Allison
Greek Life, Club Sports and the Outdoors Club are all very popular.
Caitlin
I would say the most popular student organizations are Greek Life, Student Government (SGA) and Charleston 40, the organization that leads campus tours.
Adam
Americans for Informed Democracy is likely the most active student-run organization on campus and has put on many events this month, with many more to come. From bring Congressional Candidates to speak, to holding days of action against Poverty and Human Trafficking, AID does it all. This is one club that should not be missed out on.
Tiffany
Most popular things to do are to watch movies, walk around downtown, or go to the beach. People party often but most find a happy medium between school, work, and partying.
Rory
Oooo, i dont know. Im just going to answer the questions that the prompt gives me. OK, id say the most popular groups on campus are greek life (especially sororities), then intramural sports (basketballs especially big), then the student alumni association. Im involved with cofc boxing, which is a club sport, which are also great, we also have like rugby, rowing, ultimate, and some others im sure. Yes, every student in a dorm leaves their door open, dont worry about meeting people freshman, just worry about remembering all the names (its tough). Basketball games are our only really popular athletic event but their pretty good. Again, they are what you make them, but its pretty easy to have a blast. The dating scene is pretty good, lots of good looking people (i mean lots), and casually dating is a lot more common here than it is where im from in Seattle. I met my closest friends all very differently, some in class, others out on the town, some were my first roomates, just always be ready to make a bad ass first impression. People party pretty often, Id say most people go out 3 to 4 times a week if their semester isnt overly difficult. Last weekend I went to the beach, went to a bar to see my friends band play, and hit up AC's for sunday brunch (if you come here you gotta try that, its UNREAL). The only thing I can think of to do on a saturday night that doesnt involve drinking is to go where everyone else is drinking and just not throw any back (sorry, no better ideas, i dont know watch snl or something).
Chelsea
We have over 150 different student organizations to get involved in on campus. King St. is a block away from campus and the Market is five blocks away if your not on campus working or hanging out with friends your on King or Market eating out, shopping or people watching. There is a lot to do because we are located right down town Charleston.
Kim
Students aren't very supportive of the school teams, but if you are interested in a sport, we have pretty competitive club teams that are less demanding and more chill. I am on the club soccer team and we travel to tournaments every few weekends and we practice twice a week. Its so much fun and the mroe groups you join at the CofC, the more you will enjoy it because you meet more people and have a lot more options for fun activities. There are tons of different clubs outside of athletics as well, most of which are community service or school related, but really they are just ways in which students network.
Gene
Girls can usually get into any party. The sports teams don't get as much recognition as they deserve, there are good teams. Theatre at C of C varies greatly in quality and has varied attendance. There are lots of bars if you have an ID and plenty of house parties if you don't--though they tend to be better when the weather is nicer. People go to the beach, work out, ride bikes, whatever. There are also factions of heavy pot smokers.
If you're a guy you can do fairly well for yourself considering the odds. You just have to be outgoing and get out of your appartment or dorm. If you don't like putting yourself out there then you can always get into a club or organization to meet people that way.
Ryan
C of C has baseball and basketball teams that are notable in the region. Their respective games usually have a large student turnout. There are several groups/organizations/clubs/teams on campus that are geared with different agendas--some of hand are Habitat for Humanity, an LGBT club, political science club, biology club, etc. My closest friends at C of C are people I have lived with in the dorms, however some of my most notable 'adversaries,' if you will, have been people I've lived with too...some people are not compatible in a personality context. Many people, including myself, have had to live with people we could absolutely do without; furthermore, the Residence & Life department needs to do a better job dealing with that issue. Once you sign the dotted line, you are in for the academic year....yes its that simple--you are stuck in on-campus housing...or at least have to pay for it if you decide to live else where.
Your entire semester, academically speaking, can be ruined by social conflict...that can be difficult to correct. Yes, you can bounce all over campus attempting to 'fit in', however this is only done at the behest of the R & L department. Many students choose not to live on campus the following year because of this very issue. Many rent out apartments with former dorm mates that they became friends with as opposed to living with new dorm mates that could create social conflict that in turn creates academic failures and stress. Drinking, from my experience, creates an intense environment that is conducive of a "good social experience" and out-right social conflict.
My personal experience is that its difficult trying to study for a Calculus exam at 2am and the four other guys are drinking shots, screaming, and throwing things (and people) on the walls. This may work for some people, but if you value your academic life, you'll try to avoid it. If they don't drink in dorms, they go to the local bars and clubs on King Street, a popular tourist & college spot for fun. I admit it, I have drank; but not to the point it is a burden to the people I live with. On occasion you will encounter Citadel cadets (the Citadel is a military college also located in Charleston) on King Street and also on-campus. Many students date Citadel cadets, however I find them to be some of the most unpleasant people you could meet--they often get the boundary of confidence and arrogance confused.
Evan
There are so many things to do. Plenty of parties and social events to meet cool people and have a great time.
