GO DJ

I'm thinking about becoming a radio DJ apprentice at my college. It's different from a regular station in that the only music that is off limits is that which is played on the other radio stations. It's mostly progressive rock but there are jazz shows and local music shows. I think it would be really fun to be an apprentice first, and then after the apprenticeship it would be cool to have my own show. They give you lots of liberty to play what you like to hear, especially if you have your own show. Lots of my friends did it last semester and now have their own show and love it. The only problem is the hours. One of my friends has a 4-6 a.m. show and that is clearly not a reasonable hour for me. Hopefully I can choose my own times that are conducive with my current schedule; that would be the ideal. We'll see how it goes after the informational meeting! Later.... 

Working for the man

Finally I found a job, even if its only temporary. I was recruited on campus to be a canvasser for the mayoral race going on in the city. If you don't know, canvassing is basically carrying around a clipboard and going door to door figuring out if people are going to vote for your candidate. My first day of work was this past Tuesday. It's a five hour mandatory shift, so if you go in for the day you're going to be working for 5 hours. It doesn't sound like much but walking around a neighborhood talking to people you've never seen before and reciting the same speech up to a hundred times ain't no cakewalk. It's OK though because I get paid ten dollars an hour and my 'field captain,' aka my boss, is a really cool guy. Plus, I'm thinking about interning at my state senator's office during the summer, so this could definitely go on my resume as 'political experience.' Sadly the gig is up on Feb. 6, which is election day for mayor (Unless he doesn't get a majority -- then it continues until the 12th). But for now I'm happy to be making some extra cash and working on something that I actually find interesting. I would've never gotten gig had I been at home, no way. Being on a college campus pays.

The Mad Rush

Hey guys. Its rush time and that's all everyone is talking about...Sig Delt, Pi Phi and all the rest are all the rage. I'm not rushing, but lots of my friends are and so is my roommate, so I have the inside scoop. Here, it goes on for two weekends and there are 7 sororities. Basically the first day is an information session. They give you the info you'll need to get through it without breaking any of the unspoken rules of dress and communication etiquette. Then starts the real fun. You go from house to house where you'll be the only one to walk into a room full of sorority sisters who as you walk in scream "PI PHI" at the top of their lungs catching you somewhat off guard. Once you're in you basically mingle and move on to the next house to do the same. Of course, there are breaks in between where you're given the opportunity to chill or do work for their respective philanthropy. After that you rank them and they rank you. You find out which ones have dropped you and which ones have kept you....and next weekend the same thing happens except on a smaller scale. The hard part is probably going to be getting through this week in intense anticipation of BID DAY this Sunday. I'll be keeping you posted!

Back in the Saddle

Hey everyone! The holidays are over and the new year has begun...new classes, new professors, hopefully some new friends and guess what...NEW SCHEDULING ISSUES! Haahha. Well it's really no big deal. The fact is that I cant decide whether to take a fun class that requires lots of reading that I wont mind doing, OR a class that is closer to my interests for my major that also requires reading, but of a more intense sort. What to do, what to do?

Before I got back to campus and I was making my schedule, I was leaning towards the fun class...because it's also an honors class and we need 4 honors credits to graduate. I already have 2 and if I take this one it'll give me 2 more, completing the requirement all in my freshman year! But taking the other poli-sci class would give me more of an idea of what I wanted to do with my major, and if I even want to be poli-sci. Once again decisions, decisions. Also a plus of taking the poli-sci class is that it would free up a time slot in my schedule where I'd be able to take a class called Jazz Theory that I realllly want to take. So that's what's been occupying my thoughts lately. Thought you should know! I'll give you the update on the schedule change...Happy New Year!!!

Home for the holidays has been nice. And also kind of boring. That's why I like living in a college in a city. It never fails that there is something new and interesting to do. At home its same old same old. People sitting around looking at each other with questioning glances that seem to say "What now?" I mean it's really not all that bad. It is chill, and I am glad to see a lot of my friends, but this town turns in around 9 whereas the city never sleeps!

I'm still working on my schedule from home, though. I keep trying to rework it to get the best classes at the best times. And I'm really not sure if I want to drop an interesting English class to make room for an Econ class that'll actually count towards my major. Decisions, Decisions. I feel like I'm pretty ahead on my Pre-reqs from the APs I took in high school. But now that I'm leaning towards a Poli-Sci major perhaps I should try to take as many classes in that field that I can, in order to see if i really like it. But as we all know, scheduling is never that simple. Happy continuing Holidays! Talk to you soon!

Christmas Vacation

Christmas Vacation...
for almost an entire month. Amazing. Excited to see friends and hang out with the fam for a while. Watch some old movies, catch up on missed tv shows, play my drums that are literally buried under two + inches of dust. Not that I'm completely free of thoughts of school...because i still dont know 3 out 5 exam grades, I guess I was supposed to email my teachers about them because they still havent showed up on the schools website. In any case, I'm glad to be free for a while. Oh yeah and I have to talk to my adviser about reworking my schedule because I dont think it'll work the way I have it...but that can wait. Chrismas week=chill out week
Happy Holidays!!

