Graduation Checklist

When the time comes; and it comes much faster than expected, students will receive an application for graduation (if this is not it, it will be similar) this needs to be returned along with a check for $50 payable to the BAC. This application and fee must be received in a timely manner (deadline dates will be provided by the BAC). There is also a series of signatures that will need to be obtained on the form (BAC staff will complete this). The following is the list of departments that will need to sign off in order to graduate: Practice, Financial Aid, Library, Bursar's Office and finally the Office of the Register/Admissions. If there are any holds, fees or books due (this one nearly got me) the corresponding department will not release you for graduation until issues are resolved.

Getting from A to B, and saving some money too

Here is a great service that another BAC student, who didn't want to pay the $45 taxi fare or deal with the subway, sent me... its called Zebra shuttle!!! and for only $14 per person it will pick you up at the airport and drop you off (and the return as well). This is a great way to save money unless there are several of you, then a cab may be worth it.. but usually a cab can only fit three people and all the luggage. So either way it will run you $14.




But for the adventurous type, the MTBA is always a great option... it costs less than $2 from any where to any where... but it may take a bit longer...

Thesis help

Here is a great paper intended to help with planning and executing a successful thesis paper.


Writing Your Winning Thesis

Get your own at Scribd or explore others: Education Course Material thesis writing research writing

Will I be able to work full time and do the online courses and still have time for my family?

This is a very important question to be asked... See an earlier post "advice or comments about the program". There are several of us in the program that are married and quite a few with children, some have older kids other real young kids and those who have had children during the program. I cannot speak for them, as my wife and I do not have any children yet, but from what I can tell, it is a personal experience that is different for everyone. While everyone so far, at least in my cohort (first cohort) seems to be balancing the two well enough there are times that family does come first and school just has to play a second fiddle. That being said, I can try to see if I can get some feed back from those that do have children.

Holiday Inn in Brookline (June '08 Intensive)

Here is an insert from an email from TomParks regarding the hotel rooms:
"Accommodations in the Back Bay were in very short supply (ie, none) and we found a new ‘home’ for you at the Holiday Inn in Brookline (1200 Beacon Street, Brookline MA, 617.277.1200). The hotel is on the Green ‘C’ Line about 5 minutes and four stops beyond the Hynes Convention Center (BAC) stop. So plan a few extra minutes from the airport, and to get from the hotel to the BAC. The good news is you’ll get to see a little more of Boston (though technically Brookline is not part of Boston); and you’ll get a little more sleep, since you’ll really need to leave studio at midnight to catch the last ‘T’ ride to the hotel."
See below for maps and schedules:

Yahoo! Sports Tournament Pick'em!

There are enough of us to make this a bit interesting...

We all have that undergrad college that we still support.. here is a way to show your support!

I would like you to join my group in Yahoo! Sports Tournament Pick'em!
To accept the invitation, just follow this link. For reference, here's the group information.
Group ID#: 2909

Password: gorebs

The Second Saturday

The week is over and the intensive ctits are here. For those of you that have had some time between this crit and your last undergrad crit here are some examples of how to handle a crit jury that has gone bad.

below are a few suggestions to combat a bad jury...

taken from "What to Do When a Design Jury Attacks" this is provided by the Harvard GSD

1. Blowfish
Puff out your cheeks and point your fingers out around your face, like dangerous spikes.
10. Postmodern simulation
Leaf through your sketchbook and then look up and say, “I’m sorry, that’s not in the script. What page are you on?”
29. The John Wayne
Insist on speaking in a Texas accent. Swagger. Refer to the critic as “Pardner.” If the critic asks you a question you can’t answer, make your hand look like a pistol and yell “POW.”
60. Hostage
Determine quickly which member of the jury means the most to the critic. Then grab that person, hold a knife to his or her throat, and demand that all negative criticisms must end. You might as well ask for a little spending money, too.
100. Sherlock
Reply, “No sh-t, Sherlock,” to everything the critic says. See if you can convince the other jurors to join you.

For the complete list click here

Roommates at the Midtown

Roommate paring:
The hotel puts two to a room (unless you opted to pay for the single room) based off the cohort list and if there is over lap... persons from the other cohorts get pared... But always guy to guy.. girl to girl. The BAC told us that they are not in the business of match making… the hotel can (and they have) rearranged roommates on request as you check in if there is a preference.

Meals During Studio Intensive

what does everyone do for meals during studio? can i meet my sister? Is it a group event or does everyone grab a sandwich while rushing back to their desk?

