Hi!  My name is Ashley.  I am an academic advisor for the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Office.  I started working here in January 08, and since then I have taken on the role of the communications officer for our office.  I love working with students.  Feel free to ask me questions on my blog, “Ask Ashley.” I’d love to hear from you!
I was actually a Binghamton student for both my undergraduate and graduate education.  I decided to come to Binghamton University because it offers a great education and it is a stone’s throw from where I grew up…yes, I am a townie.  As a first- generation college student, I was a little nervous, but that quickly changed with the help and advice of Binghamton’s friendly faculty and staff.  After two years of deliberation, I decided to major in anthropology. 
So, how did I become an advisor, you ask? 
I enjoyed my experience at Binghamton so much that I decided to pursue a master’s degree here. I earned a master’s in Social Sciences with a concentration in Student Affairs and Diversity.  When I was a graduate student, I worked as a graduate assistant in the Center for Excellence in Student Leadership (XCEL).  All of these experiences led me to a career in Student Affairs at Binghamton, and I can’t imagine myself working anywhere else. 

Amazingly the academic year on campus has come to a close and it is almost time to welcome our freshmen fall class to campus. For those of you who have been accepted Binghamton (and paid that ever important deposit!) let me first say congratulations and WELCOME!

Now that your senior year is coming to a close it is time to think about the next step in your life...college. This process begins in a few weeks with Summer Orientation. You will be receiving the orientation packet in the mail with payment information and available dates to sign up. Many of you may be wondering what exactly is orientation all about? Orientation is a great time to familiarize yourself with the campus, meet new people, sign up for classes, and get a glimpse into college life. So make sure you send back your reservation cards asap and reserve your spot! See you this summer…

You can’t go wrong!

Would you like to have a photography darkroom where you live?  How about an outdoor grill?  Or, maybe you just need a weight room?  Binghamton’s residential communities all have their own personality, traditions, unique facilities, and yearly events - it’s hard to choose a favorite!

College in the Woods holds a casino night ever year… Dickinson specializes in assisting undecided students… Hinman has a strong student government… Hillside is home to The Canteen, serving snacks and drinks six nights a week… There’s an outdoor theater at Mountainview… Newing has a musician practice space… and Susquehanna is perfect if you like quiet.

And, ALL of Binghamton’s residential communities have FREE laundry facilities, study lounges, dining halls, kitchens, recreational equipment, and Discovery Centers - complete with computer labs and tutoring space.

How to make a smooth transition from high school to your new home at Binghamton.

One of the best ways to feel comfortable when you first come to campus is to pick up where you left off.  If you played a sport in high school, join one of Binghamton’s club teams.  If you wrote for your school’s newspaper, join the staff at the Pipe Dream or try a new media organization.  Whether you’re into politics, service, greek life, entertaining, professional development, or your culture and/or religion - we’ve got you covered!  With everything from the Gamer’s Guild to the Kickline, there’s really something for everyone.  Meeting people that you instantly share interests with will start you on the path to new friendships and give you a home in the Binghamton University community.

Binghamton University once again hits the national ranking charts as one of the best!

Each year Forbes Magazine ranks the top colleges and universities in the nation. Binghamton University ranks 16th on Forbes’ best public list. Forbes magazine ranked Binghamton University 16th among public universities and colleges and 57th among all public and private universities. Rankings are based on results, including graduation rates, student evaluations and the percentage of students winning awards.

From my own experience both as a student and as a professional at Binghamton University I can say that rankings such as Forbes magazine are very justified. Binghamton has both great students and a faculty base who are commited to helping students succeed. Binghamton has been consistantly rated at the top of the list from many years, but don’t take our word for it come and visit us and see for your self!

AH! It’s hard to believe that another year has flown by. But before we get to rejoice about all of our accomplishments throughout the semester it’s time for.... dun dun dun… FINALS!! Don’t panic! Here are my top 5 suggestions on how to beat the stress of finals and come out on top!
5) Start early! If you don’t have a lot of work the week before finals, don’t cram it all into one week. By spreading out your studying, you can make sure that you have time to really absorb the material so that your not staying up all night reviewing everything the night before your exam.
4) Although I’m sure that it would make mom and dad happy to know that you were in the library for 18 hours straight studying, DON’T! Your brain needs a break to make sure that it processes all the information your feeding it! Listen to your Ipod, make a stop at the coffee kiosk, or call a friend, but make sure that you make some time for yourself.
3) Study with a buddy!! Have a friend in your class? How about an acquaintance? By studying with someone that you know, you can share your notes and your brains to make sure that between the two of you that you remember and understand all of the information on your exam.
2) Get a good night’s sleep! Contrary to popular belief, staying up all night right before an exam isn’t the best way to prepare for the test. It actually leaves your brain too tired to work properly during the test!  Make sure that you stop your studying by 9-10 that night, de-stress by watching some TV or having a late night dance party, and wake up refreshed for your final the next morning.
1) Don’t Panic! If you have been going to class all semester and doing your homework, I’m sure that you remember a lot more then you think you remember! As long as you follow all my tips, plus some of your own, and pack your bag with everything you need for the test the night before, you’re going to do fantastically!!!!

Good luck with finals everyone and remember, when finals are all done you’re free to be out in the sun to start your summer

P.S. This is dedicated to my roomate… hope you like my tips!

It is about that time of year where classes are wrapping up and and student’s will be graduating or heading home for the summer. Of course many students are sad to be leaving Binghamton, but new opportunities are on the horizon.

Let’s face it the ultimate goal of college is to get a great job in a field where you can enjoy yourself and flourish, and the Career Development Center at Binghamton can help you do exactly that! The CDC is a wonderful resource for students to create resume’s and cover letters, research jobs and internships, and grow professionally through workshops and seminars. The CDC is open for all students, faculty, staff, and even alumni. I had a wonderful experience with the CDC, they helped me create a resume as well as research some jobs that were a good fit for not only my academic background, but also my personal strengths. This is just another great service that Binghamton offers its students.