Florida State University Top Questions

What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

Nardgelen

Laid back, wearing all Seminole gear, backwards hat, shorts, beer in hand. Pretty much true!

Adrianna

Students at FSU are stereotyped to be ambitious students that enjoy life and have fun while also working hard to achieve big goals. I believe that for the most part, the student body reflects just this; students enjoy enjoy living and having fun, but are also eager individuals who set high goals and put tremendous effort into transforming dreams into realities.

Ivan

That everyone at my school is good looking or is conceited. It is not true unless you surround yourself with those types of people.

Amy

The stereotype seems to be that everyone at Florida State University is involved in Greek life. While we do have a very active Greek community, there are a ton of other ways to get involved on campus with non-Greek groups. There seems to be something for everyone at Florida State.

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Matthew

Florida State University tends to widely receive the stereotype of being a party school with attractive girls. While there may be some truth to this stereotype, it would be inaccurate to label for the school as a whole. You can find a wide variety of students at Florida State, especially those who don't partake in the lively nightlife. I believe this is the best part of going to a school with a large student body consisting of a variety of different people and personalities. Each class you will find yourself amongst the different and expected students of college such as the athletes, frat stars, the students who pay attention, and the students who don't pay attention. The diversity enables it to eliminate any stereotype that may be put in place.

Matthew

Florida State University tends to widely receive the stereotype of being a party school with attractive girls. While there may be some truth to this stereotype, it would be inaccurate to label for the school as a whole. You can find a wide variety of students at Florida State, especially those who don't partake in the lively nightlife. I believe this is the best part of going to a school with a large student body consisting of a variety of different people and personalities. Each class you will find yourself amongst the different and expected students of college such as the athletes, frat stars, the students who pay attention, and the students who don't pay attention. The diversity enables it to eliminate any stereotype that may be put in place.

Chad

Other than being big with sports events and drinking, I don't know know of any stereotypes.

Kristin

A lot of the students at FSU are into Greek life and so many girls fall into the stereotype of being a sorority chick and the guys are labeled Frats. Some times these stereotypes are spot on but the truth is there is actually a lot of variety when it comes to the personalities of the students who attend FSU.

Kaitlyn

There are stereotypes no matter where you go. Florida State University is no exception, but there are many that aren't even accurate, for instance FSU is often classified as a party school. In reality we do enjoy partying, (who doesn't?) but most students always stay true to their academics by upholding the Garnet and Gold. There is also a large misconception of students who drink excessively, most students actually only claim to have little (1-2) to no drinks per week. Otherwise I have seen no stereotypes that have classified students based on appearance or group.

Morgan

Sorority girl

Amanda

The stereotype of certain students may at times be accurate. It depends what event, or scene one finds themselves in.

Kristin

Some stereotypes are that FSU students are stupid and get drunk all the time. This is not true. Just because some people choose to take that route does not mean that they represent the school. There are many brilliant people that attend FSU but no one seems to talk about that.

Halsey

Stereotypes at FSU include the super Frat kids and party kids, but these stereotypes are exaggerated.

Michael

The stereotype of my school is that we are a party school. We like to have fun and go out a lot and party. There is some truth to this stereotype, but it isn’t because of the culture of our school (even though that has something to do with it), but because when teenagers finally get out of their parents house for the first time and live far away from home, you just want to get away so to speak. We do have a very good culture at our school and it does involve some partying, but we also get done what we have too. Our school is becoming more academic and we are starting a charge toward more research, but that has nothing to do with the partying. It is still there and will always be there, that’s how college is structured. I feel like the motto on this campus is “you work hard, you play hard.” So as long as you finish your research or your study for your exam you can party and enjoy the “high” life as much as you can. Once your responsibilities start becoming too much though you have to realize that it is affecting your ability to function. While I have seen this happen, most of our students don’t let it happen to them. We get the job done, no matter what you ask of us, then we celebrate for the good job we did!

Rachel

Greek life is a major part of my school. I myself am not in a sorority but you see lots of people wearing their letters around campus. Some people think all they do is go out and party. But that's not the case. A couple friends of mine are in a sorority and they are very hard workers because, of course, their is a social aspect to their groups, so it's a challenge to balance everything they do. I try to not to succumb to thinking of people in stereotypes, because this prevents you from being able to meet a lot of really cool people you might not otherwise because you judged them on first sight.

