Dining Bucks

If you're worried about running out of dining bucks at Boston College, DON'T. I'm serious. If you don't have an oven in your room you will receive a mandatory meal plan of $2200 per semester. You will also receive $125 flex dollars that you can use for things like the vending machine, concessions at games, and treats at the Chocolate Bar. This money rolls over to second semester if not used up in the first. In addition it gets carried over from spring to fall.

However, this is not true for dining bucks. Although they do roll over to second semester, they get completely erased after spring semester. This means that if you do not use all of it then you're essentially giving your money back to the school. Sounds silly, right? Some people run out of money. Here's what all of this means:

*boys and athletes tend to run low on their money. However, this is just a generalization. Some people snack a lot and some people eat bigger meals. If you do run out of money you can ask just about anyone around you in line to pay for your meal. Most people will say yes.

*If you start to realize that you have way too much money, you can do one of the following:
a. start buying more expensive meals (I bought myself lobster tonight!)
b. start eating more
c. buy meals for people that don't have dining plans (people with ovens in their dorm rooms, professors, grad students)
d. buy meals for prospective students and their families
e. if it's the end of the semester, buy things in bulk! (today I bought about 10 bags of chips to waste money...I will bring them home to my family for summer bbq's)
f. donate to charity! (many clubs sit in the dining halls and ask you to donate some of your bucks to their service trip, etc.)

I know it's awkward to end on "h," but I'm pretty sure I have exhausted all of the options. So, don't worry. Whether you have too much money or not enough money, you will be fine.

Questions about meal plans or anything else? Please email me: cornisab@bc.edu

:) Abby Sue

Campus School

Another great thing about the Lynch School is its relationship with the Campus School, which is housed right inside Campion Hall (Lynch's home on campus). The Campus School is a school for children with multiple and severe disabilities ages 3-21. They are recommended to the school by their home districts and tuition and transportation are paid for by the public school district. The Campus School offers many opportunities for Lynch School (and all) students to work with the students. If any of you are interested in special education, I highly recommend getting involved with the Campus School's many programs. I volunteer one hour a week on Friday afternoons in the Creative Kids program doing music therapy with a buddy (a Campus School student). A professional musician named Andy and a couple upperclassmen experts lead the group every week in songs and reflection afterwards. It is an absolutely amazing program and SO inspiring. I hope you all consider volunteering with the Campus School. Good luck with AP exams the next 2 weeks and email me with questions.

~Jessica

shapirjk@bc.edu

Finally Starting To Feel Like Spring...

Hi again everyone!

Just thought I'd write a quick post about something I saw on campus today.

A few nights ago, one of my best friends Kathleen and I were watching the latest episode Glee (which I loved!). During a commercial break, she looked over at me and said, "Did you see the cherry blossoms?" Confused, I gave her a funny look and said "Huh? Where?" She replied, "Near the Rat! Go out the side entrance and look for them! They're beautiful!!"

Sure enough, as I headed to class yesterday after eating my usual turkey and cheddar flatbread sandwich in the ever-popular basement of Lyons, I saw the two giant, bright, pink and white-flowered trees lining the walkway to Carney and MacElroy. Just as I was told, they were beautiful! I continued my walk to Campion, the gentle breeze blowing against my sundress and the sun shining down on my curly hair as I grabbed my sunglasses from my backpack. I think it's safe to say today was some of the best weather we've had on campus this year! I saw some students promoting their upcoming arts shows in the quad, while others I passed were working on homework on the grass next to the St. Ignatius statue, and thought of how lucky I am to go to a school with such a pretty campus!

If you have any questions at all, e-mail me at e.paglierani@gmail.com!

~Erica

Freshman Year is Wrapping Up...

It's crazy to think that I am almost done with an entire year of college. College has been something that I have anticipated for my entire life and I honestly can't believe that I have been here for months now. I have lived on my own now for about 8 months. This means I have done my own laundry for 8 months, chosen my own dinners for 8 months, decided my own exercise patterns for 8 months, etc. Without my parents' watchful eyes studying my every move I have had the freedom to do whatever I wish whenever I wish. This has been one of the biggest learning experiences of my life. I have been able to do my homework and relax at my own leisure. This means that there have been many nights I have finished my homework before dinner and many nights when I have been up until 2 or 3 am doing homework. Some of my friends don't even start their homework until 1 am! There are some weeks I don't even have any homework! In order to survive college you really need to maintain a balance of a proactive and a "go with the flow" mentality.

