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3 Tips for Commuter Students

Being a full-time college student is hard. I get it, balancing schoolwork, a part-time job, and social relationships can be extremely challenging. It's hard if you live on campus, but in my humble opinion it's harder if you commute. The reason, a three-letter acronym: M-T-A.

Living in New York City has its advantages such as a 24-hour public transportation system. However, said transportation system makes being a commuting college student a difficult task at times. The number of classes and/or events I was late to at school because of unexplained train difficulties are countless. If I had a dollar for every one of those times I could probably pay off a good chunk of my student loans by now.

As a senior, I've gone through the hassle of riding the MTA for three full years and like to think of myself as a seasoned traveler. Therefore, I've come up with three easy solutions to help all you incoming commuting students stay on schedule when the semester starts.

Be on that train platform extra early

I understand not everyone wants to wake up early, especially for class, but when commuting you need to sacrifice that extra 30 minutes of sleep. Here's why: that train you thought will give you at least 15 minutes to walk to class from the station broke down for some inexplicable reason. Now instead of 15 minutes early, you're 30 minutes late and there was a pop-quiz given which you didn’t even know about. So, get up early to be ready for any delays.

Use an app to aid with your commute

There are a few of these out there but the best one that I've used is the Transit app; available for both iPhone and android. This app will be your savior. I know you're asking, “Why, why is it so important to have?” Simple: this will keep you updated on service statuses for the entire MTA. You might think you're early, but this app will let you know that you're actually on a train that's running express because of unforeseen emergency construction due to electrical problems and you’re going to miss your stop! Don't be stuck on the express train; get the app.

Always have your metro card filled

Last but most important is to always make sure you have one fare, a whopping $2.75, on your metro card at all times. The reason for this is because you might be walking into the station and hear that train of yours rolling in, but oops, you can't get through the turnstile because your card only has a measly $2.74. Don't be that person and hold up the people who actually have a full fare. Be prepared and think ahead.

Use these tips for the upcoming semester and you'll be a well-seasoned commuter in no time. So go catch that train and get to class on time.

Matthew A. Fanizza ’19 is a Communication Arts major with a concentration on Digital Media He is President of the Terrier Sports Network + Digital Media Producer for various media outlets around NYC. His favorite thing to do in Brooklyn Heights is to sit on the Promenade and watch the city.

Benefits of Doing an Internship

Gain hands on experience

Sometimes it can be hard to comprehend material when reading it from a textbook. However, hands on work is an invaluable experience that cannot be obtained in the classroom.

Learning more about the field

By interning, you learn the day to day job duties expected in a profession and encounter situations that are not often mentioned.

Learning skills

Gain specialized skills for a specific field or pickup transferable skills such as, teamwork, communication, socialization and much more.

Explore

Internships are a great way to learn more about yourself and your interests if you are undecided about your major. If you have already declared a major, an internship can give you the certainty that this is the right field for you.

Set yourself up for the future

When applying for jobs after graduation, you will be competing against many other applicants. You can bet a lot of them did internships, you need to have similar experience. Also having previous knowledge in the field sets you ahead and gives you a better chance of getting the job.

Financial

Many internships are paid which can assist in paying tuition or personal expenses.

Job Offer

Many times interns are offered a job after their internship. It can happen to you!

Gain confidence

By interning at a company, you gain experience that will help you transition from school to the workforce.

Shivani Sharma ‘21, a Nursing major, lives in the SFC Residence Hall.

Counting down 7 weekdays left to the start of this upcoming school year! We hope you all are enjoying your last week of summer. ❤️💙😆 #terrier #sfcny #smallschoolbigdreams

#terrier #sfcny #smallschoolbigdreams

Choosing a Major

Choosing your major is an important step in our college career. It can be daunting for some, but here are some tips to make it easier.

There is no rush!

Take some time to figure out what you want in the long run. Although your major will be the determining factor of what classes you will take, don’t rush to commit. Keep your options open.

Prerequisites are important

Taking the standard classes you need for any major is important. For example, take Math 1001 in your spring semester of freshman year instead of your junior year. Get those basic classes out of the way!

