If you’ve done these 13 things, you’re definitely ready to graduate from York

With graduation season finally rolling around, I’m sure many outgoing students are reminiscing on their uni days and wondering if they’ve truly experienced all that York has to offer. Did you go out enough (probably), did you study enough (probably not), did you get the true York experience (TBD). So here is your definitive York graduation bucket list, and if you’ve done even half of these you’re definitely ready to move on.

1. Been to a Viking Raid

I don’t know whose idea it was to give students matching T-shirts and send us out at 6pm for a six hour long pub crawl that ends with free nightclub entry, but I’d like to shake their hand. Are you really a York student if you haven’t been on the Viking Raid (and its Refreshers’ Week sibling, Roman Raid)? It’s a truly unique experience where you’re guaranteed to run into at least 15 course mates, people you haven’t seen since Freshers’, and every mutual friend you could possibly imagine. Ideally you’d go to all six raids to tick this off, but I’d say at least one provides you with enough memories to justify it (for better or worse).

2. Spent all night in the library

A less fun one here, but another integral part of any uni experience. There’s nothing quite as humbling as walking home from your library of choice (personally I’m a Fairhurst girlie) and seeing the sunrise, especially when it’s in the middle of winter. It’s even worse when you know you have to trek back in a matter of hours. If you’ve done this you’ve definitely earned your diploma – all-nighters are not for the weak.

Bonus point if you’ve ever been so desperate that you’ve tortured yourself with the deathly silent top floor of the Morrell, or even worse, Burton, a place I have glimpsed only once and will never set foot in again. You are truly York’s strongest soldier.

3. Been to all the York tourist hotspots

There’s too many of these to count, but I’d say the highlights are: Queueing for the iconic Ghost Merchants, a trip to York’s Chocolate Story (yum) and a summer picnic in the Museum Gardens. And, of course, the historic York Minster – you need to make use of the free student entry before you graduate!

It’s easy to forget how much there is to do in York when you spend most of your time inwardly crying over your coursework, but a little trip to town is the perfect way to round off the week. So while you still can, go and experience the city one last time – you deserve it!

4. Ran for the 66/67

Despite vowing not to, I have done this more times than I care to admit. There’s nothing quite as depressing as the sinking feeling you get watching the 66 pull away just as you reach it. Huffing, puffing, and looking like a complete idiot to the people that actually checked the timetable. Embarrassing, but a rite of passage, unfortunately. As is the opposite experience: Getting squashed as you manage to nab the last spot on the crammed bus, wondering if the journey will end before you start crying.

5. Gone into your overdraft for a Salt & Pepper

I lied, this is more humbling than the library. Salt & Pepper is both my favourite and least favourite place rolled into one – post-Salvos me would happily give their cheesy chips a five star rating, while sober me avoids that area of town entirely and pretends I’ve never even set foot inside a club. The downside to the post-club takeaway is the price, especially when York is already spenny. I would not recommend making this a regular pastime, however if you’re graduating it’s most likely too late for that – and if you’ve never gone into your overdraft at least once, I am scared of you.

6. Been to the Summer Ball

The classier version of Viking Raid, in that you’ll see everyone you’ve ever met at York, but they’re all dressed up rather than in matching shirts. As a yearly event right after the assessment period, the Summer Ball at York Racecourse is always a highlight for me. Mostly as an excuse to buy a new outfit and pretend I’m a child on the free fairground rides. Summer Ball is also perfect for a music fan, with the past two years seeing bands like Sundara Karma and Scouting For Girls take the main stage, as well as showcasing York’s own music scene on the BandSoc stage.

7. Gone to a 9am after Wednesday Salvos

If you’ve ever wanted to experience what hell is like, this is the answer. The anguish that comes with relentless Thursday 9am seminars is not a feeling that can be ignored. Every. Single. Week. You desperately try and string two sentences together, running on three hours of sleep with the painful knowledge that you were having the time of your life in the club a mere six hours ago. That 7am alarm is truly sent from hell.

8. Gone to Courtyard instead of a lecture

No matter what time of day it is, the average York student is always down for a Courtyard trip. These trips to what is, in my humble opinion, the best bar on campus, always last longer than they’re supposed to and generally result in skipping whatever lecture you have next. And while in theory the chill vibe and cheap food is ideal for a study session, I can’t say that students are most productive in here. Whoops, just ordered another round of drinks x

9. Become irrationally protective of York during Roses

As someone who doesn’t care about sport in the slightest, it’s shocking that I become York’s number one defender every spring when Roses rolls around. After three consecutive years of defeat at the hands of Lancaster, this is getting even sadder each time. But it’s all part of the fun – arguing passionately about lacrosse or darts or American football, loudly shouting “Roses are white” during matches, bringing up random trivia about the actual Wars of the Roses (this one might just be me). Love it or hate it, Roses is unavoidable, so you might as well pretend to love it!

10. Got lost on campus

You’d think this was more of a first year experience, however sadly it is not – it’s not my fault that all the buildings look the same. Humanities girlies will know the struggle of being sent to every corner of campus for seminars, and the added pain of Google Maps not knowing what it’s doing either. Why am I in Derwent when my seminar is supposed to be in Vanbrugh? If all else fails, try and find Central Hall, and if you can’t, I’m sorry. This one is 10 times worse in the winter when it’s dark and all the buildings blend into one concrete blob. You’d think it was designed to be a nuisance.

11. Been recognised by a bouncer

I am possibly too proud of the fact that this has happened to me in Stones, Lowther, and Flares. Some may say this is a sign that you go out too much, but others may correctly describe this as iconic, if a little humbling. Anything that speeds up the process of getting a Stones triple vodka or jello shot is alright with me. This is definitely a sign that you’re getting the true York experience – maybe too much experience – so if this has happened to you, firstly, you have my utmost respect, and secondly, you’re one step closer to graduation.

12. Stayed until close in a club

Rather than being iconic, I’d describe this as more tragic than anything else. Unless the night is really really good (let’s be honest, that’s rare in York) OR it’s a Taylor Swift themed night, any time past 2:45 is pushing it. No one wants to be there when the lights turn on and Jason Reilly stops the tunes, leading to a rush towards the exit and a minor existential crisis every time without fail. Doing this once is more than enough times to justify ticking it off.

13. Been chased by a goose

In a perfect world, this one would revolve around spotting the legend himself, Long Boi, but since his tragic death in 2023, this is no longer a possibility. So instead you have the much more terrifying experience of being chased by one of the thousands of evil campus geese. When it comes to campus hierarchy, students are second to the geese. They have no fear. Knowing exactly when to strike to cause the most embarrassment for their victim, the geese make us students late to our lectures every single time. Probably the most quintessential Uni of York experience, this is nearly unavoidable. If you’ve managed to avoid it I am in awe, but unfortunately you don’t get to tick off the last bucket list item, so who’s the real winner here (it’s you, I’m just jealous).

So there you go, 13 things that sum up the true Uni of York experience, ensuring that you’ll look back on your uni days with a mixture of embarrassment and pride. Congratulations to the graduates of 2024!

Related articles recommended by this author:

• Calling all York graduates, here are five must-have gifts to treat yourself

• Whether you’re first or third year, these places need to be on your York summer bucket list

• University of York drops nearly 20 places in new global university ranking