Your first year at Oklahoma State University is an adventure filled with excitement, anticipation and growth. Imagine the thrill of stepping onto campus for the first time, meeting new friends, and discovering who you are, where you belong and what it truly means to be a Cowboy.

The OSU freshman experience is built on tradition, community and the everyday moments that shape college life in ways you don’t expect. From iconic campus traditions to the small, unforgettable moments that shape college life, these experiences define what it means to be an OSU student.

Here are 50 must-do experiences every OSU freshman should have — a guide to making the most of your first year and beginning your story as part of the Cowboy family.

Campus LifeTraditionsAcademic LifeCommunityBeyond CampusArts Cowboy Spirit

This guide highlights 50 must-do experiences for freshmen at Oklahoma State University, covering campus traditions, academic life, Cowboy spirit, community involvement, arts and culture, and life in Stillwater. Designed to help new students fully experience their first year at OSU, the list captures the moments that define college life and shape the Cowboy experience.

Campus Life

1. Capture Your First Day

Standing on the lawn at Edmon Low Library for your first-day photo is basically a freshman tradition. It’s one of the very first snapshots of your life as a Cowboy, full of excitement, nerves and possibility. Snap it, post it, save it because one day you’ll look back and realize this was the moment everything started.

2. Start Welcome Week Strong

Welcome Week is your first glimpse of life at OSU. It’s a great way to meet friends, learn the campus and figure out what being a Cowboy really feels like. Show up, try new things and don’t overthink it… you’re officially part of the Cowboy family

3. Explore the OSU Student Union

The OSU Student Union is where campus life happens. With dining options, study lounges, events, shops, meeting spaces, a hotel (!) and more, the Union is where Cowboys hang out, recharge and make plans. Just make sure to hit the Chick-fil-A line early because it fills up fast!

4. Experience the Best College Football Stadium in America

Game days in Stillwater hit different. From tailgating with friends to making The Walk, yelling “Orange Power,” and watching the OSU Spirit Rider and Bullet sprint across the field, Boone Pickens Stadium is pure Cowboy energy. If you’re feeling brave, Section 231 is calling.

5. Stroll Past Theta Pond

Theta Pondis one of those iconic spots that’s perfect for a photo when the light hits just right. Peaceful and a little magical, it always feels like the right place to pause between classes. When you need a calm moment in the middle of a busy day, Theta Pond is your spot.

6. Stop and Smell the Topiaries

Turn a walk across campus into a game by spotting OSU’s custom topiaries, designed by our award-winning landscaping team. They’re easy to miss if you’re rushing to class, so slow down and see how many you can find. Bonus points if you snap a selfie with your favorite.

7. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Do something brave … or at least something new. Sign up for a fitness class at the award-winning Colvin Recreation Center and pretend you totally meant to sweat. With 14 courts, free weights, an outdoor pool and an epic 25-foot rock climbing wall, the Colvin’s 250,000 square feet of recreation make it easy to try something hard and realize you’re capable of more than you thought.

Traditions

8. Do Homecoming Right

There’s nothing quite likeOSU Homecoming — you’ve just got to experience it. Watch the library fountain get dyed orange, attend Walkaround with 80,000 of your fellow Cowboys, watch the Sea of Orange parade, and, of course, attend the football game to truly experience America's Greatest Homecoming Celebration.

9. Take the Leap

Yes, the legend of the leaf pile is real — and yes, leaping is encouraged. Every fall, OSU’s Facilities team builds an epic leaf pile so students can take a break from studying and jump right in. It’s fun, nostalgic and oddly therapeutic. Might as well jump!

10. Dream Big Like Boone

If you want a moment that feels bigger than your first semester, this is it. The Boone Pickens Legacy Experience tells the story of a Cowboy who didn’t just dream big — he built big. Interactive and inspiring, the BPLE is less about history and more about vision, grit and the legacy we’re all capable of building, starting right here at OSU.

11. Learn the OSU Alma Mater

Singing the OSU alma mater makes the moments you’ll remember most even more meaningful. It’s a tradition that ties your first year to generations of Cowboys who’ve been there before you. Pro tip: Learn it before game day and sing it with pride!

12. Go for the Custard

Tucked inside Agricultural Hall, Larry and Kaye’s Dairy Bar serves frozen custard — an OSU tradition with roots reaching back to 1928. Reintroduced for today’s Cowboys, it’s a simple, sweet stop that connects past and present.

13. Live the Cowboy Code

The Cowboy Code isn’t just something we say — it’s what we do. The true measure of our Code is in how we live it every single day. From classrooms and labs to the playing fields to communities, the Cowboy family puts these principles into practice.