Brittney

A stereotype of my school might be that the students do not study and that they part a lot. However, I would say that this stereotype is not completely accurate. Every school will have people who study and people who party. At my school I believe that students balance the two relatively well and are more prone to studying.

Catalina

FSU students are commonly stereotyped as frat kids and stoners. Though there are a good number of students involved in the greek community and marijuana is very commonly encountered at Florida State, many students realize that their priority is school. Any incoming freshman will obviously believe that college is all about partying and having fun. For the most part, students at Florida State quickly find the right balance between having fun and doing well in their classes.

Lauren

FSU is viewed as a party school, and that is pretty accurate. That said, you don't have to be party crazy to come to FSU. In the student population of 40,000, you can find people with similar interests and disinterests (partying).

Tim

The main stereotype of a Seminole would be that of a party student. Someone who drinks alot, goes to parties every weekend, and doesn't focus enough on school. In general this stereotype is not accurate. There are many people who do these activities but the student body as a whole is actually made up of good students.

Rachel

There are some stereotypes like frat guys and sorority girls, but other than that I think people are pretty much equal.

Allyson

Mostly, when people think of Florida State University, they think "Tallanasty"--the general stereotype is that everyone here is "ghetto" or "gangster." But I really think that this stereotype is inaccurate. Florida State has a very diverse student body with people from every national, ethnic, and socioeconomic background you can think of. My fellow students come from all over the world--China, the UK, Australia, Kenya, Colombia, Spain...and many more. Also, those of us that do come from the US are extremely diverse as well, in interests, extracurriculars, and majors.

Chelsea

There are a bunch of stereotypes for kids at my school. Many of them are true. First of all, people always say that FSU is a girl's school, and even though that is not true, there are genuinely a lot more girls than guys. There is a huge sorority/fraternity scene, so there are is overwhelming amount of the tan, bleach blonde, Christian (although not necessarily moral), Southern girls you would expect to find in the sunshine state. There is also no shortage of the meathead male counterpart, who comes complete with an over-inflated sense of self, due to the hoards of love-hungry girls without better options. Then there is the hipster crowd. You can spot them a mile away in their thrift-store clothes and bold-colored wayfarers (which are doubly functional to hide their blood shot eyes, and block out the blinding sun after a night at the rave). Beware their swinging anti-establishment protest signs.

Julia

One of the most common streotypes about Florida State University it that it is a major party school. While we do have a very big nightlife atmosphere we have many other things that students can do and participate in. There all many frats and soroities here to join and make lots of amazing friends. Also many clubs and organizations that can make a big impact on FSU.

Charlotte

The students at Florida State are deffinantly partiers! Everyone loves to have good time and cheer on all the athletic teams at FSU!

Kelsey

One of the factors that drew me in initially to Florida State University was that stereotypes were nonexistent. Walking around campus, it is difficult to distinguish the "jocks" from the "geeks," or the sorority girls from the honors students. Florida State is so diverse and so accepting of any and all students, and it provides a sense of belonging and comfort in an atmosphere that is frequently portrayed as daunting.

Anais

Stereotypes about FSU students are usually that we drink a lot and are way too into football. While some FSU students are like that, I have seen every kind of person at FSU. Though it is rare to find an FSU student who doesn't go to at least one football game. So, the stereotype is a bit warranted, but it is not the picture of what students are really like here.

Amanda

Southern Frat Stars; Southern Belles; Rednecks; Not as smart as UF; GDI's. People view Florida State University as a very southern school in Florida known for its partying and Greek Life. People also see University of Florida as the smart school and FSU as the second choice. What they don't know is the tradition Florida State upholds and how proud I am to be a student at Florida State. Also being a part of Greek Life has shown me why people stereotype it and why they shouldn't. I have the inside look to the positive side of Greek Life and would love to share that to everyone.

