Blog Blog Blog

So, I've got this nifty job at admissions which not only allows me to fold hundreds of letters and input millions of names but I get to blog!! 

As of tonight, I've officially started blogging on it. Don't worry, this blog will not die off. The admissions blog is for incoming students to get a taste of college life and ease the waiting process for decisions to come out. This blog will be for, well... everything else. Occasionally I'll blog the same entry on both (sorry! spare time does not come in an abundance around here) 

I've got to wake up in less than 4 hours for my flight so, for tonight, I'll just post the blog on both as well as the link to the RIT admissions site. <--- click the word link.

Once upon a time in a land far, far away when I was much younger and had more free time on my hands….

Oh wait, that was last year… It’s almost mind-boggling thinking back to this time last year when I was sitting at my little desk at home pushing the refresh button on my trusty laptop just hoping for a reply from any college. I remember visiting schools wondering if I would fit in or ifthe program was “just right” for me. I remember waiting until almost the last minute (like literally 5 minutes before the server crashed…) to submit an application online because I was convinced that I’d screw up my name or something really silly like that.

Well guys, I managed to spell my name right, pass a few classes and guess what?! I got into college! I even managed to survive the wait for the decisions to come out. When it came down to it all, I think I actually had it relatively easy. I got into all of the places I wanted and when I took a second look at them I realized that RIT was the only school I was really in love with (of course, I did my fair share of pro/con lists beforehand). But, RIT won by a landslide.

The college application process can be closely related to getting a shot at the doctor’s office. While the sheer thought of both events is overwhelming and intimidating at first, the actually duration of either is short in comparison to most other things in life. As a bonus, once they’re over you either get to attend a really awesome college/university OR get a supercool band-aid! Okay, that was a really lame comparison..

Don’t get me wrong though, the application is slightly harder than getting a shot. But still, you’re basically just “interviewing” colleges to find the right fit foryou. Ask questions, explore your choices, talk to people but ultimately the decision comes down to you. [Note: Pro/Con lists and lots and lots of patience are key in the application process.]

So, here I am, a second quarter freshman (if there is such a term?). I’ve been working in admissions now for about two months, give or take a few weeks. I spent my first quarter getting to know the campus becoming adjusted to my newly acquired college life-style. Nowthat I’ve managed to figure out a schedule that allows me to get a full eight hours of sleep a night while still finishing homework and going to class, I’ve decided to start branching out and try something new.

This blog’s purpose is basically to give YOU a first-hand account of life at here at RIT. Like most things in life, it has its definite ups and downs and we’re all here to show you a little bit about life beyond the glossy covered booklets. Sure, those give you a good look at the major aspects of college life, there are some things like finding out when the best time to do laundry is or figuring out how to class while spending the least amount of time outside as possible that you need to find out directly from the source. Cold weather and all, RIT is a pretty awesome place to be spending four years. Of course, that’s my opinion so make sure to check out allof the other bloggers if you haven’t already

And don’t worry, the wait will be over before you know it!

I'm Coming Traveling Buddyyyyy!

In twenty hours and fifty-three minutes I will be waking up my lovely roommate and we will be jetting to the Rochester airport! 

In one day and seven minutes, I will be landing in Baltimore!!

In twenty two minutes I will be late for work if I do not leave now! 

See ya :) 

(thanks to facebook countdown)

GOOD

Mr. Weatherman

Dear Man Who Creates the Weather,

For the sake of us poor students, would you please, please, please, make up your mind about this silly weather that you are currently dumping on us. Seriously, 12 degrees one day with SNOW and the next is 53 with pouring rain. If you so feel the need to precipitate, please make this in the form of tiny little ice crystals (aka snow). This nasty, wet, rain junk is getting a tad old and what the heck are we supposed to do with it anyway? Have you ever heard of someone making a rainman? I don’t think so.

Also, this wind has got to stop. You’ve tempted us with this warm weather to wear skirts and then you go create wind tunnels to annoy us with. Honestly, none of the art kids appreciate walking down the quarter mile with our portfolios, large papers, etc and needing to hold down our skirts with the other hand so that we do not flash half of the school.

