Campus Life

There are a variety of things going on at GCC for all students to get involved in!

Make the Most of Your College Village Experience: Top Tips for Genesee Community College Student Housing

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Now that you’ve moved in and are living independently, away from home, you’ll need to manage every little thing. Here are some survival tips to help you reside peacefully in your dorm.

Meet Your RA (Resident Assistant):

If you haven’t met your RA yet, connect with them. RA’s are the student leaders who live in your building and they take classes like other students at GCC. These students are trained by College Village to assist other students in connecting with the resources on campus. Your RA can be a valuable resource for information and guidance, so don’t hesitate to reach out to them for assistance. They will direct you to the right resources.

Tip: If you’re wondering how to connect with your RA, and you probably haven’t seen them for other reasons, I’ve got you. Every RA has a “Meet your RA” board with their contact information in their building at the Main entrance. You just have to take time and look around to make this connecting process easy.

Building Relationships with Roommates:

Take the time to get to know your roommates. It is never too late. Building a good connection with them can help minimize issues, as a strong relationship and understanding can go a long way. Discover common interests that can strengthen your bond. Effective communication can also help resolve any problems that may arise.

Quiet Hours:

College Village has designated quiet hours throughout the semester from Monday to Thursday, 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., and from Friday to Sunday, 11:59 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. These are the quiet hours for the entire semester in CV. These quiet hours don’t restrict you from having fun. During these times, you just have to be mindful of your activities to avoid disturbing your roommates, neighbors and building mates. College Village enforces 24-hour quiet hours during the final exam period to allow students to study and prepare for the exams peacefully.

Smoke Alarms:

For some of you this could be your first-time cooking. A few of you might not know cooking, and you might be thinking about learning how to cook. In any case you must be careful with the smoke detectors. The college village has sensitive smoke detectors for the student’s safety. Cooking on medium heat can help prevent setting off the alarm.

Remember that covering or tampering with the smoke alarm is not an option, as it puts other’s lives at risk.

To view College Village’s fire safety expectations, please visit: https://gccvillage.com/expectations/

GCC and CV safety are available 24/7.

Call: 585-345-6500

Receiving Packages:

If you’ve ordered new clothing or electronics or any other packages for yourself and need to pick up your package, head to the RA office. There is an RA on duty every day from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. on weekends. Simply bring your GCC student ID to the RA office, and the RA will assist you in retrieving your packages.

Tip: If your package is delivering on weekends, expect it to be available for pickup at the RA office on the following Monday

Submitting the Maintenance Request:

If you’re facing minor problems like a malfunctioning light in your living room or bedroom, a kitchen stove that won’t heat up or a clogged sink issue, don’t worry. These are common issues that everyone encounters, whether at home or living away from home.

Back at home, you might have relied on your parents to handle these problems, but now that you’re living on your own, it’s time to take charge. Don’t worry I’m not suggesting you roll up your sleeves and become a DIY expert. Instead, follow this link https://gccvillage.com/maintenance/. There, you’ll find a straightforward process to submit a maintenance request. Our maintenance staff is exceptional and works quickly to resolve these issues. Just follow the process on the website, and your living space will be back to normal in no time!

For questions and queries this email address will be your best friend to reach out: 

CollegeVillage@genesee.edu 

Blog by,

Sindhu Priya Kondapuram 

Resident Assistant of E&F Building    

College Village 

Interviewing Father Flynn of Doubt: A Parable – Sam Rigerman

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Samuel Rigerman is a freshman enrolling in Business Administration, with a dual certificate in Musical Theatre at GCC. Doubt: A Parable was his 17th theatre production so far, having participated in 9 shows during high school and a few other at Harvester 56 Theatre and Rochester. Last semester (Fall 2019), he portrayed Brad Majors in the Richard O’Brien’s musical The Rocky Horror Show. at GCC’s Stuart Steiner Theatre.

(You can read a summary of Doubt: A Parable here.)

Sam Rigermand and Lucine Kauffman as Sister Aloysius during rehearsal.

For an actor, auditions are always nerve-wracking, “especially with this show, I really wanted to work with director Marianne because she’s an amazing director and this would probably be my one-and-only shot at this time. So I really did all my homework to maximize my chance of getting the role.”

