Since coming to Suffolk last fall, I’ve realized that it is one of those schools you’re either in love with, or one that you want desperately to get out of. Personally, I’ve always enjoyed the school, but there have been times (perhaps mainly when the temperature gets low) that I’ve thought about transferring to, I don’t know, Florida? Regardless of my experience, I know there are people who may not be happy here, haven’t found their “place,” don’t like the party scene, or whatever it may be! Some of you may plan on transferring, but others (for financial aid or educational reasons) have to stay, at least for the time being. So, I have compiled a list to keep you out of your misery for the time being. These are solutions to your biggest complaints about Suffolk, so read on! Keep in mind-I’m not going to start handing out nicotine patches to the Sawyer smokers, and I can’t change the maintenance issues at 150, that’s just life.
Complaint #1: “I hate the food.”
The company, Sodexo caters Suffolk’s cafeterias. If you’re into dry chicken and rice, you have probably fallen madly in love with the menu. However, if you’re not into generic cafeteria food, you’ve probably found yourself miserable. While my freshman year I ate at Max and Dylan’s across the street from 10 West more often then the 150 cafeteria, I have found some “diamonds in the rough” when it comes Suffolk dining.
Solution: 73 Café.
I would choose to eat at the 73 Café over many sandwich shops in the area, and I’m not afraid to say it. Order the “Garden” sandwich, or the “Strawberry Fields” and “Santa Fe” salads, and you won’t regret it. What is another awesome thing about 73? There is a somewhat hidden milkshake machine over by the sandwich station. Ask the ladies behind the counter for a flavor selection, and they will hook you up. I didn’t discover this 8th world wonder until halfway through second semester of my freshman year – it then killed my meal plan.
Complaint #2: “I’m not 21, so I can’t do anything.”
If you aren’t 21, or don’t have “the ability” to be 21 on the weekends, you may feel like Boston isn’t the city for you. After all, being downtown you’re constantly surrounded by bars/clubs. If you’re not 21, but want to dance and have fun, you’re probably going to get frustrated by the lack of 18+ clubs in Boston.
Solution: Do some research.
I’m not going to suggest you go to Rise, an “afterhours” 18+ nightclub downtown. Quite frankly, I went there one time and I left feeling not only unsatisfied but also unsanitary. Instead, pay close attention to what DJs are coming to town on Ticketmaster/Stubhub. A lot of the time, famous DJs that come into Boston will make their events 18+. Venues like the House of Blues and Royale often host these types of events. While it might not be as fancy as some 21+ nightclubs, the locations are clean, and the crowd tends to be a lot better then say, “Throwed.”
Complaint #3: “I’m not big into partying, and that’s all Suffolk kids seem to want to do.”
I’m going to give you a little news flash here- you go to college. I’m not sure why people seem to think things will be different at a school with a campus. The only difference between here and UMASS Amherst, for instance, is that if you transfer there, you’ll spend your weekends squished against a wall in a crowded frat party! If anything you should consider yourself LUCKY to go to school in downtown Boston. If you don’t drink or party, there are so many other options for activities to do in such a lively city.
Solution: Find more people like yourself.
Of course you’re not the only person who doesn’t want to “rage” on a Friday night. Not everybody is into keg stands and body shots, which is okay! If there is somebody else hanging out and watching TV in the common room on a Friday night, I can pretty much guarantee they would rather do something else. Not being a party animal doesn’t necessarily mean you’d rather sit in your jammies then socialize. Just a half a mile away is the aquarium with an IMAX Theater. Go to a 3D movie on a weekend night, or go get gelato in the North End! There are SO many things to do in the city that you don’t think of because you aren’t looking. It’s so much easier to complain about what everyone else is doing than to find entertainment of your own, but I can assure you, it is out there!
Complaint #4: “It’s hard to get involved at Suffolk.”
I know a lot of people aren’t involved because they don’t make the effort to be. Here’s the thing, the clubs at Suffolk aren’t going to recruit you. We’re not at a big campus school, and there is no dirty rush. Sure, if you know an upperclassman they might suggest you join their club upon arriving to school, but that’s only some of you.
Solution: Seek out clubs that interest you.
As a student leader at Suffolk, I assure you that we are always looking and accepting new members for Her Campus. We don’t care if you join halfway through the semester, we’re just happy to see new people interested in getting involved. Most clubs have a set meeting time, a Facebook page, and easy access to the E-Boards information. E-mail someone in a group you think you may be interested in, and they will be happy to provide you with information. It might feel weird at first, but there is something really exciting about being part of a group on campus. Through Her Campus alone, I have met so many friends that I would have otherwise have never met, I would suggest it to anyone
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Complaint #5: “Everyone has money and is always dressed to the 9’s, even to class.”
“I just want to dress like I go to UMASS”- Tanya Vladov 2015
Solution: H&M/ZARA.