Time to Buckle Your Seatbelts

So it's two down, two to go for me at this point. Yesterday I had two finals in one day. Let me just say I almost collapsed. I had French and Symbolic Logic. The latter turned my brains to mush. The former wasn't so bad. The combination of the two was near fatal. Ok, I'm obviously exaggerating, but it was bad. But on the upside, I only have one tomorrow and one on Monday, THEN I'M HOME FREE....literally. My plan for today is study for my History final tomorrow, try to decompress from yesterday and get a really goooood loooong night's sleep. I think it can be done. Last night we had a fun night in the dorms to celebrate. Celebrate what you ask...being half way done with finals, of course! I really feel like I've done a good job of spreading out my studying. Last weekend I started for French and Logic, I divvied up Saturday and Sunday. Me and some friends coffee-shop hopped for good places to study and I got a lot done. Then Monday I started studying for my History final, which was a good idea because now I only have about half left to do for tomorrow. Then Tuesday I buckled down for a thrilling ride on the rollercoaster of Logic. And this weekend I'll have two days (more than enough) to study for my Monday test....and time left over to do something fun on my last weekend in town. Goin down the home stretch....the finish line in sight

Finals prep

Today I have my last classes before finals. I'm really excited for the new semester and new professors and classes. First, though, I have to get through finals. It's only a week until winter break, but it seems so far off. So near yet so far. I've got two finals this coming Wed. one on Fri. and the last one the next Mon. I had one this week, which takes some pressure off for next week. I feel like if I can make it through Wed. when I have two, I'll be home free, literally. That day my parents are coming to get me and take me out to lunch and have a day in the city (without the little sister), and go Christmas shopping for that new saxophone I've been wanting for the past 2 birthdays. So I've got a lot to look forward to. Until then its studytime. It looks like it won't be too bad, though. The school is organizing fun study break things to do with free giveaways and bands, and our dining hall is having a special event with music and taking requests for dishes. Basically, they're doing what they can to make it easier on us, which is comforting. There are also study helpers, aka tutors (I couldn't think of the word for a minute) stationed in every residence hall at certain times for convenience, so you don't have to go all the way to the tutoring center. And of course, classes are done, so on the days I don't have finals next week I might still have time to chill when not studying. By the way...thanks for the great comments, I'm glad I can be of help! Remember if your curious about anything related to dorm life or dining halls or advising, etc. Leave a comment! Oh, and my Jazz combo concert went really well, it was really intimate (no one came; that's not true actually...I did have some groupies!), and we sounded pretty good I think. Our combo leader was proud at least....:)

I'll give you the 411 on finals week as soon as it rolls around

Thanksgiving Break

Soooo, the end of break is here. It was nice while it lasted. Turkey, friends, family, MY DOG! It's been fun guys....now back to college where I'll be greeted by a barrage of EXAMS.  Ahhhhhh! Yeah, and I meant to study over break, but it didn't really work out like I had planned. I mean I got some reading done, but other than that pretty much nada. I've got one week before exams start so it's not like I'm completely hung out to dry, right...Right! Basically, though, I've got my sights set on Christmas break. I should be mostly worrying about exams, of course. But when you've got something like Christmas on the horizon its hard to keep focus. And the city's getting all dressed up with garlands and lights, cold nights and cool days, most people are cheery, it's a great time! I have to start thinking about presents! Especially for my college friends because I'll be leaving them around December 14th, which doesn't leave me much time. All these things to think about! And I have a Jazz combo concert coming up...I'll keep you posted

XOX Collegiate Kate

In response to Emily

Hello all!

This post is in response to Emily's question about what kind of clubs I'm in and how much sleep I get per night. Good questions if I do say so myself. Well about the clubs, I'm really not in that many...and I'm planning on joining more next semester. As of now, though, I'm in the Bike Club which basically meets on Sundays to organize rides to fun places around the city. I'm also a part of one of the many service clubs on campus, which does service that is specifically targeted to the city we're in. So now were helping out a community in the projects by meeting with the children once a month and playing with them, and also attending their townhall type meetings trying to find solutions to their problems. Also, I'm a member of one of the Jazz Combos on campus. I wouldn't really call it a club, but we meet once a week and play and arrange pieces that each of us brings in, and we have occasional concerts. Now that I'm more adjusted to life on campus I feel like I didn't get involved enough this semester. So in the spring I plan on joining more clubs like one of the on-campus political organizations and intramural sport and maybe the boardgame club. Yeah the boardgame club. Everything and anything is game here. One of my friends who is Def Not Indian joined the Indian Students on Campus Association....whatever floats your boat. 

As for sleep, I get enough. Usually I head to bed around one and my first class starts at 9:30 so I wake up around 8:30. Lets see thats 1...2...3...7 hours of sleep on average. Then some days I have a ten o'clock so I sleep in. And other nights are full of stuff so I stay up later. But I'd say 6-7 hours sleepytime is about my average. I also have to add that I NEED my sleep. In highschool I slept 8 and 9 hours a night. Among my friends I'm the one that gets the most sleep, and that's because I need it. My roomie runs off about 4 or 5 hours a night and seems to be doing fine. Thats not me. But everyone's different when it comes to that. So yeah ...

Thanks alot for the questions! Feel free to keep 'em coming!