Back to school, back to school…

Welcome back blog readers! It’s been a great summer, filled with mini-vacations, concerts, and cookouts, but now it’s time to get back to school. It seems like summer just flew by and now we’re standing in the middle of September and it’s going to be October soon (craziness)! First off, I want to say welcome to all of our new freshmen and transfer students. We at BenU hope this will be a great year, filled with new friendships, memories and just overall fun! Now on to the good stuff…

Are you interested in the science fields?! Want to get first-hand accounts of the science programs?!  Want to tour a science lab?! Want to learn about research opportunities?! Are you mad about science?! Well then RSVP for BenU’s Science Open House today!

Disclaimer: Our professors are not "mad" scientists.

As you may or may not have heard, Benedictine is holding its annual Science Open House on Saturday September 25^th, 2010. This event is designed specifically for our prospective students who want pursue a degree in the science fields. At this event you get to hear from the science faculty, talk with some current students and hear about how a degree from Benedictine can prepare you for a career in the science fields! During the open house prospective students and their families will get an Admissions Presentation from the Enrollment Center, which details information regarding acceptance, scholarships and tuition costs. This will be followed by a presentation from Dr. Ralph Meeker, Dean of the College of Science. Upon the completion of Dr. Meeker’s presentation, tours of the Birck Hall (main science building) will be given. The event concludes with an informational fair, which showcases all of the science departments and many of their faculty, who are ready and willing to answer any questions regarding the science majors.

Again, the event is being held in the Birck Hall of Science on Saturday September 25^th, 2010 from 11am-2pm. If you are interested in RSVP’ing for this event, you can go online here. I, along with all the faculty and staff at BenU, hope to see you at this event!

Does anyone know what happened this week? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Does anyone know what today is? If not, go take a peek at your calendar. Yep, it’s the first official day of summer and boy let’s hope this weather gets better. It feels a bit like April at times, rather than June, but from what I’ve heard we’re finally in for some warm, clear weather these next couple of months! Here in the Enrollment Center, we don’t get the summer off like most of our students. Instead we get plan some of the awesome events we have coming up before the official 2010-2011 school year starts and let me tell you, we’re all getting pretty excited for what is to come!

So it’s summer now, which means you’ll be outside a lot more, which means you should probably come enjoy the summer weather at Ben Fest! Matt mentioned in the previous post all about our festivities on June 27th, and I’m encouraging all students, current and prospective to come out to Benedictine! It’s going to be a great time including an Alumni/Student picnic and an evening of the Beatles-tribute band “The Fab Four.” It’s going to be a rockin’ good time, so come on out and give us your best Ferris Bueller’s “Twist and Shout” impressions. You can still find tickets and more information at the following link: http://www.ben.edu/news/events/BenFest/index.asp

Choreographed dance routines with leopard-print vests are encouraged

Also, since we’re on the topic of summer events…have you attended Benedictine Beginnings yet? We have two dates left, so be sure to sign up for either July 10th or July 31st, if you haven’t already attended. The events are filled with information sessions for both parents and students, hear from of our current students, visit with prospective students and get a free lunch. If you would like to sign up, please visit the following link: http://www.ben.edu/admissions/livethelife/ Please be advised, this event is designed for admitted fall students only!! Seniors, we’re going to have an event coming up for you soon…so stick around, more blog posts to follow.

All You Need is BenFest

It’s summertime.  First, let’s just let that sink in and enjoy it.
Okay, done?  Me neither, let’s give it another go around.  It’s summertime!

So summertime means that campus is deserted, nothing happening, empty, a ghost town right?  That, my future Eagles, is where you are wrong.  Summertime is a time for relaxation no doubt but here at Benedictine it is also a time for fun.

One of the core values of Benedictine University is leading a life lived in balance.  So to balance out all that hard work you just did in high school, and the work you did choosing us as your university, and then the work you did to get registered we thought we would provide a little fun.  That is where BenFest comes in.  BenFest is a chance for current students, new students, alumni, faculty and staff to come together under the summer sun and do nothing but have a good time.

Food, fun and sun will be present (hopefully so will you) but so will a band called “The Fab Four.”  This is a great Beatles tribute band and they will provide the soundtrack and show for what I’m sure will prove to be a great night.  I can’t wait to go, and I  can’t wait to see you there.  Be sure to bring your mom, dad, brother, sister, friends, and of course most importantly yourself.  To find out the details you can follow the link below:

http://www.ben.edu/news/events/BenFest/index.asp

We can’t wait to kick off the summer and your Benedictine career with a bang at BenFest!

