While uWaterloo may be big, there are several things students across all faculties can actually agree on. Like how god awful it is to find financial services is, or how many times you have to step on goose poop before making it to class. While annoying, bizarre, and just plain odd, these things unite us. After all we’re all just little goslings learning to fly out into the frightening world of adults. One day, after leaving the cozy nest of UW we may actually miss this place! (Although probably not the geese, definitely not the geese.) So that said, here’s ten GIFs that accurately describe what it’s like to be a student at Waterloo.
1. First week of fall term cheers
While no one has ever really considered UW to be a place beaming with school spirit, they really haven’t experienced the first few weeks of September. Don’t believe me? Just walk around crowded areas, even head to Phil’s and just scream WATER WATER WATER! But trust me, the novelty of every first years favourite cheer wears off, and by Midterms things have definitely quieted down.
2. Trying to find a class in the Psychology Anthropology Sociology (PAS) building for the first time
Whose decision was it to make it that much more difficult to get out my cozy bed and into class? Really? Yes, this buildings practically a corn maze. Was it actually designed to imitate, at least visually, the human brain? I don’t know! What I do know is that I was fifteen minutes late to the first class I had in this building because my brain could not handle it. Yes, that hallway looks exactly like the one before, and no it is not so easy to find a map. Once I figured out one way to get to my class that was it, it may even be the longest way to get there, but I am sure as hell not going to waste my time to find another one!
3. The infamous winged demon: The Canadian Goose
It can’t be that bad right? I mean it’s just an over-sized duck right? Wrong! So, so wrong especially in the springtime. I don’t know what it is about the campus, but I swear Geese off campus just seem way less aggressive! These little devils can smell your fear, and they will spare no cost to chase you down and away from their precious babies. You thought engineers ruled this school? Forget it, these flying menaces do, they peruse the campus like it’s their palace. Yet, who are we to really challenge them? Maybe they’re just angry they don’t get to be the official mascot, who really knows!
4. Switching from Jobmine to Waterloo Works
We all thought we were in for something bigger, brighter, better. What we got instead was a convoluted and confusing system more frustrating to use than the last! Yeah, yeah, some people like it, it does allow you upload separate documents which is fantastic, but did it have to be so drastically different!? You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone people.
5. Wanting to grab Starbucks but the line kills your dreams
Picture this, you walk into Science Teaching Complex thinking you’re about to get yourself a Grande Chai Tea Latte, so it can warm up your soul before class. Except, when you get there the lines halfway to the lecture halls! Now there is another Starbucks in the Applied Health Science Building, but that means going outside, and walking. If it’s cold outside count me out, I’ll just grab a tea at International News instead thank you very much.
6. Having multiple interviews during the day AND class
Sometimes Interview times work out perfectly and you get to pick the time slot that works best for you, sometimes you’re up against some real eager students and you get stuck with the least desireable slot of them all. You may even have to leave class early or run from class all the way to the Tatum Centre in what seems like the longest ten minutes of your life. Needless to say you’ll be stuck in business casual attire all day.
7. Trying to catch some Z’s on campus
It’s finals season, you’ve been up for 48 hours straight and you just need to close your eyes for maybe half an hour. So where do you go? Dana Porter? Don’t bother trying it’s already packed, students probably haven’t left those spots since last tuesday. Student Life Centre maybe? With it’s lounge area and proximity to the Bomber (for some celebratory hashtag fries of course) it seems like the natural choice! Also wrong, you may be able to nab a seat if you move fast but this place is full of vibrancy and activity so if you don’t have noise canceling headphones you’re out of luck. Instead I recommend checking out the colleges, Grebel has a cozy atrium that’s much quieter.
8. When people are surprised by the amount of work you do
This is the University of Waterloo what did you think was going to happen? We aren’t fooling around when we say we’ve got a lot to do. Plus, if you’re in a co-op stream you have resume and cover letter writing to your daily work load. If you’re wondering why we don’t have a big party reputation this is why, we don’t have time for that!
9. Being jealous of others with a full fall reading week
We now have two fall reading days, which was more than we had before. Though I still can’t stop myself from feeling jealous as all my friends from other schools post pics on insta of themselves having fun, petting dogs, going to cool places. The heart wants what it can’t have, and I want a full fall term reading week.
10. Having Waterloo pride
Boy does it feel good when strangers are impressed when they hear you go to the University of Waterloo. That’s right it is a top school, that’s right the amazing Emma Watson knows we exist! Despite the geese Waterloo is an amazing school, a vibrant hub of intelligence and we know it. We may not have school spirit, but we know our school’s the best, why else would we come here right?
What are your favorite GIFs that describe what it’s like to be a student at Waterloo? Let us know in the comments!
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