Different State and School, similar Concerns.

Coming to college is an interesting experience. I am not sure about the rest of you, but my high school did not have 35,000 people in it, so there was definitely a shock in pure size alone. To better understand, I decided to ask my cousin, Natalie for some of her fears, excitements, or other comments about going to college this fall. A little background for this story, Natalie is from Georgia, went to Marist School, and is planning on attending University of Michigan this fall.

Natalie is on the left, in case of any confusion

Q: What is one of your concerns about going to college?
A: One thing that is really going to challenge me is the location. Michigan is pretty far away from Georgia, and after living at home for 18 years college is going to be a challenge. Figure that and the fact that Michigan is a huge campus with tens of thousands of people, it is much different than a high school environment.


One thing that was itneresting that we as NSO representatives should be aware of is the fact that while most of Rutgers Students are from New Jersey, some aren't. Going to a different state for college can add to the stress. Not only are you in a different environment, but you are also in a different state. You cant get home in an hour or so, it may require a plane ride or a 6 hour bus ride, so it is even more important to make out of state students feel comfortable at Rutgers.

Q: Give me a reason why you are excited to go to school?
A: Going to college is going to give me a lot of new opportunities to take advantage of. While going to a large college can pose problems, at the same time there are so many people to meet and so many opportunities that weren't available in high school.


Large colleges give great opportunities. There are tens of thousands of students here, as well as, lots of faculty, and we should stress the chances that come with going to such a large school.

Q: Any other fears that you have about going to Michigan? Besides the fact that your dad is going to disown you for not going to Georgia Tech?
A: Haha, well I don't think he is going to disown me but I guess there is a sense of feeling lost or not fitting in. Michigan is a huge school and not fitting in is something that does concern me. 


Not fitting in is something that concerns everyone, especially those who go to large universities. Positive reinforcement will go a long way  towards quelling some anxiety about going to a large school.

I couldn't help thinking about the similar situation that I found myself in going to college, with the exception of being out of state. I think that a lot of what Natalie said, first year students coming to Rutgers in the fall, will be feeling as well. There is obviously a fear of no longer being a fish in a small pond, but as OLs, OTLs, PCs, Pro Staff, etc, we can help new students with their fears and help them focus on their excitements about coming to school. One thing that is hard to put into text is the passion that was in my cousin's voice about going to Michigan. It seemed as if she was in love with the school that she had visited twice. Students may not be 100% sold on Rutgers, but if they see our passion over the summer as a collective group, the passion will thrive in them as well.

An Incoming First Year's First Fears

I have been in close contact with my High School friend Jami who is currently a graduating senior at Roselle Catholic HS. She has given me the privilege of being her mentor in her college acceptance and decision-making process. We have been in very close contact and I was excited to hear that she has decided to come to Rutgers for the upcoming fall semester. Given her enthusiasm about college and the many conversations we have had, I decided that she would be great to interview about some of the many things that excite and startle her about becoming a first-year college student.






Here are some excerpts from our conversation:

Q: What made you decide to attend Rutgers?

A: Well, Rutgers is close to home, although not too close, and I really like the feeling that I got from Rutgers during the times that I have visited the campus. 

Q: Do you have any fears about coming to a large university like Rutgers?

A: Actually I do, coming from a private school, I have never had a large amount of kids in my school or classes. I don't know how easy it will be for me to get used to the large environment at Rutgers and I hope I will be able to meet people easily.

Q: Do you think you will be able to handle the responsibility that comes with the new independence you will gain in college?

A: I am kind of nervous about the independence. My parents won't be there to tell me to do my homework on time or to make sure I get a good night's rest. Hopefully I can learn to manage my time and work well enough to have a good freshman year.

We continued to talk about some of the things that have her both enthusiastic and nervous about college. It seemed that her biggest fear was Rutgers' reputation as a large school. I assuaged some of her anxieties by explaining that although Rutgers is a big school (campus & population), it provides a small environment that makes it comfortable to each of its students. One thing I stressed was involvement in the university on many aspects such as, an on-campus job, volunteer work, academic and social clubs, sports, and other day-today activities that she may encounter. Soon, she was convinced that involvement is the key to enjoying your experience, not only at Rutgers or college, but in any aspect of life.  

