Where to go on campus...

Once you are all moved in and settled, where are you supposed to go? There are some very helpful places all over campus.

Having computer troubles? Well Oakland has 3 places to help you with that! There is a Residence Hall Network Help Desk (a mouthful right?!?) and if you live in the residence halls they are there to help you out with your computer needs. It is located in 445 Hamlin Hall. Now if you commute don’t fret, the University Technology Services Help Desk (or the UTS help desk for short) is in Kresge Library on the 2^nd floor, 202 to be exact! Their mission is to “provide Oakland University faculty, staff, and students with a single point of contact for all supported services and products.” They can help you with anything you need, from connecting to the Internet to getting you Oakland email on your smart phone. Last but not least we have the STC or the Student Technology Center. Here you can rent equipment like video cameras, photo cameras, laptops and ipads. They also offer mentoring on all types of programs. To check out how to rent stuff or what programs you can learn how to use visit their website http://www.oakland.edu/stc/.

Having problems with a class? Well good thing you go to Oakland because we have services to help you with that! Troubles with writing that paper for WRT 150… go to the writing center. You can find it at 212 Kresge Library. They do wonders with papers! You can get help with anything from grammar to spelling, how to structure you paper, even help with writing your bibliography. Now if you are struggling with a class that doesn’t involve paper (which are most lol) you can stop by the Academic Skills Center (ASC, we have way too many abbreviations here). At the ASC they offer tutoring for most 100 and 200 level classes.  They have group tutoring and one-on-one sessions. There are two offices on campus one at 103 North Foundation Hall and 117 East Vandenberg Hall. To schedule an appointment or see a list of the classes that they offer tutoring for visit their website J http://www.oakland.edu/asc/. Make sure too check out if any of your classes offer supplemental instruction (SI). They are like an extra study session that is scheduled with you class. They really help especially if you are having trouble in the class.

Did I mention that all these things are free?!? (yes you read that right, FREE) These aren’t the only free this you receive. If you are looking for something to do between classes or just enjoy working out, go the Recreation Center. There are so many things always going on there! There is a fully stocked weight room, with free weights, machines for lifting, treadmills, elliptical, and bikes. If the weight room isn’t your thing they offer a ton of classes. Most are free but some there is a small fee attached. They have yoga, ab lab,  zumba, kickboxing, step circuit and so many others!

There are so many things available to help you out!! Make you go see what they are all about J

Moving in...

After graduation, senior all night parties and grad parties what are most incoming college freshmen looking forward to? Moving In! Move in day is filled with a ton of crazy and a ton of fun. There is so much to do! There are a million people waiting to help you move in, to give you free swag, and to persuade you to join THEIR organization. It’s a bit overwhelming, especially if you have no clue what you are getting yourself into, and I was definitely not one that knew what was going on that day.  When my parents and I arrived on campus, I had no clue what to expect. We turned the corner and it was a parking lot, the street was filled with so many people and cars it was ridiculous.  I couldn’t believe that all the people here were freshmen. I had no clue where to go. After driving around the parking lot for what seemed hundred times we finally found spot to park we began to collect our thoughts a bit. I was still so overwhelmed, I was relieved to find there were so many people there to help direct us to where we needed to be. Move in day that year was freezing cold, my mom and I got in line to check in and get the key for my room. However, check in had not started yet and we were freezing waiting in line. Once they opened the doors it was a mad rush to get all the information you need and pick up you’re key. What was next? Well since I lived on the 7^th floor in West Vandenberg it was kind of impossible to carry all of my things up the stairs so we stood in the long line of new students and parents to use the elevator. After about a half hour wait we finally made it in and were on the way to my new home. It was weird to say that home was not my parent’s house. Once on the 7^th floor I saw that my suitemates had already begun to move in, they were Nikki and Lindsay. Lindsay was a friend I had met at orientation and had no clue that we would be living together, this was already off to a great start. After taking about five elevator trips all of my things were in my new room. Time to unpack, it took my mom, dad, sister and I a few hours to unpack all my clothes and things.  Thank god, all the troops came or else it would have taken me forever. By this time is dinnertime so we grabbed a quick bite then it was time for my family to go back to Milford. It was bitter sweet; I was so relieved to be moved in and able to experience all the awesome things ahead of me. As an incoming freshman you have to experience all the things move in day has to offer. Make sure you meet your residence assistant. They are your key to everything on campus; if you have any questions or need help with anything ask them. Meet the people you will be living with, the best way to meet people are just to venture on to the other floors and walk around. Take advantage of all the coupons and free stuff that is given away on the first day! Last but not least have fun, move in shouldn’t be stressful, it is supposed to be fun 

ORGANIZATION!!!

