Emerson College Top Questions

What are the most popular student activities/groups?

Sam

Being one of the most central schools in Boston, you can expect to have a tremendous amount of things to do every day. Unfortunately, Boston shuts down early every night. You have all of Boston at your fingertips at this school.

Tristan

Emerson has many, many, many active clubs on campus and more are added every semester. It is an unwritten rule at emerson that you must have some extracurricular activity. there are many to chose from. one for ever field you're interested in, you can't lack for something to do in that regard. Social life at emerson, well parites wise they can be boring unless you party with the ethnic kids who have alot of fun :). Well i'm not sure about the dorms because i've never lived in them.

Terry

There are tons of groups to be involved with at Emerson. WERS, our radio stations is huge in the boston market and gives students the opportunity to really be part of a successful radio station, where it is completely run by the studets. Dorm life is really cool for the first two years, but then students move off campus. You find students in the dorms playing games, hanging out, shooting films, having crazy conversations. People usually head out to Allston on te weekends to party, and partying doesnt really happen in the dorms. Students go to the Gardens to smoke some pot, but thats about it.

Sam

There is always something to do while at Emerson. Whether it be a film shoot, a comedy show or a night on the town, Emerson students have no excuse to be bored.

Natasha

The common clubs in the college are the Emerson Channel, the radio station and the marketing EMComm. I'm involved in EmComm and its a very good opportunity to apply what you learn in class. Sports are not such a big deal in Emerson but theater is. Students usually leave their doors open and if I'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday is eitherr studying or hanging out with a friend. There's always parties in an off campus on friday nights. If you don' drink you can go out for a walk around New Berry, go dancing, or walk around North End

whit

SO many very cute indie boys but then you will find the occasional cute athletic guy who likes to read :)

Lorie

While there aren't that many sports teams on campus, it seems what Emerson does have in sports matters a lot to the students. The women and men's basketball teams are quite good and games are always packed. Soccer and Lacrosse are also very popular, for men and women. Ice Hockey has a small following, too. There are some small fraternities and sororities on campus but nothin crazy. People, for the most part, are more concerned with going out for a fun night on the town, whether that's drinking in Alston or going to a Karaoke bar with friends. There are night clubs, bars, restaurants, theaters, cinemas, bowling alleys, and stadiums everywhere, so there's always so much to do. You don't have to smoke or drink to have fun, in Boston or anywhere, really.

Rachel

Not much. My recomendation: make friends outside Emerson.

Katie

I will never go to an Emerson party ever agian. As much as I appreciate the diversity, it wasn't for me. Call friends from BU, BC and Northeastern and go to their parties. A lot of people here are too invovled in their studies to even drink/party I found too. Since we are such a specialized school people are into their studies more because they know exactly what they want to do starting their freshmen year usually.

Andy

Social life is ok. There is a lot of chicks and not too many strait guys, so for us strait guys that puts the odds way in our favor which is nice. People are always open and friendly, and no one ever sleeps ever. The entire student body is clinically sleep deprived, but thats how it goes. We party a lot, and we smoke a lot of pot. And there is everything to do in the city, so boredom is not a problem.

Terry

smoking pot. drinking. eating. watching movies. shopping. going to dinner. internships. very small and gossipy sometimes, especially freshmen year. freshmen tooooonnnnssss of work, and then nothing after that, except in the acting program.

Jesse

Like any other school, social life and extracurriculars are pretty much what you make it. In terms of film and writing and art/theater, there are tons of opportunities for kids who want to get involved immediately. There aren't really any athletic extra-curriculars, save for some kids who play frisbee in the common and an underground football league. People do like to party, and there are house parties as well as the option of going to clubs in the city.

Devin

Kiss goodbye to sleep if you plan to be involved. It's totally worth it. Oh. And GO TO THE GYM whenever you'e free. Freshman 15 exists! fo'real, especially coz you'll be working so hard on organization stuff if you're involved.

Julie

One of the major things that appealed to me about Emerson (and that confuses me about friends who went to school in rural Maine!) is that social life is not constricted to beer pong in dorms. The city is at your disposal, and there's always museums, movies, dance shows, theater, restaurants, shopping, concerts, you name it. I don't drink, smoke, do drugs, or party, and yet I'm always doing something fun on a weekend. I met my friends by wandering around on campus, pretty much, which is why transfer students are usually at a disadvantage in meeting people. But honestly, I find most people here to be pretty friendly and approachable. In terms of partying and drinking, I would say it's absolutely no more or less than any average college. I think it's important for people to live in the dorms the first year or two, because the social aspect of that is unbeatable.

Angela

"What can you do on a Saturday night that doesn't involve drinking?" Uh, homework? Most of the really popular organizations can be directly lated to a major - a lot of writing and publishing students are involved with on-campus publications, a ton of film students belong to film groups, etc. I play softball, and it looks like more and more students are figuring out that we actually have sports every day. Woo-hoo.