The Playlist to my Freshmen Year

Can I be real for just a second. I'm reflecting on this past year, and I honestly don't know what happened and how it flew by within a glance. So now I am thinking of the opportunities taken and those missed, the resources that I evaded and the one's I used the most. I walked into the Rutgers' community intimidated, I knew there would be no more handholding and it wasn't like I was looking for a handout but just a little support. And now that the end is here, I am trying to remember all the things I did and the only way I can, is by incorporating something that has always been near and dear to me, my music. So I kind of just want to go through the Rutgers experience in terms of my music, the soundtrack to my freshmen year life... THUG LIFE!

Ok, so I am no Tupac and I did not lead a thug life. If anything I grew up in a suburban neighborhood and was afforded many opportunities. But the reason why I chose this song was because Tupac is pretty much thanking his mom. I knew that this new leg in the journey to my future would not be possible without the love and support of my mother. Since day one she has always been by my side, and has been a useful tool when it came to my Rutgers experience because she is an alum. I think that in college you will do whatever possible to really start becoming an independent adult, but in the end some battles cannot be won alone and you need your parents. I can honestly say that a lot of the mistakes that I learned from this year could have been avoided if I just listened to my mother, but it's life and I learned a lot from taking he occasional fall. In the end, I do appreciate my mom because without her, I doubt I would be as motivated and level headed as I am in college.

This song is the most accurate portrayal of my class selection process. In true fashion to my freestyle life, when I went about picking classes for this past year I was all over the place. Without focusing on the core requirements I had to meet and what degrees I wished to pursue, I went into webreg like a child on Christmas and opened up presents that really held no significance in the long term. Fortunately, I still managed to meet some requirements but I honestly do wish I had sough more help. After having an academic advisor meet us in one of the NSO classes I realized that not everything is as easy as it seems, and that in order to get things done you do need help. For any of you who may still not know, there are four places where one can seek academic advising and they are: College Ave Milledoler Hall, Douglas Campus College Hall, Livingston Campus Lucy Stone Hall, and Busch Campus Busch Campus Center.

Let's be honest, I am no longer a spend thrift because college is expensive. In high school I held down one job and made a very high salary compared to my peers, but in college to maintain the life I had become accustomed to, I picked up a second job and still found it hard to do what I wanted. That's when I learned that it was no longer about me, but about how to focus on what I needed and not on what I wanted. This is also when I became one with the love of my life, financial aid. Yes, our relationship is more giving on my part than taking but what we have will last a lifetime well at least a couple of years. The financial aid process is grueling to say the least, from all the countless things one must fill out to the little aid that I receive, I found that working was now necessary in order to help further my education. But when you have questions on the financial aid process never hesitate to ask: Office of Financial Aid 620 George street

I will only speak briefly on this, but relationships in college are strenuous. I learned a lot from them and I have now decided that for now at least, I would rather focus on my education. In the beginning of the semester I was more focused on building and fixing a relationship than on my actual studies and for that I suffered. But in the end, it was well worth the test.

In conclusion, this has been an interesting year full of growth, headaches, a little heart break, and a lot of learning. But in the end I can't say that I would trade this experience, or change colleges for a chance to re-do it. I now know what I plan for my majors and minors to be thanks to the help of upperclassmen who because mentors and professors who led me in a great direction. I know how I plan to attack next year, and this summer will only add to my ever growing list of achievements and lessons.

Transitions: High School to College

For this week's blog post, I paid a visit to my alma mater to discuss the transition from high school to college with Rachel, Charlie, Richard, & Bobby, 4 graduating seniors.  As these 4 students are all friends with my brother, I have had countless conversations with them about college and their future.  However, when I was first presented witht his assignment, it reminded me of the "R- Full Value Contracts" the Orientation Leaders used during Team Meeting 1 as an ice breaker this past summer.  This activity asked students about their hopes and fears about coming to RU.  So, for these interviews, I followed the same theme, asking students the following questions: 

1. What are you most excited about as you head to college?

2. What are you most afraid about as you head to college?

3. What do you think will help ease the transition for you?

Their answers to these questions can be seen in the following video that I put together.

Being an Orientation Leader gives students the opportunity to be involved in all the aspects first-year students are most excited for when coming to college.  For example, OLs help first-years pick their classes on Academic Planning and Advising days.  Many of us become so jaded from choosing our own classes, we forget how exciting (and confusing) it may be to an incoming student.  Making new friends and building a community is the main goal for many students.  Coming to a new place for the first time with all new people can be scary.  Being a friendly face and helping students interact and form friendships should be a main goal of every staff member.  Lastly, students are excited about learning new things and embracing diversity, of cultures and ideas.  This is facilitated by an OL through creating an open, inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable and can share.  