In preparation for the role of Father Flynn, Sam went to different Catholic Churches to watch prescript sermons, “some of the sermons were really boring ’cause they weren’t very good at delivering it, but I learned a lot and took away what I want or did not want in my sermons to apply my own tweaks to Father Flynn’s sermons.” He added, “to prepare for the storytelling section of the Father Flynn’s first sermon in the play, I sat in at the local Richmond library and listened to the women there reading stories to the kids. I tried to learn how she relates to the kids, projected the story so I can take that into my sermons and differentiate between story telling and giving a sermon.”

Some of his difficulties during rehearsals were delivering sermons, where he had to act as if there’s an audience listening when there is no one. The cast didn’t have a real audience until the first performance. “I also struggled a little with the second scene where Father Flynn teaches basketball to the kids, two things of which I don’t know how to do: playing basketball and talking to kids.

He said he also loved the intense scene between Father Flynn and Miss Aloysius. They were verbally battling each other back and forth: Father Flynn criticizes that she has no evidence, but Miss Aloysius is so adamant that she has him cornered and he just trying to get away from it. Sam added, “I love the actress Lucine Kauffman who played Miss Aloysius, she was so fun to work with. We created a bitter connection and really made the scene our own.”

(Photo: Mark Gutman / Daily News) Sam Rigerman as Father Flynn during his first sermon.

On deciding whether Father Flynn was innocent, Sam explained, “After I was cast, director Marianne told me to craft a ‘Who Am I’ statement. It took me a very long time to decide that Father Flynn was innocent. I had to keep reading the script, dig for different clues and find little things that indicate ‘Oh, he did do it’ ‘Wait no, he didn’t do it.’ I kept building on the clues, I finally concluded that he did not do it, and I acted throughout the show with the mindset that Father Flynn is innocent.”

“My reasoning for his resignation after hearing Miss Aloysisus ‘s threat is that he might have had a dark history that he does not want to be revealed. So he simply withdrew and transferred to avoid any further troubles, but he is innocent regarding matters with Donald (the kid suspected of being abused by Father Flynn)”

Sam’s analysis and portrayal of Father Flynn’s character partially correlates to his own personality, “I try to see the good in people, and the same goes for character Father Flynn. Even when someone is accused of something, I’d try to think of a possibility that they didn’t do it. I am aware that such horrific incidents of sexual misconduct have been brought up / revealed over the past 50-60 years in Catholic Churches, which is really hard to process.”

“If I were to play the character again, I’d still portray him as not guilty, but it’d be interesting to pursue the role in the opposite direction, that he is guilty and being manipulative toward sister James. But I would definitely have discomfort portraying him as guilty because it’s a very real and horrible incident that kids are subjected to at such a young age.”

Contrasting his portrayal of Father Flynn in the show versus Philip Hoffman’s portrayal of Father Flynn in the 2008 film, “I think Philip Hoffman portrayed Father Flynn as guilty. But for my portrayal, I wanted the audience to walk away with their own inner conflict of did he do it or did he not do it. One of the great things I think we succeeded at was that people walking out of our show not knowing if he did it or not. That’s the whole point of the show, that you’re filled with doubts about him.”

(Photo: Mark Gutman / Daily News) Sam Rigerman as Father Flynn and Alyssa Young as Sister James

Of the two production he had done so far this year, Rocky Horror and Doubt, Sam feels more attached to the production of Doubt and character Father Flynn, “Rocky horror was a lot of fun with many great musical scores, but Doubt, for me, was much more personal, especially when the cast was so close to the audience who sat on stage watching it. I am more attached to Doubt because the plot is real, it’s based on something that realistically happened in real life.”

Through Doubt, he was able to learn and apply many new techniques on character development and analysis, “Unlike character Brad Majors I played in Rocky Horror Show where the single-dimensional character only had one goal: being terrified and trying to get out of the Frank-n-Furter house, Father Flynn in Doubt is a more complex character where he pursues different small objectives in each scene to serve a bigger one. With Doubt, I learned more in-depth about creating a character and analyzing a script by finding the operative word, breaking down each of my monologue/scene into beats of action, I didn’t have to do that for Brad in the Rocky Horror.”