Jalessa

Students at Florida State University do not verbally say we have certain stereotypes as any other school they just exist. Typical schools have jocks which are football players, basketball players, Softball, Baseball and other sports; the band, the fraternities, the sororities and then the different student union groups. Florida State University is diverse in the areas of sports, tradition, religion and minorities just like any other school in the nation. Our stereotypical groups are just as true as any other school's but we as students and future students cannot consider these "groups" as stereotypes. Stereotypes are ways of classifying individuals who are specific which is not justifiable. The University does not promote stereotypes they promote diversity and challenge society to interact together no matter what talents students hold. If a student has the talent to be a football player and are on the team that is there place within the university that is how they support their university. Stereotypes will forever come up as an issue but it is up to us as students to show that stereotypes are exactly what they are stereotypes and that is not what Florida State University is about. Stereotypes are territorial. They are based on talents and beliefs and are not accurate.

Elisa

Everyone thinks that FSU students like to drink. Drinking is commonly associated with partying. Although, some students prefer to drink just to fit in. Most students at FSU are interested in studying hard to keep their grades up.

Ashley

A common stereotype of Florida State students is that we aren't educationally motivated. Common thought is that we're all partying through school and just want to pass and have our degrees handed to us. But, this definitely isn't true. In my three and a half years here I've seen more educational focus and leadership than I ever have before. FSU students can have fun, but there is much more to a Seminole. Florida State has taught Fulbright and Rhodes scholars, and allows its students opportunities to work alongside Nobel laureates and Pulitzer-Prize winners, Guggenheim Fellows, members of the National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and other globally recognized teachers and researchers. In addition, the middle 50 percent of freshmen accepted for the fall 2010 term had 3.5-4.1 academic GPAs, 25-29 ACT composite scores, and 1720-1940 SAT total scores. The top quartile of these students rivals most selective school in the nation, with an average GPA of 4.4, an average ACT composite of 31, and an average SAT total of 2072. So, while Florida State students may have a reputation for partying hard, just remember, the Seminoles study even harder.

Jenifer

Choosing which institution of higher learning to attend is a very difficult process for some, yet for others, it is as easy as catching a yawn. While each college or university has some quality that distinguishes it from the rest, almost every school has a stereotype with which it is associated. For a while, Florida State University was classified, to the average layman, as a party school attended by students who are not smart enough for the University of Florida. Recently, the garnet and gold has also been garnering a reputation for its football prowess as well; unfortunately, this simply adds to the party school aspect. While this view is quite widespread, it is not entirely true. Yes, many students like to often visit clubs and bars at FSU, but is there any college whose students do not? This stereotype is accurate only in the sense that "partying" is simply a facet of college life, and the choice to partake in that lifestyle is entirely a student's own decision. Undeniably, a large percentage of FSU students do choose that, but that does not mean they are not also smart, responsible, well rounded and fully functioning members of society. No formula exists that can determine what type of person goes to what school or how a college will be perceived. Forming opinions based on experience rather than the rumor mill is the only way to bypass clouding one's mind with preconceived notions.

Kali

While Florida State has a large and thriving Panhellenic community, there are many diverse circles that are just as large. We have students in local music scenes, those who work for various RSO's on campus (one of the best ways to meet people with similar interests), and even in specific art majors like Writing or Studio Art, there are many levels of smaller stereotypes. There isn't one social stereotype, there are many. One thing you can find in common with most of our student body is an open mindedness, a respect for the university, and ambition in their fields. I believe that's why Florida State is such a top notch university. We represent diversity, individuality, and success.

Connor

Some stereotypes for both male and female students at Florida State University is that we are all associated with fraternities or sororities. It is believed that if you are not associated with these social clubs then you will not have access to some of the fun party scenes in Tallahassee. I am here to tell you that is false. I have never been associated with the Greek functions at Florida State and I still have plenty of friends who love to go out and have a good time. Every student at Florida State University is interested in making friends so the only way you will not find an interesting group of people to call your friends is if you really try hard not to look. There are many outlets at this University that are easily accessible and highly welcoming. They are just waiting on you to explore them.

