Annie Lin

Something magical happens at Yale with the arrival of a new class. Remarkably, every first year recreates a set of unwritten traditions that have been passed along from one class to the other. Here are some of the most infamous first-year cliches that no student has managed to escape from: 

• Saying “resco” instead of residential college

The term “residential college” only consists of two words and six syllables. But when freshmen have to say it again and again while meeting new people, they find the term “resco” handy. Then, like clockwork, these freshmen meet upperclassmen who mock them for saying “resco.” First years, save yourself the time and never let “resco” enter your vocabulary – you will retreat to “residential college” by the end of the year anyway.

• Hunting for frat parties in large groups

The first-year experience is defined by the constant struggle to find a frat house that will let freshmen in. The slow march from High Street to Lynwood Place, and then to Lake Place, is a journey that the unwilling first year is forced to take every Friday and Saturday night. This march also usually comprises groups of at least five people, led by someone who swears they know where AEPi is or knows a brother who can get everyone in. Some even pull up to frat houses with their Yale ID on a lanyard. 

• Bragging about getting into other schools 

The college process is a formidable experience that only time can heal. As their college journey begins, many first years cope with the college application process by constantly reminding themselves of their Yale acceptance. The problem with doing that at Yale is that everyone else also got into Yale. To differentiate themselves, these freshmen resort to bragging about their acceptances to other schools. Some even make it constantly known that they turned down Stanford or ignored a likely letter from Columbia. 

• Trying and failing to maintain long-distance relationships

Every first-year suite has at least one person who never misses a FaceTime with their high school sweetheart. As others go through frenzied hookups, these steadfast souls vow to do everything they can to keep their long-distance relationships. By October break, after attempts at open relationships and the occasional infidelity, most of these relationships fall apart, quite predictably. 

• Hard launching friend groups during fall break

First-year fall is a long scramble for belonging. Friend groups dissolve as quickly as they are formed. The friend groups who make it through the chaos of the first few months announce themselves on Instagram around October break, the same time of the year when the entire first-year class makes a pilgrimage to New York City. It is not a real hard launch if the Instagram post does not include tags of at least ten people. Speaking of New York City… 

• Aggressively Instagramming that first trip to New York City

Every first-year who goes to New York City for the first time has the same sequence of Instagram Stories. The day starts with a shot of Grand Central’s starry ceiling and is quickly followed by a shot outside of the Chrysler Building. Many head to Times Square, where they get photos for their obligatory NYC photo dump later that week, while some end up posing contemplatively in front of famous paintings at The Met. These stories always include a geotag too, as if no one knows what New York City looks like. 

• Taking club applications too seriously

The first few weeks of Camp Yale are all fun and games, but everything starts to shift after the Extracurricular Bazaar. Anxious first years start taking over Bass Cafe, typing away on their Macbooks to craft the perfect responses for their investment club or consulting group application. Whispers of nepotism in the selection process of certain clubs begin to be passed around. Friends even start to drift apart as some latch onto the professional or social groups they are accepted into. 

• Crying over an A- 

Having breezed through high school with straight As, many freshmen struggle to cope with their first A- during midterm season. The “Cr/D/Fail” option suddenly seems appealing, while some even entertain the thought of dropping the class entirely. For the overachieving first-years, the failure to maintain a 4.00 GPA is the worst thing that can happen to them, for the time being.