Your Guide to Surviving Halloween in College

Yes, it’s much more than just dressing up.

by JENNA LEWIS ★ OCTOBER 02, 2023

Halloween can be super stressful for anyone, especially at college. There’s so much to think about: costumes, plans, safety, hangovers… the list goes on. Not to mention, at a school like Syracuse, there is definitely some competition when it comes to Halloween costumes, as so many girls definitely like to bring it. To make your weekend go smoothly, here are a few of my tips for surviving your first (or any) college Halloweekend:

Planning Outfits

If I have learned anything from my previous Halloweekends at Syracuse, it's that you need to figure out your costume ASAP so you’re not frantically scraping something together at the last minute! I’d start by scrolling through Pinterest, Instagram, or TikTok to get some inspo. If you start too late, you're only going to run into a bunch of “Sold Out” on Amazon or Dolls Kill. Also, the earlier you start, the earlier you can claim your costume from all of your friends. And trust me… people will care if you are wearing the same thing as they are. If you want to be extra creative for Halloween, DIYing is your best friend. Why spend $70 on something you can recreate yourself for much cheaper? You can also grab some cheap and one-of-a-kind finds at local thrift stores or your Goodwill. While Halloween is all about creativity and dressing your best, ultimately, you are only wearing this outfit once a year, (and most likely never again), so shopping affordable is smart.

Stay Safe

While you shouldn't be walking alone anywhere at night, you need to be even more careful than normal on Halloween weekend. Syracuse is known to have some dangerous occurrences during the infamous Halloweekend. Make sure you and your girls are traveling to parties in a group. College towns are fun but can definitely be unsafe, especially during Halloween. Besides, traveling places with your friends is way more fun anyway!

Confidence is Key

No one says it better than Cady Heron herself: “Halloween is the one day a year when a girl can dress up like a total slut and no other girls can say anything else about it.” Now, I’m not saying go all the way out of your comfort zone, but be confident and take risks! After all, were only in college once! Pro tip: wear what makes you feel good and walk into the party like you are the only one in the room. Confidence is always the best outfit.
Halloweekend Recovery

We all know you are going to go hard this weekend, so be prepared to look your best one night and feel your worst the next day. On Halloweekend especially, a speedy recovery is a must, especially if you're going to rally for another night of partying. Keep water by your nightstand, and maybe even pour in an electrolyte packet (Liquid IV <3) or Pedialyte if you're trying to be really preventative. Also, be sure to hit up your favorite breakfast or coffee spot for the fuel the next morning— my go-to is a crisp Water Street bagel and my favorite iced coffee. 

Regardless of what you’re wearing or where you’re going, Halloween is your time to shine! Go big or go home and remember, have fun!