Megan

The most common stereotype that never seems to change is the FSU is a big party school, which is reinforced by the fact that this year we were ranked as one of the top ten party school in the nation. It's a stereotype that many students like to praise, but it is not necessarily true. After nearly four years at FSU, I've found that the student body can study just as hard as we party. The proof is in the library- walking into the library around exams week is similar to going to one of the campus bars or clubs on a Friday night: it's packed. One of the best aspects of campus life at FSU is that there is a great balance between work and play, and we all need a little of both.

Megan

The most common stereotype that never seems to change is the FSU is a big party school, which is reinforced by the fact that this year we were ranked as one of the top ten party school in the nation. It's a stereotype that many students like to praise, but it is not necessarily true. After nearly four years at FSU, I've found that the student body can study just as hard as we party. The proof is in the library- walking into the library around exams week is similar to going to one of the campus bars or clubs on a Friday night: it's packed. One of the best aspects of campus life at FSU is that there is a great balance between work and play, and we all need a little of both.

Lindsey

The stereotype at Florida State University is party-hard college kids. While we do have our frats and party animals, they are the minority here. The majority of the student population here at FSU are extremely social, but understand studying comes first.

Scott

One of the biggest stereotypes that FSU is known for is being a party school. Every time I tell people where I go to school, they quickly reply with a "Oh, the party school right?" Being a sophomore here at FSU, I can easily say this stereotype is false. While there are a lot of parties and events that are held on campus and in Tallahassee, the majority of students aren't out at those parties. At the same time, there aren't any book worm, antisocial, students who live in the library. I've noticed a very healthy balance of both partying and studying here at FSU. I have met countless of students who are involved with club activities, fraternities, sports, and student government that don't fall under the "Party now study later" mentality. Being a Seminole means keeping a reputation and school spirit that involves maintaining a balanced college lifestyle. So while yes, there are a lot of parties, it doesn't make FSU a party school because the school is very well balanced when it comes to academics and keeping a much needed college lifestyle.

Rachel

The stereotype is that every student at FSU is involved in Greek life...which is completely untrue. Yes, fraternities and sororities are valued on campus, but they aren't dominant. There are thousands of things to do and people to hang out with that aren't involved in that lifestyle.

Marli

Stereotypes are very common throughout the Florida State University campus that just naming one would not serve justice. Being in Greek life at FSU has opened my eyes to many other types of stereotypes that I never came across in South Florida. Of course you have the "Fratdaddys" of the school, which are the frat guys that just LOVE to dress in their button down pastel-colored shirts, khaki shorts, Sperry shoes, and you can never forget the croakies (the elastic piece that lets their glasses hang ever-so slightly down the front of their neck). Then, you have the typical sorority girls with the long dark or really blonde hair (yes, it is true... you either have really dark brown hair or really blonde), that wear almost nothing when they go out and wear the most in-style clothes and shoes, as if they came straight out of a magazine. Next, you have the southern belles. These group of girls are usually blonde and can never leave without their hair teased to perfection and their make-up plastered upon their face as if it were painting on a canvas, and finished off with nice pearl earrings and a necklace. You have the jocks of course who are the superstars of the school, due to the fact that they basically represent our school, especially when it comes to basketball and football. A flock of girls are usually always surrounding these men. One of the last types of stereotypes that I will mention, are the "big gorilla juiceheads" of the school. This term was made up by the very...shall I say unique Snookie from Jersey Shore. This just stands for the rather muscular men of the school who drink, eat, sleep of protein shakes and weight lifting. These previous stereotypes that I have just mentioned, are by no means supposed to be offensive whatsoever!

Abigail

From my perspective, there are a couple specific stereotypes that most divide FSU. Many people feel that Greeks are "stuck up" and dominate organizations, taking control over certain aspects of university involvement for their own advantage. On the other side are non-Greeks, who are sometimes perceived as being lazy and uninvolved. In my opinion, it doesn't matter if someone is "Greek" or not to be involved, but any kind of organized effort will dominate over one person alone. The best way to have a voice at a large university like FSU, is to join an organization that shares your values and interests.

