College Superstitions and Good Luck Traditions
1. The Biliken – Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University’s mascot, the Biliken, is a mythical figure that was created in 1908 by Florence Pretz, an art teacher. She patented the design and sold the rights to the Biliken Company, which then went on to manufacture all sorts of merchandise in the Biliken’s image. This included dolls, hatpins, pickle forks, belt buckles, bottles, and many others.
Of the Biliken, Pretz said, “I concluded if there is a chance that we shape our own lives, and my clay was mine to fashion as I would, I might as well make an image, which embodied hope and happiness to sort of live up to.” In other words, the Biliken was meant to embody good luck.
It’s not quite clear exactly how the Biliken became associated with the university, as there are several origin stories. However, the school’s football team became known as “Bender’s Bilikens” (John Bender was a coach) and later simply “the Bilikens.”
2. The Fountain of Luck – The University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has many notable landmarks around its campus, but perhaps none is quite as attractive as the Sombrilla Fountain. Just be careful where you place your hands when you visit it.
If you touch the fountain wall during finals week—and only during finals week—you’ll do well on your exams, according to campus legend. Touching the fountain wall any other time is said to bring bad luck.
3. Testudo the Turtle – University of Maryland
Testudo, the Diamondback turtle, has been the University of Maryland’s official mascot since the 1930s. The school had a statue created of the giant turtle, and to this day, students rub its nose for good luck.
The turtle statue itself, however, has endured a long string of bad luck. Over the years, it’s been subjected to various pranks by rival colleges, most notably Johns Hopkins students, who have defaced the statue and kidnapped it multiple times. Following a 1947 kidnapping by Johns Hopkins students, Maryland students traveled to Baltimore to lay siege to the campus building where Testudo was being held hostage. Testudo was safely returned, and Maryland students enjoyed an impromptu party.
4. The Legend of the Albino Squirrel – University of Texas at Austin
One of the college traditions at the University of Texas at Austin involves an albino squirrel. Legend has it that if you see an albino squirrel on an exam day, you’ll have good luck on your test. (If you’re scientifically inclined, you may be interested to know that the white squirrels in the area may not actually be true albinos but rather a less common species of white fox squirrels.)
5. Pennies on Sully – Texas A&M University
“Sully” was Lawrence Sullivan Ross, president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Texas A&M from 1891 to 1898. Also a former governor of Texas, Ross was credited with working diligently to keep the college open, and today, his efforts are honored with the Sully statue on campus. For good luck before taking an exam, leave a penny at the base of the statue.
6. Kissing the Egghead – University of California, Davis
Located in various spots around the UC Davis campus, you’ll find a series of ceramic sculptures known collectively as the Eggheads. There’s one near the East Gate and another at Mrak Hall. While all of the Eggheads are good luck, kissing the Egghead at the entrance to the library is said to be particularly lucky for students taking final exams.
7. Howard’s Rock – Clemson University
If you’re into college ball, you’re almost certainly familiar with Clemson University and their Tigers. Before every football game, the Tigers run down The Hill to enter Memorial Stadium. The players always rub Howard’s Rock—a literal rock mounted on a pedestal—for good luck before running down the hill.
The rock was found in Death Valley and given to former coach Frank Howard. It was mounted on The Hill in 1966, and the tradition of rubbing it before each game began the next year.
8. Rub the Toe – Yale University
If you take a tour of Yale, chances are the tour guide will offer some unorthodox admission advice next to the bronze sculpture of Theodore Dwight Woolsey, former Yale president. According to tradition, rubbing Woolsey’s bronze foot will boost your admission chances.
9. The Zodiac – Iowa State University
Many schools have good luck college traditions that revolve around university seals in the ground. At Iowa State, students go out of their way to avoid stepping on The Zodiac bronze relief, which is embedded in the floor at the Gold Star Hall in Memorial Union.
10. 4.0 Ball Statue – University of California, Berkeley
Speaking of seals, never step on any of the three seals at Memorial Glade at UC Berkeley. If you do, tradition holds you’ll never earn a 4.0 GPA. But there’s hope. Rubbing the 4.0 Ball (a statue in front of the Campanile) will counteract the bad luck and bring good fortune.
11. Rubbing Cecil Green’s Head for Luck – University of Texas at Dallas
UT Dallas was founded by Cecil H. Green, who is honored with a sculpture outside the Cecil H. Green Hall. Rubbing Cecil’s head is said to bring good luck during finals week.
12. Tri-Delt Sundial – Miami University
If you attend Miami University in Ohio, you’ll see a Tri-Delt Sundial sculpture in Quad Central. Tradition says if you rub any of the three turtles’ heads, you’ll get an A on your next test. But if you step on the university seal after rubbing a turtle’s head, you’ll counteract your good luck.
13. Shoe Tree – Murray State University
Not all superstitious college traditions involve good luck on exams. At Murray State University in Kentucky, couples hang their shoes on the shoe tree in hopes of receiving a lifetime of good fortune. If you and your “sole mate” wish to do this, don’t neglect to write your anniversary date on your shoes.
14. Holly Sprigs – William & Mary
William & Mary students gather for a Yule Log celebration every December. It features live music and a story reading by the school president, along with seasonal snacks. After the story reading, students toss holly sprigs into the yule log fire for good luck in the coming year.
15. Offerings to Athena – Bryn Mawr College
Athena is the patron goddess of Bryn Mawr College, and she’s associated with many college traditions around campus. Students make offerings to the Athena statue for good luck.
