10 Things Only Texas State Students Will Understand

Are your calves always sore? Do you have a permanent sunburn over summer semester? And does the word “trains” immediately anger you? Then you might be a Texas State student. Look, college is different for everyone depending on where you go, but there are some things you just won’t get unless you go to Texas State. Here are just 10 things only Texas State students will understand, but there are definitely a lot more.

1. The Pure Workout That Is Alkek’s Stairs

The second you check your class schedules and see that one of your core classes is at Alkek, your legs are already sore. It’s like having to hike a mountain just to get to your College Algebra course. It’s truly ridiculous. That being said, your legs are going to be in great shape.

2. The Ability To “Float Home” From Campus

The reason you chose to go to Texas State was because of the river that flows right through the heart of campus. We all consider ourselves river rats and even professors have canceled class on days when we finally have perfect weather, just so we can all go tubing. Now, thanks to smart apartment complexes, some of us can officially float home from campus. All you’ll need is an inner tube and a waterproof backpack and you’re all set.

3. The Annual Flood That Shuts The Whole Town Down

You don’t have to live in San Marcos for long before you realize the true meaning of the phrase, “when it rains, it pours.” And, boy, does it pour at Texas State. News of a thunderstorm usually means H-E-B is sold out of water and canned goods, students are constantly checking their emails for that beloved “class is canceled” message, and residents are trying to find parking on high ground. At Texas State, we don’t get snow days, we get flood days. But when it does flood, stay safe and at home! Don’t float the flood, y’all.

4. The Inconvenient (For Our Wallets) Outlet Malls

A couple miles from campus lays the infamous Outlet Malls. Yes, two of them. Right by campus. Our poor wallets. The amount of money I’ve dropped in a day just walking around the outlets is wild. Yet, if you’re ever in need of a quick outfit, the outlets have you covered and it’s always on sale.

5. The Square

Texas State has often been considered a party school. While that’s not entirely true, if you’ve ever driven around The Square downtown on a Saturday night, then you can see where it comes from. The streets are always packed as Texas State students wait in line for concerts at The Marc, crowd onto the patio at Mayloo’s, or climb all the way up to Rooftop’s deck. If you’re 21, The Square is where it’s at.

6. The Trains That Always Make You Late

It doesn’t matter where you’re going. Class. Work. Drinks. Wherever it is, if you’re running late, the trains know and they will decide to stop on the tracks just as you pull up to them. I can see you nodding along to this one. You’ve probably run into class late, out of breath from those Alkek stairs, and apologized profusely saying the bus got stuck at a train. We’ve all been there. It’s a rite of passage for us Texas State students.

7. The Good Luck Of The Stallions

Everywhere has a good luck tradition when it comes to exam days, and Texas State is no exemption. If you’re new to campus and see some people touching a statue, they probably have midterms and send them good vibes on their tests.

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8. The Annoying And Unavoidable Quad

Almost every school has one. A quad. A wide walkways in the middle of campus that always seems to be too small between classes. It’s hard enough just navigate through the sea of people, but the Quad always seems to have people pushing flyers in your face, gathering for speeches at the Stallions, and there’s no way to avoid it. Most of the buildings for core classes are right there.

9. The Blessing That Is Boko’s Lounge

Sometimes, your classes are awkwardly spaced and you don’t have time to head to your dorm for a quick nap in between. That’s where Boko’s Lounge comes in. Boko’s, based on our mascot, has everything you need. Coffee. Pillows. Blankets. Places to nap! And it’s right near one of the food courts.

10. The Town’s Obsession With Mermaids

Texas State students are all very much aware of the town’s history and the mermaids that used to perform at the natural spring that feeds our river. While they no longer perform, San Marcos refuses to let the memory die. From totally instagramable mermaid murals, to the annual Mermaid Festival, to the mermaid statues all around downtown, mermaids are just another way we keep San Marcos unique.