Dear Freshmen (or any first-time college Halloweener),
There are few holidays the college culture embraces more than Halloween. While you’ve definitely surpassed the age that it’s socially acceptable for you to go door-to-door and demand candy, there are still plenty of treats to look forward to. From dressing up to picture-taking to the parties, here’s everything you should know to have a successful and safe Halloween.
1. Dress up
In high school, Halloween lasts for just one night—but in college, Halloween becomes a weekend-long event that requires multiple costumes. If you go to a Halloween party (any party within five days of Halloween in either direction), everyone will be wearing a costume. It should be your goal to have the funniest, most clever and all around best one. Your sexy Donald Trump getup will not only be a great conversation-starter, but you’ll also find it’s fun to have a little anonymity for the weekend.
2. Wear a different costume every night
Just think of the epic Instagram photo ops that will make your friends from home jealous when they see you having fun with all your new college friends.You don’t want to be caught in the same getup for every shot. You’ll not only have a lot of fun changing it up each night, but also show off the extent to which you’re celebrating—upwards of three separate, fun-filled nights, to be exact. You don’t even have to go out afterward. You don’t even have to know these people. Just take the picture.
3. Only dress up for class if you’re okay being the only one
Gone are the high school days of Halloween parades and costume contests—if you show up to your chemistry lab wearing an authentic replica Chewbacca costume, you’ll probably be the only one, and you’ll probably set yourself on fire with a bunsen burner. On that note, if you want to wear an authentic replica Chewbacca costume to class, do it—college is the best time in life to set yourself apart, and more importantly, indulge in outrageous costumes.
4. Ladies, wear heels that you can walk in
This is a pretty good rule in general if you want to avoid twisting your ankle in front of the people you’ll be spending the next four years with, but it especially applies on Halloween. Do you really want to take a face plant on your way into the party dressed as Marilyn Monroe? While people may forget about your tumble by the next day, you’ll spend the rest of the night hobbling around as that girl. Also, wear a jacket. That skin-tight nurse getup will not provide enough coverage to combat the elements by 2 am.
5. You’re responsible for your actions
You might be Bill Clinton or a flight attendant or even a pumpkin spice latte for the night, but if you do something you regret, the consequences will be all yours the next day. Use good judgement and make smart choices so you don’t wake up wishing you didn’t have to change out of your costume.
Above all, be safe and these tips will ensure you make the most of your first college Halloweekend.