Emily

Lots of organizations. Sports are a joke, sorry athletes. Weekends spent at movies, parties, or just hanging out with roommates and friends. People here start partying Thursday, but its like that at every college nowadays.

Rico

Off campus, you have Boston, so you can do tons of stuff provided you have tons of cash.

amanda

All of our groups are extremely popular. Like I said before, Emerson is a passionate student body. People devote to religion, race, sexuality, and causes through activities along with preparing for their careers by writing for magazines, submitting photography, making film, or broadcasting the news. Performance based clubs are equally as popular. I'd say the clubs are one of Emerson's best features because there are well over 100 different ones that all have active, passionate members. I was in Newman Club, which was the Catholic Club, basically. We read scripture, did volunteer work, and spoke about current religious issues in the world. When I joined the club, I began the now annual Spring Break Trip to do religious based volunteer work. We built houses, tore them down, and had a blast getting to know other college kids from around the country. There are always events for every major and plenty of guest speakers. I remember seeing Dennis Leary, an Emerson alum, speak and he was amazinly down to earth and still hilarious. In that moment, I was extremely proud to be an Emerson Student with him as an alum. Other events include theatre, dance, acting, sports, speakers, career based workshops, volunteer based...anything you can think of! Something was laways going on at Emerson. The dating scene at Emerson absolutely sucks unless you are a guy. If you are gay, you have plenty of gorgeous gay men to choose from and get to know. If you are a straight man, you know that there aren't many of you and you take advantage of that. Girls treat straight men like an axe commercial...suddenly throwing themselves at a mediocre man because he's available (only he doesn't necessarily smell like Axe, haha). Also, many of the straight men at Emerson are in love with themselves (that egotistical pretentious thing again) so many women just try to meet men at other schools. People at Emerson like to party, but they're not very good at it. I can't tell you how many people i had to teach how to play beer pong or how to make a Jager Bomb. They are smart outgoing people, but not all of them have college level social skills. Some people at Emerson do have high party standards, but it is definitely of the caliber of a state school. I know one of the reasons I picked it in High School was because I wanted to go somewhere known for it's academics and not for its parties. I met most of my closest friends while abroad at the castle or through other friends. Emerson is all about networking. Again, while I was abroad was the only time i lived in a dorm with everyone, so I got to know a lot of cool people. There are soooo many yearly events I can't name them all! Emerson is very traditional in that sense. There are a few events that go on during the weekends that don't involve drinking, but i can't say I ever sought them out. Not my thing.

Tate

One word- Disorientation. If you make it to this event, you'll likely find a group of buddies to get you started. You're likely to make your friends in class or in the dining hall. We are not a sports-based school, so don't plan on tailgates and football games for bonding. You're going to have to go out in the city like a big boy/girl and hit up a party, club, pub, etc.

Steph

You will plan your class around your co-curricular organizations. There are the key organizations to get involved with in every major. If you go to this school and don't get involved your wasting your money.

Casey

All of the extracurriculars I want to join are late at night on weekends. I commute from 20 miles away, and I have a job, so I don't participate in any. That said, I don't know much about anything else that goes on socially. My one experience with the "dating scene" was pretty lousy, but that's more of a personal problem than a "scene" problem.

Alecia

The most popular groups are probably the performing groups, they are always having auditions and whatnot and they're pretty competitive. I'm involved in Kidding Around which is a children's theater organization, and I do the costumes, which is awesome. My door is always left open, I feel pretty secure because no one can really get in without a student ID. Athletic events are definitely not too popular, I've never seen one in my last year here, although I know they do exist. Guest speakers are popular depending on who they are, and the shows here sell out like you wouldn't believe, especially since people from the community can go, too. The dating scene is a little squashed since a lot of the guys here are gay (not EVERYONE like you'll hear, but a higher percentage than most schools) but I know plenty of people who have hooked up/ gotten a boyfriend. Co-ed dorms and floors help! I met my closest friends because I'm rooming with them or because I met them through another friend. People that are friends tend to do things/ organizations together which definitely makes people closer. I also met one of my best friends the first night of school at an Orientation event! Cheesy, I know. If I'm awake on a Tuesday at 2 am, I'm either chatting with my roommates or doing a paper (I'm usually up late ONLY for homework. Or maybe I'm at NYP (New York Pizza), the ONLY place open at 2 am. The first thing that comes to mind as far as yearly events is the Evvy's, a sort of awards ceremony/ show that acknowledges student work (I think). People party a pretty good amount although a lot of it is pretty class, wine and cheese style, we still have some frat/ sports team parties. And there's always MIT. Frats & sororities are really not important at all, I barely see their presence on campus except that SAE (the frat) sometimes has parties. Last weekend, I stayed home Friday night with a bunch of friends, ordered cheesecake to get delivered (we were snowed in!) and played Scattergories/ Tabboo until 2 AM. Saturday I went to a musuem during the day and then a party at the lacrosse house that night, and then Sunday I cleaned and did my homework. On a Saturday night there are always plenty of people not drinking; you could always go to a movie, or a show, or just hang out with people around campus or go for a walk when it's not too cold. Off-campus I'm usually either eating (at dessert places or Italian restaurants in the North End or Mr. Crepe in Davis Square) or going to some sort of musuem (MFA and Isabella Stewart Gardner are great). Sometimes I'm doing a charity or volunteer event, like Ronald McDonald House's "Polar Express."