All right guys, time for another blog. This one is about…ORGANIZATION (Thanks Robbie Williford :)) Organization is very important in all aspects of your life but once you get into college it’s a whole new ball field. In college you are juggling class, work, social stuff and everything you are involved in, so it is crucial that you stay cool clam and collected (aka organized). Step one on staying organized, KEEP IT NEAT! What I mean by keeping it neat is that everything should have its own folder or notebook. Remember in High School how you had one folder for all of your classes? All you papers were a mess and it took twenty minutes to find the homework that you did the night before. Yeah, that won’t fly in college. Have a separate notebook, binder, and/or folder for each class. If you have papers you have to save for work have a folder for those. Every student organization you get involved in deserves a folder too. The more “neat” you are the easier it will be to find things you need and it will be a lot less stressful. Step two, TIME MANAGEMENT. Every one likes to pretend they don’t procrastinate but come on we are college. We procrastinate like its our jobs but manage you time well will help you stay organized. The best way I have found to do this is to plan out my day. I write out all the things “I have to do” and the things “ I want to do” and time it all out. This helps me so I don’t feel like I’m rushing through the day and I know I won’t forget anything important, like going to class or going to an OUSC (Oakland University Student Congress) meeting. The busiest time during the school year is finals. Time management is super important that week. Studying for four finals can get overwhelming, so I plan out when I’m going to study. I make a schedule to study for an hour the take a break and switch subjects. It helps me keep sane. Moving on to step three, WRITE IT DOWN. I know that if I don’t write things down I forget them. I always have so much on my mind that if I don’t write it down right away I will forget and if its something important that not good. I have a notebook for everything ( see step one :)) so I write it in there and when I can remember what was said, I just look back to where I wrote it. I also have two calendars. One on my computer and one paper planner, they both have to same things written in them but its nice to have two copies just in case! Last but not least step four, HAVE A ROUTINE. Last year I was the secretary of RHA (Residence Hall Association) and I would publish the minutes from each weeks meeting and make the agendas for the following week. So I wouldn’t forget to do them every week after our Thursday meetings I would publish the minutes for the meeting that week and write and send out the agenda for the next week. I made a routine of it and I never forgot to do it. Hopefully my steps will help you as much as they have helped me. GOOD LUCK!!!

P.s. Everyone this is my last blog from the U.S of A. On Friday I’m leaving for Spain! Don’t worry though I will still be blogging so you can read all about my adventures in Spain and see pictures too!

What should I bring?!?!

Alright, So the question on every freshman's mind... What should I bring when I move on campus? Well everyone thinks of the normal stuff like notebooks, sheets, and towels. Did you ever think of a curtain for your closet? I didn't think so :) I decided to take a few pictures of things I didn't think of bringing at first. Here we go...

A shoe rack the hangs in the closet

A foam mattress pad (twin XL)

                                                                  

A Shower Caddy

A "Boyfriend" pillow

A sweeper

AA batteries

A surge protector (good to keep laptops safe)

Ziploc bags

drawers for under the sink in the bathroom

Hope this helps!! :)

Get Involved!!!!

So when you are going to orientation, the biggest plug is get involved on campus! There are one of two responses, the first NO!!! And the second one is, umm okay that sounds like something I want to do. If you are a person that says NO!!!, you are making a huge mistake, but if you say yes, you have just made the best decision for your college career. The next question is how do I get involved? There are so many ways you just have to know where to look for them!

It all depends what type of involvement you want on campus. There are many social and academic clubs, employment and leadership opportunities available. If you want to join a club for academics, there is one for every major. There are over 80 academic orgs. From the Pre-Pharmacy club to the Writing and Rhetoric Club. Academic organizations are not the only ones OU has to offer. Social Clubs are very popular also. We have ones for gamers, dancers and singers. Along with the clubs we also have a Greek system on campus. There are seven different sororities and five fraternities. Oakland University Student Congress is a great way for anyone to get involved. The best way to get involved or check out any of the other 217 student organizations visit www.oakland.edu/csa

