I used to be Diana’s biggest hater and Hewitt’s biggest fan. Oh, how the rickety-Milstein-first-floor tables have turned. 

As promised, I am back to share the second edition of the official, Lauren’s Declassified School Survival Guide. This time, I will be comparing my thoughts as a second-semester student with my first ever Bwog piece on my first month at this wonderful oasis that we call Barnumbia. 

Starting off with the first week of classes. I confirm that your friends will either be registered in 19 credits or 8, and there is still, no inbetween. But, I would now take it a step further and say that I am now the friend that is registered in 19 credits. Somehow, the only class that I can fathom dropping is Beginner Yoga (this class is 1 credit. No, it will not solve my problem). Might I add, I am also an Athena Fellow this semester. So yes, I will update the masses at the end of this semester and give you a briefing of how to succeed in American Lit 1800-1870, English Lit 1500-1600, The English Colloquium: Enlightenment, Modern English & American Poetry, Intro Lab to Psych, and Social Psychology (and possibly Beginner Yoga). 

I still do not know what a discussion section is and am not registered for any. I have no further updates on registration. Sylly week is still, not at all silly. 

Looking back at 2023’s FDOC fall fashion full of Sambas and Levi 501s, we have seen quite the display of Canada Goose and Moncler jackets this week. The black sheep of Barnard in the winter is any athlete that wears shorts at 10 am when it is 11 degrees out. We all know that you are shivering your timbers. Personally, I do not mind the cold. You all know I prefer cool weather to hot, sticky weather; But I am getting tired of my tears ricocheting whenever my tote bag slips off my shoulder because my winter jacket has no traction. 

Campus dining is still my favorite topic of discussion:

In the fall, I was quite passionate about Hewitt dining. This was because I convinced myself if I ate one plate of gluten-free pasta that I would be fulfilling my goal of going gluten-free (I actually just do not know what gluten is or what gluten is in so I had to give up). But, I did in fact discover the pasta bar at Ferris. As students at Columbia University, we are quite spoiled by the luxurious treatment provided by the Ferris pasta & omelette bar. 

I also discovered in November that Diana offers pizza! Instead of subjecting myself to the antithesis of what is supposed to be Chicken Tikka Masala, I now would give my left leg in exchange for a pepperoni pizza at Diana. It is so fulfilling for a reason I can not, nor will not, explain. 

I discovered JJ’s Place and fell in love. Whoever makes those quesadillas deserves the world. 

My all-time favorite dining hall would have to be Grace Dodge or Faculty House (JJ’s is actually my favorite but I will not expose myself for eating the quesadillas every day…). The burgers at Grace Dodge are incredibly underrated, as is salmon day at Fac House. 

My only beware-of for this semester would be to avoid going to the 72nd Street Trader Joe’s on the last Sunday of winter break. Unless, of course, you are prepared to see every single student at this university in the never-ending checkout line. 

I am still proud to be Oprah to every transfer student’s Meghan Markle because we shall no longer be silenced! This goes out to anyone else who did not know that Fac House existed until mid-October! I will be back at the end of the semester with more reflections.

Peace, love, and protect the Grace Dodge dining hall at all costs. 

Columbia University via Bwog Archives