The 4 Best Words in the English Language

Pitchers and catchers report!  Aaaaahhhh it just sounds refreshing doesn’t it?  The first time you hear this you know spring is coming.  It means that our beloved Cubs or Sox, or in my case Reds (yes you should feel sorry for me) have started making their way to warmer weather.  The guys we love to go see at Wrigley and the Cell invade Florida and Arizona and we all begin to hold our breath.  No one wants to say it out loud but we all know…..spring is coming.  I’ll be honest, I’m getting excited just writing about it and, come on, I know you are too.  And just when you didn’t think you needed anything but the thought of baseball to melt those winter blues away, your good old advisor is here to spread even more good news.

What is it right?  How could anything be better than a chance to see Big Z throw off the mound?  Well, no offense to the Cubs, but I think we stole the show this week because registration for the fall of 2010 officially began!  That’s right, our office has been as packed as the stands during a Cubs vs. Sox spring training game  this week.  Okay, maybe it hasn’t been that busy but we want it to be. 

That, my friends, is where you come in.  We’re as excited as Lou Pinella about who we’ve had come through the door so far but just like Ozzie Guillen we could always use more talent (anyone tired of the baseball analogy yet?).  So, please, contact your admission counselor SOON and come join our team because as great as spring training is, you’ll learn soon that the real four best words in the english language really are, “here’s your fall schedule.”

Live the Life!

Are you still undecided about college?! Haven’t figured out your major yet?! Want to talk to a current Benedictine student?! Want to take an interactive tour of campus?!  Well then come on out to Benedictine Beginnings! Benedictine Beginnings is an event designed for all admitted students to help introduce you to the university, meet with faculty and staff,  and  help ease your transition to college. We are holding the events on Thursday, March 18 and Thursday, April 29 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

The event starts off with check-in and a refreshing continental breakfast. This will be followed by a presentation from the Admissions Counselors regarding the next steps in the enrollment process (placement exams, tuition deposits..etc). Following the presentation you will have the opportunity to speak with our panel of current Benedictine students regarding their college experience. You will then go on an interactive tour of campus, where you will meet many of the faculty and staff who will be essential to your first year as a college student (it helps to put a face to all the names you may be hearing). Around noon you will have the option to dine with current Benedictine students at our cafeteria, and get a chance to view some of the dorms on campus.  This will all culminate with the option to observe a class. However, space is limited so be sure to reserve your spot ASAP!

If you have any questions regarding Benedictine Beginnings or want to RSVP, please visit the following link: www.ben.edu/livethelife Or if you have specific questions regarding the event, contact your Admissions Counselor or call the Enrollment Center at (630) 829-6300.

I hope to see many of you admitted students at this event! It’s a great opportunity to view the beautiful campus along with the chance to meet the knowledgeable staff to get all of your questions answered! Live the life because it starts today!

What’s This Number On My Phone?

About 20 years ago, and stay with me here to see if you can imagine this, people had phones WITHOUT caller ID.  I know, I know, it’s hard to believe but it’s true.  It used to be that every time we picked up the phone we had absolutely no idea who was going to be on the other end.  This meant that every once in a while you got stuck on a call that you really didn’t want to take and it also meant that there was no such thing as screening your calls.  Today, with one glance at the screen of our smart phone, we know whether or not we want to take a call. 

So what does this little history lesson mean?  Well, pretty soon you just may be getting a call from me to say that I am your new Academic Advisor and you need to come to campus to meet with me and register for your first semester of college (registration for incoming freshmen begins March 1st by the way).  Again, what does this have to do with caller ID?  Well, I know that when I call you for the first time and my number, 630-829-1122, a number that you have never seen before, pops up there is no way I’m getting an answer out of you.  In my experience there are 5 ways you can handle an incoming call from your new advisor and as my first piece of advice to you here they are: 

1.  Send me straight to voicemail:  As much as I hate to admit it, this one is pretty effective.  Most likely, I’ll leave you a messae and hopefully you’ll get back to me pretty quickly.  Make sure you let some time pass between when I leave the message and when you call me back though okay?  If you do it too soon I’ll know you hung up on purpose. 

