College Trivia and Fun Facts

If you’re a high school junior applying to college this fall, chances are you’ve been on a college visit or two and have spent a considerable amount of time researching colleges and universities. Many students who have only a limited view of what colleges are like are sometimes shocked to find out how vastly different most institutions are from one another in terms of size, campus life, academics, athletics, and more.

Put Your Knowledge to the Test

During your college research and visits, you’ve likely learned a lot and picked up some interesting college facts along the way! Now it’s time to put your knowledge to the test with these questions, which we follow up with some fun facts. This is a great way for students who are still building their balanced college lists to be introduced to colleges they might not have considered before. Research is a critical part of the college admissions process, so make it fun!

Maybe you’ll discover a new-to-you school that’s worth exploring, or maybe you’ll come away with a little-known tidbit about a college you already love. Either way, you’ll be able to test your knowledge of sports, mascots, traditions, and more.

1) Which Ivy League school was founded first?

1. Princeton University
2. Yale University
3. University of Pennsylvania
4. Harvard University

Check your answer.

Fun fact: Founded in 1636, this university is also the oldest in the United States.

2) Which university’s mascot is a tree?

1. Stanford University
2. Oregon State University
3. University of Washington
4. University of Maine

Check your answer.

Fun fact: The tree is an unofficial mascot and represents the redwood tree known as “El Palo Alto,” which appears on the municipal seal of Palo Alto and the official seal of the university.

3) Where is it a tradition for students to throw toast on the field during home football games?

1. College of William and Mary
2. University of Virginia
3. Dartmouth College
4. University of Pennsylvania

Check your answer.

Fun fact: A “toast Zamboni” is used to clean up the debris — technically, it’s a turf sweeper. It takes about 10-15 minutes to clean all the toast off the football field.

4) Which university is famous for its annual “Big Game” against Stanford?

1. University of Notre Dame
2. University of California, Berkeley
3. University of Miami
4. San Jose State University

Check your answer.

Fun fact: This rivalry began on March 10, 1892, in San Francisco. At the time, Stanford’s manager was Herbert Hoover, whose name you might recognize as the 31^st President of the United States.

5) Former President Jimmy Carter attended which institution?

1. Georgetown University
2. Emory University
3. Georgia Institute of Technology
4. Vanderbilt University

Check your answer.

Fun fact: While he did attend this institution, Jimmy Carter did not graduate from there. He received his Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. However, he did return to this institution as the sitting U.S. President to give a commencement speech in 1979.

6) Which college is the alma mater of Dr. Seuss?

1. Bowdoin College
2. Dartmouth College
3. Boston College
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Check your answer.

Fun fact: After being banned from extracurricular activities for drinking — this was during Prohibition in the 1920s — Theodor Geisel started using the pen name “Seuss” to continue writing for the college humor magazine. This was his mother’s maiden name and his middle name.

7) Edgar Allan Poe has a room dedicated to him at which university?

1. University of Virginia
2. Fordham University
3. Johns Hopkins University
4. Boston University

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Fun fact: Poe was briefly enrolled here as a student in 1826. Room 13, West Range — purported to have been his room on campus — is maintained as a tribute to him by the Raven Society.

8) Squirrel Appreciation Day is celebrated every January at which university?

1. University of Michigan
2. University of Vermont
3. Vanderbilt University
4. University of South Carolina

Check your answer.

Fun fact: The university celebrates these campus critters with a day of fun, treats, prizes, and special dining hall menus.

9) This school’s mascot, the polar bear, was inspired by alumnus and Arctic explorer Robert E. Peary, who led the first successful expedition at the North Pole in 1909.

1. Baylor University
2. Brown University
3. University of California, Berkeley
4. Bowdoin College

Check your answer.

Fun fact: The polar bear was chosen as the mascot in 1913 by an alumni group that included another Arctic explorer, Donald B. MacMillan. The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum on campus is free and open to the public.

10) Which university campus features the “Blarney stone” in its rock garden?

1. Tulane University
2. Boston University
3. Columbia University
4. University of Notre Dame

Check your answer.

Fun fact: While the origin of the stone is a mystery, it made its first appearance in the engineering department in 1945. Other departments kept stealing the rock until it was finally secured in its permanent location in 1994.

How many did you get right? Let us know in the comments below! And share any other fun facts about your top-choice colleges in the comments below, too!

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With college admissions season on the horizon, now is the time to narrow down your college list to 13-15 best-fit schools. This can feel daunting — but we can help you finalize your list with confidence. Our college admissions experts can help you identify the best likely, target, and reach schools and then guide you through every step of the college application process. Learn how we can help you achieve college admissions success.

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