There's a state university located about fifteen minutes from my hometown in Virginia. When I was in high school, I was fascinated by the sight of floods of new students eating in nice restaurants and shopping in the nearby mall literally wearing their pajamas. Short, drawstring shorts; baggy capris; XL sweatpants...you name it--and as long as it was cotton--they'd wear it. Wear it on dates, wear it to classes...wear glorified pajamas everywhere. And guess what? They looked like petulant, slobby children. Not soon-to-be professionals.

So you don't think I'm a pajama-nazi either (I'll throw on a pair of Soffe shorts occasionally), I want to clarify why I obviously have strong feelings about wearing sweatpants and pajamas doing everyday, public activities...like school.

Listen, I know that pajamas are comfortable. I know classes can be early, and if you pulled an all-nighter the night before, just stumbling out of bed seems like a great option. No shower, no problem, right? Well, actually no. No shower is a big problem. Pajamas to class is a big problem.

Maybe for certain, more countrified schools the pajama/sweatpant look is okay for classes and work and going out to eat. But, let me tell you, that's definitely not how I was raised!

My first week of school at CUC three years ago, I got a pretty big shock. People here definitely give new meaning to the phrase "dress to impress." Girls wear heels to class regularly. They look put-together. They spend time on their physical appearance. And the guys? Well, they always, always match, and it's not unusual to see someone walk by in a suit every so often.

And here's my take: look, you don't have to wear heels to class. I do, every now and then, because hey, it's the city, right? Everyone wants to look cosmopolitan, and we all have jobs to go to after classes. But jeans and a nice shirt look perfectly fine...and it's not that much effort.

I look at college like a job. It's my job to get good grades. It's my job to respect my teachers and show up to class ("work") on time. It's my job to get help when I need it, or to offer it to a student in need. It's my job to get involved. It's my job to stay on top of campus issues.

College is my job, and it should be your's too. Which brings me back to my original point...when you have a job, you dress the part. That means no pajamas, and sweatpants only during finals. Period.

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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Admit it. When you were shopping around for colleges, one of the biggest factors, at least at first, was the campus. Who knew that big, stately buildings and sprawling acres upon acres of green, lush land could make such an impact on where you attended college? Take a look at the picture to your left. That's Harvard University. No wonder so many students want to go there...never mind that it's an Ivy League school! Harvard has an amazing campus.

My sister nearly fell into that trap of "campus good, school good." She was dead-set on attending a not-to-be-named Adventist college because of the allure and look of both the campus and the student body. She was completely drawn in by the image they sold, rather than the programs and opportunities that the school afforded.

Needless to say, that's why my sister is now at CUC.

When I signed on to be a student blogger, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't hold anything back or censor myself. I'm honest to a fault when it comes to evaluations of educational institutions...I'll let you know which programs in my college are strongest and which ones might need to do a little extra recruiting. All you have to do is ask me.

But, on that same note, based on experiences I've had, and experiences my close friends have had, I'm also not going to hold back comparing the college I attend with other institutions. Why should I avoid comparisons? It's important for potential students--and even current students--to get all the facts and weigh all the relevant options before making an educated decision.

Speaking of an educated decision, I want to tell you what I think are the most important things to consider when choosing a college, or deciding if and when you should transfer.

1) Does the college you are looking at have your major, or at least a few different majors that interest you that you could choose from? And two, is this major a strong program in that school?
2) Are there work opportunities in the community which surrounds the school that will allow you to gain real-world experience before graduation?
3) Are there extra-curricular activities that interest you, and that won't overpower your other responsibilities?
4) Is the area surrounding the school one that will provide things to do in the evenings and on the weekends? Are you close to a grocery story? Pharmacy? Hospital? Bookstore? Starbucks? Or my personal favorite...sushi?
5) Does the school have a moderate to strict admissions policy?
6) Is the college close to home (i.e. within a reasonable distance).
7) Will the dorm life improve your college experience, or detract from it?
8) Does the school have an active spiritual element?
And finally, what I view is the most important question:
9) Are you wanting to attend this college because your significant other/friends are attending, or because you truly value the educational experience and future career impact that this school offers?

I think that last question has relevance for a lot of high school students, especially Seventh-day Adventist students. So often SDA high-schoolers fall into a, "Well, I'll just go where all my friends go," trap.

I think that's a dangerous way to look at something that will determine the outcome of your life's goals and your career aspirations.

Do you really want to ride on the coattails of someone else? Do you really want to go with the flow, instead of finding your own way?

So many students consider the "here and now," instead of looking toward the future. I've already got a full resume from the experiences CUC has offered me. Some of my friends may have turned up their noses at my college choice when I graduated from high school, saying I should attend the not-to-be-named Adventist college mentioned above or a bigger state school instead.

But, hey guys, guess what? I had my choice of internships this summer, met people crucial to my future life's work, learned a lot about the business world, made networking connections, and I have a full resume on top of that. If I left school now, as a college junior, I could go out and get an entry level PR/Marketing/Advertising job, no problem.

Question is...could you?

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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And, just like that, it's August 27. When and how did school suddenly start again? Don't get me wrong...I love the idea of back-to-school, but the reality always bites a little harder each fall than you expect it to.

Before I start waxing poetic about the delights of the back-to-school experience, I feel the need to clarify exactly who I am. I'm not Daniel (a student blogger from last year), and I'm not Sara (another blogger from last year), although I know and admire both of them.

My name is Jaclyn. I'm one of those people who have the conditional names...like, "My name is Joshua, but everyone calls me Josh," kind of thing. Well, my name is Jaclyn, but everyone calls me Jackie. Well, almost everyone (but that's a different blog.)

I'm a junior at CUC majoring in Public Relations and I am working on a minor in Print Journalism. I absolutely adore my major (and my minor), and I'm definitely looking forward to be graduating in a year and a half.

When I'm not sitting in classes, I work in the CUC Enrollment Office, running around and helping students feel excited about attending CUC.

This year, my sister's a freshman at CUC, and I'm living vicariously through her new and fun experiences. She's anxious to meet her professors, see how her classes are, learn the quirks of the system, etc. Since this is now my third year at CUC (and my, what, fifteenth year of school in all?).... I'm a little jaded by the whole school thing.

I remember, though, how exciting and fun it was to go back to school when I was in the first, second and third grades. My favorite part of back-to-school shopping then was buying new crayons. I loved new crayons. I would persuade my mother to buy me the biggest, most colorful box I could find.

Now, the best part of going back-to-school is buying copious amounts of clothing using the new school year and the impending cool weather as an excuse. A bad excuse maybe, but an excuse nonetheless.

So, what is your favorite back-to-school memory? And if you are a new college freshman, returning or transfer student, what are you looking forward to most this fall?

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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