Talk to your Freshman Advisor

Your freshman advisor is there to support and guide you down the right path for YOU. Talk to them! They can help you narrow down your talents and gifts. Don’t be afraid to build a relationship with them because they will be essential in your freshman year.

No passion for your current major? Change it as soon as possible!

Don’t be stuck in a major that isn’t the right one for you. Change it as soon as you are sure about your new major. Don’t waste your time or your credits. Make the switch so you don’t’ fall behind in your next major.

Last, but not least, research the jobs correlated with your major

You would be shocked to learn the amount of jobs you can get with certain majors so do your research! The internet is there to guide you. Use it for your own benefit. Having knowledge on career opportunities will also help you commit to a major. You can also get guidance from the Career Center and Department Chairs. Ask them about possible careers.

Jasmine Roach ’21 is an Education major with a concentration in Childhood Education. Her favorite thing about Brooklyn Heights is the different variety of foods the neighborhood offers.

New Terriers! Learn about the 40+ student clubs, enjoy the BBQ, games and prizes at our annual Terrier Tuesday, September 4 @ 4pm! 💙❤️🐾 #terrierpride #sfc #terriertuesday

#terrierpride #sfc #terriertuesday

Rocky wants to remind you all that August 31 is our last open house of the summer! If you’re considering coming to SFC this fall, join us from 5-8 pm to learn all about what our school has to offer. ❤️💙🐾 #sfcpride #classof2022 #smallcollegebigdreams (at St. Francis College Brooklyn)

#sfcpride #classof2022 #smallcollegebigdreams

Hello SFC Terriers! Here’s some exciting news… we now have parking discount rates offered by Icon Parking Lots on Livingston street for St. Francis College employees and students! ⠀ ⠀ - The daily rate will be $20 for 12hrs, must park only at Icon Parking located at 85 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201⠀ - The monthly rate will be $350, must park only at Icon Parking 111 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201⠀ - Saturday and Sunday Parking rate for 10hrs will be $10, must park only at Icon Parking 111 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201⠀ ⠀ Please Note: Ticket must be validated by St. Francis College Concierge (validation stamp at front desk) to get the discount rate. Oversized vehicle(s) is an additional $15 to the rates above. (at St. Francis College Brooklyn)

So Much To Do Near SFC

St. Francis College is located in one of the most amazing parts of New York City, Brooklyn Heights. Only a few minutes walk to the Brooklyn Bridge, there are several things to do here with friends. Here are a few of them!

Famous Food destinations are everywhere. You can walk to Brooklyn Ice Cream, original New York pizza at Grimaldi’s, the best burgers at Shake Shack, and chocolate at Jacques Torres.

Have a nice picnic with a group of friends on the water at Brooklyn Bridge Park while enjoying an amazing view overlooking the Manhattan skyline.

Take a relaxing walk on the promenade after a stressful day of classes.

See galleries or catch a theater show.

Take beautiful pictures in DUMBO. Enjoy the authenticity of this historic and trendy neighborhood.

Play soccer or basketball down at the piers.

Attend a fair on Sundays underneath the Brooklyn Bridge.

There are many events held throughout the year, check them out here! https://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/events

Shivani Sharma ‘21, a Nursing major, lives in the SFC Residence Hall.

4 Tips to Help Adjust to College

Getting adjusted to college can be challenging. Everyone has their own opinion on the best way to get acclimated and that can leave you very confused. I’ve found college to be what you make it and CONSISTENCY is the key for me.

Here are my 4 simple steps:

Go to bed at a decent time

Study your notes daily

Complete assignments

Develop a good rapport with your professors

These simple steps can make college life easier for you. Getting a good night’s sleep makes for smooth sailing during the day. I've tried this and I feel more awake, focus and more energized. It’s definitely hard to do since as a teen most of us are going to sleep past 10pm.

Studying notes daily is a huge benefit in college especially during midterms and finals. I’ve found it makes studying and taking exams much less complicated.

Completing assignments can be as easy as just staying on top of your work. It shows the professor you are a dedicated student. Also, who doesn't want good grades?