Coming to college, especially at Rutgers, comes with many unique challenges and fears.  At Orientation, it is important to calm students fears and show them that college at RU is manageable.  For example, if a student is fearful of getting lost, be sure to show your student helpful ways of getting around campus while on your tour (like maps or asking someone for help!)  If students are stressed about the work load of college, teaching them about resources such as Rutgers Learning Centers and libraries is helpful.  Lastly, students can't take advantage of all the resources on campus if they aren't informed of them.  So, OLs must always remember to give them information on those resources or the tools to find them on their own.


Orientation helps students ease their transition by providing the aspects the students mention during their interviews in our 2 day program.  For example, during her interview Rachel discusses getting to meet university faculty and staff.  During faculty and education sessions, students are given the opportunity to make these connections.  Charlie discusses finding friends and/or upperclassmen who can teach him the ways of college life.  This is provided to our first-years 48 times, with our lovely student staff!  Richard mentions learning about resources.  This is taken care of in every aspect of our program: resource fair, campus tours, the gameshow, team meetings, etc.  Lastly, Bobby talks about finding his niche.  By making students feel comfortable and letting them know that everyone has a place at RU, we do exactly that.  


Thank you!  :)

Stress, Stress, and more Stress


I recently had the fortune of accompanying my good friends Lee Seltzer and Zach Smith on one of their Scarlet Honors Ambassador tours. The Honors tours are set up in the exact same way as regular tours - parents and prospective students ask questions to a panel of undergrad students and deans - except that it is targeted towards students interested in enrolling into the SAS Honors program. Much of the questions asked are similar to what are asked during a regular tour, questions such as how difficult is to navigate between the campuses, where are dining halls and recreational facilities located, typical things every soon-to-be first-year (as well as their parents) would like to know.

However, during this particular session, many of the questions asked had to do with the competitiveness of certain programs or majors. My buddies Zach and Lee tell me that this is pretty typical for an Honors tour (that is not to suggest that Honors students are any more studious than anyone else; the primary goal of each and every student is to receive a good education).  And maybe I am wrong in this regard, but it appeared to me as though every time these questions were asked, there was the tiniest trace of anxiety in the voice of the asker. These kids weren't even done with high school yet and already they were stressing out about their ranks and GPAs!

I found myself discussing in great length and in great detail the various academic resources available to Rutgers students. Horror stories from the infamous Expository Writing class had trickled down to many of these students, so I explained that there are weekly (free) writing tutoring sessions held specifically for improving Expos essays. I also explained how every campus has a tutoring center available to students (also for free) for areas ranging from the hard sciences to mathematics to foreign languages, and everything in between. I explained that the tutors are all fellow students that are majoring in whatever they are tutoring, and that they themselves have taken whatever classes they are tutoring, and that my good friend Jason was one of them!

My friend Jason (usually he doesn't wear the sombrero while tutoring)

I also described the ODASIS and LSAMP programs, as well as the fact that every professor has office hours where their job is to literally just sit in their offices and wait for students to come and ask them questions. Yet there was one very important resource available (freely!) to all students that I didn't get a chance to discuss, and I wish I had: CAPS. Probably the most underrated and underused program here at Rutgers, the CAPS program is designed to "help students reach and maintain a positive, productive university experience." Students can meet one-on-one or in groups with certified counselors to discuss anything and everything, including the stresses of a large academic workload. 

After the essentials - the dorms, the dining halls, gyms, classroom buildings - are all down, the next most important thing for incoming freshmen to be aware of is the large number of academic resources available to them (at absolutely no cost).

Where in the world is Tyler C. Picone? 
*Sing to "Carmen Sandiego"
Tyler is trying to steal the secrets of NSO, can you find him in these pictures of places where first-year students can access resources? 

Is he in the computer lab inside Tillett? If he were, he would have untold access to resources such as: 

• The printing balance of $30.00 that is given to all students as part of their tuition, and allows them to print anything to their hearts content. 
• UNRESTRICTED internet access!
• Hole Punchers!!
• Staplers!!

The computer labs on every campus are usually open until 2 AM so that all students an get their print on! 

