Dear Freshmen,
I know how hard it can be in your first few weeks at UCCS. Learning to navigate the campus and college life can be very intimidating. Since I was a freshman last year, I completely get how lost you might feel right now, but don’t worry — I’m here to share advice about all I learned last year.
Navigating the Campus
First, let’s be honest: none of the buildings on campus make any sense.
Every building on this campus has weird quirks, from classroom numbers that never go in order, to inconsistent floor numbers between the University Center and Kraemer Family Library despite being in the same building.
I would recommend taking the time to explore every building you have classes in on campus, if not the whole campus, from top to bottom. There is nothing worse than being late to a class or event because you can’t find the classroom, no matter how hard you try.
In my experience, University Hall is the most difficult building to navigate, and it’s important to pay attention to the letter attached to your classroom number as it will determine the side of the building your class is on.
Columbine is the easiest to navigate. Just follow the signs with the classroom numbers on them! Some buildings on campus have directories, typically in the lobby, that help you find your class.
The most difficult event space for me to find was the Upper Lodge, which is right above the Summit dining hall. There are stairs on the outside of the building, with limited parking space behind it for disabled parking.
Also, take the time to find all the staircases and elevators within the different buildings on campus. There are so many elevators and staircases, especially in the UC and library, that only go between two floors, and it’s a pain to figure out how to navigate between all the levels of the buildings.
Find your Zone
The best part of getting familiar with the campus is that you can find all the best hidden hangout spots.
The UC is full of great places to hang with friends or find a comfy corner to study in, and all the Big Cat Coffee spaces are popular too, but every building on campus has a great place to study if you look for it!
The Excel Centers are also great study zones. They are spread throughout the campus and offer spaces for those who like to study either in silence or around friends. Some of the Excel Centers offer free coffee and tea as well.
The ENT Center is a little far from the main campus, but it has a lot of comfy sitting areas all over the building. While it isn’t always open, Pinney’s cafe is especially available in the evenings for a snack or coffee.
My other favorite hang-out spot is the study rooms in the library. I frequently book a study room with some of my friends, and we use the space to hang out or do homework together. They are easy to book online, but you can always just drop into an empty room until the next booked group comes in or sit at one of the community tables.
Get Connected
Go to events on campus. I know, it sounds totally lame, but find an event that interests you or a club that seems cool, and just show up once.
I have always been the type to avoid school events, but I gave it a chance last year and ended up meeting one of my closest friends at an event I didn’t even want to go to.
I’d also highly recommend getting a job on campus, which will give you an opportunity to meet all kinds of people from different majors. Not just your coworkers, but also the people you interact with on the job.
Last year, I applied for The Scribe even though I had almost zero experience in journalism and ended up meeting cool people I never would have met if I didn’t venture outside of my major.
Don’t be afraid to take risks. Apply for the job you don’t think you’re qualified for, add that minor you’re really interested in and don’t be afraid to try new things. You never know what may happen or what you might learn in the process.
Charge your phone
The final piece of advice I have for you is to always bring a phone charger with you. Having your phone die in the middle of class, work or some random event is inevitable, and you will be so glad you have that charger when you don’t have to awkwardly ask around for one in a silent room.
Photo courtesy of UCCS Photography Database.