You’re all ready. You’ve got your foam finger, Amherst hoodie, “Williams College is a horrible college” t-shirt (we’re playing Wesleyan this year, but whatever. Williams is always the enemy). With your purple mug/cup of questionable liquids in tow, you’re ready for the big game; or maybe you’re the opposite and don’t see the point in walking all the way to Pratt field. Whatever the case, here are some tips to survive (and enjoy) Homecoming 2011.
Go to the game. I am not the biggest football fan. At all. I generally only really pay attention to the Oregon rivalry (go Ducks) and I don’t really understand all the rules, but the game is more than the actual game. It’s hanging out with your friends, and tailgating, and networking with alumni, and so much more. You don’t really have to stay for the whole thing and it’s such a quintessentially college experience that I can’t see a reason to miss it.
Pace yourself. Ok, some of you may just see Homecoming as an excuse to day-drink. But be careful. You do not want to be that girl who was ACEM’d before 2:00pm. Remember there are festivities at night you will want to attend, so getting trashed during the day will make it hard for you to get psyched for the night ahead.
Nap. No, really. Nap. No one’s going to be out and about after the game anyway. Save the homework for Sunday (or do it Friday night, if you’re so inclined). Homecoming is exhausting for collegietes™, drinking or not. So get some guilt-free beauty sleep, knowing the whole campus is doing the exact same thing. Maybe afterwards you’ll be up for one of the amazing Homecoming concerts going on in the evening! Choral Society will be singing in Buckley at 7:30.
Go easy at Homecoming TAP. Shampoo effect, anyone? If you drank during the day and then slept it off, you’ll still be more likely to get wasted if you drink excessively at night. So don’t drink on an empty stomach, count your drinks, all that good stuff. Oh, but be sure to use your Amherst shot glasses if you do go out. School pride is always classy.
Drink water; so much water: in the morning, while tailgating, at the game, after the game, after your nap, with dinner, after partying. Trust me. You probably won’t do any homework Saturday, so you’re going to need to be feeling your best on Sunday to study for all those midterms.
So with that said, have a great Homecoming 2011! Go Lord Jeffs! Let’s win this thing for Biddy!
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Amherst chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.