Finally, in case you’re in cahoots with the little man inside my Ipod, please inform him that I do not like when my Ipod refuses to turn on at 7:30 in the freaking morning before my class. It’s not very helpful and does not make me particularly happy.

Sincerely,

A Drowned Rat with an Uncooperative Skirt

Skeeter on the Move

It seems as though there is never a minute of downtime anymore. 

(alpaca at the downtown market)

Thursday worked from 8:30 until 1:45, had class from 2-5, went out to dinner and class with Ashley until 8. After that came back and did homework and watched Grey's Anatomy before bed. 

Friday morning I had a meeting at 9 am, worked from 9:30 until 3pm, another meeting until 4, did some homework, went out to dinner at the Sportszone, hockey game until 9:30 then we went to a comedy night at the Ritz to watch Drake do stand up comedy until 12:30 (he won! and is going on to the finals in January). 

Saturday morning worked from 10 until 2pm, did some homework, got a quick dinner, went to another hockey game until 9:30, watched a movie until we fell asleep. 

(sleigh rides with santa)

Woke up this morning and drove downtown to see the Holiday Market in Rochester, grabbed some coffee and bagels from a Dunkin Doughnuts downtown except we felt kind of uncomfortable in that sketchy part of town so we drove to the mall to eat our breakfast/lunch. Walked around the mall and did some Christmas shopping and now we're back here! Ashley's taking a nap while I work on a little bit of homework and then I think we're making a gingerbread house in the lounge before dinner and more homework. We also have some floor holiday shenanigans at 9:30 tonight. 

It just never ends! Good thing it's all fun. I still have a few projects to finish/start on tonight before classes from 8 until 5 tomorrow. This week doesn't look too bad, we have a holiday luncheon thing for work on Wednesday that I'm probably going to. I think Ashley and I are doing some birthday/christmas something or other on Wednesday night. Working most of the day Thursday, two classes and then I get to fly home super early Friday morning!!! 

Speaking of nothing... You know you're used to cold weather when you walk outside in just a sweatshirt and remark about how warm it feels... when it's 38 degrees outside! haha Ashley and I agreed that today felt like summer, we didn't even need winter coats! 

Gooooo Tigers!

Not only did I attend my first RIT ice hockey game this weekend but I managed to go to TWO. Impressive, I know. Turns out hockey is the new greatest thing to do on Friday and Saturday nights. Of course, we're still working on the whole understanding of the game thing but that'll come with time. It's the first place where there is real school spirit, complete with a pep band, "corner crew" cheering section, and lots and lots of ORANGE. 

RIT won both nights 6-2 and 5-3. 

start of a fight. ashley and I have figured out that we like the games better if they really beat the crap outta each other =) 

we had pretty excellent seats right behind the bench.

tiger face paint!

santa driving the zamboni!

Loosing My Head

I'm usually an organized person.. slightly more of an organized chaos, but still organized. 

Within the past twenty four hours I have not only managed to misplace my keys (with all of my meal stuff on them, room key, house key, mailbox key, flashdrive.. kind of important...) but my ipod and my hat too. 

Not to worry, all items have been found... in my backpack. I only slightly feel like a moron. 

In other more organized news, we moved our room around again!! We've finally created a solution that allows us to have an entire free corner (very rare thing in a 10 by 10 space...). I apologize for the horrible pictures, it's really difficult to give a sense of the room when there is no good place to stand to take the picture. 

The Rundown

So it's a whole new quarter which means, new classes!
(it's technically the start of week two now but I never got around to finishing this post last week...sorry!)

Design Survey- New class that sort of replaces design survey from last quarter. It's a class with 113 people so it's very personal... just kidding. Takes place at 8:00 in the am which seemed a tad early when it changed from it's original 7:00 pm time slot but it's actually working out relatively well. We basically just come to class for an hour every week and hear from different designers and what not. Every other Wednesday the class is online which means I get to view youtube videos from the comfort of my own dorm room.

2d- My favorite class ever, partly because of the professor and partly because of the projects we do. This class is a continuation of last quarter with generally the same people. Only difference is that this quarter we're using color in all of our projects instead of b&w.

