|
|
 |
| Chatham Vue a Blog from the Admissions Department of Chatham University |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
1st Annual Spring Slumber Party!
by Sarah Stulga
On Thursday, May 8th 2008, five students traveled from all over Pennsylvinia and even Ohio to visit Chatham University for our first ever, Ambassador created, Spring Slumber Party!
 We spent the first night in Berry Hall enjoying a Sundae bar, watching a movie, and taking some time to get to know each other. Then the students and I went to Fickes Hall to spend the night - just like a real student would in the residence halls!
Friday morning we woke up early and went to breakfast in the Anderson Dining Hall. Although we had some trouble with the waffle maker in the beginning, breakfast was the perfect start for the day!
Next, we had the students team up with the Ambassadors and go on a scavenger hunt around campus. Liz and Emily moderated the clues left in different buildings, and whichever team made it around campus first with all the clues won! Both teams had a lot of fun exploring campus, although I think our Ambassadors enjoyed it just as much as the students did.
After the scavenger hunt, it was time for an official tour of campus. By this time, the students were already kind of familiar with campus, but the tour allowed them to get a more in-depth look at each building.
Then Tara Viti, one of our admissions counselors, led the students in an information session that gave them a general overview of the admissions application and interview process, as well as covering financial aid and allowing the students to have any questions answered. The session was very general, which prepared the students to use the information at a variety of colleges.
We went back to the Anderson Dining Hall for a relaxing lunch, and then the students had some time to explore the bookstore and pick out some Chatham University gear! Each student bought something to wear, and planning on taking group pictures to remember the event together.
Finally, we headed back to the Office of Admissions so the students could meet some more Ambassadors before their parents came to pick them up. We all just talked for a little bit, some of us even took a cat nap, and watched a little tv. We also got the Chatham U photo shoot out of the way too!
The Ambassadors had an awesome time with the students, and we hope that they did too! If you are interested in coming to visit campus sometime, please contact us at chathamambassador@chatham.edu or 412-365-2736 to arrange a visit!
Congratulations... Class of 2008!
by Sarah Stulga
On behalf of my fellow Senior Ambassadors, I would like to say congratulations to my sisters in the class of 2008 in anticipation of our commencement ceremony tomorrow!
I love you all more than I could ever hope to express, and I want to wish you all the best of luck in whatever you choose.
I will miss you all so much!
Sarah Stulga (STOOOOOLGA)
(If you haven't looked at it already, check out the photo tribute from Dr. B) http://www.chatham.edu/2008ecard/
Graduation
by Megan Sutton
 For four years I have yearned for my college degree and now I have finally earned it. Looking back, I wonder why I wished my life away. The years I spent at Chatham were amazing. I met new people who gave me different perspectives on life and I made long lasting friendships. Chatham gave me the opportunity to travel the world and gave me hands-on experience in and out of the classroom. The life of only worrying about making it to class, studying for exams, and writing papers are quickly coming to an end. Late nights hanging out with friends at the Woodland Coffee Bar will soon become a part of my past. The real world will soon be a reality.
At the beginning of the academic year I couldn’t wait for graduation day and now that it is almost here I just pray that the days go slowly so I can savor my last moments of college. I am going to miss all the people that I became close with as they branch off into new opportunities or stay here at Chatham. I never understood why seniors were sad when they left school because when I graduated from high school the only emotion I felt was pure joy to finally move one with my life!
 When I look back at my years at Chatham all I can think of is how I will miss this place, the people, the buildings, and the community. I might even shed a tear at graduation! When I entered college I was only 18 and I will graduate at the age of 22. A lot has happened in those years from becoming a girl who was not fully formed in any thoughts, ideas or goals to a world ready woman.
As much as I would like to stay an undergraduate forever I realize I need to make room for the class of 2012 so they can make memories that will last a lifetime. Incoming students please enjoy your time and savor every moment you have at Chatham because before you know it you will be wearing the cap and gown. To the class of 2012, good luck, enjoy, goodbye!
