West Virginia University - Inside Scoop

Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming To School

• How difficult it would be to live with a stranger. Definitely try to have more contact with your future roommate before moving in together. Facebook is a great tool for this.

• Knowing the layout of WVU’s campuses and what each has to offer before coming here is a huge advantage. WVU's Web site provides maps.

• When scheduling classes on the Evansdale campus, you should allow 30 minutes or more between classes when going to or from Evansdale via the PRT or the bus.

Tips to Succeed

• The biggest tip for succeeding at a school like WVU is to make sure you get your academics on track right away. There will always be chances to go to parties, but there aren’t always chances to succeed in classes. Also, get involved with a bunch of organizations. Even going to football games or other sporting events helps build a sense of camaraderie. Lastly, meet lots of new people and make a lot of friends. The key to college is staying happy and stress free, and with the company of good people, it is easy to do so.

Urban Legends

• It is said that in 1902, a bunch of kids led a cow up four flights of stairs in Woodburn Hall as a senior prank. Since cows will go up stairs but are almost never willing to come back down, the cow had to be removed with an "improvised derrick."

Traditions

• One of the better traditions involves the WVU mascot, the Mountaineer. It is tradition for him to shoot off his musket during athletic events when a team scores, or to lead the team out onto the field. This is usually the signal for the students to get loud and crazy. Another big tradition is Mountaineer Week. During this week, various activities occur that show what the state of West Virginia is like. There are crafts, folk music players, a beard growing contest, and a contest to see how many students can fit into a PRT car. This usually garners a lot of attention for students, and it’s a great time for all