3d- New professor, new time, new class. I decided against the late time slot for 3d that I had last quarter so I now have it at 9:00am on Monday mornings. This class is working out fantastically well so far, I'm liking the people in it and I'm enjoying working on the first project. (pictures to come later).

Drawing- Also a continuation of last quarter. Same professor, etc. Lots of homework but it's worth it :)

Vector Imaging- A last minute addition. I was previously unable to register for this class and I happened to check on Monday for some reason and there was a spot open. It's required for graduation so it's nice to get it done with now. It's basically just a 1 credit course on how to use Illustrator.

Sign Language- I'm taking this one with Ashley!!! It's Thursday nights from 6:00-8:00pm so it's a nice end to the school week. Our professor is deaf which is definitely really helpful in forcing us to sign. It's asl 1 so it's just covering the basic 300 signs (which we've already learned) but it'll be good practice anyway!

FYE- First Year Enrichment. Also a continuation from last quarter. This class basically just covers all of the information that we could possibly need about getting by at RIT.

Food, Papercuts and Work

Today it is a whopping 22 degrees outside (okay, so it did eventually get up to 27 but still... ). The cold is surprisingly not that bad, if you dress correctly for it that is. Hat, gloves, scarf, ear warmers, coat, etc. Definitely necessities around here. In fact, not only do I have an entire bin by the door that is dedicated to just that but I keep an extra set of everything in my backpack. You never know when you'll find yourself standing in a wind tunnel for an extended period of time.

Anyway, enough about that.

Yesterday morning was what the admissions office likes to call Open House (or what it should be called... Feed-Students-Really-Good-Food-For-One-Day). Woke up at 6:45 to make it over to Gordon Field House by 7:45 for check in. Check in basically involves standing around welcoming people, handing out packets of information, and making sure people go where they need to go. Once everyone is checked in all of the ambassadors get some coffee and muffins! Mmmm. From there we break everything down and bring it back to to the office only to turn around and carry more over to the SAU. It involves golf carts, etc so it's actually quite fun. After that was all done I went back to the office to work on mailing and such. This time of year gets crazy in the mail room because we're in the middle of early decision and regular decision time. It's lots of mindless tasks involving folding, sorting, labeling and the likes. They fed us some pizza for lunch too which is a plus because I guess I kind of lost track of time and didn't realize it was 3pm already!

Ashley is gone for the weekend *insert giant sad face here*. It's rather quiet in our room, despite the people down the hall playing music from sesame street (?) loudly on repeat. I watched Christmas with the Kranks last night and some other random TV shows that I don't remember the names of. This morning I woke up around 8 and got ready to head over to the admissions office yet again for acceptance packet stuffing! Woohoo. Six hours and a million painful papercuts later we managed to get roughly 1300 packets stuffed.. guess I know what i'm doing next week :) Went out to dinner tonight (well.. to gracie's) with some friends and then went to the RHA to pick up some chick flicks for tonight and tomorrow! I think I may go over to NRH (a dorm building) later to watch a movie with some other friends. We'll see.

Tomorrow looks like homework, homework, homework!

Waiting for a Bus

Ever stop and figure out how much of your life you waste away just waiting for things to happen? 

I mean like, here I am sitting on the computer talking to people online and facebooking my life away for an hour until my next class at 6 pm. Wouldn't it be really nice if we could just cut out the waiting time and stockpile it for later so we could take one super long nap? Or use it for vacation time? It's hard to motivate yourself to do something productive when there is a short time restriction. I'm not exactly suggesting that we should all book our days solid without a minute of freetime but I know at least for me, I tend to waste away time in the middle of the day when it comes in awkward chucks like this. I'm just imaging the number of paintings I could get done or the extra hours of sleep I could get or the large number of people I could hang out with if I didn't spend my life waiting. 

On the topic of complaining about things I would like to change... 

Why is it that, no matter the time of day, the wind direction, or the place or direction in which I'm walking, the wind is ALWAYS IN MY FACE? Hmm? Yeah, there's something to think about.