100 Tips for Life at Saint Mike's : The Final 91 - 100

Here are 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51- 60, 61-70, 71-80 and 81-90. 


91. Don't be scared to pull an all-nighter in the academic buildings. I was hesitant at first, since I was scared I'd be alone in an empty building, but there are a surprising amount of people who need to work in a classroom at night. 

92. If you have clothes that need to be hand-washed, take them with you to the shower and hang them up on the notches to dry while you shower. 

93. Everyone on campus is super helpful and friendly; it's not like high school where freshman can be perceived to be nuisances so don't be scared for your first few days on campus! 

94. Though the official overnight stay programme has been cancelled, it's possible for prospective students to contact the admissions office to ask for an overnight stay. I'd really recommend this, as I wish that I had known what campus culture was like before I had arrived here as a first-year student. 

95. Don't overload yourself with too many sources when writing a research paper; limit yourself to 12-18 sources for a 10-page paper. I made the mistake of trying to read 35 sources in two weeks for a paper and got really frustrated with myself.

96. Buy fingerless gloves for the winter - this way you'll still be able to get a grip on things.

97. Always read assignment instructions and highlight requirements before starting on it - it helps you focus on what you need to get done. 

98. Make sure you narrow down your research topic before you start doing research or your search will be too vague. 

99. Request to live in Joyce Hall for your first year; the building has the mailroom in the basement and it's also the closest dorm to Alliot which has the dining hall, bookstore, MOVE office, the Knightcard office, Wilderness office and the campus ministry headquarters. 

100. All residence halls have representatives that attend weekly SA meetings - if you're having any problems that you think should be brought up, talk to them and they can represent your voice at the next SA meeting. Two other great resources are your RA and RD - they're usually super accessible and friendly. 

100 Tips for Life at Saint Mike's : 81 - 90

Here are 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51- 60, 61-70 and 71-80.

81. You can request songs on the college radio station (88.7 WWPV The Mike) at 802.654.2887. I've requested a song on my friend's show - it's pretty cool hearing your name/song on air. You can also access the schedule of radio shows and playlist online. 

82. Get a miracle shirt from Brooks Brothers; they're button-up shirts that you can throw in the regular wash and dryer without worry and they come out perfectly pressed. A bit pricey for a student budget ($80-120) but they come with two spare buttons and you'll never have to worry about dry-cleaning your fancy clothes.

83. Learn to take notes with paper if you've been using your laptop a lot; most profs don't allow use of electronics in the classroom - I've never actually met one who let me use my laptop in class.

84. As part of the Consortium of Vermont Colleges, it's possible for students at Saint Michael's College to take courses at surrounding universities for SMC credit (meaning that your grades count and that they don't take away from your study abroad credits.) Apparently UVM isn't included in the selection because it's public, and there's been talk that Middlebury College has joined the list.

85. The Blendables yogurt parfaits at the Knightstand are delicious - they're yogurt mixed with blueberries or strawberries and granola bits. It's a bit difficult to eat (since the granola is stacked so high) so I wouldn't recommend going to class with it, but it's easy to grab for a snack or for a late breakfast if you miss out on the Alliot hours on the weekend.

86. If you need a recommendation from a professor, check in with them at least two months before your application is due. They might not be able to write it for a while since as professors, they're inherently incredibly busy. It's also useful to give them information on the programme/university you're applying to, what admissions officers are looking for and how you did in the professor's class (as well as one or two samples of your work.)

87. You can subscribe to receive repeated packages of shampoo, toothpaste, razor blades, etc. from Amazon in case you don't want to go into Burlington to buy these types of things in the middle of winter. It's also possibile to buy just one or two of them and shipping is free. I do it for make-up cleansing wipes, boxes of tissues, shampoo, conditioner and Q-tips.

88. There are a few mini hiking trails around campus - the walk to the quarry is a nice one to go on with friends. It'll take around an hour to walk around that area and back.

89. Don't be afraid to ask your profs for extensions; the worst they can say is no but most of the time, they're very understanding and accommodating as long as you put in a decent effort throughout the semester.

90. Applications for most study abroad programmes are on March 15. Make sure you book an appointment with Peggy Imai, the study abroad co-ordinator, at least two months before the application is due. Also look out for e-mails from her regarding deadlines in your SMC inbox. 

100 Tips for Life at Saint Mike's : 71 - 80

Here are 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51- 60 and 61-70. 

