10 UEA Student Stereotypes We All Recognise
Are you a rich bitch or a hipster, a teacher’s pet or a ‘teacher’s pet’? Not everyone can be a BNOC.
We all like to think we are super-unique and individual, but what stereotype do you and your friends fit into? You know there will be one…
1. The hipster
The most obvious student stereotype, hipsters can be seen wearing over-sized glasses that they do not require for medical reasons, shoes with soles that are seriously weighing them down, and tie-die dungarees. Expect embellished satchels and independent coffee shop cups.
2. The activist
The activist may sport dreadlocks and wear clothes from charity shops, but probably has a bank account looking much healthier than yours and can only afford to dedicate all their time to ‘the cause’ because their upper-middle-class parents give them a healthy allowance and show that they appreciate the difficulties facing students today by sending crates of Merlot each term by recorded delivery.
3. The rich bitch
The same budget as the activist, only the money goes on Starbucks coffees and new clothes. The rich bitch may not actually be a bitch, but annoys others by her relaxed attitude towards money and dry-cleaning habits.
4. The gym bunny
The gym bunny has no time for work, friends, or socialising outside of the Sportspark cafe, where she indulges on a weekly vitamin water and then gets back to squats. She is highly impressive, wears only lycra, and a wild night for her means a personal best on the treadmill and a chocolate protein shake.
5. The eclectic
Covered in beads from her Gap Yah and most probably wearing a tie-dye headscarf from the local craft shop, the eclectic can be seen hanging around with the activist, but is really more interested in lighting incense and doing yoga or talking about the spiritual properties of an indian head massage.
6. The teacher’s pet
Nearly always wearing a suit, sitting right at the front of the lecture theatres with the Graduate Diploma students despite just celebrating their 18th Birthday by treating themselves to the newest edition of Cooke’s Tort Law, the Teacher’s Pet will attend all lectures, do all additional reading and talk avidly about it in seminars, and will leave Uni with a double first and their 5-year plan going perfectly.
7. The ‘teacher’s pet’
The ‘Teacher’s Pet’ is also keen to attend seminars, and will battle the real teacher’s pet to be the first one at a drop-in study session, but only because her deep-seated daddy issues mean that she has developed a crippling crush on her lecturer.
8. The pot-head
Will be smoking weed on the steps. If they manage to stumble into class halfway through, they will provide endless entertainment for all, without answering any questions or providing any insights other than “Is it time for a fag break yet?”
9. The computer nerd
Like the Teacher’s Pet, the Computer Nerd will certainly have a glowing future in front of them. You may never see them, as they will be locked in their room with nothing but minimal light from five computer screens and a crate of red bull.
10. The BNOC
You will see them everywhere, in the pub, in the Hive, in the LCR, on the steps, at any social anywhere and on any student prospectus. They may be involved in ten different extra-curriculars, they may have no hobbies but being awesome, but you know who they are, and they know you know.
Note: These are stereotypes for a reason, and do not describe real people. (Yes, that means you, Abigail Kemp)