(Photo: Facebook) Sam Rigerman as Brad Majors and Runo Suzuki as Janet Majors during The Rocky Horror Show

Summarizing his experiences here at GCC so far, Sam shared that his favorite theatre course was Theatre 103 – Fundamentals of Acting, taught by Instructor Maryanne Arena, who was also a co-director of Doubt along with her daughter, Jamie, who teaches theatre at Geneseo College. “We learned about audition techniques, character development and a ton of super fun improv games, which is something I didn’t learn from high school theatre or community theatre. I also love my business courses, especially BUS 101 & 213, because Instructor Lauren Paisley of both of those courses is an awesome teacher. “

“I initially chose GCC because it’s close to home, it’s affordable and I can still stay at my job at Starbucks. Another major factor was because I auditioned for and was cast as Brad Majors, one of the lead roles, for Rocky Horror show last May when I was still in high school, so I decided to come here.”

What’s next for Sam? He’s preparing for the play Jack and the Beanstalk in this upcoming May and still has another year with GCC until his graduation in Spring 2021. “After GCC, I plan on transferring to Geneseo College or Colombia University with a BA or BFA/MFA, definitely with theatre component attached with it. My dream job is acting, but if that doesn’t work out, I will pursue a career that connects social media and theatre.”

Little fun facts:

  • The original set design planned that Father Flynn would be giving his sermons among the rows of audience off-stage, instead of on-stage where Sam was standing, but that didn’t work out so the audience sat directly on stage.
  • For his character Father Flynn who had long nails, Sam, who had never worn fake nails before, wore and kept on long acrylic nails everywhere he went (to class, to rehearsals…) the weeks before the performances.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

Introducing Myself

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Hi, my name is Donald Lockwood and I am a student here at GCC and am doing an internship with the Marketing & Communications Office (MarCom). I am going to GCC for Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and Social Media. I am a sophomore and am working on my fourth semester.

I am a photographer and am also in the Photography Club where I am the secretary. I help with the Instagram account for the club. If you would like to follow, our Instagram is @gcc_photoclub. The professor that I have that advises the photography club, Joseph Ziolkowski, or Joe Z. as everyone calls him, is having a show at GCC right now in the Rosalie “Roz” Steiner Art Gallery and I will be doing a blog on his exhibit hopefully next week. I love to take photos of nature and the outdoors. One of my favorite places to take nature photos is at Letchworth State Park in Wyoming County. I grew up going there and have always loved it. I strongly suggest that if you are in the area and haven’t been, definitely take the drive and go. There are beautiful waterfalls and amazing hiking trails throughout the park. I also like to take nature shots when I’m driving. I almost always have my camera with me and when I don’t I always have my cell phone. I also like taking sports photos. I have taken many photos of the women’s and men’s soccer teams. I have friends that are on the Women’s Soccer team and they always think its cool when I get a good shot of them playing. I also have a friend on the Softball team and hope to make it to some games this spring to get some good shots of them playing.

Great day, but chilly at Letchworth State Park

If you would like to take a look at some of my favorite photos, I have an Instagram account and you can follow me @donald_lockwood_photos. I have some nature photos, sports photos, and a portrait of one of my friends. I would love to get into doing more pictures of just people, I just haven’t had the people to take photos of.  Interested? Message me on Instagram.

Having an internship with MarCom I hope will help prepare me with what I would like to do in the future. I hope to one day either work for or run my own business to do freelance social media for small businesses in the area that are just starting off that don’t really have the money yet to pay a big name agency to run their social media and website, or can’t yet hire staff to do this important work. Now-a-days, you can’t really run a business without having a social media account, whether it be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media. Working with MarCom will get me website and social media experience, as well as writing blogs and press releases that will help me get a marketing and communication position after I graduate this spring.

Thank you for reading over my blog and look out for more soon.  

GCC Internship Program: Inside Look

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By: Ta’tiana Lee

My first internship is literally changing my life! I am an intern with the Marketing & Communications department at Genesee Community College, also called MarCom, and already have experience gained in areas that I never thought would be within my reach. I have documented and created event calendars throughout the local community. In doing this I found great free sites to advertise publicly and the structure and manner of creating an event. I got the opportunity to work under a trained photographer while practicing photography myself. At this moment, I knew that I would enjoy being a part of MarCom at GCC.