Could he be in Lucy Stone Hall A wing, looking for the Campus Dean or the Dean of Students?!
If he were he could talk to the deans about things such as: 

• Planning a schedule. 
• Undergraduate requirements. 
• Major Requirements
• And where else to find help 

Is he at Livingston Dining Commons???

Dear God NO

At the LDC, Tyler has access to: 

• Unlimited food for just 1 meal swipe! 
• Unlimited seatage for just 1 meal swipe! 
• 10 guest swipes!!! TEN!
• FREE WIFI!!!! 
• DINING HALL STAFF! 

Is he at Disability Services located in Lucy Stone A Wing?

If he was he could swindle all of these things from the disabled. 

• Accommodations for the bus. 
• Help when taking exams or in class. 
• Help getting around campus. 
• Anything else needed!

Is he at the Learning Center in Tillett? 

Well here he can get: 

• Tutored in any classes he is struggling with. 
• Academic advising to help him with overall school habits. 
• FREE PENS! 

Now could he be at Joyce Kilmer Library? 

If allowed in here he'll probably use his sly nature to get: 

• Unlimited access to books here. 
• Printing AGAIN!
• Internet AGAIN! 
• Assistance from the Library Staff. 

Is he trying to use NextBus to his advantage? 

If he were, he would be getting: 

• Round the clock updates about bus arrivals. 
• The ability to check on his smart/or not so smart phone. 
• Tickers inside the Student Center, as well as outside, to tell the times for the coming buses. 

Is he at South Tower, where the Housing Office for Livingston is? 

If given access, he would be able to:

• Get an ID photo taken. 
• Get a key if he was locked out of his room. 
• Return his key at the end of the year. 

Is he at The Center for Social Justice Education & LGBT Communication?

If he were, he could get access to: 

• Rainbow Perspective Housing information. 
• A new mentoring program. 
• EVEN counseling. 

I think he might be in the New Student Orientation and Family Programs Office in the Livingston Student Center. 

Here he would get access to: 

• Unlimited help from the NSO Staff. 
• Information about programs for new students. 
• The prettiest best staff in the world. 
• LOVE. 
• Staplers. 
• Music. 
• Games. 
• SUNSHINE! 

So there you have it, Tyler did not get to steal any of the resources available for first year students. Whew thank heavens! 

RA Living: Ashlee Redmond

When many people think of Resident Assistants they think of goody-goodies who get free housing, those people who unlock your door when you lose your key, or the narcs that ruin all the fun, but RAs are way more than that. RAs in conjunction with RHA help put together all the awesome events that go on in your building throughout the year and help out when your in a jam. 

Recently I had the opportunity to speak with a pretty awesome (and a colleague of mine) Ashlee Redmond.

Ashlee is a graduating senior from Maywood, NJ who is majoring in Labor Studies and Human Resource Management. In addition to being a Resident Assistant, Ashlee is also the corresponding secretary of Rutgers NAACP and a member of Tau Sigma National Honor Society.

I sat down with Ashlee to ask her a few questions about RA Living..

Why did you want to become an RA?
I was an RA at the school I transferred from, Wagner College in Staten Island NY, for a year, then I came to Rutgers and wanted to do it again because I loved my job. I just wanted to help students and be a positive role model for those around me.

What are some issues first years frequently come to you about?

First year students have a tough time adjusting to the different social atmosphere and increased school work. They also have to get acclimated to their new living situation, balancing school and home and managing their time.

 

How were your experiences with your RAs?

I love my RA's! They are very understanding and always willing to help when in stressful situations. I feel like some other buildings have issues because they don't have good chemistry but we work well with each other

What are some of the biggest challenges you face being an RA?

I don't really have any big issues, my building, which is an honors community, is very focused. I have not had to deal with any terrible situations. The biggest challenge would have to say would be getting residents out to programs, they are often so into their studying that they don't want to break their concentration so they won't attend.

Peep the cameo from our very own Kol!

Ashlee is one of those RAs who really loves her job! she gives selflessly to her residents and still successfully balances her academics and her extracurriculars. As a first year student, an RA can really impact your experience and how you feel about the University. Awesome RAs help students have an awesome experience and help make a first year student's transition into college life smoother!

Shoutout to all the awesome RAs out there!

*disclaimer: I thought I published this hours ago, but turns out I never hit publish, just preview... awkward.