A good rapport is especially important. SFC professors are super helpful and are always willing to listen.

Gabrielle Smalls '21, is a Criminal Justice Major with a concentration on Law at St. Francis College. She is Chairman of Pre Law Journal in the St. Thomas Moore Pre Law Society. Her favorite place in Brooklyn Heights is Brooklyn Bridge Park.

5 Tips for Living in the Dorm

Tips courtesy of SFC Business Major Bray Brattoya ‘21

There is no prepaid meal plan so make use of the kitchen! Bring a pot and pan to make some simple dishes.

If you can’t cook, then your microwave is your new best friend!

New laundry cards are $5 each so just try to borrow one from a friend and put your money on it.

There are people at the dorm from all different schools in the city. Hanging out in the common rooms and attending events are good ways to make new friends!

RAs are very helpful with all different types of situations, from roommate conflict to general stress.

Jasmine Roach ’21 is an Education major with a concentration in Childhood Education. Her favorite thing about Brooklyn Heights is the different variety of foods the neighborhood offers.

It’s Easy to Get Involved

As a freshman, adjusting to college can be overwhelming, especially you are normally shy in a new environment. There is so much to think about and adjust to, but St. Francis College holds a special events just for freshmen and transfer students to help get them involved, even before classes start.

During Terrier Tuesday, a block party held the day before the semester begins, SFC holds a club fair. I was able to see every club organized by St. Francis students. They were all friendly and willing to welcome me as a new member. The club that really caught my eye was the St. Thomas Moore Pre Law Society.

If you’re interested in law this is absolutely a great way to learn more about it. I joined and within a matter of days and over the next few months, I had learned so much. In the Pre-Law Society we have debates which usually pertain to current events and mock trails which are based on different cases. You’re able to take on different roles for each case. There is also the Pre-Law Journal, of which I am now Chairman. The journal gives you a forum to speak your mind and give your opinion on different topics, such as DACA, voter fraud, terrorism, NFL kneeling, and so much more. Perhaps the most important thing I learned is that SFC has so many connections to the court system. We’re only a few blocks away and there are so many links to judges and lawyers.

Gabrielle Smalls '21, is a Criminal Justice Major at St. Francis College with the hope of becoming a lawyer. She is Chairperson of the Pre Law Journal published by the College’s St. Thomas Moore Pre Law Society. Her favorite place in Brooklyn Heights is Brooklyn Bridge Park.

#TBT - 1942 The St. Francis College Glee Club was the most active extracurricular @sfcactivities within the college in 1942.

#tbt

An App-etizing Feature

A great perk in coming to St. Francis College is the SFC Mobile app. It has so cool many features that are helpful to students as well as parents. Features such as:

Events happening in school,

Current news we need to know,

Job listings to work on campus,

Free food,

and so much more.

Many colleges have their events only posted on a website. That can be helpful, but SFC knows that students are much more likely to see something on their phone and in an app.

Besides the huge amount of information in the app, students can also find discounts that local stores offer in Brooklyn Heights. One place I found out about is my favorite restaurants in Brooklyn, Lemongrass Grill, is just a few blocks from SFC. They rice with your choice of meat in a bowl of pineapple. This is always a fun way to gather with friends after classes and grab a bite to eat.

#taptheapp

7 Packing For College Tips

Pack clothes from your closet with their hangers. Punch a hole on the bottom of a garbage bag and slide it on to a stack of clothes with hangers. Saves a lot of time when unpacking and keeps your packing more organized.

To save space and stay organized, fold sheets into a pillow case.

Put your pillows into bags and squeeze the air out of them as much as possible to save space. If you have any delicate items, you can surround them with pillows to keep them safe in the car.

Don’t pack your bags into another box, fill them with your belongings as well. You can also use this storage method after you move in to avoid clutter.

If you’re taking a suit case, use packing cubes to most efficiently use all the space possible.

Only bring clothes for the upcoming season. You can get other seasonal clothes during breaks such as Thanksgiving break or during the winter break.

Last but not least, the most important tip… do NOT pack the night before!!

Shivani Sharma ’21 is a Nursing major who lives in the St. Francis College Residence Hall.