The hours are flexible and my portfolio will definitely look a lot better because of the opportunities provided by MarCom. I have two days minimum in an office setting and one day minimum working from home. New opportunities come often and they are things to brag about. For instance, I arrived on one of my office days to a professional videographer hired by the school. I was able to witness the beginning process of videography. I was even able to sit in and brainstorm with the team for that project, which included my supervisor and the videographer himself. Not only was I able to sit in and bear witness but I actually felt as if I had a voice. That opportunity will forever stay with me because it became motivational in a way. It reminds me that this can be my life and that I can have a career!

I am also a student at Genesee Community College and MarCom is very understanding when it comes to education. If I have a test or need the day to study, they will not only assent but they would help me find the time to make up the hours that I’ve missed. My goal was to gain experience in an office like setting and in the business world and MarCom has made it possible for me to do exactly that plus more. I can’t wait to blog an update with even more experiences gained by completing my internship with the Marketing & Communications department at GCC.

Here is a picture taken by me at Discover the Stars

This was the first event that I had attended for GCC’s Internship Program. This was also where I was able to learn from and work under a Professional Photographer. It was filled with students and donors, which made the moments I’d captured even more special.

Here is a picture I captured at an event for student athletes

At this event I got to practice taking in motion shots. This event was the same day as Discover the Stars.

Here is a picture taken by me at the Homecoming Weekend Car Cruise

This picture was taken at a car show at Genesee Community College. I love cars so this event was also a lot of fun.

Mental Health on Campus

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By Dennis Austin

College marks an important period in a student’s life. As students begin to transition into adulthood, college is a playground of sorts, a place where experimentation, deep thought, and pondering on what lies ahead are all on the menu. Some students define their college experience through partying, sexual exploration, intense academic rigor, or a combination of sorts. However, for many students they are not in the least concerned with these activities as their energy is more focused on getting themselves out of bed, dealing with an anxiety attack or flirting with the idea of suicide.

Over the past few years mental health has become a hallmark on college campuses across the world. More attention and resources have now been dedicated in assisting students who struggle with their internal demons, which for many, is a case of life and death. Here at Genesee Community College, there is a noticeable sense of despair which afflicts much of the student body. I myself have seen people in my own social circle openly admit to cutting themselves, failed suicide attempts, amongst many other tragic stories. One student in particular had cut themselves multiple times in their abdomen, an event which required an overnight hospital stay.

Earlier this month at the behest of GCC President James Sunser, me and College Village Resident Assistant Randy Bumbury, visited Monroe Community College and advocated for more resources on campus to deal with this crisis. In a room filled with State legislators across various regions we plead our case as to why this issue requires urgent action. Jeanie Burdick is a fine counselor here at GCC and has performed her job well, but she is only one individual. Given that our estimated student population is well over 1,000 (more if our campus centers and distance learning students are calculated), there is simply not enough resources available to address the needs of students.

To be blunt, we need money. Monetary backing would ensure we could afford more than one full-time, qualified counselor as well as expanding our services at the Counseling Center. Thus, GCC could provide more options for students to better manage their health outside of what currently exists, such as Therapy Assist Online, a useful tool students can use, but doesn’t completely solve the problem. The issue we have is not a lack of motivation or skill. That much among faculty is present. We just don’t have the “cache” if you will, to go beyond our constraints and truly make a difference.

Dennis Austin is a graduating sophomore, majoring in Liberal Arts & Sciences. He is graduating this semester and will be attending the University of Illinois in January.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or dial 911. If you need to make an appointment with our Counseling Center, please contact Jeanie Burdick at jlburdick@genesee.edu or call (585)-343-0055 ext. 6219. The Counseling Center is open weekdays, Monday-Friday, from 9 AM to 4:30 PM.

Meet our newest blogger: Pinn!

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Heyo GCC fellows!

I’m Pinn and I’m an international student from Vietnam. This is my first semester at GCC and I’m majoring in Computer Information Systems at GCC. This is an intro blog so I’ll will throw at you some random intro points about me:

