Five Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Time at CGS
The College of General Studies offers much more than just what you learn in the classroom. By taking advantage of all that CGS has to offer, you’ll set yourself up for success, from your gap semester through Capstone and beyond.
As a current junior and former CGS student, I’ve seen firsthand the many ways that CGS can help you grow as both a student and a leader. Here are some tips that helped me to get the most out of my CGS experience.
Build a working relationship with your professors
This is an integral step to get the absolute most out of the College of General Studies. Class sizes are designed to make it easier for you to reach out to your professors, so use that to your advantage. Stop by your professor’s office hours and say hello! The chances of you getting one professor for two semesters after you leave CGS aren’t as high, so making connections with faculty now is a great opportunity. Not only can they provide a recommendation letter for a job or internship, but you’ll be able to ask them for professional advice and educational advice, as well.
Look out for possible research opportunities
The beautiful thing about the College of General Studies’ small size is that you have a ton of opportunities. From research to internships, there are many things you can do with your first two years at Boston University.
As an undergraduate, students have a variety of research opportunities through the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning’s undergraduate research program, which pairs students with faculty to work on unique projects. Past topics have included writing about twentieth century writers, testing probiotics to see their effectiveness, researching possible solutions to antibiotic resistance, and analyzing the roots of A Christmas Carol—the opportunities are endless.
There are also places you can get published, such as the CGS literary magazine, The Chimeriad. Having a publication on your resume as an underclassman will help you when applying for summer internships.
Use the Writing Center
The Writing Center at CGS is a fantastic resource where you can advice on every single word of your work. Since you are going to be writing a lot of essays while in CGS and beyond, this resource will be invaluable to improve your writing. Writing is the foundation of so much of what you’ll do at Boston University, and learning how to strengthen yours now will make your junior and senior years that much easier.
Navigate your pathway at BU
You’ve heard it from your advisor dozens of times because it’s true: pathways are essential to planning your time at BU. On the updated CGS website, all you have to do is click “Full Menu” then click “Academics” and “Program.” You’ll see all the different paths from CGS to any college on campus.
Keep track of the courses you need to take before you graduate. If you need help figuring out the pathways, you can make an appointment with your CGS Advisor through AdvisorTrac. This tool will help you stay on track to graduate, and make sure you’re taking classes that get you where you want to go.
Apply for leadership roles in CGS
CGS has an amazing program for student leaders known as Dean’s Hosts. They are a group of sophomores who work during orientations, open houses, and other events, and give a face to the incredible student body at the College of General Studies. You could be one of them! It’s an excellent opportunity to have a leadership role within CGS and grow as a student leader on campus. Beyond Dean’s Hosts, there are many CGS clubs to get involved with, from Student Government to CGS Arts. For a full list of clubs and organizations, check out the bulletin boards outside CITL on the second floor.
— By Kirthana Iyer