Transitioning into college life can be very difficult for anyone. Everything around you in new and exciting. Luckily, these tips will help you excel at this whole college thing.
1. ABSOLUTELY keep and wear your lanyard everywhere. Not only is it a great fashion statement, it’s also extremely functional. With your room key bouncing off your chest at all times you’re practically guaranteed to never get locked out of your room. Because you should always be locking your room…right? Anyway, the lanyard will always remain a great touch, a nice dash of Hamilton apparel to an otherwise forgettable outfit.
2. Feed the squirrels. Those guys don’t get enough love around here. They’re nice and they
really
love the chicken fingers from Diner. I once brought one home attached to my finger. Friends come and go, but a squirrel will always be there for you. Always.
3. Do not drink ANYTHING during dry week. Occasionally the school opts for a parched mentality, as is the case during orientation week. When this happens, avoid all liquids, no matter your age. No beer, no wine, no OJ with breakfast, not even that really tempting blue Powerade in the KJ vending machine, and definitely no water. The side effects of drinking during dry week are still unclear — I’m told they’re still running tests on the kids who dropped out of Intro Chem — but all signs point towards it being real bad. Like the subprime mortgages that caused the housing market to collapse in 2009 bad. Thanks Margot Robbie.
4. Diner C is a great option. Diner B gets all the hype, but every Thursday — Saturday, after Diner B closes, Diner C gets its chance to shine. From 4:30–5:30am, the Diner transforms into an old-school ice cream parlor. The lines are long — think Black Friday-before-the internet-long — but it’s well worth the wait. It’s a great way to start or end your day depending on how much of an over- or under-achiever you are.
5. Walk into any suite, sit down, and have a conversation, because Hamilton students really are that friendly. Our school loves to preach about the community here, and it’s almost more annoying because it’s true. I once had a stranger drop all his books just to help me pick up mine. Turns out he didn’t even go here! That’s the Hamilton effect. So, go and do what any other Hamilton kid would and start up a conversation with some rando. Who knows! They might end up being just like everyone else here — your best friend.
