Just in case you haven’t yet taken notice of the turning leaves, have incredible body heat and have not yet shivered from the brisk, cool wind, or have somehow abstained from sipping a pumpkin flavored beverage…

I want to inform you…it is now fall.

Here in Pittsburgh, and I presume in every northeast town, the signs of the changing season cries louder than your cellphone ringing in your 2 pm social psychology lecture. 

How can I tell? With true scientific analysis of course. So grab a pumpkin flavored muffin, pull on another layer, and let’s investigate…

You know it’s fall when… 

1.  As mentioned before, suddenly everything seems more delicious if the word “pumpkin” is placed in front of it. Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin pie, pumpkin scents, pumpkin cocktails…

and you can bet we are trying every. last. one. 

2. You get utterly confused of what to wear in the morning. “So it’s going to be 33 degrees in the morning, rain for two hours, and then go up to 60 degrees in the afternoon?…” This ambiguous weather phenomenon leaves us constantly checking our weather app, staring at our closets, eyes wide and clueless.

3. You have a sudden urge to carve a pumpkin. You may not currently know how to get one, have a dorm room size capable of creating one, or have any knowledge of carving a pumpkin…but, it is imperative that you carve a pumpkin. Immediately. 

4. When the new Paranormal Activity 4 thriller + a shudder or two + your non-Julliard acting skills = your crush putting his arm around you at the theater on your second date. 

5. You can enjoy sarcastic posts like this from our friends at The Onion.

6. Ugg boots + North Face jackets have made a return to campuses nation-wide. You love or you hate it. See my calculated analysis featured here. 

7. You can layer ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. Want a scarf with that cardigan? Want another cardigan with that cardigan? Sure, but only if you top it with a belt. 

 8. Your Friday plans seem to change… Out: Anything that means wearing real clothes and venturing into the frigid, cold air after 9 pm. In: Cuddling, PJs, popcorn, a glass of red, and your favorite film. 

9. Midterms have pounced as fast as you can sneak another slice of pumpkin pie after dinner. 

10. You forget about your Midterms and focus your research and attention on much more important topics …

such as your Halloween costume… 

OH! And, we can’t forget…

11. You know it’s fall when…regardless of the premature gift commercials, you can’t help but start to get excited for the snowflakes, hot chocolate, skiing, and celebrations for Winter.