Hey guys! My name is Morgan Rowe and I am a junior here at SUNY Oswego. I am a Public Relations major with a minor in Business Administration. I also am serving as one of Oswego’s social media interns this fall and will be posting weekly blogs. My blog entries will include exciting things happening around campus, great places to eat in town, and everything in-between! Look out for my posts, they will be full of fun things to do in our college town!
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Looking For An Internship? Use These Tips To Help Start The Process!
Thinking about an internship for the upcoming Fall Semester? It’s not too late to apply! There are still many opportunities on and off-campus that you can take advantage of. Internships can be a great way to get experience in your field and can help you earn credit.
Sign up for emails to find out information on available internships: http://oswego.us9.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d386f33012bfa1f75d2d7e69d&id=66d48c075f
Use the information from SUNY Oswego’s internship page online or go into the Compass on campus to learn more about possible internships: https://www.oswego.edu/center-for-experiential-learning/find-internship-or-co-op
Oswego Weather 101
Hello, Oswego!
For those of you who are new, I am Matthew Seymour, a junior meteorology student here at SUNY Oswego. I’ve always been fascinated with weather, and am an avid outdoorsman and photographer. More about me here!
Dare I say, but it’s almost the beginning of the fall 2017 semester. With new student move-in just 2 short weeks away, packing lists are being made and back-to-school shopping is in full swing.
Some of you may have heard of Oswego’s, ahem, weather. Now, while it is a myth that there were once chains put up around campus to help students push through the wind, it sure is a location featuring a lot of weather extremes. In the rest of this post, I’ll give a brief rundown of the “typical” conditions one will experience during an academic year at SUNY Oswego.
Sunset with sailboat, Sept. 3, 2016
In late August, when students return to campus and classes just start, weather conditions are usually tranquil and summer-like. Rain is relatively infrequent, but when it does rain, it’s usually in the form of a thunderstorm. September features ever-shortening daylight, slowly retreating temps, and a shift away from summer storms.
Fall colors near Hewitt Union, Nov. 5, 2016
October encompasses increasing wind and rain, pleasant temps, and the always-magnificent fall foliage show. Mid-November is the average period to watch for the first snowfall. (It has occurred on Nov. 20 and Nov. 23 the past two years.) Late November is when the real winter sets in, with mostly frozen precipitation, nearly-constant wind of some fashion, and cold temperatures.
Street outside Waterbury Hall during a snow squall, Dec. 15, 2016
December, January and early February take the lion’s share of lake-effect snow in Oswego. A normal winter sees about 140″ fall on the city. Wind remains frequent, and when combined with wintertime cold, wind chills are often below zero.
Spring buds on a tree branch, April 23, 2017
March, April and May feature the most frustrating weather. While temperatures do increase, late-season snow remains possible, and the “lake breeze” phenomenon works to hold down afternoon temps, particularly in April and May. Summer does win out, eventually, no matter what. Thanks, Sun!
For those who like numbers, here you go:
- Aug/Early Sep: Highs 75-85. Lows 60-65. A few days with rain or storms.
- Mid-Late Sep: Highs 65-75. Lows 50-55. A few days with rain or storms.
- Oct: Highs 50-65. Lows 40-50. Some days with rain.
- Nov: Highs 35-50. Lows 30-40. Frequent rain and some snow.
- Dec: Highs 30-40. Lows 20-30. Frequent snow, some rain.
- Jan: Highs 20-30. Lows 10-20. Frequent snow.
- Feb: Highs 15-30. Lows 5-15. Some snow events.
- Mar: Highs 30-55. Lows 20-35. Some snow and rain events.
- Apr: Highs 50-65. Lows 35-45. Some rain, maybe an odd late season snow.
- May: Highs 60-70. Lows 40-50. A few days with rain or storms.
So, there are many ways that one could prepare for such exciting weather. Hoodies and lighter jackets are perfect for that in-between fall and spring weather, however a rain jacket is a must (umbrellas will be destroyed by wind!), as well as a good set of winter coat, hat, gloves, scarf, and boots for when winter comes. Always bring warmer clothes and winter gear to college earlier than you think you’d need them, and always leave a couple summer outfits around for that odd warm fall or spring day.
See y’all in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, soak up those last rays of summer break!
Still Looking To Take An Online Summer Class? There’s Still Time!
Taking summer classes is one way to lighten your work load for the Fall and Spring semesters. Although some classes may have already started, there are still many that have not. Online classes only last between 3-6 weeks but are a big time commitment during that time. If you think you have the time to dedicate to summer classes, I definitely recommend it! If you login to MyOswego, you can check to see if you can still register for any summer classes. There are still a lot available to take in July!
Graduated And Missing Oswego? Alumni Weekend Is Almost Here!
Missing Oswego and wanting to be with your college friends? SUNY Oswego is holding an Alumni Weekend from June 8th to June 11th! Come have fun in the town where you spent some of your best years. Below is a link for registration and all of the information needed :
http://alumni.oswego.edu/s/1552/index.aspx?sid=1552&gid=1&pgid=440
Housing is still available on Campus in the newly renovated Waterbury Hall!
Going Abroad For A Semester Seems Too Long? Think About A Quarter Course!
The thought of going abroad sounds really fun, and going to another country and seeing their culture is truly an amazing experience. Do not let the thought of going away for a few months discourage you, SUNY Oswego (as well as other SUNY colleges) have programs that let you go abroad for a little over a week. These programs are called “Quarter Courses.” You take a class for half of the semester learning about the culture of country that you are going to and then go and experience that country. This is an easy way to earn 3 credits while getting to travel! Last semester, I took the course GSL100 and got to go to Berlin over spring break. This was definitely the best course I have taken throughout my college career. I really recommend it if you want to go abroad without committing to a whole semester out of the country!
