University of South Florida. Florida State University. Tampa. Tallahassee. The same state, but two seemingly different worlds. Okay, maybe we’re being a bit dramatic, but we definitely have distinct lives at each of our institutions. What is it like in the life of a Bull? A Nole? A student from each school spills the beans.

1. Public transportation

Tampa

But what is public transportation? It’s no secret Tampa’s public transport is slightly lacking. Slightly, is open to interpretation. As a college student who doesn’t really want to spend money on gas no matter how low the prices get, this is something we have to learn to accommodate to. But this usually just means internally thinking about how much gas we just used. Such is life. However, as a USF student, something we are privy to is the Bull Runner. Sometimes, going from one building to another in a 10-minute walk just seems like too much. Can you say hashtag college.

Tallahassee

Uber. Straight up, Uber. Transportation in Tallahassee lives off of taxis or Uber drivers. Or you walk because most bars and fraternities are within walking distance. Going out in Tallahassee might be the easiest thing you could do when it comes to transportation. It’s either Uber, a taxi, or your own two legs.

2. Night Life

Tampa

Four letters: Ybor. It’s the go-to area for USF students when they want to go clubbing. It seems to be a hit or miss experience for most of us, but we all want to try it at some point during our college experience. Fueling the grand party scene in college is also the option of party-hopping, namely on 42nd and 46th street. Don’t lie, I know you’ve been to a party at the Venue. For those who are less about the party scene, we have the option to take advantage of the beautiful downtown setting, having the beautiful city of St. Petersburg a short drive away (Tampa traffic, willing), and a beach about the same distance away.

Tallahassee

More than four letters. Mainly because we have a ton of bars for college kids to dabble in. They range from The Strip to Clydes, Standard and Pots to the ever-popular Collegetown. If you are in Tallahassee, you are guaranteed to find a bar to have fun at.

3. Tailgating

Tampa

A lot of Bulls are known to have a love-hate relationship with our football team. We may not have the best records, but we owe it to our team to realize that we are a much newer school when it comes to football. We also owe it to them to have one hell of a tailgate to get hyped up for game day. We have the amazing convenience of the Bull Runners driving us to Raymond James Stadium. Can I get a Go Bulls?

Tallahassee

You want to tailgate for a football game (or any game for that matter), come to the freaking Florida State University. You can mosey your way to multiple fraternity houses before and after the football game for complementary Natural Ice beer, Premium Skol and ice cold ice luges. What more could anyone want? Can I get a GO NOLES?

4. Types of people you meet.

Tampa

Tampa is one of those cities in which the scenery can completely change on you after one block of driving. This leads the way to some interesting situations to say the least. You have the jaywalkers on Fletcher. You have the speed demons on Fowler. You reach campus and there’s someone taking full advantage of the free speech zones outside the library and Cooper Hall. You have access to the amazing diversity USF has to offer. Our student body represents over 130 nations. Needless to say, hearing at least five different accents or languages is a completely natural occurrence on your daily walks to class. Oh, and let’s face it, we give the squirrels as much attention as the people so they’re an entity on their own.

Tallahassee

You could meet the best and worst people in good ole Tallanasty. It may just depend on if it is a game day or not. Whether you are from any other ACC rival team, we’d like to think we treat with you dignity and respect --until you start trash talking; then we get a little aggressive.

6. Campus life.

Tampa

USF may be evolving into a commuter campus, but we take full advantage of the fact we have distinct borders around our campus and therefore have our go-to spots. Castor Beach and its hammocks are a favorite, especially when Florida decides to cool down the ceremonious five degrees which has everyone wearing sweaters. Also, a common outdoor location on campus is just outside Cooper under the umbrellas at Sessums at which we fight the smells of Subway wafting out the opening and closing doors. However, it is not uncommon to go hunting for a seat in the library and realize what the real hunger games is. Or, maybe that’s parking.

Tallahassee

Campus life is booming at the Florida State University in Tallahassee. From being involved in Greek life to campus-wide events, like Dance Marathon, the campus thrives on being the center of the city’s attraction. Doak Campbell Stadium hosts some of the best collegiate football games the city has ever seen and some of the best attractions the city has to offer. Whether you enjoy a hot dog from Mom and Pop’s by Strozier Library or and nice relaxing session on Landis Green, you are guaranteed and nice scenic view on the campus of Florida State University.

7. Weather.

Tampa

Check Yik Yak on a rainy day and people are talking about how they have to swim to class. Check Yik Yak on a cold day, and you see the northerners and Florida natives having debates about who’s right about it being cold. Weather is a hot topic in Tampa. No pun intended. Either way, we can all agree we had an idea of what we signed up for when we either decided to come to Florida from another location, or stay at home in Florida. By now, we’ve realized when they Sunshine State, they mean sunshine with the wrath of Zeus’s tears falling on our faces in sporadic showers.

Tallahassee

Humid and hot or cool and breezy. At least we get somewhat of fall and winter in Tallahassee. The leaves change for a slight second and then the bleak winter comes in long enough to have the university initiate a snow day. Or as the students of FSU would like to call it, an ice day with zero amount of soft snow and slippery ice in its place.

8. Why we love our cities.

Tampa

We complain about parking. We complain about lack of activities around the immediate university area. We’re college students -- we’re capable of complaining about everything and anything. It’s similar to when you had choice words for your hometown, but we all know that the place gave us more than we could ever imagine. The same can be said for our college town. And to think, we’re not even done seeing what it has to offer us. As always, go Bulls.

Tallahassee

We complain about lack of sleep or non-productivity this wonderful city might bring to us college student, but in reality, it might be the best place you could attend college and become a die hard fan. The city you attend college in becomes the person you are in your four (or more) years of school. You meet the best and most random friends and they become your people. Your city you thrive in becomes a part of you and a memory of your best years you will never forget.