College of Charleston Top Questions

This is a biggie for me: Greek life seems to rule this school. To me, this is very unappealing. To be blunt and general, if you're not in a sorority or fraternity, you don't go out more than 2 or 3 times a month. The news of parties seems to travel among sororities and frats, and on top of that, the BEST parties are ones I was forced to miss out on just because I wasn't in a sorority. My roommate was in one and I was constantly having to watch her get ready for some huge all-night party while I did my homework. It was stressful not having the weekends to blow off steam. So be very careful about this if you decide to go to CofC, it could make or break your experience. Guest speakers are common in the English department. Other than that, I've never heard of any. But I've heard some truly amazing speeches and readings from authors and poets, things I was required to go to for an English class (but that I really enjoyed). There are usually some decent house parties on weekends, but you have to have connections to know about them. Off campus, there are plenty of AMAZING restaurants, stores, and whatever. Once in a while, the school will do some type of cookout or movie showing. The only problem with these is that nobody seems to interact with anybody new.

There are plenty of student run organizations and clubs including: sports, language, culture, religion, awareness...etc. I am on the college's Crew (Rowing) club. It is neither a varsity or intercollegiate program. We are made up of students interested in rowing, most of whom never rowed before college. We race colleges with similar programs all over the Southeast, and participate in national and international races in Boston and Philadelphia.

There are a lot of events around the college and the best part is that they don't revolve around sports. The college does a great job at offering events for the students. I was a little older than most, so I didn't hang out too much with other students. I can say that everyone is friendly and it seems most groups mix. The dating scene... hahaha not many relationships. Lots of flings. Fraternities aren't a big deal, people actually join for academic reasons instead of an excuse to bindge drink and sleep around. Yet the students here aren't innocent. They party hard, but as one. There aren't many clicks. I was a different student who grew up around here and already had friends outside the college. So on a Saturday night I would just hang out, or skateboard. I've been skateboarding my whole life so thats what I did when I wasn't working or studying.

No matter what anybody says, it is a party school with a laid-back atmosphere with lots of fun activities to do no matter what you are into.

Bars are great

Greek life is on campus but definetly not a huge deal. Sports are the same way. There are these groups but that is not how I feel the majority of people define themselves, even people who are apart of the groups. Many people just tend to be friends with the people they meet in dorms etc. their freshman year. There are many bars but also the marjoiryt of people live off campus after freshman year and therefore there are many house parties. Always a lot to do. Frat's and soroities don't really have parties at their houses but at members houses and date parties when they rent out bars and clubs. There is alot of drinking on campus but those who don't tend to meet and figure out what they want to do that doesn't involve dirnking. You can find a party any day of the week as long as you have people to go out with, and thursday night the majority of people will be out.

There are many club activities and fraternal organizations are popular with students. Many students seem to work full-time jobs.

There really are a lot of things to get involved in. Greek life is pretty big, but it doesn't dominate campus by any means. Getting involved in student organizations or even on-campus jobs really broadens your group of friends and gives you lots of opportunities to see new people and new places.

Lots of outside class activites going on both through College, but also through city of Chas. The dating scene is good for straight people, not as good for gays. My closet CofC friends come from studying abroad, and once I got into the classes of my major where there were people like me. On a Tuesday at 2am, I would be returning home from drinking if I were still awake, because bars close at 2AM. People party pretty often, especially Thur-Sat. Frat/Sor are important, but I feel like not as much as they are at other schools because you don't have to be in one to be "cool". Last weekend I worked, went to the beach, went out with friends. You could do pretty much whatever you wanted because Chas is a decent sized city, however you would need a car and honestly, everyone else will be drinking anyways so you will end up doing it. Off campus people shop, eat, beach, live, party...

I almost always left my room door open, since I trusted my roommates not to steal my stuff; but there were definitely some people that I met who I wouldn't leave alone with my valuables. It didn't really seem like sports were a big deal at the school. We don't have a football team, and the only basketball game that I even heard about the whole year was an impromptu match between the choir and theater department majors. Fraternities and Sororities seem to be pretty popular. As for me, I met most of my friends because they sat next to me in class or because they were involved in theater productions that I worked with.

There is always something going here. We're right in the middle of downtown so with a short walk you find a place to party, eat, drink, or just sit and read a book.