71. A great way to buy textbooks is to put up a message on your graduating class' Facebook page with your required textbooks for the next semester. People are willing to sell some at an astonishingly low price if they can't return it to the bookstore. A macroeconomics textbook that's usually sold for $80 at the bookstore can be sold for $15 on the Facebook page.

72. Bring a small battery-run lamp or large flashlight for power outages. There's only been one this year, but it's useful when you really need to get work done.

73. If you're buying coffee at the Knightstand, get a cappucino; you can get regular coffee in Alliot for free with the first-year meal plan and the cappucino tastes much better.

74. Alliot gets really busy at 8am - get there at before 7.50 or after 9am!

75. You're not allowed to bring containers into Alliot. I was trying to bring back fried eggs and bagels to serve breakfast in bed to a friend who had fallen ill one day and get scolded by Rosemary (one of the canteen ladies.) Don't do it!

76. If you really need to concentrate on studying/writing a paper, go to an isolated space without anything but your study materials - no cell phone, no agenda, no other reading materials! And don't tell your friends where you are or commit to activities shortly after your study time. This way, you won't feel rushed and give your studies your full attention.

77. Allow for a bit of flexibility when you're planning your weekly schedule - professors don't always stick to their syllabi because sometimes the class is lagging a bit behind or advancing very fast.

78. One of the benefits of being a journalism major: free colour printing. Colour printing isn't even an option on the Pharos printing system for other majors.

79. Get a desk lamp as soon as possible. The regular dorm lights are a bit harsh, so students tend to buy warmer standing lights but it won't be bright enough to fill the whole room.

80. If you're taking an economics class, you'll normally need 5-8 coloured pens for graphs - especially in Principles of Microeconomics.

Personalising a Dorm Room

Some tips on personalising a dorm room...

• Add custom carpets. If your room has weird angles, The Perfect Rug makes custom-order rugs and they're delivered within a month. 
• Figure out your habits and tailor your spaces to them. I put my boot tray in front of my dresser for a month, until I got so annoyed that I couldn't pull out my drawers properly that I moved it behind my desk. On that note, get a boot tray - you'll need it for the winter and rainy season. 
• You can make plain surfaces more attractive by draping pashimas over them.
• Paper laterns are a great way to bring some personality into a room.
• Etsy, eBay and the Wisteria e-shop have a lot of funky furniture that you can order online. If you're looking for ideas for different pieces, you can also check out sites for small living spaces like Dwell and Apartment Therapy. Pintrest will also have a lot of posts in the home decor section. 

My friends Lhanzi and Alex taped up paper laterns to make the ceiling more colourful.

My funky bed-side table from Wisteria
and a vintage alarm clock from Etsy

A flexible standing lamp I ordered from Bed, Bath and Beyond.
Most of the girls on my floor have some variation of this lamp.

100 Tips for Life at Saint Mike's : 61 - 70

Here are 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 and 51- 60. 


61. Generally, the registration process should be quite smooth (albeit a bit stressful). But take the extra step to confirm with your academic advisor that he/she has cleared you for registration. I've had two friends whose advisors have forgotten to do this and they had an extremely stressful first week back. That being said, if you don't get into some courses there are lots of good courses with extra space during the add/drop session - I chose two of my classes this way. 

62. The add/drop period is nine days long. Try to get everything done within the first few days, because you might need access to the course on eCollege in order to complete readings and coursework. Once you hand in the add/drop form to the registrar, your courses should show up on eCollege within a few hours. 

63. If you have wool sweaters that need to be hand-washed, you can put them in a 'woolens' cycle in the dorm washing machine which will wash it with cold water with a gentle spin. You can then hang it up to dry, and it won't get ruined. 

64. Go through your syllabi at the beginning of the semester and mark down all the major dates for homework, quizzes, projects, papers and exams that you have for the rest of the semester in your planner. It'll only take 10-15 minutes and you'll never be caught off-guard. It's really essential to see these deadlines and test days coming up; sometimes you'll have three major papers due in one week and you'll need to prepare yourself accordingly.

65. Eddie's Lounge is a great place to get work done on weekday mornings and it's not usually occupied on Friday nights if you want to watch a movie with friends in a larger space.

66. If you pull on a door handle too quickly after swiping your Knightcard, it won't let you in and you'll have to wait around 30 seconds until you can re-swipe.

67. The college health centre is currently unable to prescribe pills for women for birth control reasons, but they will prescribe it for health reasons or refer women to other clinics.

