, but I would encourage all of you to take an honest look at every school you have been accepted too. Take tours, visit websites, go on day visits, and email students to get a sense of the school that touches you in a unique way. I am confident that any person could find a home at Boston College if you just take a little extra time to delve deeper.

Good luck with your decisions! I hope to see some of you around here in the fall.

Justin

2009-03-18T18:35:00.006-04:00

Hi, everyone.

I posted on the blog last Wednesday & just wanted to give an update! This past Sunday was the first really nice weekend day we have had since before winter started. Every open area on campus was covered with people sitting outside to do homework, play sports, or just talk and lay in the sun. And since then the weather has stayed pretty nice. :) My friends and I have been able to sit out in the quad between classes, which is one of our favorite things to do when it's warm (it's more fun than the library).

Also, Monday I went with a bunch of girls from Newton Campus (where I live) to see Britney Spears at the TD Bank North Garden in Boston! The trip on the T is always long, but it was definitely worth it to go to the concert. Then yesterday was St. Patrick's Day; it was great to see so many people on campus showing their Irish pride and wearing green. Other than that, this week has been pretty full because midterms/ tests are really kicking into high gear.

But the weekend is on it's way! I'm hoping to go to ALC Showdown on Friday, which is a big competition between some of the dance groups on campus hosted by the AHANA Leadership Council. I'll keep you posted. :)

Hi, I'm Erin

2009-03-12T15:13:00.004-04:00

Hi, my name is Erin McGrail, and I am a freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences at BC. I am currently a Communications & English double major, and I am also in the A&S Honors Program. In my free time, I am a member of SAP, and I love attending BC sporting events. I also really like to dance and have been looking into the dance programs at BC; I am hoping to join one next semester.

It has unfortunately taken me a while to start posting because the past few weeks (especially leading up to break) have been filled with a lot of work. I also think many people, including myself, had a little case of "the Februaries." But most of the stress has passed for the time being, and the weather here is finally starting to get a little better (at least we're seeing some sun every now and then), and that seems to have put everyone in a better mood. So I'm going to try to start posting weekly from now on. :)

Greetings from Paris!

2009-03-08T12:46:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone!

I'm about 5 weeks into my study abroad experience at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques (Sciences-Po) in Paris, France. It's definitely quite a different experience from being back at BC, but I'm having a lot of fun. I live in an apartment with 3 other girls in one of the central regions of the city, about 20 minutes from my school. My neighborhood is a great area with a lot of restaurants and cafes.

I'm taking courses in both English and French, three of each. I'm taking courses in History, Political Science, French, and Law. They're really interesting, especially having a European perspective. There's a lot of work, but I think it'll be a really rewarding experience.

In my free time, I've been trying to explore as much of Paris as possible. I've been to the Musee de Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay, Versailles (just outside of Paris), the Jardins des Tuileries, the Champs Elysees, and the Eiffel Tower. Paris is definitely a great city. There's so much to do here all the time. It's kind of overwhelming and hard to remember that I'm in school too!

I'm starting to travel next week, with a trip to Ireland. I'm hoping to get to a bunch more countries and cities, including London and Venice (when my friends come over for a summer study abroad program).

I'll be sure to update you all some more as my program goes on!

The night is darkest before the dawn

2009-02-22T21:21:00.003-05:00

Why so serious? Forgive the "Dark Night" inspired theme, but I watched it yesterday and felt compelled to include it in my post.

We, as Boston College Students, are approaching the dawn. Instead of a much improved Gotham City, we are nearing Spring Break, a time to relax and reflect on the veritable insanity that has been our lives since the start of the semester.

Do not be mistaken, insanity is a good thing in college life! Most students at Boston College choose to get involved in a number of different activities and I am no exception. I have been very busy with student government duties, applying to be a Residential Assistant, and applying for my major; these commitments reach a fever pitch right before spring break. With six days left until I return to sunny Los Angeles, I have been hired as a residential assistant, been on the winning team of a campaign for student government, and accomplished many (but not all...yet) of my personal goals for student government.

I now have a chance to sit back, work on my 6 page paper due on Thursday and study for my intro to theater course (woo core curriculum). Of course, watching the Oscars doesn't help any of this but...its a once a year activity and part of college is understanding the world around you...right?

The unfortunate month of February...

2009-02-04T12:58:00.003-05:00

Hey all!

So it's been a reallllyyy long time since I've posted, so I figured now was a good time. We have now entered the month of February which, in my opinion, is the worst month of the year. (Why else would it be the shortest?!) It's that awkward month between winter and spring, when the snow is no longer magical, just tired. It's the month of Valentine's Day...need I say more?

