FAQ: Choosing a major

Many of you have probably given great thought (and possibly stress) to your major.  Choosing a major is very important!  It's something that is worth your thought and consideration.

With that said, don't worry if you don't know exactly what you want to do as soon as you get to BYU.  You have time to take classes that interest and find your passion.

BYU encourages all students to start into their major classes their first semester here.  Even if you're not entirely sure what you want your major to be, some classes are pre-requisites for several majors.  For example, many science and engineering majors require CHEM 105 and MATH 112.  If you start as a biology major then decide that's not your thing and switch to neuroscience, both of those classes will transfer over to the new major.  Those classes also count towards your GE requirements.  Many classes will double for your GE's and major, so check out the Overlaps chart for more information about your specific major.

You can also find a complete list of classes you can take for each GE requirement here.

Even if you end up taking classes that don't count towards a GE or your major, don't worry about it!  There is no such thing as useless knowledge.  You want to worry about graduating on-time, but don't sweat it if you end up taking elective classes to try and figure out what is best for you.

There are also these super awesome things called MAPs.  These MAPs will map out (ha, dumb pun) exactly which classes you need to take for your major and when.  For example, as a pre-communications student, I should have taken Comms 101 and Writing 150 my first Fall semester.  If I had known about the major MAP sooner, I probably would have!  The MAP gives you a guideline to follow to graduate in four years.  It also tells you how many credit hours you will need to take each semester to get the 120 credits to graduate.  Some majors require more credits per semester, so it all depends.

Here is the major MAP for a BA in Communications: Journalism Emphasis.  This is my major (and the best major).

To find your major MAP, log on to byu.edu.  If you click on the "Future Students" tab on the home page, a drop down list will appear.  From there, pick the Major/Minor list.  That will list all the possible majors to choose from.  If you click on one it will take you to the program requirements.  Right next to where it says program requirements it will say "View MAP."  There you will find a page that looks shockingly similar to the one above.  If you have questions or confusion, call the advisement office that is listed on the bottom of the page.  If you're going into communications, you can ask me questions as well :)

Do you have questions?  Confused about how to pick a major?  Curious how I picked my major?  Ask me in the comment section!

Watch this then reevaluate your perspective.  Seriously, how many problems do we have that we over blow or compare to others?  How can we change our mindset to see the good in every situation? 

FAQ: How to Pay for College

As I've been talking to y'all lately, I've realized a major concern at the moment is paying for college.  Totally an understandable concern.  I'm still concerned with it!

The great thing is, we have options! 

The option that we all want is scholarships.  You already applied for BYU scholarships, and you should hear back from them by the middle of April.  Not going to lie, I've never gotten a BYU scholarship.  The only scholarship I've really gotten was from my college (Fine Arts and Communications) and it was $500.  Those aren't the only scholarships you can get, though.  Apply for local scholarships.  If you don't know how to do that, talk to your counselor because they can help you.  I applied for ten times as many local scholarships and national scholarships when I was a Senior.

Because of my lack of scholarships, I decided to "create my own."  Creating my own turned into a part-time job and even student loans.

1. Everyone wants scholarships.  You should be finding out about BYU scholarships sometime this month.  You can also ask your guidance counselor for local scholarships that may be easier to get and even give you more money!  For more information, look here: http://saas.byu.edu/ebrochure/BYU_Financial_Aid_and_Scholarships_Guide/Step_2__Financial_Opportunities_and_Options/BYU_Undergraduate_Scholarships.php. 
2. Part-time jobs will keep you busy, but may help you in school!  My first term at BYU, I didn't work at all.  I have worked every term and semester since, and my GPA was by far the lowest that first term.  Studies have shown that working can help improve GPA and feeling of belonging while in school.  Not only do you create an instant social network, but you also have less leisure time, which forces you into using your time more effectively.  It's great!  For more information, look here: http://saas.byu.edu/ebrochure/BYU_Financial_Aid_and_Scholarships_Guide/Step_2__Financial_Opportunities_and_Options/Working_Part-time.php. 
3. Finish your FAFSA soon.  To finish, your parents need to have their taxes done and you need to fill out the paperwork.  It doesn't take too long, but the grants and loans you can push you through college.  I personally use federal student loans to pay for my tuition and books.  BYU tuition is so low, I'm not concerned about paying my loans back because it is so minimal.  For more information, look here: http://saas.byu.edu/ebrochure/BYU_Financial_Aid_and_Scholarships_Guide/Step_4__Apply_for_Federal_Financial_Aid/. 

