Rowan Blog contributors share their personal tips on getting the most out of your college experience at Rowan University. 1. Join a club Joining a club is a great way to meet new people and to ease the stress of academic course load. 2. Participate in recreational sports Participating in recreational sports can lead you […]
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Back-to-School Bucket List of Rowan Juniors and Seniors
We’re so close to the beginning of the new semester, let’s kick it off with a college bucket list by sharing some students’ ambitions.
“I’m looking forward to everyone moving in and meeting more new people since my freshman year got cut short. One of my must do’s when I get back on campus this fall is to attend more basketball and football games. Also I can’t wait to go to the engineering building and go to the pond, I find it very relaxing.” – Anais Holguin, junior Marketing major from Perth Amboy, NJ (Middlesex County)
“My friend and I are on a mission to find the best lunch specials for $15 or under around campus. So far Alaura Kitchen or Family Mediterranean (both located in Pitman) are the winners! There are so many different places to explore around campus and it is so much fun to do it with friends. Also thrifting is a hoot. The lunch spot I’m excited to visit again is Au Bon Pain, it’s opening back up and I NEED their croissants.” – Meena Young, senior Biological Sciences major from Sickerville, NJ (Camden County)
“I am extremely excited to be student teaching this year and to finally have in-person classes again. I miss interacting with my peers and being on campus. I miss studying at James Hall, the education building and the library and those are spots I look forward to visiting again.” – London Raikes, senior Inclusive and Elementary Education major from Deptford, NJ (Gloucester County)
“I am involved in quite a few organizations on campus. I’m most looking forward to continuing my role as the Blood Services Undergraduate Coordinator for the Office of Volunteerism. There are many things on my bucket list this year and that includes living in an on-campus apartment, seeing my South Jersey friends, walking near Town Square, taking most of my core Finance and MIS courses and exploring campus with my friends.” Sasmita Prabu, junior Finance major from Somerset County, NJ
“I’m looking forward to finally being in person again. Looking at a screen for 18 months has been really sad, it feels like so much of the college experience was lost. At least I’ll be less tempted to fall asleep during class. I am going to be an RA this year, so I am excited to meet new people and help others have a great return to Rowan. I have many things on my bucket list and that includes: going to the Fitness Center and working out with my friends, having movie nights with my friends in their apartments, going to Cookie Munchers and eating more calories in 10 minutes than you’re supposed to eat in two days, riding the shuttles to the movie theater, having an advisor meeting in person, taking free electives to pursue other passions rather than fulfilling requirements, plus eating at Smoked again.” – RJ Wentzell, senior Exercise Science major of Pilesgrove, NJ (Salem County)
“A couple of things I look forward to this school year are my campus event Emo Night, planning concerts, writing music and finishing my junior year. I haven’t seen Dennis Diblasio [since before COVID], I’m looking forward to seeing him.” – junior Malachi Prillerman of Palmyra, NJ (Burlington County), Music Industry major and transfer student from Hampton University
“This year, I hope to get accepted as a transfer ambassador. A must do is to visit a restaurant during a social hour. Academically, I look forward to receiving high grades, building connections with my professors and receiving a letter of recommendation.” – De’Ja Morris of Woodbury, NJ (Gloucester County), senior Finance major and transfer student from Salem Community College
“This September, I look forward to going back to regular class, walking around and seeing new faces. A few things I would like to do again this semester are seeing all my friends from freshman year, visiting the Rec Center, eating at the Student Center and playing sports.” – Hualsy Paredes, junior Construction Management major from Fort Lee, NJ (Bergen County) and transfer student from Utica College
“I am really excited to graduate. I’ve been working really hard since COVID to maintain my grades just for this moment. I really like the club fair every fall. I’m excited for that! I’m also really excited to study in the library again. I am most looking forward to in-person classes.” – Alexa Wentworth, senior Psychology major from West Windsor, NJ (Mercer County)
“Being able to go to clubs, meeting up at the Student Center and getting food together, being able to see my professors in person, and visiting Science Hall again.” – Andrew Pinto, junior Physics major from Hammonton, NJ (Atlantic County)
“I came into Rowan as a transfer so I haven’t tried anything yet. I’m sad because I lost a year so I want to be as involved as possible. This year, I’m looking forward to seeing my fellow peers, raising my GPA and attending football games.” – senior Tara Preston of Camden County, NJ, Economics major and transfer student from Delaware County Community College
“A must do with my friends is going to RoBo and getting pizza. Academically, I look forward to staying busy with classes and making new friends in class.” – Maria Espejo, junior Psychology major from River Edge, NJ (Bergen County)
“I’m most looking forward to seeing Discovery Hall this year and to go to football, basketball and hockey games with my friends.” – Lauren Blaze of Branchburg, NJ (Somerset County), senior Civil and Environmental Engineering major
“Being able to socialize with new classmates and professors! I haven’t seen Dr. Bhatia in person since before COVID, I am very much looking forward to seeing him on campus this fall. Looking forward to social events, clubs and projects.” – senior Hayley Lomas of Woodbury, NJ (Gloucester County), a Mechanical Engineering major with a CUG in Aerospace Engineering and transfer student from Rowan College of South Jersey
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Story by:
Nene Diallo, senior public relations major
Photos by:
Reshaun Timmons, Stephanie Batista, RJ Wentzell and Anthony Raisley
Rowan Football photo courtesy of:
University Publications
Julia’s Corner: Avoiding the Freshman 15
Recent grad Julia McAleavey shares guidance through this advice column for incoming students. A student with well-rounded experience, Julia earned a bachelor’s in advertising this spring. She transferred to Rowan her sophomore year, after another school wasn’t a great fit. While at Rowan she started as an exploratory studies major, unsure of what to major in. She’s lived both on campus and off campus, held student worker jobs and internships, and participated in clubs and sports.
