University of California-San Diego Top Questions

Most students in Revelle that I know leave their suite doors unlocked and propped open, and unless they're away they leave their doors open inside too. My floor especially is extremely close and social. Athletic events and guest speakers aren't that popular, and neither is theatre unless you're into it. We're SO close to the La Jolla Playhouse though, it's an AMAZING place for people like me who appreciate theatre and music. The dating scene at UCSD sucks pretty hard, sorry folks. I know a few people who have hooked up, but they've all be on our floor. The rest of us are STILL single and not even dating socially all that much. My closest friends pretty much let themselves into my lives... Two of the guys from their suite came into our suite drunk during welcome week, and I met the rest of the suite through them. Between the boys' suite and the girls in my suite, we have a few of us who have gotten close. If I'm awake at 2am at UCSD... I'm either hanging out with my friends, watching pirated movies/reruns of House, drinking, or cramming for a test. The greatest social event at UCSD is undoubtedly the Sungod festival. Google it and believe me, it's AMAZING. On a saturday night there's a movie theatre nearby, as well as the beach, and La Jolla Playhouse right by the campus.

Most popular groups would probably be frats/sororities and then some academic clubs or religious clubs. Most students leave their doors open. I met my closest friends through orientation and clubs. If I am awake I am usually online doing homework/studying/talking to friends. There actually aren't many activities on a saturday night that don't involve drinking. Almost all parties or even little get togethers involve alcohol unless you with people who don't drink.

lots of stuff to do

Popular Groups: Fraternities and Sororities. But only rush the cool ones... Leave Doors Open: We try to, but the RSO Nazis threaten us with fines for "fire hazards." Dating Scene: Don't date here. Dating webs become so incestuous, and are mostly booty call webs. 2am Tuesday: Either at a random party or eating at Roberto's, 24h Mexican food! Traditions: SUNGOD!! Saturday Night Without Drinking: Then we are smoking.

I think the best thing about our social scene is that everyone knows someone that knows someone that knows someone, etc. You meet new people through your friends, and then they may or may not become your friends. I happened to find my best friends through another friend that I met through my roommate, so you never know the possibilities.

Several of the biggest Greek organizations seem to be Sigma Chi, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Sigma Alpha Mu for guys. For girls, Delta Gamma and Kappa Kappa Gamma

see above

I think it's a little bit of both -- some people like to leave their doors open and just talk with their neighbors, while others close their doors to study. Social life isn't bad, but it could be better. It's true UCSD students do study a lot, but the R.A.s and administration do throw social events and activities geared towards creating a community and making friends. I stay up pretty late pretty often because I think the 10-week period is just too short to learn all the material professors throw at us. But after all that hard work, the breaks and the grades make it all worth it.

basketball and volleyball teams are pretty popular, the big asian orgs are pretty big; im involved with phi sigma rho, which is a science and engineering sorority that caters to girls who major in technical science and engineering. what dating scene? my closest friends are from my freshman year suite, and people i meet outside of that are connection through my highschool friends. being awake at early morning hours would constitute me either being on facebook or studying/doing homewokr. SUNGODDDDDD :) generally parties are what happens when people just gather together to have a fun time, so usually its on the weekends so that everyone could take a break from their studies. greek life is big but not that big, like most other universities, although they are pretty well-known for all their activities and name. study for finals. saturday nights can involve a quiet movie at home or going to the movies with some friends. i live off campus, there's not much to do other than the perks of getting more of a variety for foods.

frat's/sororities? lambda chi alpha idk not that big nope nope ew in one of my classes on-line sungod probably 3 times a week VERY to the people IN them parties nothing party

This i dont want to talk about.

There is no social life at UCSD. Athletic events are unknown. I sleep at midnight because there is nothing else to do.

I don't think there is any particular organization that is more popular than the rest, but in general, events or games that are more interesting to watch tend to generate larger crowds. However, the level of student involvement amongst all of the groups on campus is about equal. I am involved in a group called the Red Cross Club, which is an organization that works in close contact with Red Cross America to conduct relief efforts and blood drives through the UCSD community. The students in the dorms leave their doors open for the most part. Select athletic events, such as basketball and waterpolo are very popular, but the less "thrilling" sports tend to generate smaller crowds. Theather productions and concerts are very, very popular amongst the student body. My closest friends and I live on the same floors of our residential halls. I met them by studying in the communal lounge, and talking to them when they were passing through. From there, we started to hang out more often and now we do almost everything together. If I'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday, I'm usually with my friends. When I am done with my work or studying at night, I meet up with my friends to relax for an hour or two before I go to bed. Parties usually happen every weekend, with the exception of finals week. They're usually off campus so without a car, they're hard to get to. Depending on the student, fraternities and sororities are either very important to developing a social network, or pointless. Last weekend, I had a volunteer event all day Saturday, but Friday and Saturday evening I hung out with my friends. You can do virtually anything on a Saturday night that doesn't involve drinking. It's a personal choice to drink if you think you'll have a better time, but you can do just as much without it.