Buckets & Blossoms Day
by Miranda Gray
Happy Spring Everyone!!!
I would like to tell you a little bit about my favorite annual Chatham event, Bucket and Blossom Day! This is a day in April when classes are canceled so that administrative staff (including our college President, Esther Barazzone), faculty, and students come together to beautify the entire campus. We plant flowers, mulch, and pick up litter, which truly leaves the campus shining for the rest of the spring semester. Usually, there are 1-2 professors or administrative staff on each team and teams include about 10-15 people as well as a facilities management staff to instruct us on what work there is to be done. Not only does this day give us, as students, an excuse to plant pretty purple and white petunias, but it also allows us students to chat with friends about the upcoming finals week or to catch up with a professor.
A couple days before Bucket and Blossom day, participants that registered early for the event can go pick up a t-shirt designed by a Chatham student. Then, the day before the event, gigantic piles of mulch begin to show up on the sidewalks near garden areas on campus, signaling that the event is soon to come. This just builds up the excitement! This year, Bucket and Blossom began on Friday April 11, at 10 A.M. Everyone met on the campus near the library where we picked up our free pair of gardening gloves and a raffle ticket for prizes that were to be given away during lunch. The morning moved quickly and at 10:30 A.M. each team began working at different sites around campus. This year, my team and I  worked behind the chapel area, picking up litter. Then, after we finished this, we moved near Coolidge, a building in which I have had several of my undergraduate English courses. Here, we found a huge pile of unclaimed mulch. We used rakes and shovels provided to make the soil that had been claimed by winter’s cold weather into a beautiful garden. While we worked, a couple of generous staff that were in a car stopped and offered us bottled waters to quench our thirst. After the mulch pile had been completely depleted, it was nearly noon and time to head off to Anderson dining hall for a delicious picnic-style lunch, consisting of fried chicken, baked beans, and sugar cookies, to name a few items on the menu. After the lunch, the raffle winners were announced. This year there were gift certificates to stores and restaurants like Target, Eat N’ Park, Max and Erma’s, as well as parking permits for campus
(these are always a big hit) !
After lunch is over, most of the crowd headed over to Spring Fling, and annual event held in the Athletic and Fitness Center. Here, there were plenty of inflatables for jumping around on just for some good ol’ fun. I love having the day off to relieve some of the stress from exams and papers, but even more so, I love spending quality time with friends and faculty, actually doing something I love to do – gardening. Before Bucket and Blossom Day existed, this event was known as Toe Dabbling Day, a day during which it was tradition for the President of the college to be thrown into the pond by the student body. Thus, I am sure that Dr. Barazzone appreciates the present version of this annual event as much as I do too!
If you would like to know more about Bucket and Blossom Day or about events on campus in general, feel free to e-mail me at
chathamambassador@chatham.edu!
Introducing...
Miranda Gray!
My name is Miranda Gray and I am a native of the Pittsburgh area. I grew up in New Kensington, PA and graduated in 2005 from Valley High School. I am currently working on a B.S. in Biology, a B.A. in English, as well as a minor in botany. I enjoy reading, writing, and working in the greenhouse in my spare time. My favorite part of Chatham is that our professors are so eager to help and always available if we need them. I look forward to meeting you as a prospective student of Chatham University!
If you have any questions or just want to chat, leave me a message at chathamambassador@chatham.edu!
Flag Football
by Sam Greenwood
Hey everyone!
In the Chatham bookstore, there are t-shirts that say "Chatham Football - Still Undefeated!" This weekend though, we'll find out who can really play! The Student Athletic Advisory Committee, along with the Class of 2009 is hosting a Charity Flag Football Tournament to benefit the Girls and Women in Sports Foundation, and we're getting pretty excited about it.
We have nine teams from every part of campus. There is a team of Hockey players, a team representing Laughlin Intercultural House, and a First Year team, and a cheering section, to name a few. Each team is encouraged to raise as much money as possible toward the charity, and the team that raises the most money gets a "bye" out of the first round. The staff from the Athletic and Fitness Center will be helping us out as referees, and all of the teams are invited to a barbeque afterward.