In high school, you probably could eat anything you wanted and not gain weight. However, you also had your parents cooking well-balanced meals for you every day, if you were lucky. Once you get to college, it’s all on you to manage your own nutrition. I gained the horrifying ‘freshman 15’, because I lost control of my nutrition. Thankfully, I began to practice good habits, and was able to lose it all. Here are some tips to avoid gaining the terrifying freshmen 15 so you won’t have to worry about losing it later.
Explore your options: Between the Marketplace and the Holly Point Cafe, there are tons of healthy options for dining on campus. It’s not all fried 
foods and pizza. You can get a fresh salad or a whole wheat wrap and many other healthy options.
Color your plate: This is a basic, elementary school health strategy, but it really works! Keeping your plate colorful with fruits and vegetables will help you to maintain a healthy diet. The Holly Pointe Cafe has a salad station, as well as fresh fruit, with tons of options to choose from.
Protein>Carbs: Okay, it is important to have some carbohydrates in your diet, but try to stick to healthy carbs most of the time. That slice of pizza and mac n cheese is okay once a week, but try to keep your fruit and whole wheat breads and pastas as your main carb sources. Proteins are substantial and will help you to stay lean and healthy. Have yogurt instead of a bagel at breakfast, and chicken with veggies instead of pizza for dinner. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Keep away from the dessert table: I know, that dessert table is super tempting. It is just sitting there, staring at you, calling your name, but you are strong. Like I said, it’s okay to have it in moderation, but not every day. Assign yourself one day per week to take something from the dessert table. Your body will thank you later.
Use the gym: Rowan has not one, but two gyms on campus with tons of equipment. It is true that abs are made in the kitchen, but working out regularly will still help you to stay healthy and fit. Keeping your body moving is so important to a healthy lifestyle. 
Avoid snacking: When you move in, your parents will probably stock you up with snacks to keep in your dorm. This is all good fun, but try to keep it to healthy snacks. I usually keep one unhealthy snack that I treat myself to on the weekends. That way, I am only consuming it in moderation, and avoid gaining that weight again.
Do not eat past 8 p.m. Try to keep it earlier if you can, but sometimes classes run late. Eating later makes it easier to gain weight, so it is best to avoid doing so as much as possible. The best thing to do is to not eat in bed. If you’re up late studying and need a pick-me-up, keep some trail mix in your room in Ziplock bags. That way, you’re not overindulging. 
While eating on campus, it is important to keep in mind that moderation is key to a balanced diet. Depriving yourself of your favorite junk foods will only lead to overindulging later. Giving yourself reward days during the week to avoid this. It’s all about balance, and if you practice these habits, you’ll have nothing to worry about.
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Story by:
Julia McAleavey, advertising graduate
Julia’s Corner: The Benefits of Working On Campus
Recent grad Julia McAleavey shares guidance through this advice column for incoming students. A student with well-rounded experience, Julia earned a bachelor’s in advertising this spring. She transferred to Rowan her sophomore year, after another school wasn’t a great fit. While at Rowan she started as an exploratory studies major, unsure of what to major in. She’s lived both on campus and off campus, held student worker jobs and internships, and participated in clubs and sports.
Let’s be real, college is expensive. Whether you are paying your own tuition or just have other expenses, you will likely run out of money at some point during the year. You might’ve tried to find a job, but the hours were too much to handle and you fell behind in school. It may sound like there is no solution to this problem, but there most certainly is one.
When I first transferred to Rowan as a second semester sophomore, I was broke because I didn’t have a job at my other school. However, since I am a certified lifeguard and swim instructor, I decided to apply to the Recreation Center, one of the largest on-campus employers of student workers. I was hired right away and was getting money in every other week. Having an on-campus job saved me, and it can do the same for you. Here are some benefits of working on campus.
