Could You Just Remove the Hold While I Register Please?

The only thing scarier than class registration is All Hallow's Eve the night before, unless you go to add a class on Tuesday and find out that you're Sage account is on hold- now that will cause quite a fright! With spring registration around the corner, we want the process to be full of treats, not tricks, so we thought we would start with a gentle reminder to relieve yourself of any surprises by checking Sage before November 1st.

If you find your account has been placed on hold through Student Financial Services, the top three reasons are either a past due balance, an unsigned promissory note for your loans, and/or a request for documents that have not been received. Each student with a hold from SFS should have been notified by email, so please check your spam filter. Holds are placed on your Sage as a way for our office to notify you of required balances, forms, etc. that we are missing, which means we will not be able to remove the hold temporarily to allow you to register. As cruel as it may sound, we want you to resolve the issue before moving forward, so please take this as advanced notice so that you can register with ease.

If you have a past due balance on Sage you may pay it off with cash or check in the Office of Student Financial Services located on the second floor of USDAN. Payments are also accepted online through a credit card or electronic check.

Most unsigned promissory note holds can be resolved online, but please check with our office for clarification on what is required. All other SFS related holds should be directed to one of our staff members Monday through Friday from 9-5pm.

If there is another hold on your account not related to SFS, please consult that individual office or department to have it removed in time for your enrollment appointment.

Best of luck to you- we do sincerely hope you get into all of your planned courses.

~Savvy Student

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6 Things to Never Reveal on Facebook

As technology flourishes and becomes essential to our everyday life, it is hard to differentiate what is appropriate to put on social media sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and dozens more. We all know that jobs are reviewing these sites before hiring, but did you know that ill-advised Facebook postings increasingly can get your insurance cancelled or cause you to pay dramatically more for everything from auto to life insurance coverage. Debt collectors are also throwing away their phone books in favor of searching social networking sites to find people. Savvy Student understands the fear this may instill in most of us, (Pachanga pictures are not always the best representation of our character) so we want you to know six things to never reveal on Facebook.

1. Your Birthdate and Place

Of course you can put your birthday on Facebook but without the year. Identifying the year and birth place allows thieves the opportunity to steal your identity. According to a study done by Carnegie Mellon, identifying a date and place of birth makes it easier for thieves to predict most of the numbers in your social security number. Now that's scary!

2. Minute to Minute Details

Never post something to the extent of " Leaving tonight for Madrid. Won't be back for a week" or "Heading to the grocery store". We understand how excited you are about going home or visiting a new place, but everyone can see that post and know that your belongings are being left unattended. Post the photos on Facebook when you return, if you like. But don’t invite criminals in by telling them specifically when you’ll be gone.

3. Home Address and Phone Numbers

I know that you may find this hard to believe, but many people put their home address and phone numbers on social networking sites. When uploading mobile pictures onto Facebook, it automatically updates your site with that phone number. Please be cautious with such personal information--do not include it ever!

4. Confessions

Your social networking site is exactly that, YOUR site. But it is not the place to admit that you hate your job, lie on your taxes, or are an adamant drinker. Employers commonly peruse social networking sites to determine who to hire — and, sometimes, who to fire.

Need proof? Recently, an emergency dispatcher was fired in Wisconsin for revealing drug use; a waitress got canned for complaining about customers and the Pittsburgh Pirate’s mascot was dumped for bashing the team on Facebook.

5. Password Clues

You may not know that you are doing this, but it is very common on many social networking pages. Because you and your friends are answering each other's quizzes about the most important and personal things in your life, you are allowing hackers to figure out your password. Many of the security question answers you tell Facebook, your friend posted under your quiz "My favorite things", i.e your favorite song of all time.

6. Risky Behaviors

If you like to street race or smoke like a chimney, do not reveal that on your social media site. Insurance companies are accessing your page to see if you are putting yourself or your property at risk. This method of verification is fairly new, but quickly progressing. You can read more about this new phenomenon here.

