Applying to college can be one of the most exciting or one of the most nerve-racking things you get to do as a senior in high school. Maybe you want to follow in your parents' footsteps and go to their alma mater (or maybe they're forcing you to), or maybe you have absolutely no clue where you want to go next year. For me, the choice was simple, I knew Washington State University was my home since my sophomore year, but for so many of my friends the choice wasn't so easy. Wherever you decide to apply, here are the reasons WSU should be on that list.
1.) The Campus
If you've never been to the tiny town of Pullman, Washington...you should. It may not sound too great from what people say, and to be honest they have a point. We don't have a Target or Red Robin...and the saying "I had to walk uphill both ways to class" is 100% truth at WSU, but I promise once you visit you will never want to leave. Take it from the girl who wore UDUB stuff all growing up, the random trip to a football game as a sophomore had me hooked and I knew I was going to be a Coug.
2.) The People
The people in Pullman are the nicest, most helpful people you will ever meet. Of course, not everyone is going to say hi to you on your way to class, or be your best friend, but if you ever need anything, most people will be right there to help you without even knowing your name. I promise you when I say you will meet your best friends here in Pullman that you will have for the rest of your life. You will meet the people that will be a part of your wedding. They will become the biggest part of your life and you will wonder how you ever lived life without them.
3.) The Pride
I think this one is pretty clear. If you don't think WSU has pride, then obviously you've never met a Coug before. It doesn't matter if you're in Pullman, Seattle or even Europe...if you see a person with a Coug shirt, hat, literally anything WSU on, you say "GO COUGS" (and trust me it happens, my dad got many while wearing a Coug sweatshirt in London). Being a Coug means way more than being anything else. How many times have you seen two people wearing Husky gear and not even make eye contact? We love our fellow Cougs and Coug fans. We take so much pride in our school and everything about it.
4.) Cougar Football Saturday
This is something that is hard to explain. It needs to be experienced. Cougar Football Saturday is a tradition and it's everybody's favorite day of the week. The anticipation starts on Friday as you see all the camp trailers rolling in and all the happy alumni who are stoked to be back in the promised land again. Getting ready, tailgating, and watching the game in the student section is such an exhilarating experience that you can't even fathom until you are part of it. CFS is sacred in Pullman, and I can tell you right now, we have the best fans in the PAC12 and honestly, anywhere.
5.) Being A Coug Lasts A Lifetime
Once you come to Pullman and experience everything it has to offer, you will never want to leave. It's hard to imagine leaving your old life behind, but this new life is so much more amazing here. People love it here so much they love the school year more than they love the summers off. You become a part of something so much bigger than yourself and grow so much as a person. Everything about being a Coug is the best, and it's hard to put into words how much love we all have for this place. So if you are a senior thinking about applying to WSU, do it. It will be the best decision you ever make and I promise no one does it better than Wazzu.