Eat when you can and constantly snack at you desk....

Meals are generally up to you... there are times that the BAC (Curt, Jeff, or Tom) will provide lunch/dinner while things are going on... but for the most part we are on our own. Typically we get a hour four lunch and dinner, but you will soon learn that time (things that you need to get done) really determine how long you have. Most times it is up to us where we go or how long we take, most of the time you will find that you go in groups... lunch/dinner with friends or family is certainly up to you but don't plan on a five course meal... there won't be time for that.

The First and Second cohorts know the drill but for you first timers here are some suggestions and places near by, also the head engineer for the building always gives us a number to a pizza place that delivers and a map to food that is in walking distance:

• a noddle place - across the street
• a Greek place - across the street
• Subway - not to far...
• McDonald's - down the street from the Berkley School of Music
• Starbucks - a few doors down
• Trident (bookstore/sandwich shop) - a few doors down
• Dunkin' Donuts - a few doors down
• the food court at the mall (student favorite and best selection) - half way between the BAC and the Midtown (the Prudential building)
• a great hot dog joint - near the Berkley School of Music
• a couple local bars - across from Fire House towards the Mall

There are more but you will discover them as you walk to and from the BAC and in the area.

Tips for Requesting Books from the Library

thanks to Eric Nelson for this info

Check the status of the book you wish to request. Go into the book’s online catalog record and check the “Location” and “Status” of the book in the online catalog. If the location is “Main Stacks” and the status is “available,” you can request to have that item sent to you. Books which are marked Reference, Periodical Shelves, Closed Stacks or Closed Reference cannot be loaned out (copies of particular chapters/ articles from this material can be made and sent to you in most cases). Books which have been placed on reserve cannot be loaned out. BAC theses cannot be loaned out. If a book you want is unavailable or not held by our library, try your local public library. Often, if the public library does not own the book you need, they can borrow the item from another library in their network. If you have any questions about what items can be sent to you, please contact Whitney Vitale, Information Literacy / Distance Education Librarian at 617-585-7337 or at whitney.vitale@the-bac.edu. If the BAC does not own a book which you feel would enhance the collection, please let the library staff know. The BAC always welcomes new book suggestions from our students and faculty.

Document Delivery Services from the Library

thanks to Eric Nelson for this info

Although many valuable resources exist online, there are times when distance students need access to the print material owned by the library. In response to this need, the library offers the following delivery services for students enrolled in the Practicing Professionals Distance M. Arch program:

Materials That Can Be Delivered Are:
1. Books - Distance M. Arch students may check out six books per semester from the library. Students can either check these books out during their onsite residency or request to have the books shipped to them during the course of the semester. Books may be checked out for 4 weeks, with the possibility of renewal. The library absorbs the cost of mailing out book material, but students must cover the cost of mailing these books back to the library.
2. Copies of Articles and Book Chapters Owned by the Library - The library can deliver copies of book chapters and journal articles either through email or first class mail. Each student may request 10 copies of articles or book chapters per semester. Please allow 2-3 days for these requests to be filled (it may take longer for requests sent through the mail).
3. Copies of Articles and Book Chapters from Other Libraries - If the library does not own a particular journal article or book chapter, a copy will be requested from another library and sent to you through email or first class mail. Please allow 2 weeks for delivery of these items. We cannot interlibrary loan books at this time.

How to Request Delivery:
To place a request, please contact Whitney Vitale, at whitney.vitale@the-bac.edu. In your email, please include:
1. As much of the article or book citation as possible (title, author, publisher, year, etc).·
2. Your name and course number or title·
3. Your delivery preference (email or post)·
4. The email or shipping address to which you would like the material sent

Finding Books and Articles in the Library - The following online resources will help you locate books and articles that the library owns: Online Library Catalog http://library.the-bac.edu/ Search our online catalog to find books, maps, and other print material that the library. Databases & Indexes http://www.the-bac.edu/x884.xml The library subscribes to both article and image databases. The BAC also has a variety of online reference sources such as the Chicago Manual of Style and Grove Art Online. Please visit our Databases & Indexes page http://www.the-bac.edu/x884.xml to find descriptions and links to these resources. When you click on these resources, you will be prompted to enter your user name and password (these will be the same as your Angel user name and password.).

If you have any questions about finding or delivery of library material, please contact Whitney Vitale at 617-585-7337 or at whitney.vitale@the-bac.edu. You can also contact the library’s main line at 617-585-0155.