Meadowbrook Video Tour!!!

Power of Pictures- Residence Hall Edition

Major Pain

                So one of the most common questions people ask freshman when they get to college is “What is your major?” Deciding a major is one of the pivotal moments of a person’s undergraduate career. No wonder it can be so HARD! But it doesn’t have to be. Oakland has a myriad of resources for those having trouble deciding what major is best for their desired career, or for those who do not know what that desired career is. Oakland offers so many different majors, from Accounting to Exercise Science, that there is one that will be right for anyone.

Here is a quick breakdown of some interests and what major they might correspond with:

If you excel at math, what about:

                Chemistry, Engineering, Physics, Business, or even Math

Or what about if you like strict science:

                Biology, Nursing, Chemistry, or Physics

                                *Pre-Med is NOT a major, but a concentration*

I like people, so I might consider:

                Communication, Psychology, Sociology, or Anthropology

But I like art, so I will think about:

                Studio art, Music, Theatre, Dance, or Art History

I LOVE to read and write, so these majors are for me:

                Philosophy, English, Foreign Languages, or Writing

As you can see, there are many different majors for lots of different people. These are just a handful of tons of options that you have at Oakland University. And don’t worry if you are not sure about which one, for you have until the end of your sophomore year to declare a major. And don’t think you are stuck with what you pick, for more than 60% of college students switch majors at least once. Also, ask about the Advising Resource Center if you have any questions about careers or majors. They are here to help. Happy major hunting!

Secrets of the Oakland Students

              So going to this wonderful university for several years now, you would think that I would know everything that occurs on campus. Well one of the other amazing parts of Oakland University is that there are still things that surprise me, new things to do and opportunities to take advantage of. Some of these I wish I would have known my freshman year, so I have decided to help incoming freshman out by giving them an advantage I never had; a list of things on campus that most students do not know about.

Bumpers Game Room- Though most people know about it, the large game room found in the downstairs area of the Oakland Center, nobody knows that from 5-10 on Friday nights, everything is free. Video games, pool, ping pong, foosball, you name it and they have it. So why not hang out and shoot some pool for free on Friday nights?

Bear Bus- Again, most people know about it but very few people take advantage of its amazing service. Free shuttling to very popular places around campus? Sounds good to me!

Vandenberg Lounge- The lounge found on the first floor on Vandenberg hall houses a pool table that seldom gets used. Students can go to the mail desk and rent out pool supplies for free. Can you tell I play a lot of pool?

Printing- Printing can get expensive at 10 cents a page, but every semester students get 25 free prints on their Spirit card. Not only that, but Housing students get access to the Hamlin computer lab, with free printing, and Honors College students get free printing in the Honors College computer lab.

On-campus jobs- oucareerlink.com is the best website for finding on-campus employment. There are always jobs available and the application process is quick and easy. Just upload a resume and you are set!

Tutoring- Yes, everybody knows what tutoring is, but very few students realize that it is a great opportunity to do better in a class. You do not have to be failing a class to get tutoring; some students who are getting a 3.3 take it to bump it up to a 3.6 which is very helpful. It’s free and very beneficial. Plus for all those who do not know, there is a location in Vandenberg hall every Mon-Thurs. from 5pm-10pm. This means you can literally walk down from where you live and get better grades in a class people spend more than a thousand dollars to take. Mine as well do well.

Student discounts- This is the big one, because 90% of students are poor, cheap is good. This is especially true when you can get the same thing for 10%-20% less. All over the area, places, especially restaurants, give people tons of discounts if you show them your student ID. But here is the kicker, YOU HAVE TO ASK!!! Most places won’t give it to you automatically, but you always need to ask “Do OU students get a discount here?” And if a place says no, still ask the next time. Different employees will sometimes give you a discount even if the last time they told you no.

Sports Rave

In order to vent about the recent failure of the Detroit Tigers, I have to talk about something positive and sports related. Being a Michigan resident, the Tigers failing and the Lions barely showing up to games are nothing new to me, but you add to the fact that the Pistons no longer rule and the Red Wings could not come through against the Sharks, it has been a bad sports year for pro sports.