Anyways, the semester is in full swing and my word of advice to prospective students of any college is not to take on more than you can handle! This semester I decided to overload, because without marching band this semester I figured I'd have so much more time. Wrong. I'm now in the process of dropping my overload course because my classes are harder and more work...and even though I don't have marching band, I've still got a lot of other stuff going on (brass class and Plex time to take the place of those long rehearsals...). So please, don't bite off more than you can chew! (The grown-ups were right).

This weekend I'm going on 48 Hours, which is a first-year retreat. My group is going to Brewster, MA, and it's supposed to hit 50 degrees this weekend which will be extremely nice! I've heard wonderful things about the retreat so I'm really looking forward to it. It will also be nice just to get away from campus for a few days.

That's really about all that's going on at this moment...I'm off to a clarinet lesson and then to the Plex before I meet my 48 Hours group tonight and go to class. I hope everyone gets through February successfully...and just keep hanging on until those March and April dates when you start hearing from colleges!

A New Semester

2009-01-12T19:32:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone,

So the new semester starts this Wednesday and I figured a post was in order. Break was great but, like many of you will, I have gotten bored at home and I am looking forward to the chaos of a new semester. I have student government meetings, Student Admission Programs Meetings (for you all), and classes to boot.

This semester I will be taking: Religious Quest II (continuation of Theology Core), Philosophy of the Person II (Continuation of Philosophy Core), Race & Urban Space, Intro to Theater (Fine Art Core), and Intro to American Studies. Once this year is over, I will be completely done with my core curriculum at BC!

Over the next month and a half I will continue to work on my proposal for an Interdisciplinary major in American Studies and try to stay as busy as possible.

I will try to post again in a week or so to update on all the happenings in my life and on campus. I hope all your applications are done and you are enjoying the tension of having to wait for letters to arrive...it's not fun, I know.

All the best for now,

Justin

Semester Wrap Up

2008-12-07T22:51:00.005-05:00

So with classes ending for the semester tomorrow, I thought this would be a good time to give you all an update on what's going on here on the Heights.

There has been SO much going on on campus over the past week for so. Thursday night was the annual Breaking the Barriers Ball which is basically UGBC's semi-formal cocktail-esque party (minus cocktails for those of us under 21). From Thursday-Saturday from 11:30pm-1:00am there was free ice skating in Conte Forum (where the hockey team plays). All weekend the Chorale and Orchestra were performing their annual Christmas Concert. On Friday night, a bunch of my friends and I headed down the B-Line to see our hockey team play BU. Saturday our football team played in the ACC Championship but unfortunately we lost :(. Saturday night we played BU at home and lost again. Not a good weekend for Boston sports. It was a great weekend before the craziness of final starts.

Classes end tomorrow, so finals start on Thursday after two days of study days. We have two finals periods each day (usually) at 9:00am and 12:30pm. This semester, I have two in class exams and three take home exams/essays. This is the first semester I've had so many take home exams. It should be a nice change of pace from all the in class exams.

Once exams are over, it's time to pack up for the semester and get ready for Paris! It's so crazy how much I have to do before I leave. This week I'm picking my classes. Last week I went into Boston to order a visa. And I should be booking my flight in the next few days. I'll definitely keep you all updated on my adventures abroad.

Happy Holidays!

Wait a second!

2008-11-25T14:31:00.003-05:00

Welcome home to me! I got back home to McLean, Virginia yesterday and this is my first time home since August 19th. I was thinking that coming home after more than three months (the longest time I've ever been away) would be super weird and awkward but it hasn't been at all! I walked into my house like I was in it yesterday. I climbed into my car this morning and turned on the ignition like I've been driving regularly these past few months. Nothing different! I guess it's a nice feeling to come home and to not feel like I've been away for 25% of the year. But it's also kind of a weird feeling to just sit in my house in my pajamas, eating a sandwich, and relaxing with nothing to do. Nothing really going on, no one to see, just eating by myself...it's definitely nice to have a break from needing to call everyone on my BC contact list in order to go get something to eat.

I visited my high school today and saw seven of my old teachers. It was really nice to talk to some of the adults that had such an impact on my life and who really know me. Of course I got the whole "How's college? How's Boston? How are your classes?" And it was always just the same "Oh everything's goooood blah blah"...I wasn't really thinking about my answers. So after a long time at school and lots of talking about my new life, I got back home and made myself a sandwich. And on my iTunes, the rendition of "For Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys started playing and I said to myself, "Wait a minute! I love BC!" Now why couldn't I convey that in my myriad conversations about my college experience today? I guess I'll never know, but I'm glad I came to that realization today. I mean, I already knew I loved school...but that was while I was up there. So I'm glad I realized it while I'm at home and I'll be happy to return.