If you have questions about paying for school, check out financialaid.byu.edu.  You can ask me questions as well!

Aims of a BYU Education: Part 3

One of the four Aims of a BYU Education is intellectually enlarging.
This one is probably the most obvious reason why you'd attend a university, right?  We all want to expand our horizons and understand the world more.
But really, we're here because we want to learn.  There are three ways that we learn while at BYU:

1. Skills
In our major and in general education courses, we should be learning how to become sound thinkers, effective communicators, and use quantitative reasoning. 

2. Breadth
Part of becoming a disciple scholar is to have a breadth of knowledge.  We take general education classes to broaden our minds and pursue all truth.  As we learn more about other peoples and cultures, we become better stewards of the gospel. 

3. Depth
Depth comes in our major.  In our major we learn "what is fundamental and what is only peripheral" as we rigorously study and learn in one field.

This seems really uptight, but there are many ways I have "fulfilled" this aim simply by keeping a positive attitude.  When I took Physical Science 100, I felt like the knowledge was totally unapplicable to me and generally hard.  I had to find someone, i.e. my physics major roommate, who was passionate about the topic to talk to about it.  I feed off of her passion and was able to at least apply to concepts to my own life.  Not only did I learn more of the concepts from talking about it, but it also fueled our friendship and brought us closer together.

How have you kept a positive attitude in difficult classes?  How do you find the worth in topics you're uninterested in?

Happy Valley

You're getting ready to come to the most "feelgood" city in America.
Check out this link for the full article:
http://news.msn.com/us/study-names-provo-utah-most-feelgood-city-in-america

Aims of a BYU Education: Part 2

One of the four aims of a BYU Education is Lifelong Learning and Service.
We're here not only to get an education for ourselves but also to serve the world.  I hear a lot of people complain about how college is such a selfish time of life, and how they're picking a major and getting an education just for themselves, but that is absolutely false!  No matter what you get your degree in, you have potential to use your strengths to be more than yourself and serve those around you.  You have the opportunity to change to a service mindset.  

How can you use your college education to serve?

Mosiah 2:17 "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God"

"Our education should be such as to improve our minds and fit us for increased usefulness; to make us of greater service to the human family."  -Brigham Young

Check out this article from President Eyring: https://www.lds.org/liahona/2014/03/service-and-eternal-life?cid=HPFR022814531&im=true&lang=eng

Mormon Message Monday

Simply for your viewing pleasure.  Make it a great week!

Stage Fright

Have you ever been terrified to do something?  Have you ever done it anyway?
Joe Kowan shares his insightful experience with stage fright.  How can we learn from his experience and do things we find difficult until we find them easier?  How can we endure?  How can we make our weaknesses our strengths?

Museum of Art

The Museum of Art, lovingly called the MOA (pronounced moe-ah), is our on-campus art museum.
It's pretty much the coolest thing ever.
Right now it has an exhibit called Sacred Gifts.  It features the religious are of Carl Bloch, Heinrich Hofmann, and Frans Schwartz.  You may not recognize the names right off the bat, but you probably recognize their art.

Christ And The Rich Young Ruler by Hofmann

I think one of the coolest parts of the exhibit is the story behind it.  This exhibit has been 10 years in the making.  Many of the pieces have never been on display in the U.S. and some of it has never left it's original home in a CASTLE in Denmark.  Is that not the coolest thing ever?!  The likelihood of some of these Carl Bloch paintings of leaving their home in Denmark again is nearly non-existent.