Celeste

Like I said, almost everyone is involved with at least one extracurricular. In fact it seems like what you do outside of class is just as important, if not more important than what you do in class. This is where students get the chance to put what they've learned to the test and apply it hands-on. All clubs and productions are entirely student run and the quality and level of each one is highly impressive. There is always some activity or show that students can go see on almost any given night. Whether you decide to participate in all that Emerson has to offer is up to you. Social life takes place mostly in the dorms, especially for the under 18 crowd (students tend to live off campus after sophomore year anyway). There is one frat that throws parties fairly frequently that are popular but people tend to create their own fun or turn to other schools for a party scene. The biggest downside to Boston is that it closes very earlier (especially if you're used to New York City). The T makes its last run around 1230 and, with few exceptions, things tend to close around 11 unless there's drinkng involved. This can get pretty boring but I still usually find ways to have a good time.

Alexi

It would be nice to say that Emerson's activities list is as diverse as its students, but aside from sexual preference and hair color, Emerson does not have diversity. Most of the activities are geared toward students who really just want to control what they are passionate about. We have SGA, theater groups (MTS, Rareworks, Shakespeare Society, etc.), marketing/communication groups (PRSSA, EMCOMM), film/TV clubs (SPEC, Women in Motion, FPS, EIV, ECTV), radio stations (WERS, WECB, ETIN), and athletics. There are also some lifestyle groups (EAGLE, Hillel, EBONI), but basically every single organization can be grouped into one of the above categories. Most of the students here take their organization more seriously than their classes, and our Greek life is almost non-existent. Normally during the week, people on campus avoid doing homework until 1 AM by hanging out in the common room and watching the latest movie to receive any oscar buzz. However, on the weekend, students will either go out to see a movie/play/comedy show or find some place to party. Being in Boston, there are a lot of things to do at any given time, but I once heard someone say that "nothing good happens after 11." I agree.

Parker

social life is great. I wish i knew more people on my floor, but thats only because i live in the corner of the hall so no one actually walks by our door. greek life is not very important at all, at least to me. I think we have one sorority and one fraternity? its not very prominent in emerson's social life, though. My closest friends are the people I live with. Other friends I mostly meet in classes, and alot of my good friends I met during orientation. i wish there were more regular social events. Party scene depends. Because Emerson living is packed so tight (meaning as soon as we leave the building we're not on Emerson property anymore) its not a big party school. Its hard to get away with much in the dorms, so any parties that do go on have to be pretty small and low-key. If someone feels the need to party, theres always the surrounding colleges like MIT, BU and Tufts. Personally I'm not much of a partier, and it gets hard finding other things to do on a saturday night. theres a great movie theater down the road, but it gets expensive after a while. it will be easier in spring and summer when we can just...wander on a saturday night. right now its kind of like we're all cooped up.

Becky

The most popular organizations depend entirely on what your major is. The Evvys, Emerson's annual awards show modeled after the Emmys and Oscars, is a very popular organization that attracts students from a number of departments. Broadcast Journalism students as well as TV Production majors work on various shows on the Emerson Channel while The Berkley Beacon, Emerson's weekly newspaper, is usually a must for Print Journalism students. There are also a variety of theater groups and comedy troupes that put on fantastic performances. We also have two radio stations that are ranked top in the country. No matter what your major is, there's a club for it. I personally am involved with Emerson Independent Video, which puts together a number of sitcoms, music videos, and talk shows, and Spec., a group dedicated to aspiring screenwriters. In addition to department related groups, there are also groups such as the Student Government Association and clubs that focus on common interests or goals. Athletic events are a bit of a joke at Emerson. We just aren't athletes. This, sadly, is also how I would describe the dating scene at Emerson. Most guys are gay, and the ones who aren't are taken. Luckily Boston is full of young college bachelors. There's no "if you're awake on a Tuesday.." You will be. Emerson courses usually don't require a lot of nightly homework, instead we have large projects that will consume most of your time. Extracurriculars are also taken very seriously, and chances are you'll have work to do on an individual film project or rehearsal for a play if you don't have to write a paper. There are parties at Emerson, however if you aren't a drinker, then that usually isn't a problem for those students. Most people I talk to who stay away from the party scenes say that they're never pressured to drink and that they aren't affected by those who do. There are a couple sororities and one fraternity, but they aren't significant institutions here and don't hold a lot of power over anyone. Last weekend I attended a comedy show, caught a free screening of Jack Black's latest film (which is very frequent at the movie theaters in the area and perfect for students who are low on cash) and pulled an accidental all nighter while celebrating a friend's birthday. There are constantly events on and off campus that don't involve drinking, including musicals, films, pool halls, etc. During the week there are usually a variety of guest speakers who come to Emerson from the makers of The Lion King to Hal Penn, star of Harold and Kumar. Earlier in the year, Barack Obama gave a speech on the Boston Common, which is directly across from Emerson College.

