Here at VCU, it takes a little more than just an acceptance letter and paid deposit to officially be a Ram. Here’s 10 things you must go through to be officially welcomed to Virginia’s most dynamic university:
1. You’ve tripped over the red brick.
Sure, it might be aesthetically pleasing, but there is no more deadly combination than heels and a Richmond sidewalk. Whether you stumble, trip or flat out faceplant, don’t be embarrassed. Literally everyone has been there too.
2. You’ve gotten locked out (or lost your keys)
Those lanyards and wristlets might be super cute, but not so much when you’re halfway to class and you realize you dropped them/left them on your desk. Hopefully your roommate can bail you out!
3. You’ve gone on a late night cookie run/delivery.
Red Eye Cookie Co? Or Insomnia? There might be no “right” answer, but there’s nothing better than a friend suggesting you swing by to get some late-night cookies delivered. Honestly, a Cookies n’ Creme Red Eye cookie will never taste better than it does at 3 a.m.
4. You’ve touched the Ram Horns.
Orientation can be kind of dull, but the best part is definitely the Ye Olde Tradition of Wishing on the Ram Horns. This tradition dates back to whenever the ram horns were first built, and even the scowliest of the art hipster crowd will (maybe) remember the wish he made on the ram horns all those years go.
5. You’ve been through a fire drill at the most inconvenient possible time.
Fire drill at 4 a.m.? Been there. Fire drill two hours before your first final? Yep. Fire drill in the shower? Why not. You may be thrilled you have the best room on the top floor of Brandt, but you may wish you were a little closer to the ground when the elevators are closed during fire drills.
6. You never use up swipes.
What kind of person thought that freshmen would use up 200 swipes in one semester with no roll-over??? At the beginning of the semester Chipotle and Panera might be calling your name, but when you check your balance a week before finals and you have 159 swipes left, it only means one thing: Shafer for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And then you get to experience a whole other rite of passage: Shafer S**ts.
7. You’ve posted on your class page in desperate search of a roommate.
“Hi, I’m ____ and I’m from NOVA! I’m pretty organized but can be kind of messy. I definitely plan on going out, but I’m always up for a Netflix night! Can’t wait to explore Richmond, so message me if you think we’d be a good match! Follow me on Insta and Twitter; go Rams!”
But hey, anything is better than going random.
8. You’ve gotten in trouble with your RA.
Be it a noise complaint or something a little different (hide those shot glasses!), everyone has gotten at least threatening knock on their door from their RA. Don’t fret, it’s all part of the freshman experience.
9. You’ve taken a RamSafe.
It might be a little longer wait than it would be for an Uber, but it’s called RamSafe for a reason–whether you stayed at the Bowe Street Parking Deck too long or want to get back from that party on Lombardy safely, RamSafe is your way to get back to your dorm without being afraid.
10. You’ve gone to a sketchy frat/house party.
This is more of a college rite of passage than a VCU specific one, but it’s a rite of passage nonetheless. Cheap beer, good music, and being packed like sardines in a tiny hundred-year-old house all add to the charm.
Welcome to VCU, future Rams! We can’t wait to have you experience these rites of passage and hopefully add your own.