Becca
Greek life seems really big on campus but if you are not interested in it there are TONS of other clubs to join.
I am active with the Jewish Student Union/Hillel because the first week of Freshman year I met a girl (now one of my best friends) through Theatre who was active with the JSU. Whew. There are several hundred Jewish students on-campus and, even though not nearly that many people regularly attend JSU functions, we are a pretty active bunch. We have weekly FREE dinner on Wednesday nights as just a fun social function. We also have Friday Shabbat services and then another FREE dinner to follow. There is both a Jewish affiliated fraternity and sorority. Come stop by 96 Wentworth St. and meet our lovely staff people when you get on campus!
Jessica
As the president of the Student Alumni Associates, I have to promote us. SAA, Student Government and Charleston 40 (campus tour guides) make up the "big 3" organizations on campus. SAA are the liasons between the alumni and the current students. We keep the traditions alive at the school and put on big events for students and alumni. I met all of my closest friends through SAA. The dating scene at the College is interesting because we are right next to the Citadel (military college), Charleston Southern (baptist college), and Charleston Law School, so there is a huge variety of people to interact with. People in the dorms dont generally keep their doors open because they close automatically, but we always kept ours open. People in the dorms are really friendly and you become close with the people in your building.
Bri
Basketball games are awesome!! 5 min from the beach. guy to grl ratio is 2:1 so guys have a great chance to get a date. Always a great play going on in Stolittle. Dorm doors are left open constatantly. It's easy to walk in.
Jody
Most clicks are in the sororities but even then sorority girls or guys don't only hang out with sororities. Also one tends to be closer with people who are in their same major and who have similar interests as they do. I got close to my friends through the Roman/latin learning community. I defenately recomend a learning communtiy. I met so many intersting people and had there help in a lot of my classes. It was fun and really believe I have found life lasting friends in that community. And don't be shy in college. You will not meet anyone if you don't talk to anyone. Be open and friendly and you will find that you will have a lot of friends. Invit people to go eat at Liberty the cafateria after class or for dinner. Exchange numbers and be social. I find that if you have friends that are doing well in class then you will have a better focused atmosphere and therefor do better in class yourself. There is a lot to do around campus. If you live in the dorms there is alwasy movie nights with elevn thirty runs to clydes before it closes at midnight. There are resteraunts and tourist attractions all around downtown and king street is always fun for shopping. The theatre puts on excellent shows and usually their are activity updates sent to your edisto e-mail account. Always check those they are fun and give you a chance to do new things and meet new people. They also give job notifications and club invitations.
Lauren
only about 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the school does Greek life. It's fun until you're 21 and can hit the bars.
samantha
There are many activities that students can participate in. There are sororities, fraternities, different sports clubs, and there is an organization called campus recreation services. There are many things to do in Charleston from going to nightclubls starting on Wednesday until Sunday to different campus activities during the week. There is always something to do no matter what day it is.
becky
Some popular groups on campus are SGA which is the student government association. The ultimate frisbee club is also very popular. I'm on the varsity sailing team which in the year 2007 was ranked the best overall sailing team in the country. I lived in college lodge which opens to large open balconies so of course everyones doors are always open and people tend to hang out on the balcony. There are plenty of dating opportunities with so many pretty people. If you are awake at 2am on a tuesday you are either studying or stumbling home from the bars. If you are into partying you can find a party every night of the week. Greek life exists on campus but it isn't huge. Last weekend was my birthday party and we had a keg at my friends house. All of the parties are off campus because there is no drinking in the dorms.
Katie
Most of the dorms can't leave their dorms open because of rules and such. This past year we had an awesome free concert during Homecoming. If you're a girl at this college, it's sort of hard to meet guys in class because they're mostly filled with girls. Now there is the Citadel a few miles down the road but most College girls do not take well to the cadets. If you are a guy than you have it made. In an average class of 25 kids, there's probably 5 guys in it. I met my close friends freshman year that lived down the hall and friends of a friend. Most students start their homework at 8 or 9 at night and stay up until 1 or 2 in the morning. Or they do their homework early so they can go to work or hang out later on. A cool tradition for graduation is that it takes place on the lawn of the Cistern and the girls wear all white dresses, no cap and gowns. Frats and sororities are somewhat popular on campus. If you're into them then try it, but it's completely cool if you're not. There are tons of good/unique restaurants downtown and on the surrounding islands. If you're under 21 there are very very few places to go downtown at late night.
Sarah
TONS TO DO!!!!!! there are so many things to get involved in it's hard to decided what you want to do. This aspect of the college is fantastic.
Chris
There is so much to do because we are right in downtown charleston. lots of great restaurants. walk along the battery by the water, great shopping, awesome parks, and lots of places to get a drink and relax. every saturday there is a farmers market with bands and food which i love! greek life is pretty active but if you are not greek there is plenty to do. never am i alone on a saturday thinking err, there's nothing to do!