15 Reasons Why Studying at UPRM is the Best

To be Colegial is a life changing experience. Hearing about it is one thing, living it is completely different. Here, your education goes far beyond the classroom, as we become professionals ready to conquer life after graduation. During these years we discover our true calling, meet our lifetime friends, fall in love a couple of times—and sometimes just fall (if we expect  to graduate). This will be the best and worst years of your life, but you wouldn’t want it any other way. Here is why:

1. We are the BEST university in Puerto Rico: Everybody says that their school is the best, but this isn’t just school spirit for us, it is a FACT! Numbers don’t lie. According to  State University’s website UPRM ranks #1 in Puerto Rico and #15 among the best public universities in the United States. ¡EL COLEGIO! stateuniversity.com 
2. We win international awards all the time: Our students from the engineering departments are THE ONES to beat at world-wide competitions. Furthermore, our Faculty of Agriculture, as well as our Chemistry and Biology departments are ahead in research and technological innovations that literally change the world. http://www.elnuevodia.com/ciencia/ciencia/nota/uprmayaguezganaseisprimeroslugaresencompetenciadeingenieriaeneeuu-2030757/
3. Nobody parties like us: The jangueo experience at Mayawest es otra cosa. Students from all other universities  join us colegiales on Thursday nights at La Bosque to enjoy the nightlife like nowhere else. Cheap and extremely fun, whether you go old school at El Garabato or hasta abajo at Chillin, we promise you the best time and the most hilarious snapchats the morning after. 
4. Our sport spirit is unmatchable:  La Sangre Verde that runs through our veins makes us the most loyal, spirited fans any university  could ask for. Whether our Tarzanes or Juanas are facing our eternal rival “Los Gallitos” (UPRRP) at Mangual or defending our honor at Las Justas, we will always be there to cheer for our colors with pride, win or lose. (Picture: Moment when Los Tarzanes beat Los Gallitos for a pass to the LAI Justas Male Volleyball Championship, eventually won.) 
5. Our mascot is the coolest: Unlike any other university in Puerto Rico, our mascot is not a costumed dude, but a real animal. Tarzán and Jane are the cutest, meanest bulldogs around, and are always ready to put on a show, take cute selfies and provoke the crowd to cheer loud and proud for our school. Whether they walk the parade at Las Justas or at our school’s sport events, they compel everyone to stand and clap. http://www.hercampus.com/school/uprm/ultimate-caampus-cutie-tarz-n
6. The cuties: Smart + beautiful= UPRM student. There is quality eye candy for everyone.We have our popular Cutie Section to prove it. http://www.hercampus.com/school/uprm/cuties
7. The Greeks: Ten fraternities and seven sororities active on campus have proven to be very involved with the UPRM and the surrounding community both socially and philanthropically. We are sure you will find your perfect fit for a Greek family. 
8. Every academic recess is an excuse to go to the beach: Mayagüez is a coastal town, within a close driving distance from amazing beaches such as Playa Sucia at Cabo Rojo, Steps Beach at Rincón, and Crash Boat at Aguadilla. If you stay around for Spring Break you can have the weekend of your life and party wild at the breathtaking Flamenco Beach in Culebra, where you will be sure to find a Colegial squat. (Photo: Tamarindo Beach, Culebra). 
9. Our Banda Colegial is royalty: The Justas crowd enthusiastically welcomes and farewells our band  with a standing ovation every year, regardless of their school of origin. The centennial Banda Colegial is a tradition of pride, excellence  and royalty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLoTH9ynfdk
10. So is our Chorium: Chorium recently won second place at Cantarode Festival, an international choirs’ competition held in Netherlands. Because they are THAT great! http://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/cazanoticias/nota/premianacorodeuprdemayaguezencompetenciaenholanda-2048676/ 
11.  We are CAAMpeones: Juanas won the overall 2015 LAI Female competition while the Tarzanes placed second in the overall male competition. In other words, we are not just over the top, hot geniuses, but we also kick butt at sports. http://www.hercampus.com/school/uprm/medal-recap-our-caampeones 
12. Our school song is just better than yours: ALMA MATER COLEGIAL, EPOPEYA DEL SABER, DÓNDE SE APRENDE A BEBER…Nobody knows the real version, but our favorite version of our anthem  is legendary, badass and absolutely awesome. It spans about as many generations as the alma mater. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYk1GQ9jC54
13. Because we celebrate graduation by dancing at the fountain: The most anticipated college graduation in the country begins at the Caravana de Graduación on the last day of class of the Spring Semester, with buses decked out with loud music and packed to the brim with hundreds of extremely proud UPRM graduates. After we go around campus making sure everybody else knows that WE DID IT we splash into the fountain in front of campus and dance, because it is the happiest day of our lives! 
14. Our graduation robes may be VERDE COLEGIAL: Your day is finally here, after years of savage fun and study all nighters you are graduating from the best university in Puerto Rico. Professors have made your existence miserable, but since you finally clavaste el Colegio, you get to proudly parade through Mangual with that beloved, coveted green robe. Green will forever be your color, and this robe will become your favorite outfit, ever.  
15.    Colegio graduation is the only televised commencement ceremony in Puerto Rico:   Yes, our graduation is streamed live for everyone to enjoy, because as previously stated, it is the most anticipated college graduation in the country. Even people that attended other universities recognize that Colegio es Colegio. 

If you are just getting started with this amazing journey of being Colegial, buckle up your seat belt and enjoy the ride of what will become the best years of your life. If you are about to finish, pause and treasure every step toward the finishing line. If you already finished, you get it more than anybody when we say that you wouldn’t have had it any other way than GREEN AND WHITE. ¡ANTES, AHORA Y SIEMPRE COLEGIO!

Photo credits: Prensa RUM, Huella Deportiva, Youtube, Geysel Gómez, Aureli Arnould, Santos Ortíz, Everlyn Santana, William McCrommit, Elmer Zapata, Hemphillian Photography.

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