Entering your first year at WSU? Don't know what to expect? From one Coug to another, let me help you out.

"Cougs Help Cougs" will be a phrase you hear during your time at WSU because we're known for helping each other out! With that being said, here is my list of 4 Things To Know Going Into Your First Year at WSU. Go Cougs!

Picture courtesy of followmehome.ca

1. The Weather is BIPOLAR (pack accordingly).

Don't take this one lightly. Your first few months of WSU are going to be some of the best times of your entire life. When the sun is out in Pullman, the good times never stop. Everyone is overly happy and seem friendly as ever. But when you need a break, your dorm will not be the place to go. It's going to be 100 degrees, give or take the extra body heat from the hundreds of other bodies moving throughout the building. Unless you've been assigned to the "mountain-trek away," Olympia dorms or managed to sneak in air conditioning, that small clip-on fan on the side of your bed won't cut it. 

Advice: Buy a fan, a big one. Buy two! And hope that your future roommate brings one too. Sure, it'll only be used for a few months before that built-in heater comes in handy...but it sure as hell beats complaining about that heat. On the flip-side, don't forget to invest in some snow boots! Once it hits Winter, those snow boots will be your best friends. As if the hills in Pullman weren't a struggle enough on Monday mornings, try walking up them layered in ice.

Picture courtesy of airphotona.com

2. It's A College Town

Pullman, WA is the true definition of a college town. Everywhere you go, Cougar Pride is all around. The town and the people bleed crimson and gray. The restaurants, the buildings, the school buses are all plastered with Coug colors and posters. The Pullman population is roughly 31,000 people and you better believe those "locals" also consist of students and professors with that "Go Coug" mentality. They attend all of the sporting events, concerts, and activities that help make the community feel so alive. That being said, it IS a small town. Take advantage of it! It's small enough to see your friends and meet new people on the walk to class every day. It's a short drive (~7 miles) away from Moscow, ID, which is a great destination for other places to dine out. However, just because it's small does not mean there is nothing to do. You're still at a university! If the words "I'm bored" or "I'm not getting out of this experience" come out of your mouth...you're doing it wrong. True Cougs know the truth and want to be here! 

Advice: Find out what makes Pullman unique! Stop by places like Cougar Country, Pullman's own fast food joint and "Home of the best burger of the Palouse." or Zoe Underground, an on-campus cafe with great food, coffee, and drinks! It also makes for a sweet place to study!

Picture courtesy of WSU Cheer

3. Get Involved!

Going back to #2, there's no reason to "be bored" at WSU! If you're feeling this way, then you're definitely not taking advantage of the opportunities that are presented here! Whether you're a member of a Greek organization, ROTC, a sports team, have a part-time job on campus, or joined a student organization (there are over 100)...there's plenty of opportunities out there and something for everybody! You just have to be brave enough to take advantage of it! It's also a great way to branch out and meet new people! Worried you won't have anything in common? Nonsense! You're all Cougs! That's already something to bond over.

Picture courtesy of WSU Vancouver

4. There Is Never Enough Time

Between taking classes as a full-time student, being a member of a Greek organization, having a part-time job, and being a member of a student organization..there is never enough time in the day. I can tell you that firsthand. If you want to study and get good grades, be in an organization, and have a social life...you can kiss sleep goodbye! Late nights or all-nighters are no stranger to being a college student and when the town is alive, loud, and chanting that oh so familiar chant (you'll learn it), you'll want to be a part of it too. There is such a thing as balance, but here's another thing to think about, nobody ever remembers the nights they stayed in alone studying. It's the nights out with friends making memories that you'll remember forever.

Advice: Don't forget why you're at WSU - to get an education. It's easy to get caught up in the social aspect of college, but don't forget to take a break from your studies and enjoy yourself too! College will be the best four years of your life...and they will fly by! Before you know it, you'll be graduating. Make sure that by the time you leave, you'll have something to look back on. 

Cover photo courtesy of wsucougars.com