10 Signs You Attend A New England School
Everyone who attends a school in New England knows that they’re special. New England is gorgeous in every season, and I’m so happy I go to my college. I’ve learned a few tricks for spotting fellow New England college students and noticed some trends in our beloved school traditions. Here are the top 10 signs you attend a New England school.
1. You routinely discuss the weather and the environment.
And with good reason! New England is known for its natural beauty, be it the rich reds and golds of autumn leaves, the snow-dusted evergreens in the winter, bright flowers blooming in the spring after rains, or sunny days in the summer. Season changes are a big deal in New England, and talking about the weather and the Great Outdoors is a solid way to start a conversation.
2. Dunkin Donuts are everywhere.
America runs on Dunkin? More like New England runs on Dunkin- I swear there must be at least one within every 10 mile radius in the Northeast. For references, this is a map of the Dunkin Donuts locations in the US.
3. NESCAC doesn’t just sound like a made-up candy bar; it’s the New England Small College Athletic Conference, and the competitions between schools are fierce.
NESCAC rivalries are very real, and it’s a big deal at those schools.
4. Skiing is a sport at your school.
5. A hefty portion of your school population is JOB- Just Outside of Boston.
There are so many people from Massachusetts, and they all explain their home base in terms of distance from Boston. You know this is a clear one of those signs you attend a New England school.
6. Sweater season extends from the middle of September through March, at the earliest.
7. When the temperature finally hits 40° F after winter, people break out the T-shirts and shorts.
8. Snow days don’t happen often.
New England is used to the snow, and it knows how to deal with it. I’m in my junior year, and I might have had one class canceled because of the snow. Only one class. One teacher once said to my class before a snowstorm, “I have snowshoes and cross-country skis. I’ll be in class.”
9. Quite a few people at your school are what we call “crunchy:” outdoorsy types who are always down for an adventure if it contains hiking, camping, bonfires, rock climbing, mountain biking, or other such activities.
Even more so if it’ll have several of those.
10. You’ve seen some bizarre winter-time activities. For example, I once saw someone riding a bicycle on a frozen body of water at my school. True story.
11. There are a lot of Bean Boots, Timberlands, and pieces of Patagonia apparel on campus.
You know this is one of those clear signs you attend a New England school.
12. A lot of people support the Patriots. The fans are everywhere.
In conclusion, New England schools are awesome. I might be a bit biased, but I really love my school. New England is a wonderful area that I highly recommend, and if you notice any of the above, you just might have found it.
