Five Things I Wish I Knew About Before Attending Montclair State University

I started at Montclair State University in fall 2010 after finishing up my associate degree at Ocean County College. Going off to college as a junior is a whole different experience from starting at a university as a freshman: you’ve been in college for two years already, you’ve already done it all, and you know everything you need to know about being a college student. Or at least I thought I did. I learned so much more at Montclair State than I ever expected. My first year, I did the traditional setup: I lived on campus and did all my classes in person, rather than online, because I figured I was already paying to be there and might as well. My second year, I rented an apartment in town and commuted to school, which gave me a whole new perspective on life at Montclair State. That year, I did a combination of online, in-person, and off-campus classes. In spring 2012, I graduated with a Bachelor’s in English with a concentration in Creative Writing.

1.) It’s a wind tunnel

As its name suggests to anybody familiar with French, Montclair State University is located on a mountain. And up on that mountain, it’s windy. And not cute, Marilyn over a subway grate windy. It’s the kind of wind that makes you feel like you’re being slapped in the face with a wet dishrag over and over again.

Coming from the fairly flat, somewhat more moderate Jersey Shore, where my daily uniform consisted of hoodies and cons, I learned really quickly to invest in multiple scarves, hats, and thick gloves for the winter in Montclair.

2.) Patience is a virtue, but you have to be ruthless to find parking

Montclair State has the second-largest student population in New Jersey with just over 20,000 students. About 15,000 of those students live off campus, which makes finding a parking spot difficult, to put it politely. To put it truthfully, parking is an all-out war.

Everything I knew about parking garage etiquette went right out the window as I found myself speeding, cutting other drivers off, and dodging some close calls as I fought thousands of other commuter students for the same few spots.

3.) There are at least as many Canada Geese as there are people

And rabbits, groundhogs, deer, red-tailed hawks, and even turkeys. Yes, turkeys. There is a fairly sizable wild turkey population on campus and they enjoy hanging out in the parking lot that backs up into the woods, chilling on students’ cars. But they’re nothing compared to the geese.

Forget the Board of Trustees, the Canada geese are the ones who really run Montclair State. Get too close to a goose’s nest and you’ll get hissed at. Try to make it past the area the geese claimed to get into your building and you’ll get chased. They’re brazen and they’re everywhere, leaving dark green stains on the sidewalk as a constant reminder of their presence on campus.

4.) The train does not go into NYC on the weekends

That’s not to say you can’t get into the city on weekends, but you’re not getting there from the train station on-campus. Montclair State University is approximately 14 miles west of New York City, and this proximity is one of the main reasons a lot of students choose the school. Too bad you’re going to need to drive yourself in, take an hour-long bus ride, or drive yourself to another train station to enjoy the Big Apple on weekends.

5.) You’re in good company

Montclair State has more than 100,000 living, breathing alumni. Most of them are in the NY/NJ area, which means you’ll find fellow Montclair State grads pretty much anywhere you go. It’s a comforting feeling to have something in common with so many others, providing an out to endless awkward conversations.

You’ll never find yourself having to explain exactly where you went to school like some of your friends at little private colleges do. Everybody knows about Montclair State and when you’re going through the interview process, this can be a huge plus.

Lindsay Kramer is a 2012 graduate of Montclair State University.