By Alyse Bithavas, Associate Dean for Student Academic Life
Even though you’ll be starting at Boston University in January, BU College of General Studies is in touch as soon as you accept admission– with information, to-do items, and planning help. Here are six things you can do regularly during the gap semester to stay in touch with us and to make sure you’re on target for a smooth start to the semester in January.
1. Check your BU email
Make sure you set up your BU email and check it regularly. CGS communicates with you there and so do a lot of other Boston University departments. You’ll get information about Orientation, assignments from Student Health Services, application forms from Housing, billing information from Student Accounting, and a lot more. Check it regularly so you don’t miss critical information!
2. Read your CGS newsletters
CGS sends a monthly newsletter, usually on the second Tuesday of each month. It’s full of useful info! We’ll be sending you reminders about important deadlines, information about registration, and other information that keeps you on track throughout your gap semester. Keep an eye out for it each month.
3. Talk to your advisor–more than once
Your advisor sent an email at the beginning of the summer to introduce themselves and connect with you. You’ll want to talk with your academic advisor regularly throughout the gap semester– about your gap semester plans, your interests, your goals for the gap semester, and (when the time comes) registering for spring classes.
4. Visit your class page
Your class page has everything you need to keep you on track. CGS will post deadline and to-do reminders, links to past newsletters, and a program timeline that lays out a detailed roadmap from now through the London semester. Which brings us to our last gap semester to-do item …
5. Visit the Program Timeline
We can’t say it enough! If you’re wondering when you’ll apply for housing, when you’ll register for spring classes, when you’ll find out if you’re going to London in the first or second summer semester, deadlines for passports and flights, the departure and arrival dates for the London semesters… it’s all on the program timeline. You can always find the program timeline on your class page, and we’ll update it regularly as more detailed information becomes available.
6. Contact Student Services with questions
You can always contact Student Services if you have any questions or problems, like if you can’t remember who your academic advisor is, if you’re having trouble scheduling an appointment, etc. Reach us by email at cgs@bu.edu or call 617-353-2850.