I was definitely more uptight before I came to college. In high school I didn't understand how some of my friends were so laid back. College has helped me relax in a positive way. However, as the end of my first year approaches I keep reminding myself about the importance of relaxation. I keep fighting off the old, psycho Abby that used to make me go crazy. I cannot even begin to tell you all how many things I have had to do in the past month or so. It is very easy to get a little stressed around this time of year because most professors have final papers/exams due (sometimes in additon to their scheduled finals) all at the same time. However, it is important to remember that everything is manageable and everyone is going through the same thing.

Everyone always asks if college is more difficult than high school academically. I'm not sure if I am able to answer this question. All I can say is some weeks are difficult and some weeks are really easy and stress-free. So, when deciding whether to come to BC or not, don't worry about it being too difficult. It's going to be tough at times but it is going to be very rewarding when you do well. Trust me, I have lived here for a year and have had a blast! Now, I am going to keep reminding myself of this very advice as I navigate my way through the end of my freshman year.

Questions or comments about living on your own, academic rigor, or anything else? Please email me: cornisab@bc.edu

:) Abby Sue

The Home Stretch

I love going to a Catholic university for many reasons; one of which is the fantastic 5-day break we just had for Easter. I am from California so it was not enough time for me to go all the way home, but my parents came out the weekend before and stayed until last Sunday. We went to Cape Cod for the weekend with one of my friends who is also from California and not going home. It was so nice to spend a weekend away from school with family and friends enjoying a new locale. Now it is time for the home stretch: 8 more days of class, 4 study days, 8 days of finals. Wish me luck as I traverse final papers, presentations, and exams. Email me with any questions: shapirjk@bc.edu.

~Jessica

The Typical Question

Whether you're just starting the college application process now or you are nearing the end of your senior year of high school, I'm sure all of you have faced the typical questions: Where are you applying?

How annoying is that question?! Well, for me it wasn't that that particular question was annoying, it was just that literally everyone was asking me the same things. I felt like I needed to provide each person with a unique answer. However, then I just found myself reciting a speech I had come to memorize out of habit. This past summer the question became: Where are you going in the fall? I answered either "BC" or "Boston College," depending on whether I thought the person I was talking to would know the abbreviation. So, when I actually got to BC I was relieved that I wouldn't have to face any of these kinds of questions again, or at least until next summer. It felt like a huge brick had been lifted off my chest (alright, this is definitely an overexaggeration...but trust me, it was a good feeling!)

I enjoyed my first month of college, but then I realized that people were asking a new question. I went home for breaks and everyone asked: How do you like BC?! Everyone was excited, knowing BC is a great college. I would answer the question, saying that I love it here. The persistent adults would ask: What's your major? How are your classes? Easier or harder than high school? How are the sports? Do you get into the city much? Is there a lot to do there? The funny ones would wink after they asked, implying that we had an inside joke about the BC party scene. This was rather comical, especially when I had never talked to the person before and wondered why they assumed all college frosh partied. I just laughed, shrugged it off, and answered their questions.

The reason I choose to write a blog on this topic is that I just had one of these experiences the other day. I was at an A Capella performance last Saturday night and the lady sitting next to me, knowing I was a freshman, went through this entire sequence of questons. Here were my answers:

1. I love BC! It's so much fun here. There's so much to do here all the time and I have met a lot of great people. I'm so glad I came here. 
2. I'm a human development and English double major and I'm minoring in Organizational Studies. 
3. My classes are definitely difficult, but also definitely not anything that someone who was accepted into BC couldn't handle. The amount of work varies depending on the class and the professor...there will always be ones harder than others. Although, I have really enjoyed all of the classes I have taken this year. Sometimes you have a class that is so good that you don't even care that there is a lot of work. Also, work comes in waves. Some weeks you are bombarded with work and others it's smooth sailing. 
4. It's hard to compare high school and college in terms of the difficulty of classes. I think that the work is more challenging this year, like it is any time you move up a level each year, but that everything is manageable if you put in the effort and focus. I mean, you definitely cannot come here thinking it's going to be a cake walk. 
5. The sports are amazing! Go to as many events as you can. I'm so glad I came to a Division 1 school because I can't get enough of the sports here. Being a BC Superfan is probably one of the most memorable things you will ever do at BC. 
6. My friends and I probably get into the city twice a month. BC's campus is a great location, though. It's only about a 20-30 minute T ride and I wouldn't want to be right in the city anyways. 
7. There is SO much to do. You'll be able to find whatever you're interested in while you're here as well as find a bunch of new things you're interested in that you never even knew about. 

