Getting acquainted with ASU

It’s no secret that ASU is huge. With four different campuses, eight libraries, four fitness centers, and many, many other buildings, it can be more than a little confusing to get where you’re trying to go. Especially when you’re on a deadline like the start of a class.

When I started my first semester of college, I was sure there was no way I was ever going to know how to get everywhere on campus. I thought there was just too much to memorize! Even walking from my residence hall to the Memorial Union was difficult. And, after I got to the MU, trying to navigate the inside of the massive building was hard, every hallway looked different and the stairs were always in a place I wasn’t expecting them to be. To me, having the ability to perfectly navigate my way around campus was an impossible dream.

Three years later, I now know I was right. I was never going to memorize ASU campuses the way I knew every corner of my high school or even my residence hall building. ASU felt too big to get that familiar with it.

This might seem stressful. How am I supposed to get where I’m going in a reasonable time if I never have any idea how to get there? Knowing your route for classes each day is a pretty important part of keeping calm during a school day.

Fortunately, there are a lot of tricks and tips for students looking to make their journey to class or the residence halls a little easier.

First, it’s important to look at your class locations and your residence hall (if you live on campus), and take note of what campus you’re on. It’s not uncommon to sign up for a class and not realize that it’s actually on a different campus than you thought. I know that I’ve met a few people on the first day of class who sat down in room 301, only to realize that there was another room 301 a shuttle ride away that they were actually supposed to be in.

If it turns out that you’ve made that mistake in your schedule, don’t worry! ASU has you covered. There’s a free campus shuttle that leaves roughly every fifteen minutes at every campus. Go to the Campus Shuttle page to see where the stop on your campus is.

Next, you’ll want to know what buildings your classes are located in. This is one of the easier steps. Your class should list the code for its building on your schedule. Those same codes appear both on official ASU campus maps and on signs outside each and every building. So if you’re not sure, make sure to check both of those resources and verify that the building you’re about to enter is the right one. You can access the ASU campus maps from the ASU website or the ASU Mobile app. 

I always like to do a practice walk a few days before class actually starts. I go through my schedule and plan my route ahead of time to reduce my chances of getting lost. And, if I do get lost, I at least know what building I’m looking for already. This has saved my life and my attendance multiple times in the past, so I’d really recommend it.

Lastly, it may be scary and anxiety-inducing, but asking your fellow students is one of the best ways to figure out where you’re headed. If someone is heading somewhere with purpose, they can probably answer your question, or at least point you in the right direction.

Your classmates are your allies! In a few years, you’ll be pointing other people in the direction they need to go too.

Claire van Doren
Senior, English Literature and Journalism