  • Having been at GCC for 6-7 weeks, I’m pleasantly surprised to find so many international Japanese students are enrolling at GCC. I’ve always been fascinated with Japanese culture and I never imagined coming to GCC would offer me an indirect cultural exposure to “The Land of the Rising Sun.”
  • Coming from the tropical and humid equatorial climate of Vietnam, I’m preparing myself (physically and mentally) to fight head on with the intense winter sneakily creeping into Batavia.
  • One thing I crave the most after coming to the US is coconut water, which is much more expensive here compared to my home. But on a brighter note, I have easier access to fresh blueberries, cherries and certified-quality nuts (walnut, pecan, almonds…) which can be considered a luxury in Vietnam.
  • I love K-pop and my favorite group is Epik High. Tablo, a Korean-Canadian leader and producer of the group, studied English Literature at Stanford University so many of his songs are produced in English. I am rarely interested in rap, but many of Epik High’s rap songs are at the top of my playlist because of their poetic nature and clever wordplay. If you have only heard about K-pop for BTS, I recommend you check out one of Tablo’s English raps, “Dear TV” which tackles the modern demon of tech and entertainment shows.
  • I love graphic design and have been tinkering with and learning to use Adobe software since middle school. I used to think I could take on graphic design as a career but I later realized I lack the artsy-ness and patience, so I’m keeping it as my hobby.  

I read almost all the student writing on this blog before arriving at GCC and their blogging provided many helpful tips about being in America and being a student at GCC.

I hope my future blogs will be able to do the same for other students.

How I saved hundreds of dollars in the cost of living in the US as an International student.

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For the last one year, I did not pay a dime for heat, electric, garbage pick-up, laundry and gas without any roommates. I am successfully graduating from GCC this fall and I managed to do it by saving hundreds of dollars in the cost of living. Most Americans and International students alike, stare at me in disbelief when I tell them that I pay nothing for utilities and I managed to do so without a roommate. Do I sound too good to be true? I certainly do. Let me show you how I made frugal living a reality in this outrageously exorbitant economy. According to a news report by the national low-income housing coalition, a full-time minimum wage job won’t get you a one-bedroom apartment anywhere in America. A lot of one bedroom apartments in Batavia range between $500-650 plus you will have to pay for heat, electric, Internet, phone bill and fuel separately.

I have spent the first one year at GCC building friendships. I have spoken with everyone and I got to know everyone around me. I am a keen observer of people around me and I am a pretty decent judge of character. It did not take me long to figure out people who would be genuinely helpful to me. I like helping people as well and I am usually extra kind and respectful to elderly folks. I live away from my parents and whenever I come across an elderly person I suddenly miss my parents. South Asian children like me usually live with their parents until their parents pass away. South Asian culture also emphasizes a lot on family values. Very quickly, I got to know a lot of elderly folks with empty houses in Batavia and Oakfield because their children moved out. Many of these elderly, soon to be retired folks were impressed by me and offered me to live in the basement of their large, empty houses to pay off their mortgage. It did not take me long to figure out that it is way cheaper for me to lease one bedroom and bathroom space in a large empty house, instead of, leasing a whole apartment. I pay only $500 for rent without any roommates. Electric, heat, laundry, garbage pick-up and everything else is included with it. I do not deal with electric or fuel companies at all.

I know a lot of International students who pay $300-400 for off-campus housing but they are forced to put up with roommates and additionally need to pay for heat, electric and other necessities separately. On-campus housing is extremely expensive and if you are like me who is not at all interested in dealing with roommates, residential assistants then, yes, off-campus housing is for you. Some International students almost get free on-campus housing if they choose to be a residential assistant on campus. However, all students do not get the job of being a residential assistant. International students also do not get financial aid from the US government to live on-campus. Personally, the job of being a residential assistant and dealing with on-campus drama never appealed to me. Never mind, how much you dangle the offer of a free on-campus housing to me. I simply refuse to have roommates. Hence, I never considered applying for a residential assistant job.

Leasing a basement or a separate unit in a large, empty house with no children is the best way to save money on the cost of living, instead of, renting a separate house or one bedroom apartment all by yourself and being responsible for your own heat and electric. I live in a basement of a large house with my own kitchen, bathroom, study room, and bedroom. I have a nice backyard and parking space as well. I almost never see my landlord who lives upstairs. I have my own separate entrance. There is no way I would be charged a separate electric or heat bill as there is usually only one meter per house. However, be respectful. Try to conserve energy and heat. Do not abuse anybody’s generosity and trust. I keep all my lights off when I do not need it and I use as little water as possible. Do not tamper or raise the thermostat. You certainly do not want to upset a landlord who is willing to pay for your heat, electric, garbage pick-up, and laundry.