2.  Pick up and pretend it’s not you:  Okay, I get it, you may think the strange voice on the other end of the line is a telemarketer and when I ask if you are available your first instinct is to say no and offer to take a message.  Here’s the problem though.  When your realize it’s your academic advisor and call back in 5 minutes I’m going to recognize your voice.  My advice:  just save yourself the embarassment and confess while I have you on the phone the first time.

3.  Make your mom answer:  I have absolutely no problem talking to your mom or dad and a lot of the time it’s very nice to meet your parents.  For me, this choice is no problem.  For you, though, it’s a whole other story.  Think about it:  do you really want your mom to be on a first name basis with your advisor and feel free to call him up any time to check up on you?  Again, probably not a path you want to take yourself down. 

4.  Don’t answer over and over:  This one sounds appealing I’m sure.  You’re probably thinking that you can put this whole registration thing off until the summer and eventually I’ll stop calling right?  Wrong.  I’ll never stop calling….ever.  Okay, eventually I’ll stop but not for a really, really long time.  And honestly, who wants to go through that right?  Just pick up the phone for both of our sakes. 

5.  Actually pick up:  This, of course, is my favorite option.  When you do this we get to meet over the phone, you answer a couple of easy questions, maybe we have some laughs, and most importantly we get you in here nice and early to get registered.  This way you get your pick of classes.  Sounds pretty nice huh?  I think so too.  And that’s why my final piece of advice is when you see my number, 630-829-1122, just go ahead and pick up the phone.  I promise it will work best for everyone that way.

Happy Holidays!

First off, I want to wish all the seniors out there, good luck on your finals! I know this is a stressful time of year, but

Winter Wonderland

believe me the benefits far outweigh the frustrations! Like Matt mentioned below, the first official snow has fallen and this means that Winter Break is not too far behind. It’s a great time to go and hang out with your friends, without having to discuss Calculus homework. Take advantage of this time! Take in a movie (Sherlock Holmes!), or go to  a concert (I hear Lady Gaga is coming to town), either way make sure you take a step out of your house and enjoy your winter break.

With that being said, how many of you did your homework from my last blog? What? You didn’t think I assigned something? Relax, I didn’t technically assign anything, but I want to remind all Seniors that Winter Break is a great time to review the Registration Packet. Remember that packet with the additional scholarships and information regarding placement tests? No? Well go sift through your college mail and find it! That packet is very vital in order to know your next steps to become a Benedictine Eagle. Once you find that packet, check out the links and sign up for those placement tests over break. They take like three hours total to complete, so instead of watching that Jersey Shore marathon, take some time and do your placement exams (you’ll feel better about yourself, trust me).

Also, take this time to fill out the application for the Life Lived in Balance Awards. Remember when you met with your Admissions Counselor and they explained those three additional scholarships you might be eligible for? The ones that could help bring your tuition cost down? Those scholarships are in your Registration Packet as well. So take some time over break and fill the appropriate scholarships out and submit them to your counselor. The more scholarship money you potentially receive, the better! If you have any questions about the placement exams or additional scholarships, don’t hesitate to contact your Admissions Counselor (or if you can’t remember their name, simply call the Admission Office and they will get you in touch with your counselor (630) 829-6300).

Have a great winter break everyone and I’ll see you in 2010!

Good Timing

Do you know why it snowed today?  It has nothing to do with cold fronts or the fact that we’re in the middle of winter or even the fact that it’s the Christmas season.  Nope, it snowed because it’s finals time.  One of the hardest periods of each semester is the dreaded finals time.  Students have to write papers, study, take tests and generally prove that they actually know what the last 15 weeks of class was all about.  Now, the finals themselves are hard but the real battle is convincing yourself to study. 

Just imagine,  you are sitting in your dorm room and you look out your window to see a baseball game being played and a few dozen of your friends sitting in the stands enjoying it.  Or you know that there is a concert in the city this weekend that you really want to go to  Or, the most common symptom -you’re burnt out and can’t take another second of studying organic chemistry. 

That, my friends, is why it snowed.  Yes, everyone likes the first snow of the season and, yes the fresh white powder is beautiful.  But, come on, it’s freezing out there and none of us want to be out there.  So, the snow is the best excuse you could possibly find to stay holed up in your dorm room with your book in your lap and a notepad at your side.  The snow won’t make your finals any easier but it should eliminate all of that temptation out there.  Again, it’s freezing where are you really going to go?  This is why students shouldn’t complain about the snow but they should be happy it’s here as it takes away all of thos excuses we love to find to avoid studying.  Now, as far as avoiding the temptation to take a nap in the middle of your study time, well the snow won’t help you there.  And if you give in and lay your head down, don’t worry about it because you’ll just be more rested and be able to study twice as hard when you wake up.  Right?