This is the second annual tournament, and it should be a great time and a good way to work out some aggression right before finals! If you're in the area and would like to come cheer us on, we'd love to have you. The tournament is this Sunday from 12 pm until 4 pm on the athletic fields, behind the Art and Design Center. You can call (412) 365-1616, or email chathamambassador@chatham.edu if you'd like details, or just check up and see who won!
See you there!
Go team!
Living in the Chatham Apartments
by Deb White
I must say...as a senior, living in the Chatham Apartments has been terrific! I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. The apartments are a good fit for two residents. They are located right on one of the main streets in Pittsburgh, Fifth Avenue, which grants access to local neighborhoods like Shadyside and Oakland. Moreover, if you're looking for that daily workout, there are steps behind the building that lead you right up to campus! Don't be alarmed, the steps are not that bad once you get used to them, just make sure that you bring all your things with you, so you don't have to run up and down them so often throughout the day.
 I chose to stay in the apartments, because, I needed a change of scenery. I lived in Fickes for three years, and the dorm life was very rewarding, but I knew that I wanted to settle in somewhere that would be realistic to where I would be after graduation. Thus, as a senior, living int he apartments has been a great teacher, in preparation for what I will expect once I get my own place off campus.
 I would recommend living in the apartments starting your junior year (although you can move in as a sophomore if you'd like). Living in the dorms for about two years will enhance your skills socially, in that you'll be able to to make connections and meet new people. Whereas, in the apartments you are in a more independant environment, where you do not have the social haven like the "Woodland Sunporch" to catch up with friends about what happened on America's Next Top Model.
So, if you're looking for a more independent environment, yet want to feel connected to the campus, the Chatham Apartments are the perfect choice! Check out some pictures of my apartment, and feel free to call (412-365-1616) or email (chathamambassador@chatham.edu) me if you have any questions about living anywhere on campus!
Living in the Residence Halls
By Sarah Rice
 As most college students would claim, living in a residence hall is a huge transition from living at home. When first coming to college, I was excited to leave home and become independent, but since I have been at college, I have found that living on campus is so much more. As a child, I was used to having a room of my own. Although my living space has decreased significantly, I have learned a considerable amount about myself. Learning to adjust to living with other people was a challenge at first. It was important that I recognized my personal boundaries while still respecting the requests of my roommate. After a while, it seemed easy for me adapt to this new environment of the residence halls and I began to really enjoy it. I learned how to understand differences and learn from others to better myself. Today, my roommate is one of my closest friends on campus.  Our differences have come to complement each other in a perfect way. We are there for each other just as we were from the start of the year. I have also made some other amazing friends by living in the residence halls at Chatham. The memories that I have made with the people I have met at Chatham will stay with me forever.
End of Sophomore Year...
by Bianca Ruthven
Hello Everyone! Bianca reporting in. I am starting to get really excited for the end of the year. I'm a Resident Advisor, and in my Residence Hall we have a bulletin board where we are keeping track of the amount of school days left in the semester and there are at less than 40! Woo!
 After the Spring semester is over Maymester will start and I will be going to Germany with Chatham’s study abroad program. There are about 20 of us students going and we will be accompanied by two Chatham staff members. We will be traveling first to Brussels in Belgium for a few days and then we will go on to Berlin in Germany. The whole trip will be 2 weeks long. I can't wait!
I hope to be able to go to a lot of museums during my free time in Germany. I am an Arts Management major and have had a few internships/volunteer positions and jobs working in museums in Washington D.C. so I like to compare them with each other. It will be really interesting to be able to compare museums from different countries. My only concern is that I don’t speak any German. If you have any tips, let me know! Send me an email at chathamambassador@chatham.edu to wish me luck on my trip!
Introducing....
Bianca Ruthven!
