Now that I have been calling myself a UW student for a good two quarters, I felt this article was due. You think you know a lot, perhaps not everything, but a lot about UW coming in, especially if you have lived in Seattle all your life. Of course, life always has surprises in store, and UW has a little more to it than the beautiful buildings and view of the mountains. Here's just a few of my own observations from my experience thus far.

1. You didn't study enough

You can never study enough. You could read the entire book twice through and you probably still don't know the perfect answer to every single question on a test. I always heard that weed out classes were a thing, but I never quite expected them to be what they are. I have never studied more in my life. Reading everything over the night before the test just doesn't cut it here. The best part about all this crazy studying though is that you really feel like you earned it when you actually do well.

2. Red Square IS NOT A JOKE

When it rains, you basically are only safe if you're wearing full traction hiking boots. I can't even imagine what I look like walking across Red Square everyday. I feel like I am legitimately ice skating. You might as well just give up and realize that you are going to fall at some point, because how could you not? I seriously think it is a liability. I wonder if UW has life insurance or if when we agree to come to school here we’re signing a secret agreement that says if we hurt ourselves we won’t sue them. Someone should look into that.

3. Suzzallo is beautiful but its functionality?

It is questionable. I have gone in there a couple times to- well, you know, pretend I'm one of those cool people who studies in the big pretty library and whom UW puts on all of their brochures. But then, you see, it quickly becomes apparent that is is SILENT in there. Like if you move everyone can hear you, and can hear yourself thinking. It's extremely distracting. I always end up doing my best studying in louder places. If you're one of those Suzzallo studiers, I applaud you. I'm impressed.

4. Dining halls are a joke

If Red Square is the death trap, the dining halls are the roadkill at the bottom.

Just kidding.

But, in all seriousness, I'm basically living off of sandwiches and University Village food, which is quickly depleting my liquidity. I often ask myself how many times I can go to Eureka in one week before it gets ridiculous. Their burgers are just so good.

5. North Campus is actually (in a way) better

OK, don’t get me wrong. If you are going to live in a dorm, West Campus has the best dorms on campus. And, it is close to Cultivate, which is definitely an added bonus. However, North campus has it’s appealing factors (once you actually live there of course). I especially like the view out of my window, because quite frankly it is pretty breathtaking. The proximity to everything else on campus is also an added benefit. And U Vil, because sometimes you have to go down there and dream that someday you will have a job that could actually buy you something there.

6. The tourists Are. Not. Cool.

It’s so cool that we go to a school that everyone (seriously everyone) wants to come and visit, right? No. Not when you are having a family photo shoot and blocking my pathway to class. No, not when your screaming children are running all over the place. I don’t tend to look down that much when I’m walking. Thankfully I haven’t run into any kids. Also, the wedding photo shoots. Oh man. Don’t get me started. It seems like people need to find a more original idea of where to take pictures besides under the cherry blossoms. Lets face it. It’s a pretty short window of time to take your wedding, family, friend, and profile pictures for the whole year. Get creative. Maybe off campus, you know?