Is it just me, or has anyone else wondered what would happen if your favourite TV characters went to UNSW?.. No, just me then? Well, I guess that’s a weird question, but wouldn’t it be funny seeing SpongeBob Squarepants hanging out in the quadrangle? From cartoon to comedy icons, the chaos would certainly be TV-worthy, maybe worthy enough for me to pitch an original and logistically impossible reality show??? 

So, whether your favourite character is the type to never show up to class or that one person constantly raising their hand, I dive into the depths of my imagination and discuss what if TV characters went to UNSW.

Rachel Berry:

“She may be difficult, but boy can she sing,” the infamous Rachel Berry from the show ‘Glee’, who most fans either love or really, really hate. Rachel is one to follow you around O-week with multiple banners in hand, per her presidency of multiple UNSW societies. When she is not handing out banners, you can find her carrying a tune on the rainbow stairs whilst everyone else is huffing to class. Rachel would definitely beg the UNSW Musical Theatre Society to let her be the lead in every production, no matter if the role suits her or not. 

Rory Gilmore:

If you have watched even one episode of ‘Gilmore Girls’, you would know that Rory is almost never seen without a book in hand. Miss Gilmore would definitely be a journalism student with creative writing and politics electives. As such, Rory is always working on a story for one of UNSW’s publications, especially Blitz. You can find her in the main library or sometimes under a tree writing a high-distinction essay or re-reading a classic novel. If you ever need help, Rory Gilmore is the one to ask, as she is eager to study with you or give a little love advice. (Though, I’m not sure if she’s one to listen to.)

Phineas and Ferb: 

These inventive brothers are definitely studying a Bachelor of Engineering. They are always together like two peas in a pod, and everyone wonders how they work so well together when Ferb is extremely quiet. Phineas and Ferb are always up to something wild in the UNSW laboratories, possibly inventing something they shouldn’t with UNSW equipment. The brothers would be very popular with other engineering students, whom they would employ to assist with their risky scientific endeavours. I definitely think Candace is following them around campus, trying to catch them red-handed. 

Sheldon Cooper: 

Apart from Rachel Berry, Sheldon Cooper from ‘The Big Bang Theory’ would be the most annoying student on campus. During lectures and tutorials, he is the one student with their hand up the whole time, asking and answering all the questions. Sheldon can be found inside the laboratory experimenting with physics and bragging about how he is ‘the smartest person alive.’ When he is not studying string theory, Sheldon eats Papparich for lunch and yells at people for sitting at the table he thinks he owns. I can imagine students complaining about him so much that the dean has to speak to him. 

Doc McStuffins: 

After all those times she healed her childhood toys when they got sick, Doc McStuffins would definitely go on to study medicine. She would be very popular amongst her peers as she would always give them medical advice, which may or may not be wise. Doc has an open heart and is very likely to start up a conversation with anyone in sight. I think Doc would have an extensive collection of Labubu’s and Sonny Angels, which she would proudly show off to all her classmates. 

Amy Santiago: 

Amy Santiago from ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ would certainly be studying a Bachelor of Criminology. Amy is the student who idolises her lecturers and tutors and gets to class early to ask them a long list of career-related questions. At networking events, Amy makes sure to speak to every professional she can and may or may not beg them to add her on LinkedIn. You can find Amy scanning the law library for a quiet spot to study and yelling at anyone who makes even the smallest of noises. Oh, and she would definitely show up to class in a pantsuit. 

Mr. Krabs: 

Mr. Krabs from ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ would most likely study business. Mr Krabs is obsessed with the idea of being rich and aims to become a big business mogul when he graduates. He would probably become president of the UNSW Business Society and have 500+ connections on LinkedIn, where he makes posts about being a great businessman. I could imagine Mr. Krabs trying to take over the quadrangle food court and make it into a Krusty Krab’s establishment. Mr. Krabs would definitely force SpongeBob to do all of his uni work and take his place in tutorials. 

Hayley Zantis is studying PR and Advertising at UNSW. Hayley loves all things pop culture and spends her free time scrolling on TikTok to get the latest goss.