Safe Posting,

Savvy Student

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The Top Ten's for Halloween 2011

Are you stuck for costume ideas this year? Well, look no further. We found the 10 best newsworthy Halloween costumes for this year along with a list of our Savvy suggestions for those of you who are on a budget.

Time.com has compiled a costume list that doesn't include the cast of Jersey Shore, but get out your poster board and transform yourself into an "Occupy Protestor" because this will probably be your fall 2011 Best Bet for the money. You can read the full article here to see Time Magazine's full list, which includes Kate Middleton and Charlie Sheen, to name a few.

If you are hung up on ideas, try a costume specific to New England. Find an orange jumpsuit or sweatsuit, so that you can become Whitey Bulger for the evening. This is quickly becoming the "it" costume for Halloween 2011. If you have no clue where to buy orange clothes try a hunting or sportsmen store such as Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's. You may also luck out at a thrift shop.

With just a simple pointy hat and black dress you can be a Salem Witch or with a plain white bed sheet you can dress up as a colonial ghost- just remember cutouts for the eyes and mouth. Animals are always a popular costume idea and easy to put together. Sports stars are also an easy and cheap pick for the night. Plus you can take your pick from the Bruins (bring a fake Stanley Cup with you), Celts, Red Sox or Pats.

With a box and duct tape you can dress up as a robot. If the box is too much to walk around in for the night you can use it to make a robot hat and robot cuffs. This also works if you want to go as the tin man from the Wizard of Oz.

As vampires are all the rage this year, dust off your interview suit, apply some makeup and off you go. If you have an old prom dress pull it out of the closet and you can become a character from the movie "Bridesmaids". If you liked the movies "Hangover" or "Hangover 2" you should grow a beard, wear a wrinkled up button down shirt, loose tie and you are ready for the night ahead, or maybe you had too much fun before the night actually began! If you want your costume to be a little more authentic, or if you want to one-up your friends, try to recreate the Mike Tyson tattoo.

There are always options for Halloween costumes, both inexpensive and easy to create. All you need is a little patience and creativity, or a friend who has those traits and is willing to assist you!

Halloween is fast approaching, so if you have costume ideas for your fellow Brandeisian's drop us a note and we'll post it for you.

Happy Halloween,

Savvy Student

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Take Away for a Rainy Day!

Let's be honest, you may not always be in the mood for campus food or it may be a typical rainy Boston day when the last thing you want to do is leave your dorm. How about calling for delivery?

Ordering in is always tricky especially if you have not been to the restaurant or even tried their food. Savvy Student has compiled a list of some of the best delivery restaurants around campus that won't put a hole in your pocket.

There are multiple Asian restaurants around the area, but Pho & Spice is one of the best options. Here, you can find Thai, Japanese, and Chinese with a great list of Vegetarian options. It is open until 10 P.M. with a $15 minimum fee and a $2 delivery charge. It may be a little pricy but the menu is worth it. The best part is you can order online!

Cheap Chinese food is always a late night favorite. For the best cheap, open-late Chinese food, you can order from Asia Wok. This little place on Main St. is open until 1 A.M. on weekdays and 2 A.M. on weekends. Asia Wok offers over ten different fried rice options and sweet & sour anything for very reasonable prices. It's delicious!

Feeling spicy? Ordering Indian from Bombay Mahal will do the trick. You can order any type of meat or vegetable prepared in any sort of way, with a sauce ranging from mild to super spicy. The restaurant is open everyday until 10 P.M.

Say Olay! when you call for delivery from Waltham's Mexican food gem, Taqueria Mexico. The little hub offers free delivery until 10 P.M. every night and 11 P.M. on the weekends. Taqueria offers a huge menu of very authentic Mexican cuisine for a very small price. You can get eight different kinds of tacos for just $2!!!

Wanting something a little sweet? Have you ever ordered frozen yogurt for delivery? Well, now you can with Prospect Deli, a very popular delivery place for Brandeis students. They offer any flavor and topping combination possible. A student favorite, not only for it's frozen yogurt, but also for it's yummy menu.

For these restaurants and more, check out CampusFoods, a great way to order directly on line for your favorite restaurants. You can also get discounts!