Although the greek life isn't really important, it probably is one of the most popular groups/organizations on campus. I'm involved in greek life and it is amazing. It gives you outlets for so many things, not only social but academic, athletic, community service and more. The dorms at UCSD are all different depending on which college you're in. But most are not like the typical dorm with a long hallway of doors and a bathroom at the end. I lived in a 'suite' my freshman year which consisted of an apartment like setting with 6 bedrooms. Most of us left our bedroom doors open but we wouldn't leave our front doors open. Athletic events are not too popular. Mostly other athletes go an support each other. Basketball and probably soccer are the two biggest sports on campus. Those are the only two that I've ever heard of a big number of students going to. Spirit night is also the biggest athletic spirit event. Its basically UCSD's homecoming basketball game. I made some of my really close friends my freshman year-they were a two of my seven roommates. I was lucky that I found good friends in my roommates. Then all my other close friends I've found through my sorority. I love them and I am so happy I rushed because then I found them. Well each quarter there is a concert: fall fest, winter fest and then sungod festival (spring quarter). Fallfest and Winterfest are just concerts they have each year and usually they get pretty good people to play. Sungod on the other had is a huge all day festival that takes over campus for the day. There is crazy stuff to do all day: blow-up obstacle courses and jumping things, bubbles in the fountains and so much more! Most people don't go to class at all that day. Its a perfect day to wander around campus and enjoy everything that is going on. Then they have a huge concert that night on RIMAC field. Its an amazing day filled with music, drinking, fun and craziness. As for things to do that don't involve drinking, there are plenty. I would just advise on finding other people who either don't drink or only drink occasionally to hang out with though. But you can go down to the beach and have a bonfire, go out to dinner, go see a movie, watch movies at home, go bowling, go to a concert or some other event happening on campus or somewhere close. Its basically the same stuff to do anywhere you are though.

The biggest student organization right now is a Intervarsity Christian Fellowhship.

Go DOTS!!!

SunGod is the biggest event at UCSD annually. It is basically one day of mayhem. There are concerts and activities going on throughout the day then at night there is usually a well known band playing. Even though people say it's the one day UCSD can let go and relax and party, with all of the law enforcement and undercover cops, I wouldn't recommend "letting go" too much. The constant presence of police definitely made it hard to feel completely laid back and relaxed.

I would say club sports, sororities/fraternaties and RA/OL are the most popular. I'm in a sorority. I left my door open in the dorms, but not in the apartments because I lived on the first floor. I only go to athletic events if I know someone playing or we are forced to go ( I don't like sports). I've been to the theater productions a few times and they have always been really good. Its just hard to find friends who will go with me. I will never again date a fraternity guy because the Greek community is waayy too small and too many people know your business. My bf is great and he is def not Greek. I met one friend freshman year in the dorms, and all the other ones through the sorority. I would only be awake on a Tuesday at 2AM if I had a massive paper due early the next morning. I think they have concerts every year, but I mostly don't go. I've only gone to Sungod once because I've had to go to a funeral or work for two of the years (I will also have to work this year. Partying wildly depends on individuals and specific friend groups. The sorority is a big part of my life, but for the rest of UCSD its probably relatively insignificant. Last weekend I shopped, had dinner with the bf's family, studied and went to serenades. I live off campus so everything I do except class is off campus.

the greek system is getting more popular, but still seems to be very judged and hated by those not involved. i personally hated sorority girls until i went through the rush process and met a lot of girls who were more like me than i would have expected. athletic events arent very popular, people almost have to be bribed to go to games. i'm usually always studying late at night and don't sleep much. sun god is the one day UCSD actually looks alive and people from all other schools come to celebrate. rockin' roosevelt is also a fun event that people tend to appreciate a lot. on a saturday night la jolla is a very dead city, thats another thing about san diego is that if you arent 21 its not much fun.

I hear a lot of people say UCSD stands for UC socially dead and in many ways I find this sadly to be true. The campus is split into 6 "colleges" and is very spread out. For what reason I do not know, but I think it is a big factor in why the social scene at UCSD is the way it is. If you have a friend that lives all the way across campus of course you aren't going to see them as much and you certainly wont randomly run into them as much. Each "college" holds its own events and a lot of times they aren't widely publicized to other parts of the campus. The social life, like the campus, just seemed so disconnected when I first got here. The feeling lessened my second year as I made more friends, but I still don't consider UCSD social life to be your typical university experience. The greek life here is big and seems to be a great way to meet people but theres no greek housing on campus so if your not involved you don't see too much of it. Of course there are tons of student orgs for whatever your interest. There's also a huge variety of food on campus. Off campus there is downtown La Jolla with tons of restaurants and shops. It's a great place to walk around. Black's beach is a ten minute walk from campus and if you want to drive La Jolla shores is a short drive away.