Thank goodness we still have the ever-consistent Golden Grizzlies to fall back on. A 49-3 record over their last 52 games in conference is simply mind-blowing, let alone the second longest in conference home winning streak in the country, spanning several years. That adds up to two years on a row NCAA March Madness tournament births and this past year, although we were matched up against a team that a few weeks before the tournament were third in the country, only lost by 4 in the close 85-81 game 1. For a summit league team to do so much in so little time is miraculous, and that attention has not gone unnoticed. Check this out for those who know the player that led us to this amazing performance: http://www.ougrizzlies.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/051111aaa.html

Leaving out the stats and the triumphs of OU basketball, just going to an ordinary home game is a great time. Not only does it show support for the school and OU spirit, it is a great way to meet new people and get tons a free stuff in the many events during the media timeouts. People have won TVs, IPads, IPods, Game systems, and money in the fun and entertaining events open to all students. The best part? IT’S FREE!!! So if you are ever having downers about Michigan pro sports, just make your way down to the O’rena, enter the game for free, have fun and get tons of free stuff while you are there supporting the black and gold.

Thoughts from the Hammock

                The other day, I was laying down in one of the awesome hammocks that surround Bear Lake thinking about summer living at Oakland. This is my second summer here, being that last summer I was an Orientation Group Leader. It is so peaceful and the days are long and full of fun. People always write Oakland off as a commuter campus, but some of the best times I have had have involved living here on campus. Thoughts of all of my friends and the awesome events that I have participated float on through my head as I swung in the hammock. I would not trade those times for all the money in the world. This summer, I have been spending a lot at the apartments. I did not realize how large they are! My fiancé lives there because she is taking summer classes (Italian). Her and her roommates have been having a blast there, and I have been a frequent visitor.

Another one of the great things about Oakland that many people do not think about is Rochester. It is such a great town and always has a lot of things going on. For instance, Applebees, just across the street from the campus, just had a black light party. There was karaoke and ½ off all appetizers. A bunch of my friends and I all went and ruined our reputations by attempting to sing, “Come on Eileen.” It was horrible, but tons of fun. My fiancé and I also recently took a couple of bikes and rode down to Downtown Rochester. We walked up and down the strip and window-shopped. She even convinced me to go into a couple of the bridal shops to pick out a cake topper. In the end, we ended up having ice cream and riding back to OU with all smiles.

After falling off my hammock numerous times, (I have terrible balance) I started to head back to my room in Hamlin. On the way, I saw a woodchuck; one that I am sure is the same one that I have seen a couple of times in the past few days. I think he is stalking me, to tell the truth, but I was reminded by him that OU is also a wildlife haven. How many universities the size of Oakland can you have to walk around the crazy geese because they just had goslings and hiss and chase you down if you come too close? Not many. I have also run into an entire herd of deer on my way to class this past winter, not out of the ordinary at all for Oakland.

First Blog Ever

                My name is Kevin O’Bryan, and I LOVE Oakland!!! I am working for OU Housing (www.oakland.edu/housing) this summer as a Housing Ambassador. I came here right after High School from my hometown of Casco, MI, which you probably never heard of (its right on top of Lake St. Clair). If you can’t tell from the background and the last name, I’m Irish and very proud of it. I love living on campus, probably the best decision that I ever made. I know all the guys on my floor, 5 West, and there are amazing. I love Baseball and I played it for a great number of years (Woot for 2^nd Base). I follow the Tigers religiously. I also really like College Basketball, the Golden Grizzlies on the top of my list of course. I get to travel with the team to their tournaments and cheer them on from the Athletic Band, in which I play the Mellophone. I love music and listen to everything from System of a Down to the Beatles to a little Country. I also like Oakland for its academics and expansion. If you’re on campus for two minutes, you can see all these improvements that are constantly happening. While you look, also notice the beautiful scenery (and the obnoxious geese). I love philosophy, that being my degree, and I am always willing to talk to anyone about anything, whether it is politics, religion, or just day-to-day chatter. My other passion is teaching, for I love sharing knowledge with anyone who is willing to listen. I turn 21 this August and will be at OU for two more years before I graduate. I am also a member of the Honors College and love being active within it. Hope that this will be a great summer and I am looking forward to sharing all the great times I have had while I lived on campus with all of you!