As a recent addition to the UConn community, I can officially say the last four weeks have been very exciting: between the Husky WOW events, beginning classes, joining clubs, and trying to create a mental map of campus, it’s true I haven’t had much downtime yet. However, in the excitement of it all, I’ve been able to see how welcoming the UConn Family is and just how much school spirit Huskies have. I’ve also been able to see that college is different from high school… very different.
Even though there are many noticeable differences, here are the Top 13 I’ve noticed throughout the past four weeks.
1. If a professor finishes their lecture 10 minutes early, that means you get to leave 10 minutes early.
Gone are the days of hearing teachers say: “I still have one minute left! Wait for the bell!”
2. Yup, he just walked in 10 minutes late…
… And the professor didn’t do anything about it.
3. Did that person just get up and leave!?
I can only imagine if I did that during a high school class… But on the bright side, if you never have to ask if you can go to the bathroom, you’ll never have to hear “I don’t know, can you?” again.
4. I’m sorry, did you say over six hundred clubs and activities?
But there’s only 168 hours in a week… is there a club for time management?
5. My teach– uh, professor said the exam is next Thursday.
I’m still trying to get used to the idea of having professors….
6. Just when you think you finally know your way around campus and have found the locations of every important building, you are proven wrong.
What’s the name of that building again? There’s a residence hall with that name?
7. No, it really does take 12 minutes to walk to my next class.
We can’t really complain though, it’s not like the campus is an eyesore.
8. Hearing “Where are you from?” and “What dorm do you live in?” every time you meet a new person.
“Which dining hall do you prefer? How’s your roommate?”
9. There is free stuff EVERYWHERE.
Please take a look at my collection of UConn t-shirts, UConn drawstring bags, UConn cups, and UCONN pens.
10. Late Night is every Friday and Saturday night!?
Late Night is one of the best ways to spend a Friday night-get a group of new friends together and go- it’s fun and a great way to get to know each other.
11. The UCONN Bucket List: 81 things to do in 4 years
Bring it on… Maybe I’ll start with the visit to the Dairy Bar?
12. All I want to do is… meet Jonathan the Husky.
Every time I check out his Facebook page, it seems he just left the place I’m currently in.
13. The Freedom
There are a lot of things to like about making your own rules. But how about getting to eat whenever you want? We all remember those days in high school: sitting in class, starving, watching the minute hand on the clock moving slower and slower. Well, the days of having the “last lunch wave” are gone.
Of course, four weeks isn’t a lot of time and the new freshman class still has a lot to learn about being college students. However, this knowledge will come with time; and even though college is different, I don’t think anyone is wishing they could go back to high school.