1. It gets cold in Buffalo.
It sounds like a joke. I love the winter but within the month of December at Buffalo, I regret saying that statement. The cold doesn't hit you until two weeks before finals week where after hours of studying in the library, chills run down your body as we all wait impatiently for the stampede.
2. The food can be a lot worse
I have had my fair share of college tours in my senior year of high school and was turned off at every dining hall at every school. Buffalo has by far been the best. Yes, having fajitas or corn dogs from C3 every other night can get boring, but there is always Sizzles, Hubbies, and other dining areas around campus. I mean, we are rated number one dining in the SUNY system.
3. The Stampede takes forever
Any UB student can agree that at some point in their college careers, the UB Stampede Busing has failed them when needed most. There are times where I am running late to my class and I either have to wait to take a bus for 15 minutes or walk to class and get hypothermia.
4. Basketball is where the excitement is
As a freshman, I remembered the excitement of going to the first football game at UB, baring through the cold, only to lose and many times after that. Until basketball season started and the excitement running through Alumni Arena was unbelievable.
5. UB is a perfect size
I have friends from home that attend Penn State and OSU, with the sizes of their schools being overwhelmingly big, like the campus is a city of itself. I learned that Buffalo is the perfect size. The 15 minute walk from Ellicott to the academic buildings proves how big the campus is. Not to mention South Campus as well. The university is big, but not too big either.
6. You cannot procrastinate
I put the pro in procrastination in high school. Seriously, I had an essay assigned in high school for four weeks and would start at 11:00pm the night before it was due. When I came to Buffalo, it was a great opportunity to restart and it was a good thing I did. Every day you procrastinate in college, the pile of work just gets bigger. Doing the work as soon as it is assigned helped me feel less stressed so over the weekend, and I can enjoy hanging with friends rather than worrying about work I didn't do.
7. Dorm rooms aren't terrible
My biggest fear from growing up on Long Island was adjusting to sharing a room in such a small space. Even after visiting Binghamton University with dorms that look like hotel rooms, I was spoiled and held high standards. But dorm life at UB has been great. It has given me the chance to meet so many people and although small, I have adjusted better than expected.
8. Ramen is overrated
Now wait, before I get any negativity on this statement, let me say that Ramen is good, but easy Mac and Cheese is so much better. To all of those that live on Ramen in college, please let me buy you easy Mac and Cheese. It tastes better and it takes the same time to make. I bought a package of 6 Ramen servings at the beginning of the fall semester and have 5 remaining.
9. It is more than just friends in college
Being 8 hours away from home is not easy, especially because I am very close with my family. The friends I made at UB are more than just friends in college, within three months they have become almost my second family. Spending weekends together until 2 am or getting dinner every night, friends turn into your brothers and sisters, with of course a 'mom' in every group.
10. I am glad I went to UB
UB was not my top school, it took me months to even apply. And I am so happy I committed here. I made friends that in 5 years, I picture myself still talking to. Even as a freshman, I adjusted to living with others, or getting work done now rather than later. I networked with people and found opportunities to better myself. UB has become my second home, it is what makes saying goodbye to the campus and my friends so hard, and what makes saying hello when I come back, so easy.