I can’t help the fact that your parents are unconvinced you need a Louis Vuitton tote to carry your books around in. I can let you in on a little secret though, most international students do most of their shopping at the very affordable H&M and Zara stores!
Compaint #6: “The elevators in Sawyer.”
Soultion: Get to class just a little earlier!
This is an understandable complaint. However, how often are you NOT running late for class? If you’re trying to get up the elevators at 12:59 for your 1:00 class, you’re going to run into half of the school who are also procrastinating. I’d never suggest you walk a flight of stairs, of course, but try coming to class, oh say, just 5 minutes early? I promise you there are much less elevator issues.
Complaint #7: “Most people only live on campus Freshman Year.”
Although Suffolk provides sophomore students with housing, oftentimes many don’t accept. Many students find it to be cheaper to live off campus, or like the idea of having their own personal space to live in.
Solution: If you’re a freshman, CONSIDER your living situation for the next year more cautiously.
As an off campus sophomore, I can’t express how much I miss the dorms. Sure, there is some glamour in living on your own; I can play my music as loud as I want, I don’t have to eat cafeteria food, and I can have a queen-sized bed. However, living on your own is a lot more difficult then it seems. Sure cafeteria food stinks, but at least there is ALWAYS food- I can’t always get to Shaws, I sure can’t always afford Whole Foods! Even though sometimes you may feel like you can’t wait to get out of the dorms, I suggest you stay another year, unless you absolutely have to move out. You will have a chance to decorate your apartment with all the beautiful things on Pinterest at some point, but chances are it probably won’t be your first apartment anyways! And living with your best friends isn’t as awesome when you’re dividing the bills, I swear.
Complaint #8: “We don’t have a football team.”
For those of you who feel the need to paint numbers across your face, and scream “GO RAMS,” it may bother you that Suffolk doesn’t have a football team.
Solution: Visit another school….
Northeastern, Boston University, Tufts, Emerson, are all schools in Boston that don’t have football teams. For those of you who are school spirit oriented, it may annoy you that the face paint and megaphone life is not easily accessible. However, if you’re a big football fan, join the bandwagon, and latch onto a D1 school! Many tourists will attend Harvard or Boston College football games for fun. Gather up your friends for a day, and hit up one of their games. Unlike Suffolk, where if someone from another school attended a soccer game, people might notice, big schools are used to fans from all over.
Complaint #9: “It doesn’t feel like “REAL” College.”
Yes, Suffolk is very different than other schools, mainly because we don’t have a campus. A fellow classmate last year said to me that the reason he likes Suffolk is because, “walking down the street, I’m a citizen of Boston, and walking into class, I’m a student”-Shayne Pyle ’14. I can’t think of a better way to describe my Suffolk experience. When you chose to go to school in a city, you indirectly chose to dodge the homeless people asking for change, pay ridiculous taxi fees, and give up the option of wearing flannel PJ’s to class.
Solution: Take advantage of what the school has to offer.
I know a lot of people who have transferred out of Suffolk. Most chose to transfer out because the school didn’t have the community aspect they were looking for. Unfortunately, the only difference between a “big campus” school and Suffolk, is that at a big campus school, COLLEGE sweatshirts and sweatpants CONSTANTLY surround you. Nobody really has a job off campus, and everyone has time to hangout. The sense of community is definitely much stronger and more obvious. However, Suffolk offers many clubs and organizations full of “normal” students, just like you, who want to get involved and meet a lot of new people. “I wish the people that complain about the lack of school spirit and community would do something about it instead.”- Erin Beardsley ’16.
Complaint #10: “All my teachers are foreign and don’t speak English.”
Suffolk is a very diverse school, with many international students and teachers. While it may be difficult to have to distinguish an accent on a student, its pure torture to listen to your teacher babble in a language you aren’t sure is really English.
Solution: Do more research.
Foreign math teachers are a fact of life, I have only recently come to experience. Freshman year, when you have to choose your initial classes at orientation, it’s hard to figure out what classes to take. However, after first semester, you should really consider looking up individual teachers on Ratemyprofessor.com and/or asking fellow students about their experience in a class. If I had done this, I probably wouldn’t be on the verge of failure in my MATH130 class right now.
“I think a big problem that I face, as well as other Suffolk students, is not networking as much as I can. I see kids at other schools who don’t have half of the opportunities that we have being in such a huge city. There are so many outlets to get our names out there…and I often think, ‘wow that would be unfortunate to be in the middle of nowhere.’ Yet so many students graduate and have problems getting jobs because didn’t spend time adding experience to their resume…I think one of the biggest things I should have done is create a list of goals and get my name out there as early as freshman year. It’s so competitive in the city, and I think Suffolk students don’t take advantage of the opportunities we have around us like the big name companies that offer everything, even just shadowing experience. Suffolk should be more involved with resume building earlier than junior year, and really make kids take advantage of what we have around us.” – Ashley Culline ‘15