 Hi, I am Bianca! I graduated in 2006 from Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, Virginia. I am a sophomore student this year at Chatham University majoring in Arts Management. I enjoy arts and crafts and listening to music.
If you would like to chat, feel free to send me an email at chathamambassador@chatham.edu!
Elementary Education Major as a First Year
By Hannah Galvin
 Being a first year, I am so happy with how many experiences I've been offered already here at Chatham. I am an elementary education major, and in this field the more experience you have with kids the better. During my first semester, a requirement for an education course I took was Field Placement. I got the chance to go to an elementary school (for a total of 15 hours throughout the semester) and observe the set up of the classroom and the effectiveness of the classroom’s environment. This semester, I am in a different school and a different grade, observing the teacher and the effectiveness of her discipline and management skills. I feel like I am off to a great start at becoming a teacher already and it is only my first year!
So What's the Big Fuss.... Life After College!
By Deb White
 In February, a fellow ambassodor, Jessica Cassidy and I, hosted a program called "Life After College." Well, some might say...why do we need a program about life after college, when that's exactly what we are going to school to learn about--what we want to do after college, so we should be pretty set with plans after graduation. Well, not quite! Some things are easier said than done. Although, we are currently in college learning about our particular field of interest, but it is another issue, having to immerse yourself and go into the "real world."
For the program, we invited current graduate students along with professionals to provide insight concerning their personal experiences, and what they did directly after college. From the session I learned that it is very critical while you are in college to gain experience in your field by doing internships, and networking as much as possible, because that could be your foot in the door, and a great foundation for your career. Another key point is to remember your qualities, and let that define what you are able to bring to a particular job. A degree in biology does not limit you to being a biology teacher--it's like thinking of your degree as a supplement to who you are; it enhances your character, and builds upon what you have developed academically and professionally.
Furthermore, the process of thinking about life after college should be ongoing. As a first year student you may come across multiple advertisements for job/career fairs, which can be a channel to perk your interest. I would suggest attending these fairs whenever possible to get an idea, and become familiar with what future employers expect. Hint: It can also be a great networking experience, you never know who you're going to meet!
So, yes, we may have an idea of how it will truly be in the real world, there are others that have walked the path before us, and they can be very helpful in guiding the route you care to venture--and perhaps, maybe make the process a lot smoother!
Looking Back - First Year Experience
by Tierney Manning
Hello Chatham Blog junkies! I'm Tierney Manning and I'm a sophomore pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science and a minor in Economics here at Chatham. Being an out of state student from northern Virginia and the D.C. area, there are a few personal hurdles I had to jump.
 As the summer before my first year wound down, I was more than ready to leave the safe, loving arms of family and hometown and escape to Pittsburgh to become an adult. This idea was very important to me at the time. I had never experienced being with out my family for more than a month at a time but by this point in my life I was excited about living more than 250 miles away.
I moved into Fickes on August 26th and my parents left abruptly. I was sad for a few minutes when I watched their backs as they walked away but then I saw my friends and I was invigorated being at the beginning of a new part of my life.
All first year I had a very strong plan that I would not be going home often and stay at school until there where major holidays or events. My family did not visit much because they knew how important it was to me that I was to make it the first year alone. It was often hard thinking about home and how many miles there was between us and sometimes I envied those who lived close to their loved ones. Chatham, however, was a very supportive environment. Spending the majority of my time at school allowed me to excel in my school work and get involved on campus. There were always a variety of events to go to on and off campus as well as a myriad of co-curricular to get involved in.
Although it was sometimes difficult, the mind set that I had for the first year allowed me to dive in head first to my new world at Chatham. I am always thankful that my family allowed me to experience that year as an independent woman. I encourage you all to consider how you would like to experience your first year at Chatham and plan accordingly.
Introducing...
Tierney Manning!
 I'm Tierney Manning and I'm a sophomore at Chatham University. I entered Chatham last year as a first-year student and continue to live on campus. I'm an out-of-state student originally from Fairfax, Virginia near Washington, D.C. I'm active on campus, not only as an Admission Ambassador, but I am also on the Scholar's Advisory Board and a member of Green Horizons. As an Environmental Science major with a minor in Economics, both my academic and extracurricular engagements keep me really busy.
