Lucia Thomas | Staff Illustrator

Welcome to WashU! Now that you’ve gotten on campus and paged through a syllabus, you’re a properly minted Bear, and we’re so glad you’re here. College is a huge shift on every level, and you’ve already done a huge amount of learning on the job these past few weeks. 

Still, here are a few things you won’t find in a Bear Beginnings pamphlet because they’re a compilation of advice gathered from careful consultations with upperclassmen of all stripes.

If you were fortunate enough to coast down Midwestern expressways on your way to campus, you’ll certainly have encountered the billboards that splice amber waves of grain with their divine proclamations all the way down the I-55. 

I’m here to tell you that those billboards were right: Hell is Real, and it’s the Brentwood Promenade on a Saturday afternoon.

Those of you courageous enough to brave the Target during these past few weeks might have already seen the worn battlefield: shell-shocked employees, gridlocked battalions of carts, and fistfights over the last twin XL sheet set.

The Pavilion will eventually come to be a central part of your shopping experience here at WashU. But during these busy seasons, try to avoid the gridlock by shopping at Dierbergs — it’s closer to the metro station, and you don’t have to cut through the Chick-fil-A drive-thru to get there. 

Speaking of the metro, get a U-Pass! Sources tell me distribution has been tricky this year, but these cards allow you to ride the rails for free. First-years should receive their U-Passes automatically, typically during move-in. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors should request a U-Pass through the Parking & Transportation Office at the start of every semester. 

That being said, the metro usually doesn’t check tickets unless you’re coming back from an especially crowded Blues game or the Medical Campus, but you always have to swipe for buses. Use the Transit app for St. Louis transportation to check wait times (with cute emojis!) and TripShot for the 10 WashU shuttles that run on and around campus, as well as the Campus2Home and Shopper shuttles.

St. Louis is a pretty car-dependent city, so utilizing campus and public transportation will save you from excessive Uber charges, as well as sweaty treks in the summer and freezing your butt off in the winter. Don’t be fooled by the unseasonably cool weather this week — summer here lasts well through September. Expect Halloween to be cold (and potentially drizzly — maybe you can be a sexy black cat in a raincoat) and for the first snow to ground the city to a halt around Thanksgiving. If this is the furthest north you’ve been, invest in a heavy winter jacket, a hat, and gloves. Conversely, if this is the furthest south you’ve been, pick up some bug spray and deodorant (please!).

The campus community is one of the most important parts of college. Clubs and activities are the best way to find your people — check out the Activities Fair in the Field House on Friday. Whether you’re assembling race cars, flipping with club gymnastics, or pulling Wednesday all-nighters for StudLife, getting involved is paramount to meeting new people (and padding your resume). With over 400 student groups, you’re bound to find something that fits your fancy. 

While finding community at WashU is great, sometimes you just want to chill out for a minute. In that case, avoid popular spots like the DUC, especially around lunch hour. If you were planning on eating that day, order early on GrubHub for pickup, or frequent one of the faster campus dining options, like Stanley’s Sushi in Lopata Hall or Corner 17 in Olin. The rush usually calms down as the semester gets going (and everyone loses their will to spend any excess time outside the confines of their very comfortable bed), but be prepared for long wait times. 

Community has also gone digital — GroupMe chats are a great way to get the haps on everything going on around campus, from nightlife and free food to coordinating rideshares from the airport and finding summer housing. 

So go forth — this city is yours, and you’ve got four amazing years to explore it. Study hard, play harder, and collect some crazy college stories along the way. Be a Bear — just maybe not at the Brentwood Promenade.