Happy eating!

Savvy Student

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Enjoy the B's on a Budget!

Did the Red Sox put you in bad spirits? Don't fear, the Bruins are here!

The Boston Bruins season starts TONIGHT... and while you may be watching it on TV today, there are lots of ways to be savvy about tickets and get yourself at the "Gaahhden."

We've done our research and found that there are tickets available through Ticketmaster for just $15! Other places to look for tickets (but probably not for any less than $15...) are the following:

-Ace Tickets

-GoTickets
-StubHub

Also, be on the lookout for college nights, there are specials on tickets from time to time that are only for card-carrying college students!

Go B's!

-Savvy Student

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Savvy October Fun

October has become synonymous with Halloween. Once 10/01 hits, pumpkins and ghostly arrangements are already placed outside homes, dorm rooms and even grocery stores. Savvy Student understands the excitement and rising anticipation for this wildly fun holiday, as well as the desire to escape some of the decorative skeletons and spiders for a while. Here's a few fun October festivities for everyone, whether you're in the Halloween spirit or just want to get out and enjoy the crisp autumn air!

1. Psychic Fair and Witch Expo

FREE and happening October 1st to the 31st! Come join the city of Salem at their Museum Place Mall, which will feature tarot card reading, mediums and spirit guides. You can also view a list of events happening in Salem here.

2. Fear at Fenway

From October 28-November 6, Fenway will be taken over by Spooky World for the very first time. Imagine the legendary Big Concourse filled with three haunted attractions that will spook your world. To buy tickets, click here.

3. Halloween - the Mass Aubudon way

Mass Aubodon works to protect wildlife and people in Massachusetts. It takes care of 34,000 acres of conservation land and provide educational programs from thousands of children and adults to participate in. October 28-29, come to the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary to learn about the creatures of the night. You are even encouraged to come in costume! Advanced registration is required so read more and register here.

4. Vegetarian Food Festival

The 15th Annual Vegetarian Food Festival is back from October 29-30, where you can enjoy free samples from natural food providers and top chefs from around the world. Read the details about the festival by clicking here.

5. Head of the Charles Regatta

On October 22 -23, the world's largest two day regatta will take place along the Charles River. Starting from the Boston University Boathouse to the Artesani Playground in Brighton, this event is one not to miss. Many of the tents and excitement are generally located near Harvard, where there are at least 3 bridges within walking distance of each other with great viewing points of the races. Brandeis Crew will have at least one men's boat rowing that day, so be sure to show your Brandeis pride while you're there!

These are just a few of the exciting upcoming events happening in October. Check out sites like boston.com, or just search the internet for local apple orchards (and their prices!) to satisfy those Fall cravings.

Happy October,

Savvy Student

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And Yet Another Fee?

If you missed the news this morning then you missed a very important announcement regarding banking fees and the ever evolving economic crisis. Several banks are testing out new fees while Bank of America has made the decision to move forward and charge their debit card customers $5 per month, a change that will go into effect in early 2012. BOA will roll out their fees in stages in order to help recuperate the loss of revenue caused by a Federal regulation capping the fees that banks can collect from merchants when customers swipe their debit cards. In 2009 those fees generated nearly $19 billion in revenue. In response to tomorrow's new regulation banks are pushing debit card fees with the hope that customers will become increasingly reliant on credit cards thereby generating other sources of revenue.

Bank of America has assured its customers that the fee will not apply to ATM use and will be applied monthly for unlimited debit card use. Still, we at Savvy Student have to wonder, where we can draw the line on fees. With Bank of America beginning their exploration of the new fee system, many banks are following suit, including JP Morgan, Chase and Company and Wells Fargo.

Sun Trust, a regional bank in Atlanta, GA began charging their customers this past summer, however, BOA is the largest U.S. bank by deposits, so it is making national headlines.

If you would like to read more about the new $5 fee check out the WHDH report here or the CNNMoney article here.

If this post was helpful let us know. If you turned red in the face and steam came out of your ears then you are not alone.

Awe such is life,

Savvy Student

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