If you have any questions for me, please feel free to contact me at chathamambassador@chatham.edu!
5 Year Master’s Program Acceptance
By Liz Cochran
 Ok everyone, so you heard from me before about how my sophomore/junior year is going here at Chatham. Well, I am happy to say that I have officially been accepted into Carnegie Mellon University’s Master of Health Care Policy & Management program, beginning in Fall 2008! I found out about the program through the Admissions office actually, since it’s a 5-year Master’s program. I looked further into it, attended some meetings held at Chatham, met with Carnegie Mellon’s Admissions Counselors, and finally decided to apply. I filled out my online application, asked for three letters of recommendation from faculty and professional affiliates, wrote my personal statement, and arranged for my transcripts to be sent off to CMU’s Admissions office. As of February 1st, 2008, I was no more than a sitting duck, just waiting for a reply. Luckily, as of March 5th, 2008, I received my acceptance letter via e-mail.I was, and still am, extremely excited for many reasons. First off, Carnegie Mellon University is an excellent school to go to. Second, the Health Care Policy & Management program only accepts approximately twenty students per term, so it’s a rather competitive program. Third, I now have the advantage and opportunity to complete my Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in a year less than I thought I would previously. Fourth, I am able to study something that I actually love!
The Admissions process was actually quite simple. They really spell it out for you through their online application. If you’re interested at all in doing a 5-Year Master’s program, definitely check out Chatham’s website or Carnegie Mellon’s website. You can also ask your Admissions Counselor to see if there is a program that fits your interest. I wasn’t really sure at first if I could do the Health Care Policy & Management program with my major, Public Relations, even though I had an interest in health care. It really is a great opportunity.
Anyway, when I received my letter, Tara Viti, my Ambassador Supervisor, and Cheryl Sedlock, a fellow Ambassador, were both in the office… actually standing with me as I opened the e-mail. I was extremely nervous, and both Tara and Cheryl said they didn’t know what they would have done had I not gotten in. So, Tara covered my eyes so I couldn’t see, but once she saw the “Congratulations “ on the screen, she threw up my hands and we were all really excited!! What a sigh of relief! Not only was I proud of myself for getting in, but I was really excited to see how the next two years would go, taking classes at both Chatham and CMU.
As I kept working, Tara and Cheryl snuck out of the office to get me cupcakes as a “Congratulations” for my acceptance! They were absolutely delish! Not to sound cheesy, but it’s really nice to have people around like that, especially to have the opportunity to work with them. Afterward, I called my parents and my sister and told them the good news.
 Like I said, I would definitely recommend to any students, prospective or current, to think about the 5-Year Master’s programs. Some programs are through Chatham, while others are through CMU, but the advantage that you receive from both of them is incredible. If you have any questions about the programs, contact your Admissions Counselor. You can also reach the Ambassadors (and myself!) by email at chathamambassador@chatham.edu, AIM/Yahoo instant messenger with the screen name ChathamAdmission, or by phone 1-800-837-1290.
|
|
|
|
|
|
None
1st Annual Spring Slumber Party! (by music_nessa at 5/21 12:04 PM)
Congratulations... Class of 2008! (by music_nessa at 5/19 11:12 AM)
Graduation (by denk at 5/02 4:25 AM)
Buckets & Blossoms Day (by mgray1 at 4/25 12:15 AM)
Graduation (by music_nessa at 4/22 6:46 PM)
The BSU Outreach Program (by debstar08 at 4/21 4:48 PM)
The BSU Outreach Program (by music_nessa at 4/18 11:27 AM)
Buckets & Blossoms Day (by music_nessa at 4/18 11:13 AM)
Introducing... (by music_nessa at 4/18 11:07 AM)
Introducing... (by sarah rice at 4/03 3:59 PM)
|
 |
|
