The Johnnies Blog

Welcome to Johnnies Blog—your essential guide to college. From making friends and navigating New York City, to building a career-ready degree, our student stories and expert advice bring the college experience to life. Whether you’re exploring majors, planning to apply, or seeking support for a balanced and purposeful college journey, we’re here to inform, inspire, and connect you every step of the way.
College Student Building a Linkedin Profile with their resume

How to Build an Exceptional LinkedIn Profile: Top Tips for Students

Building your digital branding strategy as a college student is essential for success in today’s professional world. A strong online presence opens doors to internships, alumni connections, and future career opportunities. With platforms like LinkedIn, you can position yourself as a standout candidate even before graduating.

This guide provides insights on building a solid digital brand that converts. It includes examples from St. John’s University students and faculty who have crafted exceptional LinkedIn profiles.

Young female professional
Toni Critelli
Healthy plant-based meal for college students, featuring fresh vegetables, grains, and protein-packed ingredients.

Maintaining a Plant-Based Diet on Campus: Tips from a Registered Dietitian

Plant-based diets are popular on college campuses for their health and environmental benefits. But sticking to a plant-based diet while living on campus can be tricky, with limited kitchen access, storage space, and budget concerns. Here, I’ll share simple, realistic tips for thriving on a plant-based diet while living in a residence room.

St. Johns University Campus Dietician, Simon Gmuca
Simone Gmuca
Male student working on laptop

Becoming an Adult: How to Handle Real-Life Responsibilities in College

Starting college is a major milestone, marking your official entry into adulthood. You’re not just a student anymore; you’re learning to handle real-life responsibilities while enjoying newfound independence. It’s a thrilling, yet sometimes overwhelming, experience. Balancing your social life, health, and studies can be a challenge, but don’t worry—you’re not alone in figuring this out!

Here’s your guide to thriving on campus as you embrace becoming an adult, balancing health, relationships, and academic success.

Student

Navigating Tech Internships: A St. John’s Grad Student Shares His Path to EY

As a college student passionate about tech, AI, or data science, you’ve probably wondered: How do you land that first big internship? The endless applications, tough interviews, and uncertainty can feel overwhelming. But what if that internship wasn’t just a step toward your degree, but a transformative experience that reshapes your career—and the way you think about technology?

That’s precisely the story of Tomas Santos Yciano, a fast-track Bachelor of Science (B.S.)/Master of Science (M.S.) Computer Science and Data Science student at St. John’s University. In this Q&A, Tomas shares how he landed a coveted internship at Ernst & Young (EY), offers career advice, and reflects on the lessons he’s learned as a Launch Intern in Technology Consulting.

Young female professional
Toni Critelli
Student exploring allergen-safe dining options at a campus dining hall

Allergy-Safe College Dining: Life-Changing Tips from a Registered Dietitian

Navigating the dining halls on a college campus can be intimidating for new students, especially those with food allergies. With so many food options available, it can be challenging to know what is “safe” to eat. The number of students with severe food allergies is steadily rising, and many college campuses are doing more than ever to ensure that food-allergic students feel comfortable when choosing meals and snacks.

As the St. John’s campus dietitian, I work closely with food service staff and food-allergic individuals daily to ensure that allergen-friendly options are available and that proper food handling protocols are followed when preparing meals for students with food allergies.

St. Johns University Campus Dietician, Simon Gmuca
Simone Gmuca
St. John's College Student Packing for the Dorms

College Room Essentials: A First-Year Packing Guide

Your first year of college is an exciting time to make new friends, create unforgettable memories, and experience newfound independence. If you are going to live on campus, knowing what to bring is essential before you can fully enjoy all the fun! As a rising senior who has experienced residence life over the past few years, I would like to share some of my college residence room essentials to help you better prepare.

St. John's University Student
Madison Coombs