Category: Academics & Studying

Posted on

How to balance health and academic. I am in lots of physical pain every day.

How to balance health and academic. am in lots of physical pain everyday.
How to balance health and academic. I am in lots of physical pain everyday.

Inside Chronic Pain (bit.ly/BC-inside-chronic-pain – click on Books at JSTOR) by Lous Heshusius, provides a first-hand account of 10 years of treating her chronic pain and talks about the importance of rooting oneself in the present. Another book, Mayo Clinic on Chronic Pain (bit.ly/mayo-chronic – click on EBSCOhost eBooks) provides strategies for finding the balance you’re looking for. I hope you’re using accommodations available to you under ADA rules; contact Disability Services (disabsrv@bc.edu) if you haven’t done so already. Your day-to-day efforts are truly heroic; make sure you let folks help you.

Posted on

Are there any anthropologists teaching at BC?

Are there any anthropologists teaching at BC?
Are there any anthropologists teaching at BC?

Yes, there are! Faculty members in the Lynch School of Education, Patrick McQuillan, Ph.D., and Gabrielle Oliveira, Ph.D., have backgrounds in anthropology. And Theology Department faculty member Mary Ann Hinsdale, Ph.D., teaches Theological Anthropology (THEO 796801).

Posted on

Congratulations to Isabelle Stone!

Isabelle Stone (’18) was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. (bit.ly/bc-rhodes-issa) Congrats, Issa! What an achievement! It’s the first Rhodes awarded a BC student since 2003. At Oxford University she’ll be studying how to put her economics data knowledge to work to design public policy to help advocate for marginalized people.

(I know, I’m responding to something that wasn’t a question, but I just couldn’t help myself. I was bursting with the news!)

Posted on

Who is the most attractive member of BC faculty?

Who is the most attractive member of BC faculty?
Who is the most attractive member of BC faculty?

There are many scales of attractiveness. The faculty member most attractive to an institution of higher learning is very likely the one with the most prestigious grants, fellowships, awards, and publications. A Nobel Laureate would be the academic equivalent of a Perfect 10. BC has only ever had one of those among its faculty: the Irish politician John Hume, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the Northern Ireland peace process. As for current faculty, Juliet Schor is making waves in sociology & environmentalism, Elizabeth Graver and Paul Mariani are esteemed authors, and Amir Hovyeda is a star in chemistry. Many more than can fit on a 3×3 post-it!

Posted on

Will I get into a good graduate school if I have a sub 3.5 GPA?

Will I get into a good graduate school if I have a sub 3.5 GPA?
Will I get into a good graduate school if I have a sub 3.5 GPA?

Undergraduate GPA is not the only consideration for graduate school admissions. Generally speaking, if you have a lower than average GPA (for the school you’re interested in), you will have to distinguish yourself through “soft factors” such as life/professional experience. You may consider working for a few years to distance yourself from your undergraduate GPA and build up professional experience to bring to your desired program. I believe in you!

Posted on

OK, but teaching’s a part of that evaluation, and the main aspect most students interact w/ a prof on

OK, but teaching's a part of that evaluation, and the main aspect most students interact w/ a prof on (aside from students who research w/profs). Shouldn't teaching students feedback have more weight?
OK, but teaching’s a part of that evaluation, and the main aspect most students interact w/ a prof on (aside from students who research w/profs). Shouldn’t teaching students feedback have more weight?

--> some depts. say they don't even read the evals students submit :0 and why don't other fields benefit from something like tenure? If I mess up/don't do my job, I'm fired!
–> some depts. say they don’t even read the evals students submit :0 and why don’t other fields benefit from something like tenure? If I mess up/don’t do my job, I’m fired!

The Wall does not judge the system, only describes it.

Posted on

How to transfer into CSOM?

How to transfer into CSOM?
How to transfer into CSOM?

It’s possible, but not easy. “Boston College undergraduate students may apply for internal transfer to the Carroll School of Management for the spring of their sophomore year. The Carroll School accepts a very small number of internal transfer students via a lottery process.” See full details at bit.ly/CSOMtransfer

Posted on

How does one overcome writer’s block?

How does one overcome writer's block?
How does one overcome writer’s block?