People are usually satisfied with my answers. I honestly like when I'm asked about my first year because I absolutely love it here. I can't say enough good things. In fact, I don't really know many people who aren't happy here. So for now I'm actually excited about these questions I'm asked to answer. I can't wait to see what I'm asked when I go home this summer...

Questions or comments about what freshmen year is like here at BC or anything else at all?
Please email me! : cornisab@bc.edu
:) Abby Sue

Class Registration

It's that time of the semester again. Time to pick classes. This is one of the most exciting times of the semester for me, but it can also be extremely stressful - it all depends on your pick time.

Each class has 2 days of registration times with seniors going first, followed by juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. Each student is given a registration time on one of those 2 days and this can make or break your class schedule for the next semester. My time last semester was fantastic: 8:30am on the first day! My time isn't too bad this semester: 4:30pm on the first day. I'm not too worried about getting the classes I want, but I picked out my ideal schedule and would absolutely love for it to work out.

As an elementary education major, I am going to start student teaching in the fall so all of my classes need to be on Monday/Wednesday/Friday and I must register for the 2 "methods" courses that go along with my pre-practicum (1-day a week student teaching). I really want certain professors for those courses so that I can learn the most I possibly can about lesson planning in elementary school. So I am all set with my list of classes (and a much longer list of back-up courses) for registration on Thursday. Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted on what classes I end up taking!

Any questions? Email shapirjk@bc.edu. Happy Spring!

~Jessica

Appa Love

Hey Guys!

I know it has been a while since my last post..but I'm back! The last time I posted I was just about to leave for spring break and it was amazing!! I went to Hurley, Virginia with the Appalachia Volunteers Group and the experience was one that I will never forget. I met some really awesome people from the community while also getting to know some cool people from BC. I loved my group and we still keep in touch today. The trip really made me think about my priorities and how lucky I am. I am so grateful to attend Boston College! It really is just an amazing place!

-Nicole


Here is some of my group on the trip back :)

Clam Chowder

Being a native Mainah (from Maine), there are many things that I like and that are important to me that might seem bizarre to other people. For example, I am obsessed with L.L. Bean (the clothing, the boots, the store..pretty much everything about it), I love lobster, I think driving in the snow is fun, I thrive in the small towns and small cities, I love the beaches and coasts, and I know I couldn't live without the extremes of all four seasons. So, when I came to college I wanted to make sure that I could keep at least something that I loved from Maine: clam chowder.

I was very excited when I found out that Stuart Dining Hall ("Stu", on Newton Campus) served clam chowder a few times a week. I usually end up getting it once or twice a week, depending on when I eat at Stu. This clam chowder is very good, and I considered it one of the best I had ever had (I know, surprising, since it's dining hall food) until I got it at The Rat one day (today!). Oh my goodness, this is probably the most delicious clam chowder I have had in a long time. Although they are both the same brand (Kettle Cuisine), the chowder at The Rat is thicker, creamier, and has more "stuff" in it. By stuff I mean potatoes and chunks of clam. I have had the chowder at Eagle's Nest for lunch and it isn't very good. It's pretty watery, which is fairly disgusting. They barely serve clam chowder at Mac, Lower, and Hillside, so those would have to be at the bottom of my list. Though, I would like it very much if they started serving it there so I could pass judgment.

So, with all that being said, here is my list of rankings:

1. The Rat (delicious!)
2. Stuart Dining Hall (gotta be loyal to my dining hall!)
3. Hillside (although I have never had it, I heard it was decent)
4. Eagle's Nest (never had it here, but I feel like it would be alright)
5. Mac & Lower (never seen either advertised so they must tie for last)

Whether you like clam chowder or not, you will definitely start getting a feel for where you like eating the most and the least the first semester of school. It's important to try different things at different places and see what each dining hall has to offer because each is unique.

http://www.bc.edu/offices/dining/

Questions or comments about clam chowder or anything else? email me! cornisab@bc.edu

:) Abby Sue

I'm New at This!

