The beauty of higher education is that no two colleges or universities are the same. Each school has a unique culture that makes it stand out from the rest. From the stairs, to the business core requirements, to the million-dollar staircase, and the absence of a hockey rink; Bentley has plenty of quirks that makes it stand out! Another part of Bentley’s unique culture is the Bentley-isms that are used on a daily basis. Here are the top ten most frequently used statements and questions that we encounter on a daily basis.

1.“GB.”

Before coming to Bentley I don’t think I had ever heard this letter combination used… now they’re a regular part of my vocabulary. From complaining about the amount of homework to… well more complaining about the group projects… and the tests… GB is used to describe the business core classes that every Bentley student takes. Although GB classes can be incredibly tough and frustrating, the comprehensive business background that they create is one of the main reasons so many students are attracted to Bentley. Remember: the key to GB success is studying!

2. “Sorry, I have a group meeting!”

This is the No. 1 most used and most believable excuse. Due to the many, many group projects assigned to Bentley students, no questions are asked when someone pulls the “I have a group meeting” excuse. It’s almost a taboo topic… probably because we all know the #struggles associated with group projects *cough* subtweet @GB112/212 *cough*.

3. “Where are you from?” “________ Massachusetts.”

Whenever you meet a new Bentley student, the conversation usually starts with a discussion of your hometown. Due to the high volume of students from Massachusetts, it’s likely that you’ll easily find something in common! This will probably lead to a conversation about sports preference… particularly baseball teams… go sox!

4. “What should I wear?” “Business casual.

Although Bentley has no official dress code, there is a universal and unspoken rule that business casual works for any occasion. Of course there are those days where you roll out of bed and race to your 8 am in your Bentley t-shirt and sweatpants, the most common outfit of choice is a preppy business casual look. A business casual section of your closet is essential! Students are practically walking advertisements for Vineyard Vines, Lilly Pulitzer, Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, etc.

5. “Which stairs do you want to take?”

Bentley’s campus is beautiful… however, the campus is located on a hill, which means we have a lot of stairs. Depending on where your dorm is, you can choose from the Smith, Adamian, or Jennison stairs (unless you’re on lower… then you have extra stairs and a bridge to deal with). Each staircase has its perks and its drawbacks… but they all require the same amount of physical exertion. You know we should really work on getting t-shirts that say: “The Smith Stairs are My Workout”… (In case you were wondering, there are approximately 208 stairs from the bottom of the smith staircase to the lib.)

6. “What’s your major?”

This is another very common conversation starter! Whenever you meet someone new, whether it’s a peer, a professor, or a visiting business professional, the initial introductions are often followed by a brief discussion about your field of study. You never know, this may lead to some great networking opportunities!

7. “Seasons… again?” *cue eyeroll*

One drawback of Bentley’s smaller size is that we only have one dining hall. Although there are multiple dining options on campus, the only one that accepts meal swipes is the 921 (aka Seasons). Unfortunately, this means that meals can get a little boring after a while… thank god for Annie’s mac & cheese!

8. “Which tree did/do you live in?”

Yes you read that right. No, Bentley students do not live in actual trees, that’s just the name of the freshman dorm that houses the majority of the freshman. The Trees dorm is seven interconnected buildings that are each named after a different tree (Alder, Birch, Cedar, Elm, Maple, Oak, Spruce), providing a unique… and loud… living experience.

9. “Bentley Ratio”

This is referring to Bentley’s ratio of male to female students, which is 60:40. Yes, that does mean that 60 percent of the student body is boys, and yes, there are a LOT of cute ones… but it truly is a blessing and a curse. Sixty percent boys in a 4,000 student population means there is a lot of testosterone. Thanks to the Bentley Ratio, it’s incredibly rare for there to be more than one girl in a group for course projects, and housing is even more stressful when only the male rooms are left and you’re a girl selecting housing on the last day...

10. “Einstein’s coffee machine is broken… again.”

America may run on Dunkin, but Bentley runs on Einstein’s! This coffee and bagel shop is conveniently located in the library, which has a central location on upper campus. Unfortunately… their coffee makers are frequently broken, forcing a lot of students to have to go to class without their coffee-fix.