Emerson College Top Questions

There is a lot to do at Emerson from the school newspaper to the college radio stations to the theater groups and comedy troupes. Emerson is all about getting involved. If your a journalism major, join WEBN or one of the shows on the Emerson Channel right awaY. Get experience at WERS 88.9FM or start writing for one of the school's magazines. The plays Emerson puts on are great and definitely worth going to. Athletics are gaining in popularity now that Emerson has its own basketball court. Emerson also hosts a lot of interesting guest speakers and film showings. Because there is so much to do in Boston, exploring is your best option. From the indie theater houses to the Lowes movie theater to the various restaurants and fun shops, you can find plenty to do. Partying doesn't happen as much on campus because there are very few dorms and the walls are paper thin. Frats and sororities are more for people looking for a more normal college experience. Get involved and explore because Emerson and Boston have a lot to offer.

There are a lot of sketch comedy groups and other performance groups. I am a part of the one of the most active groups on campus and it can be time consuming but it is a lot of fun. We have sports games, but almost no one goes to them. Theater events are very popular, but that is what I'm involved in so it's really all I know here. I met my closest friends during orientation week and through my major. They are who I spend the most amount of time with, and people I do outside shows with. The party scene kind of sucks, but is only if you are into extreme parties with tons of people and tons of booze. For that we go to MIT, or some other colleges in the area. And there are a ton of other colleges with parties like that, so it isn't a problem. At Emerson you mostly hang out with your good friends and talk and smoke and chill. I have the most fun hanging out with a group of 10 or 15 people all hanging out, because you know everyone and that is the best way to spend my time. There are fraternities and Sororities, but that aren't that prevalent on campus. There are some Frat parties, but they kind of suck. Frat guys are a lot cooler than at other schools though because a lot of them do theater and film and other interesting things, so they are a little more motivated than the typical frat guy. Cast parties are also the best parties. Everyone at the party worked on this big project together, so unwinding and partying together is usually the most fun. Dancing, drinking and fun.

Emerson isn't a party school simply for the fact most people go off campus to have a good time. The dating scene...well, all of my college relationships happened outside of Emerson so I can't comment. I met my closest friends at orientation, and then in my major classes. Boston has a ton of stuff to do, so drinking isn't the only thing. People go to shows, hang out on the common, try new restaurants...I didn't participate much in the activities at Emerson because I had to work my way through school, but some groups are great and some seem like they're in place just so students can feel important.

Fames Per Second and Women in Motion are some popular film clubs; Developed Images is a Popular photography club; WERS is the radio station; WEBN is our award-winning news station; the Emerson Channel is our cable station; Emerson Stage is a great theatre program. The dorms usually aren't very social environments, even though the RA's really try to throw events and bring people together. It's a dry campus, so the party life leaves something to be desired unless you know people with an apartment or at another school. There are fraternities and sororities, but no frat houses, so don't get too excited. Most of the good friends you will make will be the people you work with on projects, in classes, or in clubs. Depending on your major, your weekend could consist on anything from movies at the theatre next door, clubbing downtown, shooting a film somewhere in Massachusetts, or being in/at a show. Most students above sophomore year live off-campus anyways, so they may have parties.

There are so many groups/clubs/organizations here on campus it's hard to say what's more popular than the other. I'm part of em Magazine, which was an online publication but now is a print publication. It was made by students two years ago, and it's made it really far. Everyone here gets into their groups because it's fun, what they love to do or what they want to do in the future. Athletic events aren't popular here, but they do exist. We have so many guest speakers, at least 2 a week. You'll always be busy with that, if you choose to attend. My closest friends lived in the say dorm as I did, and most on the same floor during my freshman year. The dating scene at Emerson? I'm not really sure. I don't think there's anyone I have encountered that I'd date. Boston is a great city with so many colleges so you have tons of options. Partying here is really prevalent. Drugs? We got 'em. Alchohol? We got it. Whatever it is you're into, you're going to find it at Emerson. And you're going to find someone who's into it as well. Boston is a 21+ city when it comes to things to do. That sucks. But, you'll find things on campus to do, whether or not it's drinking.

GET INTO A GROUP AND DO IT FAST! This is a competitive feild, they get hundreds of kids that sign up to do the same thing, get in there and fight for it! I work every weekend so I'm not the best to give you night advice. Boston is a 21 plus kind of place, that just means there is acholo everywhere you go to do something and you need to be 21 to get in. The best thing is just walking around boston with a bunch of friends and enjoying the moments. More likely than not you will be studying on saturday nights. From what I hear the sororities have a bad reputation, don't join you'll be stuck with the stigma. Remain close to your orentation friends, you will have them for a lifetime. I can tell you I dont see mine much, but we still talk as if we have known each other forever and as if we see each other everyday.

For film, I think that FPS (Frames Per Second) is the most popular group. It has a lot of large scale productions for films being made, and gives everyone a chance to work on set as a part of a crew. Although I haven't worked on those big films, I've been able to work on smaller films as an assistant director and it's been really good experience being on set. There is really only one frat house on campus that has parties, but there's usually something going on either there or at the lacrosse house every weekend. That's really the only place you can go to safely drink, and it's a bit of a hike... drinking on campus is really risky. If you want to do something that doesn't involve drinking, it's a city, so there's always a show or something you can go to. Also, we are literally a 2 minute walk away from a huge movie theater that always has something playing.

