It’s that time of year, when people start packing up their lives to fit into the ridiculously small storage closets they call dorm rooms.  For some of us, we will be heading back to familiar sights and sounds, having already navigated our way through a couple years of school.  For the rest of us, it will be the first time on campus and the start of a much-hyped period in your life: the college years.

There have been several books written to prepare incoming freshman for all the crazy shiz that will go down during their first year of school.  Their relatives, friends, guidance counselors and even complete strangers will also advise them on how to stay healthy in the cafeteria and how to sneak alcohol into their dorm room.

To really be prepared for your freshman year, however, you should get familiar with the people that will surround you on a daily basis.  Will your roommate be a Loner or a Homesick Child?  Will your lab partner be an Athlete/Ultimate Fan and therefore too busy checking on player stats and scores to write the chemistry report with you?  Only time will tell, so you might as well be prepared.

Here’s the 10 types of freshmen you’ll meet on campus: Read More »

And so it begins. After 11 long, tortuous, pain-staking months of waiting… the Big Dance is finally here.

Once you get past the fact that the NCAA Selection Committee made the mistake of not including some of the best teams that could have been this year’s Cinderella (Arizona State instead of St. Mary’s? come on), the board actually came up with a pretty good draw. And for the next 2 weeks, I will be fully immersing myself in the insanity and awesomeness that is the most exciting sporting event of the year: March Madness.

The best conference in the country (and maybe in history) is hands-down the Big East. 3 out of the 4 number 1 seeds are from the Big East: UConn, Louisville, and Pitt. Even Barack Obama believes in the dominance of this conference, since his bracket that he filled out on Wednesday (live on ESPN! what a cool prez) shows it filling half of his Elite Eight. Although Obama didn’t have our lovely school in his Final Four, Coach K isn’t worried. Read More »

Selection Sunday is over. The 64 college basketball teams have been chosen and March Madness has officially begun.

I’ve already received 26 invitations from guys asking me to fill out a bracket and join their pool. I’m honored that so many people thought of me, but I think it may have more to do with the fact that those 26 guys know I know absolutely nothing about basketball than the fact that they love and respect my opinion.

Don’t get me wrong – I love part of March Madness. I love anything that involves hanging out with a bunch of guys talking sports and drinking beer. There is something so cute about boys and sports – the excitement, the high fives, the school spirit.

But… I hate basketball.

No, it’s not because Michigan’s basketball program has been less than fantastic over the course of my stay on campus. It’s just that I find the game to be boring to watch. It’s just a game of back and forth to me. My team scores, their team scores, my team scores, their team scores…. over and over again.  Unlike football where each successful play could be the winning play, basketball games only really matter for 5 minutes. The last 5. The rest of the game just doesn’t matter to me.

Oh, and it doesn’t help that this entire March Madness situation totally trumps my March 21st birthday.

I’m pretty sure I’m alone in this seeing how many Facebook status updates include “NCAA” and a lot of exclamation points this morning. Everyone seems to be basketball crazy. Yes, even my great aunt (who also happens to be on Facebook. WTF!?). I just don’t see what all the hype is about.

What about you? Are you mad about March Madness?

You can always tell who in your class is a Drama major. Don’t get me wrong, I’m just as much of a fan of the theatre as the next guy, but there is something very distinct about those who major in the department.

Unlike the business kids or the engineers, the Drama Major is bound to be in one or many of your classes. And he or she will be there with at least 3 of their fellow thesbians. Practicing their lines. You may not be able to recognize them by what they wear, but their overly dramatic speeches (and stage makeup) will surely tip you off.

When called on to answer a question, the Drama Major will turn the moment into a well-practiced soliloquy. They will use hand gestures, complete sentences and enunciate every last syllable. And when called on to read a passage aloud, they will take the opportunity to turn the classroom into a theater. The Drama Major will read with pauses, motions, and may even add different character voices, if the passage calls for it. Read More »