Thus, the moral of the story is to be nice to people in general. Do not pretend to be nice to people just because you have an ulterior motive. People will quickly realize your motive and turn away from you. If you want to successfully live in a place for a year or two like me, then focus on building a good relationship with your landlord. Good behavior will take you a long way in life. Do a background check and make sure you really know the person you are living with. You will definitely come across good-hearted people who will offer you almost free-housing or housing at a lower cost. I am graduating this fall from GCC and I am moving to another state. I will be a house-aide at an elderly person’s house and I will be paying nothing for rent, electric, heat, garbage- pick up and other expenses. Now, I have decreased my cost of living from $500 to zero dollar. I repeat again, “Be nice to elderly people!”

Part-2 How International Students can save money while being at GCC

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Earn money and/or gift cards just by watching videos online and by taking quick surveys:

I wasted thousands of dollars during my Freshman year at college because I knew nothing about coupons or how to rack up points and free gift cards. Sign up for MyPoints accounts. You can earn points just by completing daily activities which includes taking a survey, voting on a poll, watching videos, checking out deals, printing coupons etc. Whenever, I need to shop or sign up for a subscription like Hulu, Sephora and others I usually do it through MyPoints accounts. I always keep MyPoints tab open in my browser and I rack up points all day. It is very easy to rack up thousands of points very quickly by taking advantage of deals from popular stores like Amazon, Kohl’s where you would shop for basic necessities anyway. Other great legitimate sites for taking surveys are I-psos, Inbox Dollars, Survey Junkie, YouGov and I-Polls. College textbooks are very expensive in the USA. Last semester I brought books worth $1000 for free using Amazon gift card balance. You can easily knock off a thousand dollar  bill by using these sites religiously every day. Next time, whenever you are waiting for an appointment try taking a survey or two.

Earn Amazon gift cards just by walking:

Just think how many flights of stairs do you use every day? How many miles do you walk every day when you are rushing from one classroom to another in huge college campuses?  GCC has a pretty huge campus with a college dorm. I keep Steps Cash apps always activated on my I-Phone and I rack up points for Amazon gift cards just by walking to and from one class to another and from one campus building to another building. This is a great app to make sure you exercise by walking every day and you also earn Amazon gifts just by walking. Stay fit and happy walking!

Download FreeBird to get discount Uber rides and to earn cashbacks:

You will probably have to use a lot of Uber rides if you are an International student without a car. Uber rides are very expensive. FreeBird  gives discounts and cashback for Uber rides and restaurants.

Get a secured credit card:

You better start building up your credit history if you are going to live in the USA for the next five or more years to earn a US degree. Credit score is used to analyze everything in the US. You cannot even rent your desired apartment unless you have a good credit score. I knew nothing about credit history when I came to the US.  I wasted one and a half year without building my credit history even though I was paying all my bills on time. I remember asking a bank employee how to get a credit card. The bank employee smirked at me and told me that I cannot get a credit card because I am not a US citizen. The bank employee did not even bother to suggest me to apply for a secured credit card. You do not have to be a US citizen to apply for a secured credit card. You only need a social security number or tax identification number (TIN). So, apply for a secured credit card as soon as you land in the US. Start looking for on-campus jobs as well as soon as you start your semester. It takes several months to get a social security number. You cannot work on campus without a social security number. It is extremely difficult to apply for online credit/debit card with higher cashback value without a social security number.

When I first came to the USA I did not have access to these survival tips. I hope these tips will help you to make the most of your time and money in the US.

 

 

 

 

 

Part-1 How International Students can save money while being at GCC by Zerin Firoze

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I was born and raised in a developing country, Bangladesh, and it was my dream from a very young age to study in the US. A lot of youths like me from developing countries also aspire to study in the US. It is extra challenging for poor students from developing countries to be able to afford to study in the US. Students from developing countries cannot remit money to a foreign country. The US government is also notorious for imposing sanctions in certain countries. Exchange rates plus foreign transaction fees by banks also add up. For example, 1 US dollar is 84 takas in my country Bangladesh. There is no legal way to remit money and corrupt middlemen charge high fees. I am a student from a developing country and here are the following things I have learned after coming in the US. I hope these tips will help you to save both time and money.