It's a great sacrifice for many people to let us have this magnificent art.  It's truly a sacred experience and one that brings us closer to Christ.

Now ask yourself...

How do the arts help us know Christ? How can we share the gospel through art? 

Christus Consolator by Carl Bloch

The Mocking of Christ by Frans Schwartz 

Joy in the Journey

One of the messages from Undergraduate Education is finding joy in the journey.
You've probably heard this a million times and inevitably associate it with this:

While this may be one of the most quoted talks of all time, there is good reason for it. One of my favorite quotes is:

"I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now."

Senior year is very, very busy. I get that, I've been there. (It only gets busier, I promise). You may be jumping and ready to come to BYU, having full on Senioritis and ready for summer to arrive. But remember where you are right now! What lessons can you learn now? How can you be happy now? How can you keep your priorities now?

We don't need to be happy all the time, everyday, but we can be joyful.

Bullying-Stop It

 

This video has been prevalent around the internet now-a-days.  You've probably already seen it, but if you haven't, I suggest you watch it.
We've all been influenced by bullies, whether we have been bullied, seen someone bullied, or have been the bully.  It's behavior that is completely contrary to the teachings of Christ.  Bullying puts others down for entertainment.  Bullying belittles self worth.
I didn't understand bullying until I was a victim of it.  It wasn't until my senior year of high school when I was elected student body president that I became subject to the rudest, most hurtful comments and actions I have ever encountered.  Everything I did was wrong, everything I said was wrong, everything about me was wrong.  I started eating lunch in my teacher's classrooms or in the dance room.  I hardly spoke in my once beloved speech and debate because the comments became personal.  Many days I was resilient to the taunting and ridicule from people who were once my friends, but some days I broke down and cried.  I even missed school a few days because I felt unsafe, both mentally and physically.
Bullying is a real thing.  Even though I was very confident in myself and had a great support system, it took a huge toll on me.  It wasn't until I came to BYU that I started to regain my confidence to speak up and be myself.  I had hid that for so long in high school that it was a liberating feeling.  No one should ever make you feel like you are not of worth.  We should never make someone feel like that they can't be themselves.
Even if people seem weird, are socially awkward, or just different from you, there is still something you can learn from them, even if it is just learning to be patient and kind.
I hope that as you finish your senior years and go throughout your life that you will be the peacemakers.  You will be the shepherds.  If you don't think bullying is real, or that your actions aren't hurtful, think again.
Remember Mark 12:31: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  There is none other commandment greater than this."  I have a personal testimony that as we come to love and serve others, we not only love more, but also feel love more.  The healing, comforting, and enabling powers of the Atonement are real.  If you have been hurt, seen hurt, or caused hurt, use the Atonement.  I testify that this is true, in Christ's name, Amen.

FAQ Friday Housing Edition

Housing seems to be the big worry at the moment.
I can definitely relate to this feeling.  I was so worried about having a crazy roommate, cooking, living in a smelly dorm, getting into the building I wanted, and more.
All on-campus housing is great.  No matter where you live, you can find someone who has the same interests as you.  In other words, campus is big enough and there are enough freshman that you're bound to find a good friend.
Now let me get to the point:  your BYU experience is what you make of it.  Even if you have to live in your second choice, it can still be a great experience.  I lived in both Helaman and Heritage Halls during my freshman year, and had very different experiences in each.  I put some pictures below of my experiences in each.  Feel free to ask me about it!

Outside of New Heritage

Inside of New Heritage (please notice the fabulous wall art)

Inside the lobby of David John Hall in Helaman

NOW TO THE FAQ PART

I'll be done talking about myself for a minute and tell you something really awesome.  Even if you missed the date to make a roommate request, you can still hold a bed for them!  How?  You'll need their NetID, and on your registration date you will be able to reserve a bed for them for ONE HOUR.  Catch is, that person must have the same registration date as you.  Even if they don't have the same registration date as you, there is a possibility of you rooming with that person.  Ask me if you get in that predicament!