Being greek, I would say it is one of the best organizations on campus. Being greek allows a student to partake in so many different aspects through one group. Philanthropy and community service are emphasized, academics are highly encouraged and helping one another is a huge part, sisterhood/brotherhood inspires each member to create bonds of friendship and trust, leadership opportunities are available within each chapter for those skills to grow and develop, and finally social interaction is key. Friendship is necessary to get through the craziness that is college academics, and the greek system definitely has this. I think all should rush and go greek! Recently, basketball games have become popular; I wish all were highly attended and that UCSD would have a football team in the future!

college councils and sororities and fraternities. I'm in a sorority and I absolutely love it. Best decision I've ever made.

The big event at UCSD is Sungod. Way fun and everyone gets really social for that one day. It's a nice change. Athletic events and theater are not that popular. I'd say that Greek life at UCSD does not fit your stereotypical idea of fraternity and sorority. It's a lot less intense because we have no housing which I actually really like a lot.

Greek life is great.

Sororities and Fraternities are popular social groups on campus. I'm a part of a sorority Chi Omega and I love it! Other popular groups are sports teams, both school Varsity and club teams, and school clubs. Athletic events are not very popular at all. The dating scene is hard because college is tricky in the realm of dating since people have a lot of flings and hookups but there are still people who want relationships. I met my closest friends from my dorm last year, through soccer, and Chi Omega. The party scene depends on the person/group. Every year in May we have the Sun God festival which is a very celebrated and fun concert. Last weekend I went out to dinner with my friends, hung out, and studied. On a Saturday night you can go to the movies, or go to dinner, and/or dessert, go bowling, study, work out, have a dance party. I usually visit friends off campus, and go grocery shopping, shopping, go to the beach, go to downtown La Jolla and San Diego for dinner etc.

work out at rimac, sorority social life, hillel job, hang out with friends

UCSD is definitely not going to make the Top 10 Party School list but there is a social life. The catch is that students must go out and find it, it is not going to come knocking on their door. The best way to meet people is to get involved in a club or an organization. I met my closest friends by being a Resident Adviser. It is hands down the best thing I have done at UCSD. Fraternities and Sororities are mildly important to the campus. Only about 10-15 percent of the student population is Greek but that has steadily been rising. Greek life is one of the larger social scenes on campus. However, I would recommend joining an organization of your interest. That is where you will meet your closest friends.

last year i got involved by playing club lacrosse for the school and i dont think i would have had any friends without it. its hard to meet people here because with no college town, where do i go to meet people? dorms are not a very easy place because everyone is studying all the time. this year i joined a sorority and i cant imagine what i would do without it. it makes a huge difference at this school. ive met so many people with interests similar to mine (NOT just partying) ive met my closest friends from lacrosse and expecially from sorority.

Sun God festival is the biggest social event. Crazy fun..every other day is for studying though.

Hmm...I'd like to say service organizations are large. DOTs is AWESOME! It's a big break from studying and its a lot of fun singing. Yeah, doors are left open. Athletic events aren't that popular. Guest speakers are popular. Theater is popular. Dating is big. Closest friends are met through organizations and classes. 2am Tuesday - studying. SUNGOD FESTIVAL, FFOG, Bear Garden, Winterfest. People don't party that often. Frats aren't that huge here. I went shopping. Shopping! and the BEACH!!!!! and BALBOA, SAN DIEGO ZOO, SEA WORLD, WILD ANIMAL PARK, KNOTTS BERRY FARM, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN, DISNEYLAND, BIG BEAR, TIJUANA TOURING. There's A LOT of outdoor stuff to do in San Diego. I relax and go out to shop.

Lots of people are in frats/sororities. DOTs - all girl a capella! It's like a free sisterhood AND you can sing. Dorm doors are open generally in the suites, but the suite doors have to stay closed. Theater is popular - always sold out. Met my close friends through orientation, activities, mutual friends, and randomly! I'm studying at 2am/on the phone. Saturday - at home for the weekend usually (I go home a lot) Off campus - beach, shop, movies!