Convenience: No car, no problem! Having an on-campus job means you can walk to work in minutes. If you’re scheduled for an early opening shift, you can wake up 20 minutes before your shift starts and still be on time. If you have class right after work, you can make it on time without having to worry about traffic. Plus, your money doesn’t have to go toward gas since you aren’t driving anywhere.
Flexibility: When you work on campus, your supervisor understands that you and all of your coworkers are students. At the beginning of each semester, my supervisor had us all send us our class schedules to her so we wouldn’t have work during class. All departments in the recreation center, as well as all other on campus jobs, have this same policy. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about having to prioritize work over school.
Short shifts and hours: Rowan has a policy that students who work on campus can not work more than 20 hours per week during the school year. Most shifts only last around two to four hours also, so your job wouldn’t take up too much of your time. You would still have plenty of time to focus on school, enjoy your college experience, and still make a decent amount of cash without having to work around the clock.
More friends! I have made some great friendships working in aquatics at the recreation center. I know people who work in other departments, at the student center, in admissions, etc, who have developed tons of great relationships as well. It is a great way to get out of your room and talk to people. Additionally, you can make professional connections with supervisors and get letters of recommendation for the future. 
Money is a stressful subject, but working on campus makes dealing with it a little bit easier. You are set up with a walking commute and flexible schedule with light hours and still making enough money to get by. What more can you ask for? If interested, you can apply even before moving in!
Check out Prof Jobs for some on-campus employment opportunities.
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Julia’s Corner: How Athletic Involvement Helped Me
Recent grad Julia McAleavey shares guidance through this advice column for incoming students. A student with well-rounded experience, Julia earned a bachelor’s in advertising this spring. She transferred to Rowan her sophomore year, after another school wasn’t a great fit. While at Rowan she started as an exploratory studies major, unsure of what to major in. She’s lived both on campus and off campus, held student worker jobs and internships, and participated in clubs and sports.
Okay, I understand that athletics are not for everyone. As someone who originally started college as a varsity athlete, I completely understand that. When I transferred to Rowan, I knew that the NCAA was not for me, but I still wanted some kind of sport in my life. They are a great option for those who are interested, but as other options Rowan also has many club sports and intramural sports for students to choose from. I had been a competitive swimmer for my whole life, so I decided to try out the club swim team. Joining the team was one the best decisions I have ever made, and there are several reasons as to why that is.
It kept me busy: Having practice twice a week at night was the perfect way to occupy my time. It was a good amount of practice to still have time for school and a job, and it kept me moving and socializing instead of just laying in bed by myself. It was also the perfect workout before bed, I would always fall right asleep. Additionally, on weekends we had meets, it gave me something to do for that entire day. As a senior, I became an officer for the club. Fulfilling my duties kept me busy, and it also helped with my professional development. It may not seem like it now, but you will have times in college where you are bored. Joining a club or intramural sport will definitely solve that problem.
Kept me active: I was always an athlete growing up. Fitness and athletics have always had a huge impact on my life. Even though I didn’t want the full commitment of the NCAA, I still wanted some kind of fit, competitive lifestyle. After attending the first practice, I knew club swim would help with that no problem. Even though it is a club sport, we still compete and practice hard, and almost always get in a good workout. Most other club sports have the same type of dynamic. Intramurals, even though they are seasonal and only compete at Rowan, also helps to keep students active.
Gave me friends: My favorite part of course! In my eyes, a good social environment in club swim was just as important as the athletic aspect.
Although many varsity athletes make lifelong friendships on their teams, the social interaction is the main reason why many students join sports clubs and intramurals to begin with. I have made some of my forever friends from club swim, and I know many other athletes that have done the same. It is one of the best ways to make friends.
Like I said, athletics aren’t everyone’s thing, but getting involved in any kind of sport on campus is a positive thing. Rowan has several NCAA teams if you’re interested in competing on that level. You can explore these teams. A lot of people have great experiences on these teams, but if you don’t want that commitment, club sports and intramurals are great options. They are the perfect thing to keep you busy, active, and of course, give you some of the best friends you’ll ever have.
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LEARN MORE
Want to Get Fit or Relieve Stress? Check Out Rowan’s Awesome Gyms!
Today we feature insight from Taylor Arbitman, a rising junior advertising major from Philadelphia, who shares her thoughts on staying active on Rowan’s campus.
Krishna’s Home Away From Home: Rowan Fitness Center [VIDEO]
Take a look at where Krishna Mansukhani feels most at home while getting his “sweat on.” Rowan’s Fitness Center has all your work-out needs to stay fit and to get in-shape. Get ready to feel the burn!
Krishna is a junior studying health promotion and wellness within the School of Health Professions, and he’s originally from Sayreville, NJ in Middlesex County.
Like what you see? Register for a tour or open house.
Video filming by: Alyssa Bauer, junior public relations major
Video production by: Alexander Belli, senior public relations and advertising major
Music by: Don Dewitt, junior music industry major
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