Writer’s block is usually a result of your internal editor being adjusted louder than your internal creator. When your internal editor says “not good enough” too often or too loudly, preventing you from getting the words in your head onto the page, tell your internal editor, “It’s a good start. I can change it later if I need to.” Just keep repeating that until it’s louder and more persistent than your internal editor. I also recommend reading Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird (O’Neill Library PN147 .L315 1994).

Posted on

I hate writing Ｔ▽Ｔ

I hate writing Ｔ▽Ｔ
I hate writing Ｔ▽Ｔ

Most writers would agree at one time or another. If you take it seriously, writing is really, really hard. Most writers go through many revisions & get lots of input on their way to a finished piece. If you think about it, it’s a weird behavior: you put marks on a piece of paper that some other people will decode into words. You have to anticipate all manner of possible interpretations and misinterpretations & account for them ahead of time, not really knowing for sure what your words will mean to someone. That’s double-black-diamond communicating. To do it well takes a whole lot of practice. You have my complete sympathy! And I think you’ll master it.

Posted on

I literarly despise chemistry but am taking it again next semester. Am I an idiot?

I literarly despise chemistry but am taking it again next semester. Am I an idiot?
I literarly despise chemistry but am taking it again next semester. Am I an idiot?

Far from being proof of idiocy, your persistence in the face of adversity is admirable and scholarly. Perhaps you are taking chemistry for a major or pre-professional requirement. Maybe you’re just trying to prove something to yourself. In any case, I wish you the best with it. Do visit the CFLC (bit.ly/BC-connors) for peer tutoring whenever you need assistance.

Posted on

do you think university tenure policies should have some sort of clause that if students don’t like a prof-teaching style, approachability, etc.-that tenure should become null and void?

do you think university tenure policies should have some sort of clause that if students don't like a prof - teaching style, approachability, etc. - that tenure should become null and void?
do you think university tenure policies should have some sort of clause that if students don’t like a prof – teaching style, approachability, etc. – that tenure should become null and void?

Faculty are evaluated on research, teaching, and contributions to the university and the scholarly community. Student feedback and evaluations are part of that. bit.ly/bc-faculty-bylaws. Tenure was designed to protect faculty from being fired for not being popular with donors or governments, so whether students “like” a professor seems potentially like a similar issue. More info on tenure and why it’s useful: bit.ly/bc-tenure.

Posted on

Head hurts from writing

Head hurts from writing
Head hurts from writing

Well, no wonder with all the work you’ve been doing. Each person is different, but there are a few things you can try to alleviate the hurt. Make sure you’re well nourished. Get up and walk around at least once an hour, or stare into the distance for about five minutes each hour. Go visit the therapy dogs. If you’re totally non-productive, you might need a longer break and some sleep and/or exercise. I’m sure you’re getting the picture … do something totally different for a little while and then go back to your writing. All the best; I know you can get through this! <3

Posted on

My best friend is leaving me to suffer alone during finals. Should I be mad or should I skip my finals and travel with her?

My best friend is leaving me to suffer alone during finals. Should I be mad or should I skip my finals and travel with her?
My best friend is leaving me to suffer alone during finals. Should I be mad or should I skip my finals and travel with her?

It is sad when the people you count on for support leave you to go it alone. But I don’t think skipping your finals would be a good idea at all. Maybe let her know you miss her and make plans to travel with her on in the future? If you could use some unconditional love, our therapy dogs are coming in through Finals – see the schedule: bit.ly/PuppersBC

Posted on

I feel sorry and upset about O’Connor Family Learning Center due to their not proffessional working. Any other writing tutor service?

I feel sorry and upset about O'Connor Family Learning Center due to their not proffessional working. Any other writing tutor service?
I feel sorry and upset about O’Connor Family Learning Center due to their not proffessional working. Any other writing tutor service?

I’m sorry you didn’t receive the service you were expecting at the CFLC. Please let them know the expectations you feel they didn’t meet, and they might be able to meet them. The only other service available in the School of Arts and Sciences is the Online Writing Lab (OWL), a service affiliated with CFLC (bit.ly/BC-OWL), but you’ll have to hurry! Today is the last day to submit. If you are in a different school (e.g. School of Social Work), ask that school’s main office whether there is an in-person or online tutoring service affiliated with that school.