Hey everyone! My name is Abby Cornish (I often go by Abby Sue) and this is my first time blogging for the Student Admission Program (SAP) at Boston College. I know what you're thinking..it's almost April and she's just blogging now? Well, I just recently started volunteering for SAP a month ago and thought I would give this a shot!

(my roomate is on the left, our friend on the right, and I'm in the middle!)

A little about myself: I'm a freshman in Lynch. I came into the school as a Secondary Education and English double major, but just changed my majors to Human Development and English with a minor in Organizational Studies (in CSOM). I live on Newton campus, which is about a 7 minute bus ride ("the Newton Bus"). I am from a town about half an hour north of Portland, Maine. Crazy, right? People actually living in Maine seems like such a myth to everyone else here. I was really involved in high school, with a few things being that I played basketball and was a Class Officer. I have tried to get involved at BC, too. I am currently a Big Sister to a ten year-old girl at the West End House, which is on the green line. I also do OM (office management) in the SAP volunteer office. I have applied to a few more things on campus that will start next year and I'm waiting to hear back, (wish me luck!)

I really enjoy everything BC has to offer. My friends and I try to make it to most of the sporting events, concerts, musical group performances, lectures, etc. In fact, this weekend there was so much to do that I don't think I even spent more than an hour in the dorm, aside from sleeping of course. There is definitely something for everyone here, whether you know what that is for you or not yet. I'm still finding things that interest me that I never thought would and I've already been here for a year!

I'd love for everyone to follow my blog and please feel free to email me with any questions at cornisab@bc.edu

:) Abby Sue

A New Interest!

Hey everyone!

I know it's been a while since I last blogged! College life can get so crazy sometimes and before you know it it's spring break! Anyway, I wanted to share a little bit about a great experience I had recently. I told my mom, who works in the elementary school that I went to many years ago, that I wanted to observe and help out in the preschool classroom for students with autism. She talked to the principal, and arranged for me to go in on the Friday of spring break. As soon as I stepped through the door that morning I was greeted by eight smiling faces and a few tiny waving hands. The teacher announced, "Kids! Let’s sing hello to our new friend Erica!" and seconds later I was serenaded by the innocent voices of three, four, and five year olds. Over the course of the next few hours, I was able to talk with the teachers and aids, observe the strategies they used, and of course play with the kids. I learned so much and had an absolute blast.

Now you're probably thinking, how does this have anything to do with BC? Let me explain. During course registration at the end of last semester, as I realized that there was a time conflict with two classes that I wanted to take, I found myself frantically searching for the last class to complete my spring semester schedule. I had heard about people taking Working With Students With Special Needs as freshmen, so I set up a meeting with my advisor and found out that it is a required course for Elementary Ed majors. After about 37508924 log-ins on BC UIS (the ancient course registration system) I was able to secure a spot in Professor Ricciato's 1:30 pm section of the class.

My initial thoughts going into the class were that it was probably going to be interesting, and that I might be able to apply some of what I learned to my volunteer work. I volunteer in a program called Creative Kids in the Campus School, where I sing, dance, play instruments and most of all laugh with my buddy, a girl close to my age who has severe special needs. It always brightens up my Fridays and is the perfect way to start the weekend! Back to the class. I honestly had no intentions of teaching in a special education classroom, for I knew that it required a ton of patience and creativity. I didn't think that I had that in me, and figured general education would be the way to go. Needless to say, by the end of the first week I found myself pulling out my phone to call my mom, bubbling with excitement about how much I loved what we were studying. This without a doubt has something to do with my professor as well. Professor Ricciato is the director of the Campus School, and does a fabulous job integrating presentations by psychologists, speech pathologists, and other special needs personnel, as well as his own experiences with students, into the curriculum.

The point I'm trying to make here is that you never know what you're going to become passionate about here at BC. You might not know what you love, or you might be like me, and have something in mind only to have it shift direction after taking a specific class. Keep your mind open, because there are so many possibilities here, and when you find something that you really love, it's an amazing feeling.


If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to e-mail me at e.paglierani@gmail.com! Ta-ta for now!