14. Cheer Like a Cowboy

Try it once, and you’ll get it. Yell “Go Pokes!” on campus, downtown or in the middle of a game, and chances are someone will answer. It’s a quick, easy reminder that being a Cowboy comes with a built-in sense of community.

Academic Life

15. Find Your Favorite Study Spot

Every Cowboy needs a favorite study spot, and for a lot of students, it’s Edmon Low Library. Six floors to choose from, coffee at Café Libro and plenty of quiet corners make it easy to settle in and stay focused.

16. Connect With Your Professors

Office hours are a chance to connect beyond the classroom. Taking time to talk with your professors helps turn coursework into conversation and builds confidence that carries into the rest of your OSU experience.

17. Prioritize What Matters

Learning how to balance school and life takes time, and that’s OK. Finding your rhythm helps prevent burnout and makes space for rest, friendships and the moments that matter most. Need a reset? Check out the Reboot Center for an extra dose of serenity.

18. Take Advantage of Academic Support

You don’t have to wait until things feel overwhelming to ask for help. Academic support services, including the LASSO Center (free tutoring) and the Office of Student Success, are available to help you stay on track from day one.

19. Build Your Study Circle

Joining a study group makes learning feel less overwhelming. Working through material together helps things click faster and often turns classmates into friends. For extra-challenging classes, explore Supplemental Instruction for fun, cutting-edge study techniques in a collaborative, student-led environment.

20. Follow Your Curiosity

Some of the most meaningful classes are the ones you never planned on taking. Stepping outside your major gives you space to explore your interests and see your education from a new angle.

21. Trust the Process

Finding the right major takes time. Many OSU students discover what works for them after trying something new and talking it through with their academic advisor.

Community

22. Find Your People

Joining a student organization helps campus feel smaller and more personal. With more than 400 clubs and organizations at OSU, it is easy to find people who share your interests and make the campus start to feel like home.

23. Be Part of the Conversation

Attending a Student Government Association (SGA)meeting is a behind-the-scenes look at how student voices shape campus life. From events to policies, this is where ideas turn into action and how students like you help make OSU even better.

24. Join the Game

Sign up, show up and see what happens. Intramural sports let you compete, stay active, and make memories with friends, all while going for the ultimate prize: the intramural champion T-shirt.

25. See the Bigger Picture

Land-Grant Week brings OSU’s mission to life. It’s a week to learn how teaching, research and service come together to make an impact that extends far beyond campus. Expect a week of fun activations, limited-edition merch and Pistol Pete.

26. Paws and Relax

Life can be ruff sometimes. When you need a break, make a furry friend and enjoy a little free pet therapy with Pete’s Pet Posse. A few minutes with a wagging tail can go a long way.

27. Make Lunch a Moment

Your meal plan, but make it fancy. Head to Taylor’s, OSU’s signature teaching restaurant, for a next-level lunch moment with friends. Reservations are recommended!

28. Make Time to Do Nothing

Touch grass, literally.Library Lawn is the perfect place to slow down between classes. Fly a kite, soak up some sun, or just hang out and vibe with a friend. Sometimes doing nothing is exactly what you need.

29. Ask for Help When You Need It

College comes with highs and lows, and connection makes all the difference. Talk it out with friends, call home or reach out when you need help. And when things feel overwhelming, remember that Cowboys Care. Support is always within reach.

30. Volunteer For Good

Being a Cowboy isn’t in our clothes, it’s in our character. So, roll up your sleeves and give back with Into The Streets, OSU’s citywide day of service each semester. Grab your friends, serve your community and have a blast doing it. This is the Cowboy Way.

Beyond Campus

31. Turn Up For Lights On Stillwater

Lights On Stillwater is all about fall vibes and community energy. With free swag, music and a Cowboy crowd that shows up, it is one of those classic summer nights that feels fun, welcoming and unmistakably Stillwater.

32. Eat at Joe’s

Eskimo Joe’s is a Stillwater original and an OSU rite of passage. It’s the kind of place you end up with friends after games, long days or just because. If you go, do it right. The sweet-pepper bacon cheese fries are a must.

33. Make the Town Your Own

Downtown Stillwater feels like an extension of campus and a big part of the OSU experience. From local shops and events to the places you end up returning to again and again, it’s where college life and community blend together. It’s easy to see why Stillwater is known as America’s Friendliest College Town.

34. Yeehaw, Responsibly

This might actually be your first rodeo. The annual Cowboy Stampede Rodeo lets you cheer on OSU’s Rodeo Team and take in a true Cowboy tradition. Saddle up, (figuratively speaking) soak up the energy and enjoy a night that feels unmistakably OSU.

