Oct
31
Hello there! I am Sydney Stavinoha, a freshman here at the wonderful campus of OU, majoring in broadcast journalism and minoring in aviation. First, I will tell you about myself…
I am from the “sweet” town of Sugar Land, Texas, where I attended Kempner High School. That’s right outside of Houston, TX if you weren’t sure! I loved living there, but I also love living in Norman! I chose to come to OU because first off, I fell in LOVE with the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication! It is amazing, and another great perk is that it is completely “TEAM MAC,” or in other words, it is all Apple-based products that you get to use while in the building! Another reason, probably the main reason, I came to OU is because I was selected for the President’s Leadership Class. What is the President’s Leadership Class, you ask?
…I will tell you!
Oct
28
Hi again readers! So being a freshman, I really didn’t know much about what happens during Homecoming week and I only had my high school experiences to go off of. Well, I can tell you that OU’s Homecoming week was awesome! A few of the things that take place during Homecoming are the pep rally, parade, and many other fun activities!
Personally, my favorite was going to the pep rally on Friday night because the stands were packed with students and everyone was there to cheer for their friends and have a great time. I loved getting the chance to watch all of the different sororities and fraternities creative dances. I especially had so much fun cheering for my own personal sorority and getting to see the hard work that they put into our dance. Also, some of the different sports teams came to the pep rally and spoke to the crowd, so it was great to learn about upcoming sporting events. Read more
Oct
25
Everyone knows about the notorious “freshman 15,” or the supposed weight gained by every first-year college student after two semesters. This is always a fear of freshman, guys and girls alike. I have good news though: I recently saw a statistic that showed the average college freshman gains anywhere from 3 to 5 pounds after their first year in college, which is not bad compared to a whopping 15 pounds. First off, I just wanted to clear that myth up, because eating with a nutritious mindset is definitely possible, and the food services offered on campus at OU definitely encourage that.
Oct
24
I’ve been locked up in my bedroom all morning (er… afternoon) enjoying my usual meal of steak, waffles, french fries, and of course, Scotch.*
* Kidding, but ten bonus points for the Anchorman fans who caught that reference.
I have, actually, been locked in my room all morning. Being a full-time student and working two jobs definitely gets tiring, so I enjoy my alone time, but it has been brought to my attention that I turn into a bit of a hermit on weekends after a stressful week.
Oct
21
Hello again, readers! You may have watched the OU/TX game a few weeks ago (55-17, Boomer Sooner!), but there’s definitely a whole lot more that goes on around campus that week.
OU/TX is not just any old game here at OU; it’s a time where thousands of OU fans, whether alums, current and prospective students, faculty, or just avid views, come together to celebrate our school spirit. And it’s not just for people who are huge fans of football! At OU, everyone get rallied full of school spirit during OU/TX week! You’ll hear random people shouting “Boomer!” and always a “Sooner!” in reply. And literally everyone will be talking about who’s going to Dallas that weekend and how much we’re going to beat them by. It’s a great way to show the essence of school spirit throughout OU.
Even if you don’t get tickets to the game, you should still go down to Dallas! It’s only a three hour drive from Norman and there’s plenty of things to do there. You can even go to the Texas State Fair (which is huge, by the way) the day of the game and see the arena! You can also relax with all the rides and delicious fair food. It’s a great weekend to relax, hang out with friends, and exude school pride!
Boomer Sooner!
Oct
20
- GET to know your hall mates: Everyone in the dorms is anxious and excited to meet new people. Take this wonderful opportunity the first few weeks of college to really invest time in getting to know the people who live near you. At first, it may not seem like you have a lot in common with them, but it will surprise you how much you truly do. Everyone comes to college with fears, hopes, and expectations. Start learning more about OU and more about yourself through relationships with people going through the same things as you! Whether that is learning everyone has an embarrassing move-in story, first day of classes story, or maybe just embarrassing moments on a daily basis!
- GET a planner and use it: Once you get all your syllabi, it will look like a mountain of deadlines, papers, and exams. If you mark important dates for each class on one calendar, you will see which hectic weeks you need to plan for. Personally, I like to highlight the days I have something important so I can easily see which weeks my deadlines fall. For the super organized people, highlighting in different colors for different classes is even better! Hint: professors seem to schedule all their tests and papers on similar weeks, oddly enough. Enjoy your “light week” because usually the next week you are crammed with academics. Working ahead is always good too! 🙂 Read more
Oct
19
There’s only one way to find out if a college is right for you. A small glimpse of what life would be as a student on a particular campus can give you the assurance that a college is your best fit. Attending a school “sight unseen” is never recommended. For this reason OU offers you many opportunities to visit campus including tours during the week or on Saturdays (of non-holiday weekends) and on-campus events.
Oct
18
A Little Insight About Me & My Major
So, I went to my advising appointment for next semester and I cannot believe how fast time has passed! I feel so old and young at the same time. I say this because not many people know I am only 17 years old yet am considered a “sophomore” here at OU because of the amount of hours I had coming in. Everything has been so great, and it feels like I’ve been doing this “college” thing for a while, even though it’s only been 6 or so weeks. I am an International Business & Marketing major and am doing a language concentration in Spanish as well as a minor in French… How am I going to get through all that? I’m not quite sure yet, but with the support of my adviser, my parents, and my friends, I know I will… Read more
Oct
13
- Take initiative. It shows a lot about a person’s character when they don’t have to be asked or told what to do. Reach out to your representative from the university you are interested in and know when deadlines are for applications, scholarships, housing, and commitments. You can locate your personal OU Representative here.
- Be mindful of your email address. You’re taking the big step into the collegiate and adult world filled with internships, networks, and jobs. Do you really want to supply them with an email address that is overly cute or plain inappropriate? If you need to set up a separate email with just your name as the handle. All admitted students to OU receive their own OU email address.
- Construct an email, not a text messages. Even if you are on a very friendly level with your university representative, remember that they are the university. Make sure your emails are formal and well written. Always include a subject, the person’s name, and your signature.
- Always check your spelling and grammar. Because we will. Read more
Oct
11
I’m pretty sure back in high school almost everybody always crammed the night before a test or exam. This is definitely not wise to do in college — take time to study. Cramming can lead to unsuccessful grades, so study hard and study right. Cramming is a no no!
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