Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
As a wall at a major university, I am a huge fan of institutions of higher education. Toronto is frequently rated as one of the top universities globally, and it has one of the largest library collections in North America. Also, a dear relative, Living Wall, who is deeply involved in environmental issues, lives and works there . Here’s her picture – isn’t she stunning? bit.ly/MyCousinLivvy
If you want to, there’s plenty to do with it. Journalism and tech writing are popular choices, but there are lots of options. The Wall is fond of the Great Jobs for <Blank> Majors series–here’s the one for English: bit.ly/bc-english. The BC Career Center also has lots of resources to help you explore that, and you can talk to a counselor to make sure you’re on track. bit.ly/CareerCtrMajors
I would advise you to meet with the major advisor in your department and make your case for why you want to do this. Best of luck!
Study! Calculus gets very hard very quickly, and calc 2 tends to be a very big jump up from calc 1. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the studying process, you can always ask for help at the Connors Family Learning Center: bit.ly/BC-connors. They have wonderful tutors to help students succeed in every way possible.
Academic Advising assures me, that while there is no way to game the system of the algorithm that determines individual pick times, you will have a better pick date next year, by dint of your class year. And do contact faculty for an override, if a class is really important to you. Here’s to getting into the classes you need!
I would advise asking the professor directly, and also speaking to your academic advisor or the Advising Center (bit.ly/BC-advising) about your concerns.
Though it may seem like it, one grade will not ruin your life. I promise! It may, however, present a useful opportunity to reconsider some things. First, think about why you’re struggling. I recommend talking to the staff of the Connors Family Learning Center (bit.ly/BC-connors) if you want to improve your study methods or if you need a little extra help. If the issue isn’t your studying, consider whether it is your interest level. Perhaps this just isn’t your favorite subject. If so, you’re in luck! BC offers many wonderful departments on a range of subjects. You might talk to a trusted advisor or professor about options or meet with the Career Center (bit.ly/BC-career) to see what careers paths different subjects offer.
![Why do we use grad[e]s to be a measure of our knowledge [unclear word] ?](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/aw040418-5.jpg)
It wasn’t always this way, as you can learn in this fascinating article about the history of grades: bit.ly/history-of-grading (BC community access). Grading in the US evolved from European scholastic competitions, which worked something more like sports playoffs; the winners of final brackets went on to be supported by academic institutions for life. Yale was the first in the US to use a 4-point scale: “2” was satisfactory. Harvard and William & Mary adopted it. They often included non-academic criteria; a “0” at William & Mary meant “those who learned little or nothing… on account of excessive idleness.” K-12 schools followed suit. At first, grades were purely an internal pedagogical tool. Around 1900 as schooling became universal, grading became systematized as way to communicate externally.
There are many right ways to study, and some of it depends on your personality. But why not set up an appointment for academic coaching at the Connors Family Learning Center (bit.ly/BC-connors), and discuss your learning (and grade) goals with them?
While my wall-friends in admissions do hear some interesting conversations, they tend to keep mum when I ask them for specifics. Or are you asking for about another school? Either way, I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for this one. But I do wish you lots of luck!
Yes! The advice to the 3-day 15-pager is good: blocks of time, specific goals, rewards. The key is to make sure you set aside enough time.
You can do it. Don’t ask me how I know. Try carving out blocks of time and setting specific, challenging, but manageable goals for the time (x pages before 2 PM, for instance.) Give yourself small rewards when you meet the challenge. And then, after this paper is done, maybe talk to the CFLC (bit.ly/BC-connors) about academic coaching, so you don’t wind up in this situation again. Best of luck!
During my time supporting the O’Neill Library, I have had an opportunity to observe students from every major available here at Boston College and my belief is that there is that all of the majors are “good” but that they might not all be right for a particular student. I would recommend focusing your efforts on deciding if Communications is the best fit for you. To do this, consider questions such as: Do you enjoy the Communications classes you have taken so far? Does the work make you fulfilled? Does it feel meaningful? Will it support your future career goals and personal aspirations? Along the way, you might want to visit the BC Career Center (bit.ly/BC-career) and check out our portal for Communications Resources (https://libguides.bc.edu/communicationportal).
I hear your frustration. College is only 4 years out of a long life, and grades should really just be a way of ascertaining that you’ve “got it” about a subject, not the goal. On the other hand, college gives you opportunities you may not have again in life, to learn intensively and follow a path of study that interests you. Grades may or may not matter for your career goals, so there is some risk in ignoring that aspect, I hope you can focus on the core learning and growing part of your time here.
I would recommend focusing less on the struggle and more on whether your major gives you a sense of fulfillment. Just because something is difficult or we struggle with it, does not mean that it is not worthwhile. However, difficulty alone does not make a topic or activity worthwhile either. So, I believe that thinking about what your goals are and what you get out of your major will be a more helpful tool in deciding what path to take. Do you feel a sense of accomplishment as you struggle with it? Is it in an area in which you hope to work? Despite the struggle, do you find periods enjoyment or joy from your major? If you find it tough to answer these questions, you might want to talk to someone at the BC Career Center (bit.ly/BC-career) or Counseling Services (bit.ly/BC-counseling) to get some advice.
I’m sorry you’re having a hard time finding a place to study. You’re correct that you shouldn’t register for a group study room when your intent is to study alone. I’m sorry to report that O’Neill Library – fine establishment though it is – does not take reservations for other seating. I recommend checking out other spaces on campus, such as in our other libraries (e.g. Bapst Art Library, Educational Resource Center, Social Work Library, Theology & Ministry Library) and other spaces on campus conducive to study, such as common areas in academic buildings & residence halls, empty classrooms, or even dining halls, if you don’t mind a general hum of activity.
It can be tough to keep up with all of your coursework, so don’t be too hard on yourself! If the paper isn’t due yet, you might want to talk to your professor about an extension or talk to the Connors Family Learning Center (bit.ly/BC-connors) about techniques for finishing it up or suggestions for how to better manage your work in the future. Most of all, remember that grades (and particularly one single grade) aren’t the most important thing in life!
The Wall wishes all students best of luck on midterms – it’s a stressful time! I feel very hopeful about your chances. If you don’t end up doing as well as you hope, and are struggling with the concepts, please consider spending some quality time with a peer tutor at the Connors Family Learning Center (bit.ly/BC-connors).
Translation: Do you know how to say DNA in English? “Dee-en-eyyy,” or for the long form “dee-oxey-rhi-bow-new-clay-ick-assid”. YouTube has lots of great pronunciation videos for science stuff. Here’s DNA: bit.ly/sayDNA
![学习太好了! 怎么办? (My studying is so great! What do I do?) Become a stripper Go [redacted] a [redacted].](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/aw021518-redactionquestion.jpg)
Translation: My studying is so great! What do I do? Unfortunately, one of the things you’ve found out is that one potential response to announcing you’re doing well is a rude response. I congratulate you on your success thus far. One thing you can do is help other people succeed: offer encouragement, study strategies that have worked for you, or even tutoring. Depending on the subject, the CFLC (bit.ly/BC-connors) might be looking for tutors.
