Over your next four years at Villanova University, you will find your second home. Going to college is a huge adjustment for everyone, yet Villanova's amazing pre-orientation and Orientation programs are fantastic resources to help you acclimate to your new environment before classes even begin. Whether you are in your first semester at Villanova or a senior ready to graduate, these are all things you have probably experienced and will remember as key parts of your freshman year.
1. Being overwhelmed at orientation.
Orientation is the first time you get to experience what Villanova is truly like, and it will probably be the most exciting and exhausting four days of your freshman year. All of the orientation counselors will be the most upbeat, Villanova enthusiasts you will meet, and their main goal is to do everything in their power to get you acclimated to campus life. Running around doing activities and singing "Baby Shark" all day is a lot at first, but you definitely get out of it what you put into it. One day you'll even fondly look back at the "Awkward Luau" and laugh about that night when you were forced to have a dance party with hundreds of strangers who you now call friends.
2. The Courts.
The first time you hear "Yeah, we have moves at the Courts tonight, it's gonna be lit," you are on your way to experience the best of the worst of what the Villanova party scene has to offer. Every freshman should experience a night at the Courts at least once, then it's up to you to determine when you are desperate enough to go back.
3. Confusing the many nicknames for various halls on campus.
"We're going to the Pit for dinner- I mean Spit- I mean... Which one is the one on South Campus?" When you first arrive on campus it is hard enough to find out where you're going without the key dining halls having nicknames that rhyme and don't make much sense at all. And while "The Bookstore" isn't exactly a nickname, why is it even officially named Kennedy Hall just to confuse people?
4. The Wildcat Path.
The unavoidable, most efficient route to the infamous Tolentine Hall has its fair share of disparaging nicknames- and rightfully so. The dimly lit uphill path that crosses the train tracks is eerie enough to make anyone (smartly) choose to take an alternative route to their intended destination to or from South Campus after the sun goes down.
5. Getting lost in Stanford Hall.
Unless you are a Stanford resident you will never fully understand the bizarre shape of the building, let alone how the room numbers correspond with each branch of the hallways. Being a Stanford resident, like I was, means texting any visitors detailed instructions of how to find your room, then already preparing yourself for the, "I'm lost again, please come find me" call when they never show up. Side bar: if you are a girl and a fan of mirror pictures, prepare for a year of people asking why you are always in a men's bathroom thanks to every bathroom in the dorm being outfitted with urinals!
6. Getting involved.
Villanova has a plethora of clubs that make amazing contributions to our community, yet with so many students willing to participate in service comes extensive application processes for some of the most well-recognized clubs on campus. While it is easy to feel defeated if you do not get accepted into Blue Key or a similar organization after your first application, there are plenty of other organizations that do not have application processes and are inclusive of everyone! There is something for everyone, and if you do not see an organization that fits your interests, you can always petition to start your own.