~Erica

Spring Break

Hello again,

I just got back from my first college spring break: a rite of passage of sorts. I traveled to Ireland with the University Chorale of Boston College. We are a group of about 160 singers who rehearse twice a week for three hours total and perform three times each semester. Every spring break, members of the group have the opportunity to travel abroad. This year we went to Galway, Killarney, and Dublin, Ireland. I had the time of my life! The trip was filled with breathtaking sightseeing, meeting and hanging out with tons of people who I did not even know existed prior to the trip, and singing of course. My absolute favorite part was the opportunity to meet everyone. I made so many great friends who I would probably not have met if I did not go on the trip and now we are continuing to hang out now back at BC. I cannot wait for next year's trip no matter where we go! Please let me know if you have any questions about Chorale, any music group on campus, Lynch School, or BC in general.

~Jessica

shapirjk@bc.edu

Just Checking In

Hey guys!
So today is the first real day of Spring Break (woooohoooo!!!!). I am so excited and I thought I would take a little time out to tell you what my plans are for this week. One of the main pillars of Boston College is "Men and Women for others." Boston College students are encouraged to do their best to share their time and effort with people who are less fortunate. Although it is not required, many students take this pillar to heart and one example of this is the Appalachia Voulenteers Group. Every year around 600 students dedicate their spring break to help out the people of the Appalchian region. I never thought I would go on an alternative spring break trip in college but here I am. I will be heading off to Hurely VA soon and I am very excited. I'll check back in after the trip and share my experience.

Talk to you soon, Nicole

F.Y.P.D.S.

Hi, my name is Jessica Shapiro and I am a freshman honors student in the Lynch School of Education. I am majoring in Elementary Education and Psychology and minoring in History. I live on Upper Campus in the honors dorm (Medeiros) and I am from Santa Monica, California (right outside LA). I want my blog posts to be a more personal view of BC and Lynch so please e-mail me (shapirjk@bc.edu) if there are any topics or issues you think I should address.

There are three majors in the Lynch School of Education: Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Applied Psychology and Human Development. The First-Year Professional Development Seminar is a required 1-credit course (no homework!) for all Lynch freshmen, regardless of major. Groups of 10-15 students meet once a week for an hour with two upperclassmen Lynch students and a faculty or graduate student advisor. Fall semester this course focused a lot on the transition to college and this small-group format was a great forum in which to ask questions about Lynch, BC, or life. I absolutely love my FYPDS group - we are a fairly close-knit group especially considering that we only see each other for an hour a week. My graduate student advisor is one of the best people I have met on the BC campus. He went to Lynch as an undergrad and now works in the Dean's Office so he knows everything there is to know about Lynch. He has also been an RA for three years so he has a lot of general knowledge about the university as a whole. Plus, the upperclassmen advisors are going through exactly what we will be going through later on in our undergraduate careers. It is great for us freshmen to be able to pick their brains about housing, academics, service, and extracurricular activities.

I also love the other 12 freshmen in my group (11 girls and 1 boy). We have become a sort of family - we trust each other with personal issues and "secrets" conveyed through what are called anonymous "yellow bag" statements. Every week we each write a question/concern/comment on a yellow sheet of paper about BC in general or the topic of that week's session and we start the following week's session by addressing these questions and comments. This is a great way for us to develop trust and also get our questions answered.

This semester the course is worth 2 credits so there has been outside readings and videos to watch before each session but they are actually really interesting and foster great discussions. The peer advisors and group leaders do a great job of connecting the readings and videos to hands-on activities we complete in our weekly meetings. So far we have discussed topics such as the value of service, diversity, respect, and world issues. Each week we come prepared with the thoughts of the authors and filmmakers and build on them with our own opinions. This class almost serves as a continuation of orientation and I think it is another thing that makes the Lynch School such a fantastic place to call "home".

Please e-mail me with any questions you have about anything related to FYPDS, the Lynch School, or Boston College as a whole. I look forward to writing again soon.

~Jessica

shapirjk@bc.edu

Hey World

Hey everyone, welcome to my new blog.

My name is Nicole and I am currently a freshmen at Boston College. I am an Elementary Education Major in the Lynch School of Education. Basically, I love it here at BC. The Lynch school is amazing; there is no place else I would rather be. One of my favorite things about BC is the people. From the faculty to the custodial staff, the people here really care about you and want you to succeed. I am going to keep this post short as an introduction and I kind of have to get back to homework but I will try and update often.

Thanks for reading,
Nicole