Allison Jacobs, of Burlington, Blogs About Her First Year at Clark University

WORCESTER, MA (03/10/2011)(readMedia)-- Allison A. Jacobs, of Burlington, is sharing her experience living and studying as a first-year student at Clark University in a blog, "Allison's Adventures at Clark University." Comic strips and clip art give color to her entries.

Jacobs, who is now in the midst of her second semester on campus, has been documenting her experiences online since last September. She writes about her study space, her schedule, her professors and class assignments.

Her entry on Feb. 4 is about roommates: "A lot of people worry what it will be like sharing a room in college when you never have before. I was no exception...It's great to have someone around to live with, work with, and talk with. Having a roomie really is a great part of the Clark University experience. Learning how to live with someone else is a big part of growing up because we have to learn how to accept someone of a different background and figure out a way to work together."

Jacobs shares details of her course schedule and, in one post, describes her surprise in discovering how course material from her Economics, Psychology, Managerial Communications and Personal Values courses all relates to each other.

"It's an experience I never had in high school, that my knowledge from one class is so directly connected to my other classes," she writes on January 27. "My brain is spinning, but in a really good way."

Although she is still exploring different majors, Jacobs plans to get her master's degree in management through Clark's Accelerated BA/Master's Degree Program. Students of the program begin taking graduate courses during their senior year, allowing them to earn both degrees within five years.

"A cool perk is that at Clark, the fifth year is free tuition. It doesn't get much better than that," she writes.

Her blog is located at http://www.ajacobsclarku.blogspot.com/

Jacobs is currently studying psychology and management at Clark. She is involved with Clark Unite, a student group dedicated to social and economic justice. She is also a Clark ambassador. Jacobs is the daughter of Daniel Jacobs of Reading, and Cynthia Phillips of Burlington. She is a 2010 graduate of Burlington High School.

Since its founding in 1887, Clark University in Worcester, Mass., has a history of challenging convention. As an innovative liberal arts college and research university, Clark's world-class faculty lead a community of creative thinkers and passionate doers and offer a range of expertise, particularly in the areas of psychology, geography, urban education, Holocaust and genocide studies, environmental studies, and international development and social change. Clark's students, faculty and alumni embody the Clark motto: Challenge convention. Change our world.

www.clarku.edu