Freshpeople, listen up. You’re going to want to hear this.

Hello Freshpeople! Wow, it sure feels good to be back! If you don’t know me, I’m Alma. Yes, that Alma. That badass on the steps who watches all of you file in and out of Butler Library at ungodly hours of the night. Over the years, I’ve seen a lot at this school. From NSOP campus tours to graduation photos, I’ve been there for it all, and I’ve become somewhat of a wise sage in the process. Now, it’s my turn to pass this knowledge onto you.

Of course I reached out to Bwog (not BWOG, not B-wog, just like blog with a w), since they’re the coolest independently-run undergraduate student news publication on campus. And they’re gonna help me share my wisdom.

Now, this isn’t just any old advice. These are the things you actually need to know. I’m talking about the juicy stuff: how to look cute during the winter, the inside scoop on joining clubs, being an academic weapon, and not falling on your face walking up Low steps (bonus points if you’re holding a coffee). That’s my territory, and I would appreciate it if it wasn’t covered in your french vanilla latte from John Jay. 

For a few weeks before NSOP (New Student Orientation Program), Bwog will be posting articles about anything and everything about life at Columbia. We might talk about registering for classes, feeling homesick, dating, and which Halal truck is superior, to name a few. College seems scary, but it’s not knowing how everything works that’s scarier. I want to make sure you know the important stuff, so you can tackle everything this school throws at you. You can find all the posts on our website, but let’s be honest, we both know you’re not going to have the Bwog tab open on your laptop for a month. 

So, how’s this going to work? Well, let me introduce you to FreshLetter, your one-stop-shop for all the advice you could ask for. FreshLetter is a weekly newsletter we’ll send out during the last four weeks of summer, compiling everything we’ve been posting to keep you in-the-know. All you have to do is subscribe, and you’ll have my personally curated Columbia survival guide in your inbox starting August 3. 

I can already guess your next question… what is this weird Bwog thing anyway? Well, Bwog is the hub for all things student life at Columbia. Bwog writes everything from serious breaking news to haikus about our favorite sandwich at Chef Mike’s. Anything Columbia-related, Bwog’s got you!

Bwog wouldn’t let me just ramble without plugging them, so here it goes:

Bwog is cool, it’s fun, it’s where everyone wants to be, it’s a good time. It also needs fresh, new writers to maintain its legacy. 

Whether you’re into arts, sports, campus news, music, events, science, comics, or ranking the dining halls by what Hogwarts house they would be sorted into, Bwog has a place for you and your creativity. Follow them on Instagram for updates about their first open meeting of the semester and the application process. 

TLDR: Starting college is scary, but I’m here to help. Follow our Instagram and subscribe to FreshLetter for advice on all things freshpeople!

Forever on Low,

Alma

Image via Bwog Archives