Hello and welcome to back-to-school week at American Style. Starting today and running through Friday, you’ll be hearing from a different college student each day about life across America, live from their first week back on campus. Each will be answering the American Style College Questionnaire, a 16-question survey designed to encompass the modern student experience with prompts like, “Do you eat at the dining hall?” and “Do you currently have a crush?”
To get things started, we’re joining Bernadette, a freshman at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Bernadette is British and seems to be having a lot of fun in college — complete with vintage Louboutins, long nights out and the occasional Raya date. Read to the end to catch the 5 things she’s learned from college so far.
Name: Bernadette
Age: 18 years of age
College/year: Parsons School of Design/Freshman
Hometown: London, England
Major: Strategic Design & Management
My first few weeks in the city were filled with frivolous outings, roommate gossip sessions, hedonistic nights and soaking up the final days of New York summertime. However, I finally found my days growing both restless and aimless as my third week came to a close, so I was rather eager to move along and begin my classes. This excitement was diminished when, out with friends at about 3 am, I discovered that my first class of my college career began at 8.30 that morning. The class itself being on Quantitative Reasoning was the final blow to my freshman optimism. Nevertheless, that morning, with a splitting headache and a warrior drive, I completed my first class, with little to no hardship. I snapped a victory mirror selfie to my parents in the bathroom mirror after class. I then went back to my dorm, and slept for the remainder of the day, with brief intervals to resume watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Breakfast: Cold brew with almond milk, one of those collagen jelly pouches and a rushed menthol Vogue. Highly recommended for girls on the go.
Do you live on campus? Yes!! I am in a double suite, we are 4 girls, 1 very tiny apartment, at least we are on 5th Ave…
Do you participate in any sports, clubs or extracurriculars? No sports (least sporty person to live) or clubs (yet), but I have applied to be a life model for the fine arts students, so there may be potential there.
This excitement was diminished when, out with friends at about 3 am, I discovered that my first class of my college career began at 8.30 that morning.
How would you describe the style on campus? You can tell Parsons is a fashion school just walking around the section of Greenwich Village where the campus is located. You can envision a relatively clear line between where NYU students end and Parsons students begin. The Parsons students are typically very expressive with their styling, leaning into notably artsy and conceptual dressing. This of course is blended with your it-girls in their vintage designer and the kids who just kind of do their own thing and don’t really feed into the artsy student archetype… nonetheless, we have a lot of self-expression through style on campus.
If you’re a sophomore, junior or senior, what changes have you noticed on campus since your first year? N/A (I am a freshman).
Americans don’t party as hard as Brits do in school. You may be labelled as ‘crazy’ or a ‘bad influence’.
Did you go back-to-school shopping? What did you buy? My last year of school in London just about killed off my 2017 Macbook Pro, so I bought a new one for college, plus the dorm essentials (boring)… More importantly I have taken to plenty of flea markets and thrift stores with my roommates to find lil antiques to decorate the suite. I also had a minor Depop binge the other day which the building’s mailroom is now reaping the effects of. Oh, and I picked up a pair of vintage Louboutins, I figured they were a NYC nightlife/dating staple? Other than that, I’m winging it, and (trying) to get over my crippling shopping addiction.
What’s your first day back outfit? My first day of classes, I sported a sheer, baby pink, AllSaints tee that I picked up at Pimlico carboot sale this summer, paired with my black CouCou Intimates pointelle skirt, my nude vintage Balenciaga day bag and a pair of snakeskin Tory Burch ballet flats.
I also had a minor Depop binge the other day which the building’s mailroom is now reaping the effects of.
Lunch: Whatever looks good at the Merci Market buffet? They have had great grain salads recently, with a lemon glazed salmon fillet…
How would you rate your level of school spirit? I am grateful that Parsons doesn’t have a great amount of school spirit itself, as an art school rather than a typical university. Still, I think I’m doing pretty well for a cynical Londoner in her first American college experience… 7/10 #iloveparsons!!
What does a typical weekend look like for you? So far, it usually starts with completing any urgent homework assignments on a Friday afternoon, then taking a long shower before commencing upon a 3 day bender around fabulous New York City nightlife destinations, perhaps throwing in the odd Raya date (sue me) and daytime walk around Central Park or the flea markets with friends.
Do you eat at the dining hall? I did until I found out Merci Market accepts dining dollars?
What’s your best class? I’m a writer at heart, so I love my Integrative Seminar. Also a big fan of my Sustainable Systems class.
What’s your worst? Quantitative Reasoning. I haven’t taken a math class since my GCSE’s and I had forgotten how utterly dreadful it is.
Do you currently have a crush? Always, but nice girls never tell.
What do you want to do after you graduate? I want to write a long memoir, engage in a brief but highly disorienting love affair that inevitably ends in heartbreak, move to Paris (potentially), get a job in creative direction that allows me to buy lots of shoes and bags and continue to frolic around New York and London in my own fabulous world.
Dinner: Realistically marmite and butter sandwiches and a cup of earl grey tea. I’m attempting to hold on to my roots.
Here is what I have learnt from the start of college:
Parsons classes are hard, like, really hard. They start off intensely, make you question your intelligence and everyone around you is just as talented and clever as you are. Don’t let that dishearten you, turn it into a challenge. You deserve to be here.
Americans don’t party as hard as Brits do in school. You may be labelled as ‘crazy’ or a ‘bad influence’. Give them time, it comes to them in college. This will probably be good for you.
Don’t spend all of your money on nights out and clothes in the first week of school. It isn’t practical and your sense of style will probably evolve greatly in just a semester from beginning college. Save by tricking unassuming college boys into buying you and your roommates drinks, and ditching them when they aren’t looking.
Even the most outgoing, individualistic people get homesick eventually. Stay in touch with your people, you’ll need them at some point when all you crave is the familiarity of home.
Say yes to every invitation; dance to terrible, loud music with your roommates in your pajamas; kiss someone you like; kiss someone you don’t really like at all; make friends with the cashier in your local coffee shop; make friends with the security guards that sit in your lobby; be accepting of your peers; party hard; take your schoolwork in your stride. It’s gonna work out great, this an experience of a lifetime. You are lucky to be here.
Thank you for reading the American Style College Questionnaire. Tomorrow we’re going to Oberlin.
this randomly made me emotional - love this series.
You better be taking my class at Lang, Bernadette!