The social life at UCSD can be confined, but most students find ways to get around it. When in the residential halls, students leave their doors open and hang out with the other 30-90 people who live in their immediate vicinity. Getting involved is not difficult either, as there are dozens of organizations, university and college specific, to choose from. Athletics events are underrepresented, and the occasional famous guest speaker sparks interests campus-wide (Al Gore spoke here last year and Jane Goodall is coming to hand out awards at the beginning of April). With no football team and a very limited athletics department, and regulations against sorority and fraternity housing in the immediate area, it’s hard for students to find something to do on campus on the weekends, but the bus system is fairly decent and can take you around the area, to downtown San Diego, to Pacific Beach, for free. Saturdays night can be hard if you don’t drink, but the nearby beach and bonfire pits can relieve some of that tension, and housing activities can be created on the fly that make it a night to remember. And many of the shopping stores, like Ralph’s and CVS, are open 24 hours so a lot of students head there at 2am for some food or crafts or toys.

Religious clubs and fraternities are the most popular clubs.

Greek life is very big on campus even though we're not allowed housing. It tends to be the social center of UCSD. Partying varies across groups of friends. It is definitely possible not to party at UCSD - it's a dry campus and dorm parties are virtually nonexistent due to strict rules and enforcement. However, there certainly is a party scene if that's desired. Sun God is UCSD's big annual concert and pretty much anything goes on that day. People get ridiculously drunk all day, don't go to class, and have crazy amazing times.

Students don't leave their dorm doors open, the dorms are laid out in a way that doesn't encourage meeting other people, a lot of the doors shut and lock automatically. Athletic events, guest speakers and theater are all relatively unpopular. the greek system is the only social scene, it seems like everyone else studies bio and plays video games. There is very little that's fun to do on weekend nights that doesn't involve drinking.

its not here. in order to have a social life, we either have to go and look for it or be able to have fun and laugh on the everyday things like over lunch. most doors are closed and the students behind them have their faces in the books but most people are approachable. they just are not the ones to start the conversations. the general trend, which for the most part applies to me, seems to be busy weeks full of classes, meetings, activities, homework and studying then a weekend break (also involves some studying), followed quickly by the next week. its hard to say anything about the surrounding community because it is tough to discover a lot without a car.

sun god is the best thing ever. so much fun. the undie runs are pretty fun too. i think going greek is a really good thing to do if you are looking for a social life- it seems like a lot of the social atmosphere come from greek and sports teams. but i mean you can find it other places too. the greek life is very different than at other schools, it isn't as stereotypical and intense as most people think. sororitys are really good about not hazing and most people in different chapters get along. i think it has made my college experience much better. there are always concerts and speakers and cheap movies on campus. i think the new price center will offer more opportunities as well.

i went home and studied until my brian blew up. My friends and i went to the federation concert. she hit girl. it was CRAZY.

I think that being part of the greek system is very beneficial and rewarding. It is by far my favorite thing about being a student at UCSD. I love the friends that I have made and I have a lot of fun. I have also made some good friends on the cheer team. I would say that the basketball and baseball teams are popular with the ladies, and pretty much all of the sports teams here have good looking guys. If you want to have a good social life at UCSD you have to GET INVOLVED!

Athletics get a small following at this school. The Greek community is still small, but it is definitely growing.

We definitely need more support at athletic events. The games may not be UCLA games, but they are still entertaining and would probably be more entertaining if more people went. Greek life is great at UCSD. you can find friends regardless, but finding great friends and social life is much easier as a Greek.

I've been involved with a bunch of different orgs, including leadership. one of the great things about UCSD is the huge number or orgs we have - there's a ton of pretty popular ones. I always encourage my residents to leave their doors open when they're around and most people do for the most part. Doors to common rooms stay open during most hours and people usually close their doors to their rooms if they're trying to study. Athletic events are becoming more popular but attendance is still pretty small for most games. we have an amazing theater department and students always get discounted tickets. Personally, I think the dating scene sucks but i wouldn't date much even if it didn't. lol. I met my closest friends through ResLife as an RA and a lot of students find their closest friends in their residence areas or orgs. If i'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday I'm either writing a lab report or studying for a midterm or hanging out with my residents (watching tv/movies, eating, talking...). Sungod is by far our biggest tradition. We also have a lot of concerts on campus which are really popular, some of which are right in front of our residence areas! Partying varies. It's not in your face so you don't feel like you HAVE to party if you don't want to. SD is also very much of a 21+ kind of city so it depends on age too. Freshmen and sophomores, I would say, probably party every other weekend or so on average. Some people go home every weekend, others party every weekend (or more). Going out once or twice a week for people over 21 is probably about the usual. Most people is frats and sororities party more, as expected. I went to church and then went to downtown SD last weekend and had a BBQ at a friends place off campus. They're opening up a club on campus for all ages so dancing (without drinking) is always fun. Movies, the beach, dinner or dessert (yogurt world and golden spoon are amazing!), shopping... most people just hang out with friends on the weekend. It's hard to get off campus without a car.