35. Find Your Go-To Café

A local coffee shop can reset your focus. With good coffee and a change of pace, places like Aspen Coffee, Balanced Coffee and Blue Spruce turn studying into a ritual. Stillwater’s locally owned cafés make everyday study sessions feel a little more intentional.

36. Change the Scenery

Lake Carl Blackwell is an easy way to get off campus and reset. From fishing and hiking to disc golf and mountain biking, there’s plenty of space to move and enjoy something different.

37. Move at Your Own Pace

When the weather is nice, Boomer Lake is where a lot of students end up. The 3.2-mile loop around the lake is perfect for a run, a walk or just getting outside for a bit, and the scenery makes it an easy favorite.

Arts, Culture & Creativity

38. Make an Entrance

Dress up and step out for Euphoria, OSU’s student-led runway fashion show. It’s bold, creative and unapologetically expressive. Whether you’re there to support friends, find inspiration or just take in the energy, Euphoria is a reminder that campus style is about confidence, creativity and showing up as yourself. That’s all.

39. Try Something Artsy

Do not just observe the arts. Roll up your sleeves and jump in! OSU Arts Week turns campus into a creative playground each spring, filled with performances, exhibitions and hands-on activations. It’s a chance to try something new, support student creators and be part of moments that spark connection and creativity across campus and the Stillwater community.

40. Watch OSU’s version of Shark Tank IRL

Get a front-row seat to student innovation as Cowboys pitch their creative business concepts for a chance to win more than $40,000 in scholarships. It’s fast-paced, inspiring and proof that big ideas are already taking shape on campus. Even if you’re just there to watch, it’s impossible not to leave motivated.

41. Take in the Performing Arts

The arts are for everyone.Whether it’s a concert or a stage production, attending a performance at The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts or Seretean Center is an easy way to connect with the creative side of campus and support the artists who bring it to life.

42. Step Into Something Creative

Art has a way of shifting your perspective. The Gardiner Gallery of Artand the OSU Museum of Art offer spaces to pause, explore new ideas and experience work from artists near and far, both on campus and in the heart of downtown Stillwater.

43. Celebrate Local Creativity

Each spring, the Stillwater Arts Festival brings downtown to life with art, music and creative energy. From local artists and live performances to food and hands-on activities, it’s an easy way to spend a day exploring creativity, supporting the arts, and enjoying the community beyond campus.

44. Get Hands-On with Art

Located downtown, the Prairie Arts Center offers exhibitions, classes and creative events that bring art and community together. It’s a welcoming space to explore creativity just beyond campus.

45. Explore the Land of Enchantment

The Doel Reed Center in Taos, New Mexico. offers a unique chance to take an OSU class in an immersive, off-campus setting. Surrounded by art, culture and the Sangre de Cristo mountains, it’s an epic experience that blends academics with exploration.

Cowboy Spirit

46. Show Your Orange Pride

Orange Fridays are a simple, yet powerful, tradition. When campus shows up in orange, it’s a reminder of the shared pride that connects Cowboys across classrooms, residence halls and generations. Whether it’s a full outfit or just a hint of OSU gear, it’s a low-effort way to rep your Cowboy spiritand feel part of something bigger.

47. Take The Walk

About two hours before football kickoff, head to Hester Street and watch your OSU Cowboys march from the Student Union to Boone Pickens Stadium. With the band, spirit squads and fans cheering, The Walk turns pre-game into its own highlight.

48. Pull up for the Pokes

Supporting the Pokes is one of the best ways to experience OSU. Show up, cheer loudly and check out different OSU sports throughout the year. Every team brings its own energy, and being there makes it even better. Go Pokes!

49. Cowboy Up

Being a Cowboy is about who you are, not what you wear. Still, repping OSU never hurts. The University Store in the Student Union has the gear that helps you show up feeling like yourself, just in orange and black.

50. Take a Photo with Pistol Pete

No first year at OSU is complete without a photo with Pistol Pete. Whether you catch him on game day, around campus or at a special event, snapping that picture is a rite of passage. It’s fun in the moment and even better years later when you look back and remember exactly how it felt to be a first-year Cowboy.

Your first year at Oklahoma State University is just the beginning of a story that’s uniquely yours. These 50 moments are not a checklist to rush through, but invitations to explore, connect and grow at your own pace. From quiet study spots and creative breaks to game-day traditions and lifelong memories, OSU is a place where students are supported, challenged and celebrated. However you experience your first year, know that you’re joining a community that believes in you and can’t wait to see where your journey takes you. Welcome to the Cowboy family!