#DON'TProcrastinate #makelifeeasier

10 Reasons to Choose Nursing

Nurses are in high demand. It is one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S. Nurses are in greater need nationwide and internationally than any other healthcare worker in the industry.

Nursing is one of the most stable jobs and it is recession proof.

Many Nurses are eligible to join a union, which gives them access to excellent benefits.

Working as a Nurse offers endless knowledge. Nurses can learn something new every day on the job. Some of those skills can lead to a promotion or be a great addition on a resume.

There are many opportunities for continuing education including by earning a Master’s Degree or Ph.D.

Multiple career paths are offered to nurses such as, Nurse Practitioner, Mid-Wife, Nurse Anesthetist, Certified Radiological, Dialysis Nurse, and many more.

Within Nursing, there are numerous fields to go into, including: emergency room, neonatal intensive care, pediatrics, cardiology, research, and much more.

Nurses make an excellent salary.

There are many opportunities to earn extra money through overtime shifts, being on-call, having a specialty, or picking up extra shifts.

The best reason is that you are making a change, you are helping someone heal and are giving back to the community!

Shivani Sharma ’21 is a Nursing major who lives in the St. Francis College Residence Hall.

#nursing savelives

Learn about the Terrier Sports Network

Here on the St. Francis College campus there are dozens of clubs and organizations. From cultural clubs, fraternity life, and even a club dedicated solely to anime, there’s something for everyone. One club in particular is great for those interested in the broadcasting/entertainment industry, the Terrier Sports Network. Based under the Department of Athletics, TSN’s main objective is to broadcast all of the sporting events that take place on campus on the college’s web platform, necfrontrow.com.

It’s a pretty big task, but it’s very rewarding to those who want to get their feet wet in the field of communications. As a freshman, I came into the club with some understanding of the broadcasting industry, but my skills were severely lacking. As I got involved, I learned how to operate various cameras and equipment, edit and produce my own video interviews, and much, much more! The Terrier Sports Network is an opportunity for anyone to build up their skills, but more importantly, their resume.

TSN doesn’t only focus on broadcasting sporting events on campus. We also create our own commercials, weekly recaps, and short journalism pieces highlighting the athletes on all of SFC’s athletic teams. As a member you can also propose your own creative ideas. I like to think of it as a collection of creative individuals where everyone can express their own creative talents.

So whether you’re an incoming freshman, a graduating senior, or someplace in between, the Terrier Sports Network is a great opportunity for you to get some real-world experience and get your creative juices flowing.

We have alumni working at various media outlets such as:

ABC7 News,

News12,

Spectrum News NY1,

FNTSY Sports Network,

New York Sports Club,

and Hot 97 to name a few.

Don’t wait and get involved. Who knows, this could be the building-block for your success in the broadcasting industry!

#terriersports sfbk brooklynstrong

The Importance of Having Good Relationships With Your Professors

Entering my freshman year of college I had the misconception that college professors are different than high school teachers – and not in a good way. When I was a senior in high school, my teachers would continuously tell me and my peers that college professors won’t care as much as they do. Having experienced a year at St. Francis College, I know that is a false statement for many reasons.

Professors in college do contact you and are concerned about your personal life.

However, all professors are different and just like my teachers in high school, some are not as caring as others. The difference at SFC is that classroom sizes are relatively small so it is easier to have a good relationship with professors. But it is the responsibility of every student to make sure they are keeping their professor informed on reasons for absences, delayed homework, etc.

My experience with college professors has been relatively good and I think it is because I am not afraid to email them and maintain an active relationship. It helps professors understand who you are and what might impact on your grades. The truth is that many professors have over one hundred students to teach and for the first few weeks they may not remember your name or your face. However, if you make it your duty to email and participate in class, you will be on track for success.

My biggest advice for incoming freshman or anyone in college is to stay involved in your classes and communicate with your professors because it will do you justice in the long run!

Jasmine Roach ’21 is an Education major with a concentration in Childhood Education. Her favorite thing about Brooklyn Heights is the different variety of foods the neighborhood offers.

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