Starting at any college, let alone one with a 40,000 strong student body, can feel a bit overwhelming. This changes shortly after the first couple weeks of falling in love with your school, and I mean falling hard. The only difference is that this will actually happen!

It's hard to be discrete about your mental and emotional devotion when you go to one of the top public universities in the country, and you'll soon find yourself blending in with the wave of UMich obsessed students for various, very understandable reasons.

1. You're always wearing some type of Michigan apparel

It really doesn't matter if it's game day, the middle of summer, or a date night. You'll find yourself mindlessly throwing on a sweatshirt, shorts, socks or even underwear repping the best combo of colors out there.

2. To go off of that, the colors become your favorite, too

I was never someone who liked to dress myself in yellow because I end up looking like a dying sunflower. However, after starting school at Michigan, I found myself buying up anything with maize or blue. If I was going to be a diseased looking flower, I may at least be a trendy one.

3. You have the 'M' on EVERYTHING

Not only apparel, but if you start to look at everything you own, you'll see a trend. Your phone, laptop, car decals, and most likely your room/entire house (quite possibly your dog) is decked out. I wouldn't put it past some of the students to get tattoos, either.

4. Every game brings out your emotional side (admit it)

In all honesty it doesn't matter if you're a sports person or not. When your team's playing well, you're the happiest person on earth. You look at those guys/girls like they're a pack of newborn puppies. Post big win? You already know you'll be head to toe in colors for the next month. After all - we don't lose. ;)

5. You talk about UMich with anyone, at anytime

Sorry we're annoying, we can't help it. You should try going here, I 10/10 recommend. They bring up knowing a NFL bound athlete? Chances are you do too.

6. You feel an immediate connection to someone in maize and blue

Especially off campus, you'll happily yell across the street to get someones attention to tug on your shirt with a big smile, or throw a 'Go Blue!!!' their way, knowing you'll get one in return.

7. You could go on and on and on about the food

This is more of a props to Ann Arbor, but there's not many campuses that compare when it comes to the amount of restaurants lining every street. From late night munchies to brunch, dinner, and every meal in between, your stomach will stay happy.

8. Your family and friends always know what to get you as gifts

Why is everything in your possession Michigan related? Well, between you and your best friends and family, there's really no end to the UMich related gifts. Birthdays, christmases and anything in between are filled with new apparel, mugs, and even furniture with some type of reference.

9. Summer is too long

Your elementary school self wouldn't believe his/her ears, but for most of us, separation anxiety is a real thing a couple of weeks into summer. Going back home starts to feel like you're actually away from home, and from the moment you leave you to have a countdown till the next game day (alerting your gm's daily that there's only __ days left!!)