Ryan

wecb and wers are popular. they are the emerson radio stations. eagle is big. it's the emerson gay club (emerson alliance of gays lesbians and everyone--- yeah, it's a stretch.) frats and sororities are kind of a joke. same with athletics. a lot of upperclassmen live off campus. kids who live in the dorms drink in their rooms. suites are alright for small parties.

Jess

It is totally impossible to find a straight guy at Emerson to date. The only thing to do is to have a good time somewhere off campus and get NYP. Greek life is non-existent and I would say that the biggest extra-curricular activity here is smoking cigarettes on the stoop outside of p-row.

Cory

Theatre, radio, and Emerson TV are all very popular and very good quality. There are some sports, such as softball, hockey, and basketball, but they are not very popular and do not have much student support. Being in Boston there is always tons of stuff to do, with and without alcohol. Emerson is located near a large movie theatre which very frequently has free movie screenings. Greek life is existant at Emerson, barley. There are a few frats and sororities and some co-ed ones. But, since Boston is a huge college town there are many nearby Greek houses from other colleges like MIT and BU.

Sara

There are A TON of activities that you can do on campus, as well as things off campus because Boston is such a great city. Since there are only two dorms and they're a bit unconventional, almost no partying happens on campus. But since many students live off-campus, you can always find a party there or at a neighboring school. I don't drink, so on weekends my friends and I usually explore the city (because it's beautiful) and during the nights we'll go to a cafe or a movie, or an event that's happening in the city. Also, if you don't drink, the school hosts a lot of activities on the weekends, such as speakers and concerts.

Cassandra

Some of the more popular groups on campus are the comedy and improv troops, Emerson’s Marketing organization, the radio shows, and the college’s newspaper, the Berkeley Beacon. I am a reporter for the Beacon, and it is pretty exciting. The advisor is an investigative reporter for the Boston Globe. I met my closest friends by joining the Freshman Class Council. Athletic events are not usually discussed. In fact, a lot of people don’t even known they exist. There are always guest speakers at Emerson’s Cutler Majestic Theatre—a gorgeous theatre which also houses some of Emerson’s popular theatrical performances. The dating scene is…Well, if you are homosexual, you’ve got it made. Otherwise, the college’s heterosexual dating scene seems obsolete. Students who live in Emerson’s actual dorms do typically leave their doors open; however, many students including me are being housed in nearby hotels due to over-enrollment, so they cannot have their doors open for safety reasons. If I’m awake at 2 am on a Tuesday, it’s probably because I am studying. But the average Emersonian might, indeed, be partying, which people do often here. Fraternities and sororities don’t seem nearly as important here as in the larger universities, but we still have a solid few. Last weekend, I explored Boston with my boyfriend: went to the movies, the Boston Public Library, the Boston Common, and Newbury Street.

Kelly

The most popular student group is The Berklee Beacon, our school newspaper. Next to this is probably individual student groups working on film projects. I'm involved with em mag, an online magazine that was just SGA approved and will now be coming to print. It's much like any other magazine, it covers relationships, politics, entertainment and art--but also Emerson. I write for the Emerson section. Students in the Little Building always have their doors open. Piano Row is all suites, and doors are much less likely to be open. Athletic events are popular amongst all of the athletes, but not so much with the rest of the student body. Guest speakers and theater productions are extremely popular, not only among students but also the Boston community. I met my closest friends in my classes and in my dorm building. If I'm awake at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday, I'm studying or reading in my bed. Dragtoberfest is an annual event where students dress in drag and put on skits. It is always sold out--you have to camp out to get tickets. People party every night. There is always some group doing something, Sunday through Saturday. Sororities are not very popular. Fraternities are. SAE is great, they have parties that most of Emerson shows up to, and they're really cool guys. Last weekend I watched movies, did homework, and went to a party at Boston University. Saturday nights never have to involve drinking. You can go to Loews Theater and see a movie (sometimes Emerson gives out free passes), you can go hang out with friends on campus where drinking is not permitted. About once a month there are comedy shows put on by our numerous comedy troops. Off campus, I love to go relax on the common or explore the MFA which is free to students.