Shawn

Florida State University has a wide range of students, from jocks to sorority girls to mathematical guinnesses and with that wide range comes many stereotypes. For instance, all black students came into Florida State University through the CARE Program. All english majors are weird Harry Potter obsessors.All sorority girls are rich girls who join sororities in order to cover up their slutty past. All football players are cheaters who get paid. All of the homecoming candidates are stuck up individuals who live for attention. All student government members care more about themselves than they do about the school. All frat boys get drunk and party every night and most commonly all Florida State students hate the Gators. I can't say whether or not these stereotypes are true (well maybe the last one), the point is that no matter what kind of student you identify yourself as at Florida State University, stereotypes will always be there. It is up to the student to decide if they want to fit those stereotypes.or not let what other people think keep them from being a successful student.

Car

Florida State University is widely known for its Greek life and the student body’s great appreciation for football. These attributes have led to FSU being labeled as a party school. While our students do know how to have a good time, there is much more to this university. There are plenty of sororities and fraternities that throw monthly fund raising events, along with clubs, athletic teams and student associations. There is always some sort of student activity on campus. We have a school movie theater, a twenty four hour library, restaurants, market days, a circus, and even festivals for special occasions. Football is a huge event every fall semester. However, it is not just the students who are interested in the Seminoles, football games are a city-wide event. There are festivals with food stands before every big home game called “Downtown Get-Downs” and every Seminole fan, student or not, can participate. While Florida State University is known as a party school, it has many things to offer to a very diverse student body. You do not have to take part in the party life to have fun at FSU.

Katherine

The majority of students at Florida State seem to be Greek. You can't drive down a major road without seeing at least 7 cars with Greek letters on the back windshield. Homecoming Week is dominated by the Greek system; no other group stands a chance of winning. The rest of the students fall into various categories. Some of the are very politically active, and, on campus, there is usually at least one type of protest going on. Others are very religious. There are tons of religious groups on campus ranging from Christians to Buddists.

Gabriela

Many people particularly from out of state think that all Florida schools are party schools. The reality, however, is that Florida State University is about much more than that. While we are fortunate enough to have wonderful weather and close-by beaches, we also have great professors, research opportunities and a variety of interests represented on our campus. You can almost always find students lounging around Landis Green--playing Frisbee, suntanning, listening to music--but you can also almost always tell that half of them are reading for class or writing a paper. It's really the combination of fabulous location and challenging academics that makes Florida State special.

Ryan

FSU has a very "party" oriented image. There is a large Greek population, but the student body is pretty diverse in their interests. The party stereotype is reasonably accurate. Tallahassee does drink a lot, loves tailgating, and there are no shortage of bars. However if that's not your scene you will find other things to keep you occupied.

Elora

FSU has consistently been listed among the top ten party schools in the country as well as on top ten lists for schools where students do the least studying, most notably on the Princeton Review. With an largely well known and successful collection of athletic programs, as well as Greek Life, and close proximity of night clubs to campus, some as close as a walk across the street, it's no wonder why Florida State is known as a party school.

Susan

There is a stereotype that FSU students party a lot, do a lot of drugs, have a lot of sexual intercourse, that type of deal. I find this to be somewhat accurate, truly there are a lot of students that party a lot and do a good bit of all those activities but as a whole I think it to be about as average for any college.

Emma

FSU is known for being a big Greek and party school. There are a lot of people involved in sororities and fraternities, and there's definitely people that go out every night of the week. But everyone isn't like that. There are plenty of people who party responsibly and in moderation, or not at all.

Catalina

The common stereotype of students at Florida State University seems to consist entirely of bad images of art students. From my experiences here, there is some truth to our label as an art school; in comparison to the University of Florida, for example, Florida State is stronger in the arts and humanities while UF's programs focus more on the maths and sciences. However, our school consists of many different people; there are dancers, frisbee players, math students, future teachers, writers, painters, and graphic designers. In this way, the myriad of personalities creates an emphasis on individuality on campus which can not be quite as prevalently found on larger campuses. Another stereotype of our campus is the high party rate. This is both true and false. While campus is full of tailgating on gamedays leading to a plethora of red solo cups littered everywhere and many students I meet discuss their active social life, I personally have been to two parties since coming to FSU, both of which were small. So, while there are many parties for those who feel the need, there is no pressure to party for those who do not wish to participate. All in all, we are not a so-called "party school."