16. Jumbo the Elephant – Tufts University
Jumbo the Elephant was the first African elephant to tour the U.S. As a member of P.T. Barnum’s circus, Jumbo is said to be responsible for the word “jumbo” meaning “large.” Jumbo is long dead, but his stuffed hide is on display at Barnum Hall at Tufts, where he serves as the official mascot. Students used to tug on his tail and leave a penny on the trunk for luck.
Barnum Hall burned down in the ‘70s, but some of Jumbo’s remains were preserved.
17. Abe Lincoln – UW-Madison
One longstanding college tradition for graduating UW-Madison students is to don cap and gown and sit on the lap of the Abe Lincoln statue for a photo op. Some students do so before graduation day, probably hoping to avoid the traffic jam of people gathering at the statue. However, sitting on Abe’s lap before graduation is said to bring bad luck, with rumors of students being at risk of not graduating if they do so.
18. Alice the Ghost – Bowling Green State University
At Bowling Green State University, Alice is a ghost said to have haunted the theaters in University Hall. For good luck on performances, stage managers must follow a tradition at the end of the final dress rehearsal before a show. Everyone else leaves and turns off all of the lights, save for the “ghost light.” The ghost light is a single bulb on a post rolled onto the stage. At that point, the stage manager must invite Alice to see the performance.
19. Strolling the Oval – Ohio State University
At Ohio State, couples wait for the bells at the Orton Hall tower to sound. Then, they stroll around the Oval while holding hands for good luck in their relationship. It’s said to be bad luck if anyone crosses the couple’s path during their stroll.
20. Sod Cemetery – Florida State University
In 1962, a prominent member of the athletic board at Florida State decided to fire up the football team by telling them to bring back some sod from their field. Since that time, following every road game win, the team continues to follow the tradition of digging up a chunk of sod from the field of their rivals. They deposit the sod into Sod Cemetery, located next to their own practice field.
21. University Seal – Capital University
The university seal at Capital University is located outside Blackmore Library. If you step on the seal, you’re doomed to experience bad luck, according to the legend. The only way to counter it is to kiss the seal.
22. Dragon Day – Cornell University
Every year, freshmen architecture students at Cornell create a huge model of a dragon. Students wear elaborate costumes as they parade with the dragon to the Arts Quad, where the dragon “battles” a phoenix, traditionally created by engineering students.
Dragons traditionally represent good luck in many Asian cultures. Originally, Cornell celebrated Dragon Day on the luckiest day of the year – St. Patrick’s Day.
23. Snow Blockade – College of Wooster
Students at the College of Wooster eagerly anticipate snow each year. As it accumulates, they gather in the evening or pre-dawn hours on a designated day to work together to fill the Kauke Arch with snow from bottom to top. It’s said that classes will be canceled the next day if they succeed.
24. Carnations – University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is steeped in traditions. During exams, students walk to their testing sites wearing black and white, with the only splash of color visible being carnations pinned to their tops. For good luck, you should choose a white carnation for your first exam, a red carnation for your final exam, and pink carnations for every exam in between. Florists near the campus sell them in convenient little bundles for exam-takers.
25. Lucky Envelopes – University of Toronto
At the University of Toronto, it’s customary to give lucky envelopes to family and friends to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Traditionally, lucky envelopes contain money, but students can also fill them with origami, positive affirmations, or other lucky tokens. The University of Toronto customarily passes out lucky envelopes for students to fill and give away.
What’s the point of college traditions?
Some superstitious college traditions might seem a bit odd or even downright bizarre, but they play an important role in the campus community. Colleges often make an effort to establish traditions in order to create a unique student experience.
Traditions serve to boost school spirit, encourage fellowship among students, and help students feel connected to the school’s history. By engaging in shared experiences together, students can develop connections with both current and former students that can last long after graduation.
Does campus culture really matter?
College isn’t only about preparing for your future by diving into academics. It’s also about finding yourself, exploring your interests, building friendships, and developing a sense of belonging to a community. Attending a school with a campus culture that resonates with you is important because it can enrich your overall college experience.
How do I find out what student life is like at a college?
It’s tricky to know what campus life is like at any particular school until you’re living there. However, there are a few ways to get a sense of it. While touring the campus, you can talk to students. You can also read the student newspaper, explore the available student organizations, and check social media pages relevant to the school.
How do I decide which colleges to apply to?
It can be tough to figure out which colleges to apply to, particularly if you’re limited with regard to application fees. (Some schools may offer fee waivers in certain circumstances.) The first consideration is whether a school offers academic programs you’re interested in and that align with your career goals. Having a balanced college list is one of the most important steps in the admissions process.
Beyond academics, consider factors like:
- Campus life
- Location
- Reputation
- School size
- Academic resources (e.g., Is there a high-tech STEM lab?)
- Student support resources
- Cost and financial aid
How do I know if I’m choosing the right college?
After you receive all of your acceptance notices, start by using the process of elimination to reduce the size of your list. Review all of the notes you made about the colleges during your search, and compare and contrast the schools. Decide which factors are most important to you before making your final decision.
And remember, you do still have options after committing to a school. If, after attending a school for one or two complete semesters, you decide that it’s not right for you, you can explore transfer options.
Will college really be as fun as everyone makes it out to be?
It definitely can be! Everyone has a unique college experience because it’s largely dependent on what you make of it. If you’re an outgoing type, you might join lots of student clubs and meet plenty of new friends. If you’re more introverted, you might forge just a few strong friendships and engage in campus life more cautiously. No matter your approach, college can be a great experience.
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