Basketball is definitely the most popular team on campus. Me personally? Women's Rugby!!! Whoot! Go Equestrian Team!!!! yay! As I said before--there is ALWAYS something going on! There are endless opportunities to meet new and exciting people, and a friend is just a two-minute chat away. Cougarpalooza is always fun activity every semester, and Halloweentime is always exciting, what with all of the haunted places around town and even on campus! Everyone should attend one of the free plays put on by the theatre kids or the concerts by the music students and professors. Fun doesn't always have to come out of a bottle! The abstinent (go us) won't have a problem having fun!

greek organizations are very popular, i was in one for a while, and then decided to drop, and there are plenty of things to do outside of greek life. on the weekends, there are a lot of parties and thursdays are pretty much designated club night. it's in the middle of downtown charleston, there is no shortage of things to do, whatever you like. market street is a must.

2 am on a Tuesday could mean that you are just getting back from a dance club or bar, studying in the library for exams, watching TV, playing video games, playing ping pong in the Lodge, getting some food from King Street Station or just hanging around with your friends. Thursday night is the traditional going out night at C of C - how they attend classes on Friday, I'll never know.... For those at C of C who don't imbibe alcohol, there is an entire club devoted to finding better things to do on campus, whether it is cosmic bowling, stand up comic night, baking, Ultimate Frisbee, or just hanging around, there is always an option for those who cannot or choose not to drink.

Frats and Sororities are definitely popular and a great way to make friends and have fun. However, they are very very very expensive though so it can be limited to students of high economic standing. In the dorms students definitely mingle with everyone and like to visit their neighbors or hang out in the courtyard (smoking). The athletics are becoming more popular are Bobby Cremins (spelling?) has helped out basketball team. The athletics could definitely be improved. The dating scene is new to me but i met my first boyfriend ever at C of C, we are still dating. My closest friends i formed from parties or mainly from classes. Spoleto, farmers market, chazzfest, and many many more events always make the social life at charleston interesting. There is also a lot of music always playing somewhere, either at the Music Farm or just at bars. People definitely party a lot at charleston and as a student i definitely drink but there are many things students can find that doesnt involve drinking.

unfortunatly we dont have a football team but we do have a basketball team and we are in the process of finishing up a new gym by the next basketball season which should be awesome. the dorms are pretty fun and is where i made all my best friends and ive got a group of 20 solid best friends guys and girls. the best part is that after freshman year almost everyone moves off campus into a rental house, which I cant wait for next year. Im living with 3 of my good friends and im within 3 blocks of all my other friends living throughout 5 other houses. most people dont usually go to bed until at least one whether people are partying or just hangin out because there not used to going to bed earlier than that anyway. if you dont drink there are still plenty of things to do, the restaurants in charleston are amazing and almost every weekend their are concerts in the city, some are pretty popular and others ive never heard of but have liked a lot. the local bands that play in bars are also amazing, and you can still have a great time at bars and parties without drinking, and whether you join greek life or not you will have a great time as long as you go out and meet people, dont just stay in your dorm room, the only people that ended up transfering were those who didnt try to make friends or go out.

the library is a zoo. it is a social scene. i'm opening a bar downstairs and i'm going to be the richest kid alive. charleston is home to some of the most delicious restaurants and generous bars. there is a huge bar scene but vice has definitly gotten worse, or underage kids are getting dumber. the latter of which isn't true because they're upped the requirements to get it. the dorms are parties within themselves too. college lodge is the most amazing place in the world. i sometimes get depressed when i remember i no longer live there. and i've been out for what will be my second year now. the fraternities have good parties, especially during their rush. the greek organizations have tons of events too. there are also house parties. a lot of students like to just chill. dorm room doors stay open late and people just waste time together. and people walk to the battery during the day and night. the beach is close too, so when it's warm everyone heads out to folly. when its cold just the brave do. drinking is completely preferential. if you don't want to, or you don't choose to, then you'll find respect. more kids don't then you'd think.

Their is always something going on here, with the small catch that we have no football team. But we have everything else from rugby to basketball to horseback riding. The school sponsers social events weekly, and if your looking, their is a party to be had every night. THough that can be a problem when its your roommate that is throwing it, so be wary. Its not the quietest campus around, though it is one of the most fun :)

The dorms are fun as long as you have a good RA. Good nights to go out are tues, thurs, fri, sat. Parties are all mainly house parties and easy to get to.

Alumni association is big on campus along with performing arts department, some dorms are a lot more fun than others, studying is not common in the dorms, library becomes very popular all year round, lots of things to do on weekends, beach, bowling, riverdog games, recreational sports, i.e. disc golf