68. If you lose your Knight card (and somebody finds it) or you lock yourself out, you'll normally have to go to the Student Life office on the first floor of Alliot.

69. It's really important to check with your academic advisor if your academic plan is feasible. They'll let you know, for example, that students are not able to double major in Psychology and Education because there are too many overlapping courses. But they can also provide you with alternatives like self-designing a major or fulfilling certain courses abroad or during the summer.

70. Students are able to submit writing pieces for three publications: The Holy Shift (the social justice magazine), The Onion River Review (the literary journal) and The Defender (the news publication). 

Interview with a Fly Fisher

Dillon with a lake trout caught in the Presumpscot River in Windham, Maine

A curious thing about St. Mike's is the presence of fly-fishing on campus. First-year students can enrol in the fly-fishing seminar taught by Professor Bill Grover from the politics department and all students can join the fly-fishing club on campus. My friend Dillon Reno, an avid fly-fisher who has been practicing the art for a few years now, let me ask him a few questions about the club.

Why do you fly-fish?
I fly-fish because it's my connection with nature and clears my head. It puts me in a state of serenity and puts me in a place where problems are non-existent.

What sorts of activities does the fly-fishing club offer to its members?
Weekend fly-fishing trips and ice-fishing trips in the winter as well as two overnight trips; one in the fall and one in the spring at world renown fly-fishing destinations. We also do fly-tying on weekdays.

Can a novice join?
Yup. Novices can join and the club provides them with gear. We'll teach any beginners who don't know how to fish.

Do you have advice to anybody who is just starting to fly-fish?
Don't assume that you can figure it out all by yourself. It's what I did and it stunted my learning. It took me a few years to give it another try - when I did, I took lessons and fell in love with it.

Who do you have to contact to join the fly-fishing club and when do you meet? 
You can contact Louis Annino, Benjamin Gruner or Professor Bill Grover to get more information on the club. We don't have scheduled meetings; Louis just sends out e-mails to club members when he wants to set up a meeting.


You can contact Dillon with any fly-fishing questions at dreno@mail.smcvt.edu

100 Tips for Life at Saint Mike's : 51 - 60

Here are 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40 and 41-50.


51. If you want to borrow foreign films, there are some in the library but you'll find a better selection in the language lab. 

52. If you're an international student, you'll need a visa to go to Canada which takes about a month to get. Plan ahead, since a few courses at SMC include field trips to Canada and you might want to head up there for a long week-end. 

53. There's a hotel across the street from campus if you have relatives visiting. They charge about $80/night on weekdays.

54. I've been in denial about this my whole life but in order to be fully (or in some cases, somewhat) functional, one needs to sleep. Nobody is functional after an all-nighter. Think about that before you procrastinate.  

55. Some professors won't be crazy about you (although most will be super passionate about what they're teaching). Sometimes it takes a while to establish a good relationship with a professor. 

56. Never throw away sticky things (especially drinks or food - even if they're wrapped/bottled) in your own garbage bin. Take the time to put it in a plastic bag and walk to the communal floor dump. You don't want to get into a situation where you have to wash your bin.

57. If you order take-out, keep the plastic bag so you can wrap the leftover food back into the bag when you dump it out in the big trash on your floor (if you're too lazy to go to a trash outside). This way, your floormates living near the trashroom (that's me, guys) won't suffer from the smell. 

58. Come armed with a vacuum cleaner, cleaning wipes and some cleaning spray. You don't want to live in a dusty, germ-filled room. 

59. The office hours for Jerome Allen (an IT technician) are Monday through Friday in the Bergeron computer lab from 16.00 - 21.00. If you need to work with the scanner or any design programs (like Photoshop), he's your man. 

60. Check your syllabus every week. You might have a quiz or an exam coming up, and some profs will only remind you about it one or two days before the test. 

Turtle Underground

Turtle Underground is a relatively large student lounge in Purtil Hall on North Campus that is turned into a concert space every weekend or so. There's always some free food provided and students chill on the couches, mill around and dance (depending on what type of music is playing.) Last week I joined Lauren and a few other friends to see The Milkman's Union and Filip Deptula perform. Chicken tenders - spicy, BBQ and crispy - were served that night. Here are some photos of the concert...

100 Tips for Life at Saint Mike's : 41 - 50

Here are 1-10, 11-20, 21-30 and 31-40.


41. Even if you're not an first-year-orientation-activities person (and really, not that many of us are), go to the Connections event. It's a something special you do for yourself that you'll look back on during your graduation ceremony.