Turkey time!

Hey gang, Alex here again! If you have been reading the past couple of blog posts, you have probably noticed that we in the Enrollment Center have been really busy lately. The Admissions Counselors have been traveling to fairs and school visits, and we return to a desk piled high with applications. This is an extremely great thing and has certainly made the fall fly by! Speaking of which, can you believe we are already coming to the end of November?! It being near the end of November, you know what that means…Mexican Revolution Day! Just kidding! (Even though Mexican Revolution Day is an actual holiday, don’t believe me? Google it.) Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We are all excited to take a step back from work/school and just spend time with family/friends and enjoy some good food. Thanksgiving break is a good time to collect yourself, mentally and physically before entering that home-stretch of December.

The Registration Packet

Since most of you young minds out there have the Thanksgiving holiday off from school, be sure to check your mailbox for some important information regarding Benedictine. For those of you who are admitted students, be sure to look out for the Registration Packet. This packet is being sent to admitted students only and contains some valuable information regarding the next steps in order to attend Benedictine University. The packet has a detailed time line of events and checkpoints that each student who is interested in attending Benedictine should review. It also has great information regarding placement exams, registration information, financial aid and additional scholarships admitted students can apply for!

After you’ve finished immersing yourself in food, be sure to take the time and look at the Registration Packet. Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks are a great time to get a start on the enrollment process at Benedictine. Think about it, you have two weeks to enjoy, why not spend one of those days completing your placement exams or filling out your scholarship applications! This way you can complete everything and simply enjoy being a senior for your final months. High School only happens once, so try to enjoy the most of it, rather than scrambling at the last minute to complete your enrollment. If you have any questions regarding the Registration Packet, feel free to contact your admissions counselor. If you have any questions regarding Mexican Revolution Day, please feel free to contact me. (Just kidding, go Google it.)

Who’s the Boss?

I’m sure nobody, not even people my age, get the reference this title is making to the oh-so entertaining (if not always on purpose) 80s sitcom featuring Tony Danza and a young Alyssa Milano (think ‘Charmed’).  It doesn’t matter if you don’t get the reference, though, because as tempting as it is to go on and on about how underrated Tony Danza is and how I feel like he has never gotten a real shot (come on Hollywood the guy is great) that’s not what this blog post is about. What I’m writing about today is how sweet it is to be the boss. 

You may be thinking I was just promoted or hired someone to work for me….nope.  I’m not the boss – you are.  Students, whether they know it or not, are in charge of everything around here.  I know, high schoolers, that sounds crazy right?  I’m sure you’re used to being given a schedule during the summer and having little to no input as to what classes you take.  Well guess what?  That is all about to change next year.  Ask any of your friends that are already in college and they’ll tell you they actually get to decide their own schedule. 

Here at Benedictine we are in the middle of academic advising for spring semester.  I know, I know it seems early but really it’s not at all.  Finals will be here before you know it and soon after will come spring semester.  As an advisor I’m here to guide college freshman toward taking the right classes to help them graduate as well as fulfill all of their major requirements.  What I don’t do is tell them what classes they will take.  Not only do students get to choose what classes they’re taking but what time too!  Did you hear (or read) that?!  They get to choose what time they go to class.  Imagine telling your high school guidance counselor that you prefer to start classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:00 am instead of 7:30.  Wouldn’t fly right?  Well around here I’d tell you to go for it.  Does that make me the best advisor ever?  I don’t know, it’s hard to say who is the best ever.  I mean, I could be in the running…oh sorry, once again not the point. 

The point is that this is definitely something to look forward to.  The best part isn’t even the whole picking the time thing.  The best part is choosing your own courses.  Of course we have some core courses  you have to take but you also get to make a lot of decisions on your own.  If you want to take Introduction to Logic, General Ethics, or Philosophy of Human Nature you’ll be allowed to.   You get to be in charge of your education.  It means a lot of freedom but also a lot of responsibility.  This idea can definitely be a big adjustment but trust me it is absolutely something that will benefit you as well as something you should be incredibly excited about.  Don’t believe me?  Why don’t you take a class on it and prove me wrong?