As we begin a new year, many resolutions pop up in our minds.  I am thinking of getting in better shape, making the courses I teach more engaging, allowing for time to unplug from my technological gadgets, and learning Gaelic.  However, as I plan my first day back at Boston College, I am sharing with my students the following tips, as I hope many more of them will earn an A in my course and dream in Spanish by the end of the semester. 

By Amanda Harbrecht, Social Media Intern

Many colleges and universities host career fairs for their students. These events are a great way to connect with alumni and representatives from various organizations to learn more about career and internship positions. Although the thought of attending one of these events can be nerve-wracking for some, career fairs are an incredible resource. Attending a career fair can create valuable connections with alumni and help students develop important networking skills. The best way to make these events as easy as possible is to show up prepared. Here are some tips to make sure you are ready for your next career fair.

By Amanda Harbrecht, Social Media Intern

Too often students view their major as a little box they are forced to put themselves into. If you major in biology, then you have to be a biologist. If you major in art history, then you must want to work in an art museum. If you major in philosophy…well then, you must want to be a philosophy professor because what else could you be? In actuality there are only a few tracks in which you need a very specific major to be able work in that specific field (accounting, engineering, architecture, to name a few). This means that instead of majoring in what you think will get you the job you want, you should major in something that actually interests you. There are more questions to consider than just what job you will get after graduation.

By Amanda Harbrecht, Social Media Intern

“Make the most of this time.” I remember being a freshman in college and hearing this all the time from those around me. I would smile and feel that rush of anticipation that I was going to be experiencing something wonderful. At the same time, I would wonder: How do I make sure I make the most of my time in college? Now, three years later, I am a senior and I hear that phrase all over again. Thus, I find myself reflecting on the ways I have spent my time so far, and the ways I plan to make the most of the time I have left. If I could go back and give my freshman self some perspective on making the most of that year my advice would be very simple: get to know your school, get to know your peers, and get to know yourself.

You are probably very familiar with Ryan Lochte’s fabricated tale about being robbed in Rio.  While he has recently apologized for leaving details out of his story and has promised to become more mature as a result of this incident, Ryan’s situation reminded me of something I have seen many times in my career.  I have reviewed résumés that embellish or exaggerate accomplishments and read essays where it is apparent that the author is not the person submitting the work.  The truth comes out sooner or later.  Thus, I want to persuade you to always be candid to avoid a situation that could jeopardize your future or put you in a position where you lose the trust of your community. 

I have spent the past two weeks touring colleges and universities across New England.  I enjoy my trips as they provide me with an opportunity to learn about the various services offered to students and alumni at each institution. The Office of Career Services or Career Center provides some of those services.

I am fortunate to have led academic advising at Harvard College, served as an academic adviser at the University of Notre Dame, and most recently, overseen two academic advising summer sessions at Boston College.  While I have a great passion to help students strategize on their first semester schedule, I never cease to be amazed by how many students get overwhelmed by a process that should be fun.  Perhaps Harvard’s “shopping” period is one of the best ways of looking at selecting courses while in college.  As a student, you have the opportunity to explore courses that you have never taken before, learn in more depth about a subject matter that piqued your interest in high school, and start thinking of potential areas of study. 

Every week, on Sundays, I get up at 8 am to go to my favorite class at the gym: kick-boxing.  Lately, instead of providing me with the peaceful retreat I had endured for the past four years, my kick-boxing class is becoming a stressful experience, mainly because I have not been able to sleep as well as I used to the night before my class.  As a result, at times, my workout is not as productive as it used to be and I am a bit more edgy.  This experience has encouraged me to ask the following questions: Why is sleep so important to our wellbeing? What can we do to become less sleep deprived?

Yesterday, I sat in a presentation about student resilience at one of the highly selective universities in the Boston area.  As I listened to the skilled presenter, I pondered a situation that a friend of mine faced in the month of March.  One of her friends did not get into a graduate program he applied for and because of the outcome of his application he severed all communication with a person who had stood there by his side over a year and a half.  Why are people so crushed when the answer is not what they hoped?  How can we foster resilience in those applying to college so they can succeed in college and beyond?