42. The first six weeks set the tone for the rest of the semester. Try out what works for you and what doesn't and get into a schedule/your habits fast. 

43. There are study abroad programs and fairs that table in Alliot every month or so. Be on the look out for e-mails announcing those - it's a great chance to talk to a representative for a program you might be interested in!

44. The Knightstand operates like a Starbucks: you can ask for a sample of the soups and if you buy a soup that you don't like then you can return it the other one (there are two every day). 

45. There are lots of mosquitos by the end of September. Close your windows at night and bring some anti-mosquito spray. 

46. Don't get a Netflix account, there are a ton of DVDs to borrow from the library. Use imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com or jinni.com (my personal favorite) to check out reviews and figure out what you're in the mood for. 

47. If you ever need to study on campus during a Friday or Saturday night then the head to one of the seminar classes in the St. Eds or Jeanmarie. 

48. There is no cell phone service in the basement of the library. 

49. All the study cabins are open-air at the top, so don't do math out loud or play music. 

50. Most professors will let you slide with two unexcused absences (as in they won't take off points from your grade, but if you miss a pop quiz then you might be a bit screwed). Use them wisely or not at all.

Free Film Screenings on Thursday Nights

The SMC Film Series is a new addition to the programme of evening activities on campus, which introduces students to influential films. It's hosted in Cheray 101 at 8pm every Thursday until April 26th. Last week, I attended the Dr. Strangelove screening, which was introduced by John Hughes from the Political Science department. It's a very cosy way to spend the evening - especially in the Vermont cold -and the needs of college students have been taken into account as there's free popcorn and soda to enjoy ;)

Here's the schedule for the rest of the semester:

Photo credit: IMDB

Feb 16 - Hotel Rwanda with an introduction by Laurie Gagne from the Peace & Justice Center

Feb 23 - Of Gods and Men with an introduction by Robert Brenneman from the Sociology department

March 1 - The Godfather with an introduction by George Dameron from the History department

March 29 - Amélie with an introduction by Peter Vantine from the modern languages department

April 12 - Born into Brothels with an introduction by Allison Cleary from the Media Studies, Journalism and Digital Arts department

April 19 - Koyaanisqatsi with an introduction by Alain Brizzard from the Chemistry and Physics department

April 26 - Blade Runner with an introduction by David T.Z Mindich     from the Media Studies, Journalism and Digital Arts department.

100 Tips for Life at Saint Mike's : 31 - 40

Here are numbers 1-10, 11-20 and 21-30.  


31. When the hot water runs out (which does happen every month or so, normally for a few hours) call ext. 2330 or if it's the weekend, call the switchboard. Plumbing will come over and fix it within half an hour.

32. If you're confused or concerned about something in class, you should go to office hours. I'd recommend jotting down an outline of the things you want to talk about before going though, so that you'll be efficient when the professor takes the time to see you.

33. A lot of your professors have written books. You should read them because it's not that often that you can go up to an author and ask lots of questions about their writing/research.

34. If someone is blaring their music super loud and it's bothering you, go talk to them. Really. And don't be embarrassed. It's your living space as well.

35. If it's cold outside but you feel the need to go running, there are treadmills in the gym and the indoor track. Even though sometimes certain treadmills aren't functioning, it's very rare that you won't get one - I've only had to wait twice and I went to the gym three times a week at the beginning of the year.

36. If you find a professor that you think is really interesting or that you connect with well, go talk to them - even if they aren't in your department. I heard Professor Natarajan speak at a "Faith and Food" panel on how people's faiths shape their eating habits and ended up having a really good hour-long conversation with her a few days later.

37. I'm going to address the condom question, since there none are sold on campus or provided by the health centre. The options that I can think of off the top of my head are stocking up before school starts, going to the Cumberland Farm gas station which is a 7 minute walk from the main road behind Alliot or asking your RA (and if you're desperate and they don't have any, there are other RAs in the building).

38. You will get more e-mails from the college (and it's clubs, boards and organisations) than any spam you have ever received in your life. Sometimes it's really useful, depending what you're your needs are.
Figure out what type of e-mails you want to filter out (for example, if you don't play a sport then it might not be that useful to know about the men's hockey team try-outs) and see if there are e-mail addresses that send messages about those things - then create a filter.

39. Stock up on granola bars (or bananas/packs of trail mix/etc.) and carry two in your bag every day. They will save you when your stomach starts to growl during that long afternoon lecture.

