College is weird. I'll be frank with you, its not easy and it doesn't make sense. People will warn you about crazy campus mazes and what to do if you get lost, but no one gets university specific. I've gotten lost in Anderson Hall so many times that I decided to put together somewhat of a "Temple University For Dummies" list.
1. Do not feel like less of a person for taking the elevator to the second floor of Anderson Hall
My freshman year I got so angry at people who got off on the second floor, because there are only four elevators for the entire college of liberal arts, and it always made me late for class. This semester, I had a class on the second floor of Anderson, and of course I took the stairs on the first day of class. Unbeknownst to me, Anderson Hall defies the laws of physics, and it takes like six or seven flights of stairs to get up there. So, do not feel embarrassed when you take the elevator to the second floor.
2. There's ALWAYS construction
I'm not entirely sure the construction crews ever actually do anything. Stuff is always under renovation. They finished a skywalk to a building before they finished the building.They've been building that new library forever. They'll probably never finish it.
3. Beury Beach is not an actual beach
Alas, we do not have beaches in the heart of North Philadelphia. What we DO have though, is one single large patch of grass outside of Beury Hall. We call this "the Beach" because its the closest thing we've got.
4. Commuting SUCKS
Many Temple students opt to commute. I am one of them. It sucks pretty bad, not going to lie, but it saves money so I'll just suffer.
5. Don't let your advisors bully you
Gritty is allowed to bully, because he is Gritty. Your advisors are not. Don't let them convince you not to take a class you want to take, change your major/minor, or anything else college advisors tend to do. (Here's a secret: they're really not that helpful. At all.)
6. You'll never be able to navigate the Paley Stacks
Not that they'll exist anymore in a few years, but there is nothing like walking through the Stacks. There are so. Many. Books. Its impossible to know where you are.
7. Broad Street is not as scary as it looks
Just run across it. The chances of a car or a Septa bus actually hitting you are very, very small.
8. Anderson Hall is a maze
There's no getting around it. Even super seniors don't know exactly how it works. I'd give you advice for cracking the code, but I can't. No one can. Classrooms aren't in numerical order, they move around, numbers get skipped, there are two second floors... it is impossible. Good luck!
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