Choosing the right college

I would encourage all students to start at a community college first. You can literally save thousands of dollars and still get the same degree and classes at a cheaper price. Many community colleges like GCC do not even charge admission fees. It is completely free to apply for admission. You just need to apply online. So, apply to as many colleges as you want.

Learn to drive in your home country

Many cheaper colleges in the US are located in rural areas with little to no public transportation. You can save a lot of money by choosing a rural location. The cost of living in large cities is extremely expensive. It is not possible for students to pay out of state tuition fees and still afford thousands of dollars per month for rent, food, and other basic necessities. According to American Infrastructure Report Card, the US infrastructure is crumbling and has a rating of D+. Driving schools in America are very expensive. Private one-hour driving lessons are also very expensive and are not available in all rural US counties. So, try to get some driving time before coming to the US. Ask your family members or relatives in your home country to teach you driving for free.

Try to learn about car maintenance and repair before you come to the US. Then, attend a defensive driving course and Driver’s Education course in the US to get your license. You will be very busy being a full-time student once you come to the US. So, try to learn basic life skills while waiting for your acceptance letter from US colleges or for your visa interview.

Learn how to cook and preserve food before coming in the US

I lost thousands of dollars in wasted food. I had no idea how to preserve food. I had no experience in estimating the shelf life of certain food items. I cried when I had to throw away tons of fruits, frozen meat, and cartons of milk. I have been in the US for two and a half years now and I still did not find the time to read all the articles or watch all the videos that I always wanted to watch about food preservation. You can save a lot of money by learning to preserve food. Cooking skills are also important. Next time, hit the grocery store with your mom and learn about basic spices and ingredients if you are not a cooking pro.

Learn how to use coupons and rebate apps

I remember how overwhelmed I was when I first landed at JFK airport and very quickly I became busy with campus life. I had no time to read blogs about saving money in the US as a full-time student. I had no leisure reading time outside college textbooks. Hence, do yourself a favor. Read blogs and website articles about saving money in the US while you are waiting for a decision from US colleges or for your visa interview.

Coupons and rebate apps are not used in my country at all. I became familiar with coupons and rebate apps after coming in the US. It took me two years to learn to use coupons and rebate apps. Now, I am the ultimate coupon queen. I received $54 cashback from Ebates and $55 from Ibotta just for buying groceries and other necessary items. Groupon is also a great website to save money. Learn to use coupons and rebate apps before you even come in the US. Read articles about rebate apps and coupons on the Internet.

I will share more secrets and life hack in part-2 of the same article next week!

 

 

 

 

GCC Cougar Weekend!

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I am excited to announce that GCC Cougar weekend will take place Friday and Saturday, September 21-22, 2018. Everyone is welcome. GCC is pleased to invite the entire community to join Cougar Crawl in Downtown Batavia on Friday, the 21st September, 2018 at 5pm. The Cougar crawl will begin at Ken’s Charcoal Pits at 5pm and features stop at The YNGodness (73 East Main Street), Valle Jewelers (21 Jackson Street), Pollyanna and Dot (202 East Main Street), Eli Fish Brewing Company (109 Main Street) and T-Shirts Etc. (37 Center Street).

The crawl ends at T.F. Brown’s Restaurant (214 Main Street) for the Cougar Crawl Bash including live DJ till 10pm, a buffet and prizes included. Cougar Crawl tickets are only $10 and can be purchased online or by contacting Jennifer Wakefield, GCC assistant director of Alumni Affairs, at 585-343-0055 ext. 6265 or by email at jgwakefield@genesee.edu

Cougar weekend event on Saturday, the 22nd September, 2018 will be held at GCC’s Batavia campus. GCC’s Batavia campus will host a full day activities, exhibits and more! It begins at 10am when the craft and vendor market opens in Richard C. Call Arena. You can also register for Annual Bike and Car Cruise. A chicken BBQ will be available for only $10. You can also view exhibits “Portraits in Trash” by Dion Hitchings in the Roz Steiner Art Gallery from 12 noon through 3pm and “Landscape Interaction/Intervention” photography exhibit on the display in the Stuart Steiner Theatre Lobby.

Five new inductees will be welcomed in the Athletic Hall of Fame at 5pm in the Richard C. Call Arena. Alumni co-ed soccer game starts at 7pm on the campus Turf Field.

Finally, the Alumni bonfire will take place at GCC dorm “College Village” at 8pm. I hope you will join us to have fun!