Packing To Go Home? These Tips Will Save You Time Packing!
Having trouble staying organized when packing to go home? Here are some tips I have learned that made packing a lot easier!
- Fold Your Clothes – It seems really easy to just throw clothes into a bag without folding them because packing can take a while. This makes unpacking everything really difficult. Fold your clothes and put it into your bags! Simple, but very affective.
- Put Similar Clothes In The Same Bag – Putting t-shirts together in the same bag and pants in a separate one will help make everything more organized. Most people put these clothing items in separate drawers so separating it makes it easier to pack. All of the clothes going into each drawer are already together.
- Leave Your Clothing On Hangers – This tip will save you tons of time! Instead of taking clothing off of hangers, packing it, and then putting it back on hangers, put the hangers on a metal rod. These rods hold the hangers and allow clothes to stay on them, making the process of unpacking a lot easier.
Adjustments: Moving Back Home
“Hey, wanna go grab ice cream?” This was the question I asked my best friend Alexandra on the second day I moved back home last year. She was hanging out at my house, so we got in my car and got our chilly desserts. Approximately 10-15 minutes, I got the text. You know, the quintessential parent to child text that strikes fear in your heart.
After getting used to the autonomy of college, I realized that I had to tell my mom my location. I told my mother and she was fine with it, but it was a wake-up call. Yeah, in college I might mention that I was grabbing dinner with friends, but the task isn’t compulsory. I realized I would have to make a key adjustment moving back home.
It’s easy to forget when you experience the kind of big lifestyle change that college provides. It is often the first big stepping stone for many and is their first taste of living on their own. The biggest recommendation I have is talking things out with your parents and understanding their expectations for you. I definitely live under a certain set of rules, but my personal growth in college has an impact as well. I have more freedom than I did in high school, but I still need to respect my parents as well.
College is certainly a great experience, but that doesn’t mean going home for the summer can’t be great, too.
Stressed for finals? Check out these great activities!
The end of the semester is a very stressful time for most students. Penfield Library is partnering with the Counseling Center, Lifestyles Center, and Auxiliary Services to provide a number of stress relief activities! Below are the dates for next weeks activities :
May 8th and 9th:
Stress Relief Tables
10am – 2pm, Library Lobby
Coloring, Jenga, Help from a counselor, info on test anxiety, and more
Guided Relaxation Sessions
10am-10:15am, 1:15pm-1:30pm, Library Classroom 2
Calm yourself and focus before exams with guided relaxation
FREE COFFEE & SNACKS
7pm, Lake Effect Cafe
These may go fast so get here early!
Good luck to everyone with finals!
What it’s like to graduate a semester late
Every time I hear “Are you graduating?” it chips away at me inside a little bit because the answer is, I was supposed to. I came into college as a freshman in Fall of 2013 which means that I have spent four years at this school; the stereotypical length that you’re “supposed” to stay in college for your undergrad. But who’s to say that it’s only supposed to take four years? According to the New York Times, “only 50 of more than 580 public four year institutions graduate a majority of their full time students on time” (Lewin, 2014). That being said, I can’t help but feel a little left out when I hear my closest friends talk about what their wearing to graduation or that they just applied for their dream job. I love this school, I really do, but I have reached that point in my life where I want to be done and start my life already. Luckily, that day will come sooner than I imagine in December and I will probably regret all these feelings I have now and want to stay in school just a little while longer. That being said, there’s always a bright side to things so here’s a list of some of the benefits I came up with of having to stay an extra semester in no particular order.
- A chance to keep building my resume! Another semester means another opportunity to build my resume and get another internship. Considering that I have only had one internship during my college career, I am very thankful that I get another chance to apply to internships where I could learn a few more things about the broadcasting business before I am thrust into a job. In addition to internships, it also allows me to take on roles in clubs that I haven’t had the chance to have before. For example, I just accepted a web director position at WTOP and I have held a position there before so I am very excited about being more involved in a club that has been a large part of my college years.
- More time to figure out what I want to do with my life! I’ve narrowed it down to two types of work that I would be interested in: literally anything on a talk show or entertainment news show, or a video editor. I would love to use this extra time to hopefully dive into a professional setting and see if I would really like to do what I think I want to do now.
- A chance to finally get a car! Since I am not graduating and my loans are deferred to six months after I graduate, this now means that instead of starting to pay back my loans in November, I will have to start paying them back in June. What this really means to me is I will finally get the chance to buy my first car! I’ve been saving up for years and never had enough to buy a car on my own and the thought that I have to pay back loans was casting a huge cloud over my decision to buy a car after graduation. Although it only gives me the summer and one more semester to save up money for post grad life, a car is a necessary purchase to get to and from a summer job and a potential job in the future so that’s how i’m justifying it.
- More free food! I work in the dining hall so everytime I go into work we are allowed to eat a meal even if we do not have a meal plan. That means that approximately three times a week I get a free lunch. When you figure that out for the semester, that saves me a ton of money in comparison to if I were to be out of college and buying my own groceries for the entire week.
- More time living on my own! After college I will most definitely have to temporarily move back home for financial purposes so it will help me retain a bit more of my sanity being away from my family a little longer, I’m kidding! However, I really enjoy living with my friends and am thankful that I will have another couple of months with them.
Although many people take having to stay an extra semester negatively, if you look at it in a positive light it will help you deal with having to stay in school longer than you would’ve liked. I have one more semester to get my act together and decide what I would like to do with my life! Until then, I’m trying to take nothing for granted and take every opportunity I can get.