If you\u2019re an incoming freshman or are considering attending Boston University College of Communication (COM), you\u2019re probably wondering what it will be like. As a leading research university in a major metropolis, BU offers so many choices that your experience will largely be what you make it. Still, we can give you an idea of what to expect. Here are a few things you can do to make the most of your first year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the first things you\u2019ll notice as a COM student is that you\u2019re part of a vibrant community of talented students and faculty who share a passion for storytelling, learning and making a difference. Students form close bonds and often work together. Mentorships turn into lifelong friendships between professor and student. So interact with your faculty and fellow students in the classroom, on social media and around campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BU is a university of 30,000 students. That\u2019s big. And big means lots of resources, diversity, choices, clubs, activities and opportunities. You\u2019re sure to find plenty that caters to your interests. The more involved you become, the more personal and manageable your experience here will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Within COM, you\u2019ll find activities and groups related to your field of study. To name a few: AdLab and PRLab, our student-run agencies; BUTV10, a University-wide resource that creates television programming; and the Daily Free Press<\/em>, a student-run newspaper. You can learn more about these and all our other groups at the COM Activities page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The BU Student Activities Office caters to an even wider variety of interests. There are more than 450 student groups active on campus. Almost certainly, at least one is right for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A good way to learn more about clubs, events and organizations is to attend BU Splash and the COM Ice Cream Social, both held at the beginning of fall semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All new, incoming students select a COM Ambassador, a peer who will assist you with your transition to BU and COM. They can give you a student\u2019s perspective on classes, dorm life, clubs and activities and things to do in the Boston area. Feel free to ask for advice, opinions and information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The excellent advisors at Undergraduate Affairs will help you with course requirements, majors, minors, study abroad and many other matters related to your education. We recommend you meet with them once each semester, preferably before registration for the following semester. You\u2019ll find Undergraduate Affairs in Room 123 of the COM building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no shortage of ways to stay active and fit at BU. Our Fitness and Recreation Center (FitRec) features comprehensive state-of-the-art facilities including an aquatics center, selectorized weight systems, ellipticals, squash courts and a rock climbing wall. FitRec also offers personal training and classes ranging from Aqua Aerobics to Zumba. You\u2019ll have 12 intramural sports and more than 30 club sports to choose from. We even have a sailing pavilion on the Charles River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BU lies in the heart of a vibrant, international city. There are dozens of colleges and universities\u2014the nation\u2019s highest concentration. Social, cultural and entertainment options are myriad and varied. History is rich here. Fenway Park is practically in BU\u2019s backyard. And, despite its large size, Boston is considered one of America\u2019s most walkable cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Isn\u2019t that the main reason you\u2019re here? You\u2019ll find academics at BU are demanding but also very rewarding. You\u2019ll get out as much as you put in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your academic introduction to COM will be CO 101: The World of Communication<\/em>. In addition to attending classes, you\u2019ll be part of a small discussion group each Friday led by an outstanding, talented teaching assistant. Chances are you\u2019ll take this class during your first semester here. It\u2019s the springboard to your next four years and a grade of \u201cC\u201d or higher is required. So make sure you attend class, join the discussion, earn extra credit and get to know both your course instructor and teaching assistant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who is my target audience? What is my call to action? How do I build a powerful narrative arc? What is the best medium to deliver my message? You\u2019ll learn to think like a professional writer in CO 201: Intro to Communication Writing<\/em>. You\u2019ll sample writing projects from all the majors, get hands-on experience writing for the world of communication and media and work one-on-one with a writing teacher on drafting and revising. Writing portfolios from this class are often instrumental in helping students land internships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CO 201 students are invited to submit memoirs crafted in class for our biannual Coffeehouse Readings in the COM student lounge. If selected, your memoir will be read aloud to what is usually a standing-room-only crowd. In addition, authors of the best writing in CO 201 each semester receive cash prizes through the Nachman Writing Awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get free private tutoring to help you hone any phase of the writing process at the COM Writing Center. Our tutors are talented COM graduate students who will guide you through everything from first drafts to troubleshooting and refining later drafts. You can schedule appointments online or drop in for last minute help during operating hours at our office in the basement of the COM building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The University sends out important announcements via email, sometimes several times a day. And BU Today<\/em>, which contains the latest scoop on what\u2019s happening on and around campus, is sent out every Monday through Friday, except holidays. So make sure you check your BU email every morning. Noon and night wouldn\u2019t be bad ideas, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When in doubt, ask. BU is a friendly place with people ready to offer everything from directions to opinions. And remember, COM Undergraduate Affairs (Room 123 of the COM building) is always here to answer your questions about the College or just tell you how to get where you\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your freshman year can be many things: exciting, challenging, confusing, interesting and edifying. Make sure \u201cenjoyable\u201d is one of them. You\u2019re about to start an experience that will shape the rest of your life and this is a great place to do it. So welcome to COM. You\u2019re in for quite a ride.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What to expect. What to do. If you\u2019re an incoming freshman or are considering attending Boston University College of Communication…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16717,"featured_media":27607,"parent":27116,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"bu-publication":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27352"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16717"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27352"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27352\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29471,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27352\/revisions\/29471"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27116"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=27352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Talk to your Ambassador.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Visit Undergraduate Affairs.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Break a sweat.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Get to know Boston.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Study hard.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Write well.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Write even better.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Check your BU email. Often.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ask for help.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Enjoy.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n