The amount of leadership opportunities available at Oakland is ridiculous. OU housing is the best place to really show your leadership skills! All positions that students can apply are amazing ways to get involved on campus. There are positions available like Nightwatch, Residence Assistants, Residence Hall Association, House Council, Academic Peer Mentors and Desk workers. Nightwatch workers are the security in the residence halls and it is a great job! Residence Assistants help the residences and make sure the residence halls are safe for everyone.  Residence Hall Association (RHA) is like the student congress of the residence halls and house council is specific for each residence hall. Academic Peer Mentors assist residence in Hamlin Hall with academics. Desk workers work at the mail desk and assist students with any questions they have. Any of these positions are great leadership experience’s and to learn more about each of the visit www.oakland.edu/housing

I have been on the executive board of RHA and a nightwatch desk worker and these jobs have given me so much motivation in getting more involved on campus. Getting involved makes your college experience a millions time better!!!

ROOMMATES!!!

Everyone always hears about all the horror stories, but remember that bad news travels faster than good news. So any chance I get to tell my story, (its a good one) I do!

It’s July 2009 and I was supposed to live with my best friend from high school. We both receive our letter in the mail saying where we will be living and who our roommate would be. I call her and we open them together. We weren't roommates; we both thought it was the end of the world. We called the housing office franticly trying to change our rooms so we could live together. They told us there was nothing they could do because all the rooms were full and we would have till room change if we still wanted to switch. We were devastated, and I thought my freshman year of college was going to be awful. It really was the start of my wonderful Oakland experience.

On move in day I didn't know what to expect. The roommate I was assigned to was no longer going to attend Oakland, so I didn't even know if I was going to have a roommate. As I was moving in I met my suite mates. One of my suite mates was one of my friends I had met at orientation and the other girl was at the same orientation as me. Nikki and Lindsay were the two girls that I would be sharing a bathroom with; if I had only known then how great we would get along!! After I moved in all of my things I waited to see who I would get as a roomie! In walks a girl I graduated with; I was so relieved to see her. Shannon was my new roomie and I was more excited then ever.  As time progressed, the 4 of us got very close. We did everything together; if you saw one of us you saw all of us. We would stay up all night dancing around, singing and being crazy. We all moved our beds into one room so we all slept in the same room. We made the best of our time and I wouldn’t change a second of the time we shared.  After 1st semester, Lindsay moved out and went home. Shannon, Nikki and I had an opening in our suite. Nikki's friend Erica moved in, but she wasn't around much because she was enrolled in M2O (Macomb to Oakland Program). We all got along great and when Erica was around we all did everything together, but just like 1st semester Shannon, Nikki and I were inseparable. We all got along so well we decided that we would live together our sophomore year.

Nikki and I had become best friends so we decided to become roommates.  Erica and Shannon had decided to do other things our sophomore year so we had room for two new suite mates. At the beginning of the year we were nervous to see who would be moving in with us. Our new suite mates were a girl named Paige and her friend Meghan. We clicked right away! Just like our freshmen year, Nikki and I had a great suite! We all went out together and spent way too much time in each other’s company. Even thought its summer, we are all still really close and see each other all the time. So not all roommate situations are bad. Mine worked out wonderful TWICE!! It totally made my time on campus worth so much more; I don’t know where I would be with out my friends.

xoxo Rachel

This is me!!

Hello!!

I’m Rachel! I am a college student at Oakland University and just like every other college student I have a summer job. This summer I am working for OU Housing (http://www.oakland.edu/housing) as a Housing Ambassador! I am super excited for this experience; I know that it’s going to be a great one.  I love being involved on campus, I have been an Orientation Group Leader (OGL), on the executive board of Residence Hall Association (RHA), a Marketing Intern for Oakland University Athletics (I’m a marketing major) and I am currently a legislator for Oakland University Student Congress. With my Marketing degree I'm hoping to go in to sports marketing. I really enjoy the spots aspect of the job and I enjoy doing it! Oakland is my school, I really love it here. At first I was not so sure, but it is truly the best experience I could ask for. They have every thing a college should have plus much much more. My blog is going to be mostly about Oakland but all the fun stuff. Funny stories, videos and awesome information. I am real girly girl, my favorite color is pink and I love to shop.  I am a dancer and it is one of my favorite things to do. I really want to read, like for fun again. All I ever do is read for school and that most of the time isn't fun at all. I love to travel and I am studying abroad this summer. In July I am going to Spain for a month to take a Spanish course and explore the country. I am thrilled to be going back, I really can't wait! Look for my blogs from Spain :) This is my first blog EVER, so I’m excited to see where this goes…