40. Buy rainboots. You will need them by the end of August.

Formspring Q: Student life, dorms and food at SMC

iPhone for College Life - Updates

At the beginning of the year, I posted a list of useful iPhone apps for college students. Here are some additions that I've picked up throughout the year:

DerManDar - Allows you to take panoramic photos on your iPhone. My fellow blogger, classmate and floormate Sarah Murray used this app to show you guys her dorm room.


QuickVoice - Voice recorder for lectures, interviews, concerts, etc. I was able to use it to record interviews with reporters and Burlington mayoral candidate Jason Lorber at a labor day event a few months ago (here's a blog post that has a clip of one of the event speeches).


MyVerizon - Very useful if Verizon is your service provider. You can check how many minutes/texts/downloads you have left on your plan and pay your bills through your iPhone.

Campus at Night

Here's what the Saint Mike's campus looks like after sundown - I took these photos on my way back from the gym a few days ago (which conveniently closes at 22.30 on most days)...

The library is the brightest building until one in the morning

The quad: Joyce Hall, Ryan Hall, Lyons Hall and Alumni Hall

McCarthy Arts Center and the parking lot

The Alliot building holds our bookstore, Knightstand, dining hall, Knightcard office, Wilderness Program office,
Diversity Coalition/SKILLS office and most club gatherings

The Knightstand, open until midnight (except on Saturdays)

Brunch Spot: Zabby and Elf's Stone Soup

Since the weekend is near, I'll provide you with a brunch spot suggestion. At the beginning of the year, my friend and Burlington local Greta introduced me to heaven on earth, also known to some as Zabby and Elf's Stone Soup. The restaurant, which only serves locally grown food, is located right off of Church St. and serves soups, salads, hot beverages and has a full bar of warm goodness to offer. If you're lucky, you can get a seat on the veranda and people-watch.

Sunday Adventures

Yesterday, I went on an impromptu adventure with Liz and Jill after brunch in Alliot. We decided to explore the forest behind the 300's and walk out to the gorge past President Neuhauser's house. Here are some snapshots of our Sunday morning ventures...

A Picturesque Campus

It's time to break out thick socks and leather gloves in Vermont, but the past couple of days have shown us that we still have some days of warm, sunny weather left before the snow sets in. Here are a few snapshots of a truly picturesque campus...

Costume Mania

In preparation for Halloween, the Drama Club has provided students with a treasure trove of costumes in Alliot - there's piles upon piles of them!

100 Tips for Life at Saint Mike's : 21 - 30

Here are numbers 1-10 and 11-20. 


21. You can schedule appointments with a research librarian or the study abroad advisor online.

22. The library makes three announcements before it closes one in the morning (one at midnight, another at half past midnight and the last at one in the morning) so don't worry about getting locked in!

23. Some profs will put everything (from extra credit to MLA guidelines and office hours) on eCollege while others will only link the syllabus. Find out which one your professor is so you don't miss out on an extra credit opportunity.

24. Just because somebody loves a professor doesn't mean you'll love them as well since everyone has a different learning style. Go chat with the professor before you register for their class.

25. For every hour of class, you're expected to do (more or less) 3 hours of work outside of class.

26. You'll be expected to attend some public lectures and events downtown as part of your coursework, and sometimes be able to attend them for extra credit.

27. The one of the bathrooms on the ground floor of the library is pristine. It has good lighting, sleek tiling and it's very, very clean - on a college campus, this is very much appreciated.

28. The gym hours change on the weekend; on Sunday it opens at half past noon. Remember this and don't walk to the gym at ten in the morning like I did!

29. One of the dorm rooms on every floor has a temperature gage, so if you're in that room (it's usually in the centre of the hall) you can't open your windows during the winter or it'll mess up the "room temp" reading and overheat everyone's rooms on that floor.

30. If you leave your windows open too long during the winter, your pipes may burst. It's happened to an RA, who got murky water leaked all over their things from the pipe breakage. 

Formspring Q: Campus Ministry

Q. Tarah, i'm interested in move and campus ministry as a prospective student, is there anyone who i should get in touch with to learn more how i can get involved? thanks (=


A. Hey! Sure, I know that Alex and Derek have both gotten involved with VITA, which is the campus ministry at SMC. Here's an answer Alex wrote last year about how to get involved with VITA and you can also check out the ministry's page on the SMC website here and VITA's Twitter page here.