TOP 11 ways to get the most out of your tuition MONEY
TOP 11 WAYS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TUITION MONEY ( aka: get involved at Biola)
College really is a once in a life time experience that will just pass you by so fast. If you are not careful you could end up asking yourself on graduation day, “what did I accomplish here?” and realize, “not much.” Here are 11 ways that I find will help you to get involved in this campus and make the most of your college tuition by creating a lasting experience worth your bucks.
1. BE INVOLVED WITH YOUR DORM
You are going to be living with the people in Alpha for a whole year! The best thing you can do is find out who they are and you do this by reaching out, attending All-Halls, participating in events like Candyland, attending Town Halls and attending floor events. Throughout the year your RA’s will plan GYRADS, retreats, and other fun activities for you and your floor. These are great bonding experiences that you only get a chance to experience once in your life! There also will be All-Halls for your entire dorm or the East side of the dorm. These are a great way to meet the rest of Alpha. Finally, Town Halls are a great way for you to meet other girls who want to be involved. You will meet with your senators there and get to voice your opinion on various Biola topics. You can also plan your own event to get to know more people. Just invite some girls over for a movie or a choreographed dance party ( before quiet hours of course). You can also ask your RA how to rent the lobby if you want to have a bigger event. Do whatever you can to be involved with your dorm community and you will create unforgettable college memories.
2.GET TO KNOW YOUR RA’S AND SENATORS
Your RA’s and Senator serve you in two different ways. While they both live in your dorm, your senator is meant to be your voice and connection with the administration of Biola to ensure it is serving the students and meeting their needs. Your RA’s are here to create dorm community through events, retreats, GYRADs and moral support. Both can help you get involved with Biola and answer questions you may have, as well as be there for you if you need someone to talk to. However if you want to make a suggestion about the next floor event your RA is your best bet, whereas if you have a suggestion for a larger event, or to improve Biola as a whole, your Senator is just the one you want to see.
3. ATTEND A.S./A.S. SPONSORED EVENTS
Have you seen those laminated posters on stakes around campus? If they have the AS logo then they are for an awesome A.S. event. A.S. sponsors a variety of events every year. Some are re-occurring like the awesome “Punk- N- Pie” and “Mock Rock” events. Be sure to read these posters when you walk by because you never know when it might be a really cool event you are interested in, or even one that offers chapel credit.
4. USE BUBBS OFTEN
Not only will checking your Bubbs often help you to stay on top of your e-mail from teachers, but you can also stay updated with your dorm on your floor folder. Anyone can leave a message on the floor folder so it’s a great way to advertise something to your floor, or discuss floor related issues. Bubbs also offers a classified section where you can advertise things you want to sell and find cool things to buy. Some Biola alumni use it too! One last really cool thing Bubbs has is the Associated Students folder. There you can find our senate minutes and read what we actually talk about during our senate meetings, word for word. Also there is the infamous “Campus Issues,” a forum where alumni and students alike can discuss current issues at Biola. Just go to Conferences-Sub Plaza ( the little coffee mug) Associated Student Government.
5. CHECK THE A.S. WEBSITE
It is what lead you to this article after all, how would you even know how to be involved otherwise? Plus with the loads of information on events coming up, articles from your dorm and opportunities to leave your own comments it is the perfect way to stay updated and make your voice heard.
6. PLAY INTRAMURAL SPORTS
Not everyone is good at sports, but with intramural sports you don’t have to be! You may not have made the team or maybe you are secretly afraid of the ball, but it doesn’t matter because as long as you sign up you can play. There are also A teams and B teams, so if you are really good and want to be competitive you won’t get stuck with a novice.
7. GET INVOLVED IN CLUBS AND MINISTRIES
You have probably seen our ministry fair and heard of the upcoming “club rush.” At both these events booths are set up along Sutherland Way, ( the walkway near the cafe and fountain) giving you information about the various ministries and clubs at Biola. Ministries are a great way to get to know other students while serving others and spreading Christ love. Clubs likewise are a great way to get to know people with similar interests to you. To join just attend one of their meetings, by getting the date and place from the club or ministry fair. If you miss it though you can go on Bubbs-Conferences-Student hub-Student Clubs. To find out about ministries go to Conferences-Sub Plaza- SMU, or you can just talk to someone in the SMU office located in the upper part of the Student Union Building (SUB).
8. ATTEND SPORTS GAMES
It is unfortunate that while Biola’s Football team has kept a straight undefeated record for 100 years now, not a single person ever attends their games. Ok, ok so we don’t have a football team, but we do have Volleyball, Track, Baseball, Basketball, Tennis, Cross Country, Golf and Soccer teams and they could always use more fans. Sports are one of the main facets of school spirit at any university and as such anyone wanting to be involved should attend as many games as possible. One of the games I attended last year was our final Basketball match against Azusa, I do not even like sports that much, but this one game was enough to make me want to go to every game. It was such a nail bitter! In the last 3 seconds we went from about to lose to the CHAMPIONS!!! It was amazing, and I definitely felt Biola pride that night. You can find out about upcoming games on this site
9. VOLUNTEER FOR EVENTS
Even if you are not on a department board in A.S. (like Spirit Board, Social Board, etc), there are many opportunities to volunteer throughout the year to help with events. The opporunities are advertised throughout the year outside the cafe, on Bubbs and on the A.S. website. For example: right now A.S. Social Board is accepting volunteers for the Shane and Shane concert. Volunteers get to go for free!
10. STUDY WITH YOUR FRIENDS, IN A STUDY GROUP OR A PUBLIC PLACE (fountain, library, outside your dorm)
Ok this is the strangest of all suggestions it seems. How can studying in groups get me more involved at Biola? Well I don’t know about you, but before I came to college I had visions of having a great time there. In my visions I always saw myself as going to college events, talking intellectually with friends about life and being part of study groups. Never did I picture myself staying up late locked up alone in my room doing homework and studying for hours on end, but that is what a lot of students (including me sometimes) end up doing. Whether you have had visions of college like mine or not, I have found that if you can take your studying to a public place; the Library, the Sub, outside on the lawn, the chairs in front of Horton or the mailboxes or even the Alpha study room you will often feel more involved with the school. This may just work for people who otherwise would be in their room all-day long studying, because public places can be a bit more distracting. However, sometimes getting the fresh air and working in a new place can help refresh your mind and improve your studying, while at the same time you interacting with other people.There is nothing like a trip to the library to make you feel like a legitimate college student!
11. APPLY OR RUN FOR AN A.S. POSITION NEXT YEAR
Think you want my job? Or maybe you want to be a senator of another dorm, a secretary, chapel chair or even the president of A.S.? If so then do your best to get involved this year with A.S. so you can know what it’s all about and get experience. Then next spring you can apply to run or be hired (depending on the position). There will be information through signs, booths and meetings when it grows closer to elections and hiring in the Spring semester.