Being a new student at Ohio State is truly a unique experience. There are dining halls to explore, special lingo to learn, class buildings to memorize and daily routines to configure. It’s inevitable that during this transition into college life you are going to do some things that will make you wish you hadn’t stepped on campus. I’m here to tell you’re not alone, and that every year, first-year students make a few “rookie” mistakes–I was in your shoes a year ago; I sympathize. Next fall, you can laugh about them, learn from them and (hopefully) avoid them in the future. Now, here is a list of some of the classic Ohio State mistakes and (potentially) embarrassing moments you may encounter:
- Pull out your map on the way to class the first week….or two.
- Wait until winter to learn the bus system (You may regret it come November).
- Lock your keys in your room three times in the first month. At least one of these times will be after a shower, and you will have to go to the front desk in a bathrobe.
- Refer to the Oval as “the hall.”
- Call your professor “teacher.”
- Forget your bath towel in your room (HINT: toilet paper will not work).
- Try to sneakily watch a video in lecture, failing to realize your computer volume is still on high.
- Run out of ways to use your name and graduation year to make new passwords for your Buckeye Link account, and resort to pet names and silly childhood nicknames.
- Convince yourself you have found “The One” in September. Break up in October.
- Burn half of your phone’s memory recording every single TBDBITL ramp entrance and Script Ohio performance.
- Everything on your holiday wish list WILL have the Ohio State logo on it.
- Walk away from a cardio machine because you secretly couldn’t figure out how to use it.
- Forget to press your floor in the elevator and/or walk the stairs to the wrong floor.
- Drop your “unmentionables” on the floor while doing laundry.
- Think it’s necessarily to pull the cord on the CABS bus (HINT: it’s not).
- Walk into the completely wrong building for class. Bonus points if you actually sit in the completely wrong lecture.
- Get General Tso’s chicken from Marketplace…twice in one day.
- Sprint across campus once you realize that your classes in Hagerty Hall and Hitchcock Hall aren’t conducive to a leisurely campus stroll within the 15 minute class change period.
- Tackle a stack of three food containers, a soft drink, and your room key on your way home from the Union Market. Spoiler alert: You’ll likely spill something at least once.
- Wear your lanyard around campus 24/7. Don’t worry: this stage will pass.
We have all been new to Ohio State at some point in time, so know (and believe) that we’ve all experienced our fair share of growing pains as we make this new environment our home. We’re eager to help guide you along the way!