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10 Signs You Know It’s Winter Quarter at Cal Poly

Gina Escandon
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Cal Poly chapter.

Yep. It’s that time of year again. The Mustangs bring out their North Face jackets and extra thick yoga pants in preparation for the chilly eight a.m. walks to class and long waits in the UU Starbucks line. Yet, no matter what year you are, or how difficult your class schedule may be, there are always a few unmistakable signs that it must be winter quarter at Cal Poly. 

1. All of your friends just got back from skiing in Tahoe. 

When your professor instructs you to ask the random stranger next to you what they did over break (against your will), the answer is almost always a Lake Tahoe ski trip. 

2. You have two extra changes of clothes in your backpack, because the weather changes multiple times a day. 

A fur coat for the morning, bikini for the afternoon, and a blanket made of fire just incase it’s cold on the walk home. 

3. The line to get into the rec center is literally out the door, around the corner, and down Grown Avenue. 

New Years resolutions= no spots on the elyptical machines. 

4. Everybody switches from sunbathing in Avila to hiking at Montana de Oro.

Because Avila is just too cold in the winter, and the only thing it’s good for anymore is Kravabowl. 

5. The food at Metro has progressively gotten worse and worse. 

We’re pretty sure the cooks have all but given up, that is until Open House weekend comes around again. 

6. Kennedy Library is way to crowded because everyone is using your precious study space as a warm refuge from the cold. 

And don’t even get us started on the line for Julian’s. 

7. Botany classes are less exciting because all the plants are dead or dormant. 

And obviously it just has to rain during the lab where you have to identify plants outside. 

8. You have to double up your sleeping bag during your weekend trip to Big Sur. 

Or throw yourself into the camp fire so you can finally stop the shivering. 

9. For some reason you just find yourself in Slo Do Co more often. 

We can’t even explain this one…it just happens. 

10. You’re slowly dying inside because winter quarter classes are actually the hardest. 

Everybody takes more units, there’s no Thanksgiving break, and midterms happen every. single. week. 

 

 

Gina was formerly the Beauty & Culture Editor at Her Campus, where she oversaw content and strategy for the site's key verticals. She was also the person behind @HerCampusBeauty, and all those other glowy selfies you faved. She got her start in digital media as a Campus Correspondent at HC Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she graduated in 2017 with degrees in English and Theater. Now, Gina is an LA-based writer and editor, and you can regularly find her wearing a face mask in bed and scrolling through TikTok.