Ah, the 1990s—when "going to university" meant experiencing a world of dial-up internet, cassette tapes, and the fashion choices that made us cringe (or laugh) in hindsight.
While the 90s were undeniably iconic, going to university in this era had its own unique set of challenges and perks. Sure, we didn’t have all the tech comforts that today’s students enjoy, but that didn't stop us from making the most of our campus lives.
Here’s a lighthearted look at what it was really like to be a university student in the 1990s.
1. Dial-Up Internet Was a ‘Connection’ to the Future
Can you even imagine trying to do homework or research on a dial-up internet connection? It was like waiting for a message from the future, only to have it interrupted by the screeching sound of the modem connecting. Need to check your email? Better clear your schedule for the next 20 minutes. And forget streaming movies or watching YouTube videos. If you were lucky, you’d download a single image in under an hour—at a pixelated quality that made it look like modern art.
But even with all that, there was something oddly magical about the early days of the internet. Chat rooms were where we met strangers from far-off lands (sometimes, awkwardly), and we downloaded music from Napster—risking a computer virus or two along the way.
2. Fashion: Flannel Shirts, Baggy Jeans, and Plenty of Layers
If there’s one thing you could count on during the 90s, it was that university students were rocking some truly interesting fashion choices. Flannel shirts were basically a uniform (especially if you were channeling your inner grunge), and baggy jeans were, of course, a must. Throw in a few oversized sweaters and chunky sneakers, and you were ready to tackle any lecture hall or party.
The "90s style" was all about layers—no matter the weather. You’d never know if it was freezing or warm, because you’d start the day with a denim jacket, a hoodie, and maybe a scarf, only to spend the afternoon wondering if you had overdressed (and sweated through your layers). Bonus points if you also had a pair of Converse or Doc Martens to complete your look.
3. The CD Collection (And The Struggle of Carrying It All)
In the 90s, we thought we were living the dream with our shiny new CDs. No more flipping vinyl or dealing with cassette tapes that would get stuck in your Walkman! The only issue? Carrying all of those discs around. Whether it was the Discman or the massive CD binder you had stashed under your bed, the effort to organize and cart around your music collection was a workout in itself.
And let’s not forget the oh-so-frustrating situation when your favorite CD would skip mid-song, just as the perfect track was coming on. There were no playlists, no streaming services—just a carefully curated stack of music that you’d burn onto a mix CD, usually with a tragic amount of accidental duplication.
4. Textbooks: Expensive, Heavy, and Outdated by the Time You Bought Them
Textbooks were a major part of university life in the 90s, but they weren’t exactly a student’s best friend. Sure, they were expensive—practically mortgaging your firstborn to buy—but the real fun started when you tried to carry them all around campus. Between that and your massive lecture notes, your backpack might as well have been classified as “personal gym equipment.” And once you made it to class, good luck keeping up with the professor’s references to outdated research. You’d be left wondering, “Wait, is this even in the textbook I spent my life savings on?”
You’d often spend your last few months selling the textbooks back to the campus bookstore, only to get a fraction of what you paid for them. Ah, the circle of textbook life.
5. The Magic of "Group Work" and Being the One Who Actually Did the Work
Group work was inevitable in the 90s—and it usually ended with one person doing 90% of the work while the others contributed... occasionally. Still, the experience of trying to wrangle together a group project (especially when it meant meeting in person and not over Zoom) was a major part of university life. It was a time when you'd pray that at least one person had a car, or better yet, a printer that actually worked.
Somehow, despite the chaos and disagreements over who would bring the snacks for the group study session, you’d still manage to pull it all together just in time for the deadline. Or… maybe you didn’t. But either way, it was an experience.
6. The Struggle of Trying to Make Calls Without the Privacy
Before we were all glued to our smartphones, we had to deal with the not-so-glamorous task of using payphones or shared landlines to make calls. Of course, no one had any privacy when it came to chatting with friends or family. You could try to have a heartfelt conversation, but that one noisy dorm neighbor would always interrupt. Plus, the incessant ringing from the phone down the hall never helped.
And heaven forbid you had to call your parents on a landline in the dorm room. The awkwardness of trying to have a personal conversation while your roommate looked at you with knowing eyes was enough to make you rethink your entire social life.
7. The Campus Parties: Spice Girls, Raves, and Plenty of Glow Sticks
Ah, the university parties. The 90s were a glorious time for dance floors, and the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, and NSYNC ruled the playlists. Nothing said “good time” like cranking up the latest pop hit and singing along with your friends—while sporting glow sticks, of course. Whether you were in a basement rave or a frat house, the late-night dancing was legendary, and we never worried about “viral moments” because, well, our cameras were stuck on film rolls, not iPhones.
One thing’s for sure: the 90s party scene had a unique blend of low-key chaos and carefree fun. It didn’t matter if you had a dodgy flip phone with no reception—everyone was focused on the moment, not the Instagram stories.
8. No Social Media Drama, Just Real-Life FOMO
Before we were all glued to Instagram and Snapchat, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) was still real—but in a slightly different way. Instead of checking your feed to see who went to that concert without you, you just had to listen to the actual gossip the next day. Maybe you'd hear about a party you missed or someone’s impromptu trip to the beach, but without social media to remind you every five minutes, it wasn’t quite as agonizing. Besides, you had to work harder to actually miss out.
Going to university in the 90s may seem like a completely different world, but in many ways, the experience was just as exciting, challenging, and memorable as it is today. Sure, we didn’t have Wi-Fi, smartphones, or TikTok, but we had the magic of flip phones, mixtapes, and a time when the dial-up sound was more of a novelty than a nuisance. Whether you were glued to your pager or sneaking out to a rave, the 90s were a unique, if chaotic, time to be a student. And hey, we survived it—so we must’ve done something right!
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