Last Updated on April 28, 2025 by Matt Staff
College life back in the ’70s was a whole unique world of its own. It was amplified by free-spirited adventures, numerous social movements, and also this overriding sense of rebellion that could be viscerally felt on campuses near and far.
We’re going to dive into a collection of 15 things that seemingly every ’70s college student seemed to get caught up in doing. The ’70s was an undeniably iconic decade throughout history, and if you were lucky enough to grow up during it, you’ll likely connect with at least a few of these fads.
1. Wore Bell-Bottoms and Tie-Dye Shirts
There was just something too right about the enthusiastic combination of bell-bottoms and loud-colored tie-dye shirts. If you weren’t out and about sporting your freshest tie-dye shirt and/or bell-bottoms, you were that much more liable to get called out by someone.
2. Listened to Vinyl Records on a Turntable
This is one of those trends from a past decade that not only made a comeback, but it did so in a big way. Nowadays, it’s more common than it is not to have a turntable around in your own or a friend’s place. It just brings back that ’70s college era nostalgia in the best way possible.
3. Drove a Volkswagen Beetle or Bus
Just driving the Volkswagen Beetle and/or bus wasn’t enough. Sometimes, you also have to go ahead and commit to the wild peace symbols and patterns to make it stand out that much more.
4. Hung Beaded Curtains in Their Rooms
The beaded curtains did put out such a chill vibe for a college dorm room’s aesthetic. Not only did it create an inviting air about the space, but the noise that beaded curtains make was also deeply relaxing.
5. Wrote Papers on Typewriters
Something just hits differently when it comes to writing papers out on typewriters. It’s no wonder that college kids in the ’70s were churning out assignments without trying to run to an online cheat sheet.
6. Called Home From Payphones
Payphones are exceedingly rare to come by in this day and age. Sure, they’re still out there. However, back in the ’70s they were seemingly everywhere. They were also indispensable.
7. Owned Numerous Lava Lamps
Lava lamps were just plain old chill to have. If you were holed up in a groovy college dorm room during the ’70s, and there was a lava lamp around, you knew you were in for a radical hang time.
8. Took Road Trips Without a GPS
Nowadays, plenty of us really wouldn’t be caught without a GPS. It almost feels crazily reckless to imagine such a scenario. However, back in the ’70s, people were making use of their paper maps, and not at all struggling with them. Pretty impressive stuff if you ask me.
9. Passed Around Handwritten Lecture Notes
There was just something romantic about the handwritten notes that were being passed back and forth, so frequently during the ’70s. That goes without saying, that not all handwritten notes were of the same caliber.
10. Experiment With New Technology Like Calculators
Isn’t it truly crazy to take that pause and recognize just how far we’ve come in terms of technological advancements? Calculators used to seem like they were literal pieces of space technology back during the ’70s.
11. Dreamed About Backpacking Across Europe
For whatever reason, Europe ended up being this dreamy place that plenty of folks in the ’70s could not take their daydreaming minds off of. It was the ultimate destination when it came to the ideal backpacking trip.
12. Collected Milk Crates for Furniture
This one is giving off that true ’70s spirit. But yes, there was a groovy time in history when it was absolutely common practice to round up as many milk crates as one could get their productive hands on, for furniture.
13. Rocked Denim Everything
Yes, it’s great to see the full-on denim outfits making the kind of comeback that they are. The full denim outfit is a striking one. If you’re a fan of the monochromatic fit, then you might actually be inspired to try your hand at some ’70s fashion spirit revival, by putting together your own full denim outfit.
14. Owned Pet Rocks
It’s just crazy to think that there was a mad genius at one point who went ahead and launched a successful “business” for a while that involved selling pet rocks. We’re talking about the kind of money where he made over a million dollars.
15. Wrote Letters Instead of Calling
There is something undeniably more impactful about receiving a handwritten card or letter. In the ’70s, this seemed to be the preferred means of reaching out to someone, instead of calling. To think about how much more healthily inaccessible that could make someone, instead of being reachable all the time, is worth taking a pause over.
