Here are some of the most important things BU doesn’t tell you, but should. You can learn this stuff through experience but it’s nicer when someone just tells you.

1. There Are Other Places To Study, Eat & Hang Out. Tired of all the crowds at the GSU and fighting for a spot in Mugar? Here’s the thing. You don’t have to.

There’s a Breadwinner’s and a Starbucks in SMG and a pretty nifty Pita place in West. For a change of study venue, check out the Theology Library or the SED library, the Ingalls center in the Engineering building, there’s even a Science Library on the 4th floor in CAS. Sure, all their materials are specialized but how many of us actually go to the library for the books anymore? They’re all nice alternative study spaces with smaller crowds and more room to think. And remember, we all pay to come to BU. Don’t let anyone make you feel that because you’re not in their college, you aren’t welcome. Share your resources & make BU a better place!

2. Living On Campus Is A Rip-Off BUT It’s Convenient I spent my Freshman year in Warren; enough said. I spent my Sophomore year in Danielsen. For roughly $1000 a month I got to share a bathroom with about 6 other people and an undivided room with 2 roommates.

So I got wise. The Pros? I live in a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment in Brighton. I have 4 roommates, we each have our own room (2 share by choice) and the rent comes out to just over $400 dollars a month each. The private space, lack of dorm rules and the opportunity to actually get off campus and de-stress are amazing. The Cons? The 25-30 minute commute means leaving my place at least 40 minutes early to catch the T; it’s not as easy as tumbling out of bed in Warren 30 minutes before class. The cost of furnishing the apartment and stocking up on food for the first time isn’t too fun either, can you say poor college kid? The best advice I can give is this, explore your options. If you have a dorm scholarship, by all means let BU pay your way…if you’re taking out loans, help yourself out, get some friends together and look at some listings.

3. Don’t Count On BU To Get You Internships Unless you’re in an abroad program…because then, obviously–and just a little bit cynically, you are paying them to get you access to one.

BU can sometimes make you feel that if you don’t have a certain GPA (the one that meets their intern-for-credit requirements) you can’t get an internship. Not true. You need to build your resume now. Especially in such a competitive job market and you can do it on your own. Future employers aren’t going to accept the fact that your department couldn’t help you get an internship as a valid excuse for your lack of experience. You just have to be proactive: Keep up with BU grads you know-ask them about opportunities at their new jobs. If there’s a company you’d really love to work for but they don’t have a listing for an intern, e-mail the head of the department you want to work for. Find a related on-campus group, organization or study and become a part of them. And remember, there are plenty of companies out there that would love you to work for them for free.

Alexandra, Dorming, Eating, Internships, Off-Campus, On-Campus, Studying Community, Making the Grade, Staying Centered