But as for now, I'm very thankful to be home for a few days. I'll be back on Friday for the football game Saturday! If we beat Maryland, we'll be making another experience at the ACC Championship in Tampa Bay. Let's go BC! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Study Space

2008-11-12T15:17:00.008-05:00

One thing that might not come first on your list of "what I'm looking for in a college" is study space, but it's something you should consider! In high school, you're in class for basically all of the day besides lunch, and unless you've got sports or clubs after school, you go home to do all your work. You've got your room or your kitchen or living room (or bathroom if that's how you roll..!) and any of those rooms can be at the noise level you decide. Well, in college, you're not always going to be able to dictate the noise levels or temperatures or location of your dorm room. And even the dorm lounges can get pretty noisy, so on your college search, I want you to walk around every campus you visit--go in the libraries and classrooms and lounges and imagine yourself studying in all of these places. Make sure there's a variety of spaces to your liking.
This is where BC comes in! After more almost three months here, I'm still finding new places to study every single day and I can never decide which is my favorite.

There's the Babst Library, located on Linden Lane across from St. Mary's Chapel. This is the "Harry Potter" library, because the interior looks like Hogwarts. The image displays the study room, which is usually open 24 hours a day and is completely silent. Babst is really good if you need hard chairs to stay awake, and complete silence to focus...though it is really easy to get distracted by the sheer magnificence of the room!

Next is O'Neill Library, the main library on campus, named after former speaker of the house, Tip O'Neill. The computer room is located in O'Neill, where you can get work done or just check your email quickly. In the stacks room, there are myriad tables and chairs, and amazingly comfy chairs to plop down and get some reading done. O'Neill's good if you like to be comfortable while studying, and like quiet but appreciate a little hustle and bustle going on in the library to remind you of existence on earth. (O'Neill is also great for power naps, but don't say I told you so.)

Many students also like to study in The Rat (small dining facility located in Lyons basement) or the Eagle's Nest (lunch dining hall on second floor of McElroy). Here, you can get some food and a big table and study by yourself or with friends, usually best for in between classes. There are also comfy chairs in Higgins Hall (see image on right) where you can find some quiet space between classes, or couches in Fulton located in the Quad. In the evenings, many students flock to the libraries or some will find some empty classrooms in Gasson or Carney.

All of these locations I just mentioned offer study surroundings for every type of preference, and let students switch it up a bit as I like to do. I never really considered the variety of study space colleges had to offer, but BC has definitely given me all I could ask for in that department.

So I hope this discussion has helped a little, although it was a bit long...I tend to do that.
Happy Humpday!

Post Midterm Breathing

2008-11-11T02:08:00.003-05:00

So the general theme of the posts lately is mid-terms. This time can be very stressful and busy for any student and BC is no exception. I had to write several papers and take a couple exams but frankly, that's par for the course in college. Don't worry about this stuff when you are applying to schools!

While the last few weeks have been busy, there was a great concert sponsored on campus that featured the popular DJ RJD2. It was amazing and the event sold out by the 3rd day of ticket sales! It was a great Thursday night and you can look forward to keeping busy here at BC with that kind of stuff. There never seems to be any shortage.

With my last midterm turned in last week, I went into the city for a bit before the Notre Dame football game (kind of a big deal). I wandered Newbury with my girlfriend and we went into the world's largest Apple Store that is 3 stories tall. It's crazy and very cool if you are a Mac enthusiast. Newbury street is a great place and I would encourage any of you prospective students to check it out if you visit campus.

I'm keeping it short tonight because it's late but I'll be posting more now that I have some more time. Keep working on those applications! I hope we'll be seeing you around campus.

Justin

Back for the first time

2008-11-05T16:39:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone..it's been a few weeks since my last (a.k.a. first) blog entry, and I figured now would be a good time to finally make another. I am just now feeling recovered from the past week, in which I had two races and three midterms. Thankfully this week (so far) has been much less hectic.

Last week began with a race in Boston's own Franklin Park, the Mayor's Cup. Our team rested the top eight runners, but used the Mayor's Cup to determine who would take the last two spots for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship the following Saturday. I ended up placing fifth in the overall race, and first among BC runners, earning my spot for ACC's.

In the time between the Mayor's Cup and ACC's, I faced three midterms on consecutive days, with History on Wednesday, Modern Irish (the language) on Thursday, and a Theology midterm paper due Friday. While it was somewhat of a struggle to keep focused, I feel like I held my own in each.

Finally the weekend came, and with it, the ACC race, hosted by the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. As a team, BC ran to its highest place in school history, tying for sixth with the University of Maryland. Senior Tim Ritchie also set a record by finishing second overall, the highest individual finish of any BC athlete in the ACC championship history. Such great results made the flight back to Boston an enjoyable one for all ten guys that raced.

That's all the news I have as of late, but I'll certainly write another entry sometime soon.