To find more information look at the On-Campus Living guide on housing.byu.edu.  Here's a link you might find useful: http://www.byu.edu/oncampushousing/ocl/room_selection.html. 

Aims of a BYU Education: Part 1

Kevin Worthen, the new BYU President, talked about the Aims of a BYU Education during his first press conference.
Most of you probably glossed over it, or didn't watch it at all, because you don't know what it is.
The Aims of a BYU Education are basically the goals the university has for all of its students.  BYU wants all of us to graduate with a mindset of character building, lifelong service and learning, spiritually strengthening, and intellectually enlarging.  These four aims are what we are trying to develop as a student here.
One of the four aims that Brother Worthen specifically mentioned was spiritually strengthening.  This is probably my favorite part of being at BYU: all of our education is pointed towards building our testimonies of the gospel and seeing the world in the light of Christ.  Don't get me wrong, not all classes are religion classes.  But we see the world through a different perspective at BYU because we're all striving to "seek learning, even by study and also by faith."  (D&C 88:118).  This significant part of our University sets us apart from other prestigious universities.
Is this a reason you chose BYU?  How do you feel about it?  Leave your comments below!

Brother Maeser, I want you to

remember that you ought not to teach even

the alphabet or the multiplication tables

without the Spirit of God.

--Brigham Young

Did you hear?

BYU has a new president!

That's right friends, President Samuelson is on his way out after serving 11 years as president of the university.  Most of you probably have no idea who President Samuelson is, but you know some of things that has happened under his direction.  You know New Heritage?  Dave Rose?  The Life Sciences Building?  All of this happened during President Samuelson's era.  His legacy will live on at BYU.
We're now welcoming Kevin J. Worthen to the role as president.  He's a "BYU guy," having gotten his bachelors degree and law degree here.  He seems like an awesome guy and I'm excited to see what the future holds!

Having Courage

Going to college takes real courage.  While it may not be a trial quite like Esther, doing what you know is right always takes courage.  Coming to BYU was an extremely scary choice for me.  Going to school in state would have kept me closer to my family, closer to my best friends, and closer to the guy I was dating.  I would have gotten scholarships and been the top of my class.  It made sense to stay in state, but the fact is, I would not have grown.  I needed to move 2000 miles from home and start a new life because I needed to learn to rely on the Lord.  I needed to to act in faith and pray to know my choice to come to BYU was correct.

What do you think?  Have you had an experience that tried your faith?  Where you had to show courage?

Welcome to BYU!

You are now an official, legitimate, awesome, even more awesome FRESHMAN.

How sweet is that??

The Cougarettes

I remember when I got accepted into BYU.  I screamed.  Okay, it was really more of a squeal.  Point is, I was excited.

I had been babysitting my bishop's kids all night and I had been trying to connect to their internet with no progress.  These were the days before legit smartphones (I had a blackberry, that was not legit at all) so I had no way to check my email.  Not that I had any idea I was going to get that very special email.

Anyway, I got home and was sitting in my living room.  My mom was upstairs getting ready for bed, and I was sitting next to my dad.  I nearly had a panic attack when I realized I was admitted and that my dream had come true.  My biggest motivating factor in high school was getting to BYU and I had done it.  

And now you have done it.

While you may not be a squealing, excitable, high school senior, chances are your life just changed.  Now, you are a college student.

Brigham Young Statue

College is a completely different beast from high school, which is awesome and terrifying.  That's why I'm here!  My name is Katie (if you haven't gotten that yet) and I'm a peer mentor at BYU.  I'm here to make those terrifying moments exciting and make those awesome moments even more awesome.  I'm here to answer questions, respond to worries, be excited, and more.

Now I know you're super pumped to just do something "collegey" so I'll give you a task.  Go to onestop.byu.edu and look at the New Student Checklist.  This will be your best friend (well, second best friend because I'm the first) before you arrive at BYU.  It has all of the practical information you need.

Have questions?  Comment below or email me!