All the programs are good, but I honestly feel like the programs are given more hype then needed. Emerson is all about the opportunities you make for yourself and I mean you don't have to be involved with any of the stations or crews, but thats what makes you knowledgeable. As far as social life, emerson is pretty small but thats why you have Boston. Boston has so many different schools and you make friends from all over at parties so there is a plus side to not having anything too huge on campus. And there is so much to do in Boston, I'm never bored.

I dont like the social life... parties are boring and people too.. There is no sports life at all...I wish we had good teams and more sport facilities ( a larger gym, indoor tennis courts) Not many frats, nor big parties..

Emerson is a really social place. Most people are very outgoing and there tend to be several party options on weekends. The dorms are fine. The Little Building Residence has better a better community because the rooms are mostly double and the whole floor shares a common room which forces interaction. The suites in Piano Row are nice with common rooms in each suite. Frats and Sororities are not a big deal.

The student organizations are really well-controlled and managed. The people that run in are a pretty talented bunch. As a film major, a lot of my fellow peers are actively involved with the film organization FPS. EIV is also a good one, they have won a buttload of awards for their newscasts. I don't really believe in kissing ass to get up the chain, so I'm not very involved oncampus unless I actually know the person rather than using them for some resume I'm making to impress some big studio exec in Los Angeles.

There are a lot. Most of them take themselves too seriously. A lot of opportunities to create, if you can handle the inflated egos of those students who "run" these organizations. Student Government Organization is marred by self importance and favoritism.

Greek life exists but is underground. Really, it is not popular here and when people were like "I'm rushing!" most of us responded by saying, "We have fraternities here?" In the beginning of the year, everyone left their doors open because we were all getting to know eachother, but once the social groups formed, we closed our doors. For me, Emerson is all about theatre. Emerson Stage puts on several shows a year and a lot of students go to see them. There are also thousands of other plays going on all the time(We are located in the middle of the theatre district) and kids will go see on average about ten per semester. If I'm awake at 2:00 on a Tuesday evening, I'm probably cramming to finish a project due the next day or I've lost track of time and am hanging with a few close friends in their room/suite. For me, I have morning classes, so staying up late all the time really doesn't serve me too well. A few students I know still havent gotten this idea yet. Sleeping is very important and a lot of students here are sleep deprived.

There are so many activities at Emerson. The Emerson Channel and Emerson Radio are a big deal. All the theater productions are a big deal as well. Students in dorms feel very safe. My roommate and I almost always leave our door unlocked at all times. Athletics exist, but barely. No one really pays attention to sports. If I hear someone that says they came to Emerson for sports, I don't take them very seriously. Guest speakers are VERY commonly seen at Emerson. The Culter Majestic Theater is part of Emerson's space, and that's a huge coo for us. It's an amazing space for theatre, tech, or music students to be able to use. Many girls find the dating scene difficult, since a lot of the guys at Emerson are gay, but it is possible to find straight guys at Emerson. I've found it to be pretty even. I met my closest friends within my major and on the floor of my dorn. If I'm awake at 2am, I'm in my room working on a paper due the next day. There are a lot of diversity events on campus as well as a lot of political events. Theatre, improv, music, and comedy events are a big presence on campus. People party often, but those parties rarely occur on campus. I got to MIT a lot for parties, and Boston University. Frats and sororities are not a big deal at Emerson. There aren't very many. There's a lot of historical things to see in Boston, so things like the Freedom Trail are a cool thing to do. Newbury Street is a HUGE shopping location, so a lot of students head over there for fun.

I'm on the softball team, but half the students don't even know that the sports teams exist. There aren't very many Emerson parties, and they are usually really lame. If you like going out it's not impossible to do, but you have to ride the train to other colleges.

As far as social activities go, Emerson has too many for one person to attend. Theater, dance, music, book readings, slam poetry, fashion....and within most of those are several different groups focused on different things. When I transfered in one of the most impressive things to me was the number of groups and organizations available to students. If it has anything to do with art, Emerson has a club and several performances each semester. I am in fashion society and this past weekend we held our second annual fashion show. It was made up of all amateur designers (most of them from Emerson) and all the models were Emerson girls who came to a casting call. We ended up with around sixteen designers and over fifty models. It was spectacular! We incorporated two of the a cappella groups from Emerson to sing during intermission and had a wonderful turnout. People literally had to stand all around and in the back even though we had set up around eighty seats. As far as Saturday night plans go, if you aren't looking to attend one of the many Emerson shows, well, you're in the heart of Boston. Less than a block from the school is a movie theater. There are also lots of clubs around for those who are 18 or older. If you hop on the subway (we call it the T) you can go to my favorite place to eat, the north end. The north end is where most of the original Italian families settled when they came to Boston and now there are SO many authentic Italian restaurants to choose from down there. And for dessert you have to go to Mike's Pastries in the north end. I promise you won't be disappointed. If you still want to see something artsy, the Wang and Majestic Theaters are only a block or two away and there's always either a show or a ballet or something going on there. Of course, there's also Newbury Street just two blocks down, which is the place to go for shopping in Boston. If you can't find something to do here on a Saturday night it's because you haven't left your dorm.

Social life is great and there are all these wonderful organizations that support your major. There's film clubs, there's writing clubs, there's magazines and the newspaper and the radio. There are always events happening in Boston and on campus. Our comedy troupes are the best and there is usually a show every weekend. Our improve comedy troupe is top notch!

Also tend to be one-sided. A lot of film groups, theater groups, comedy troupes, etc., but not a whole lot that goes much beyond the majors Emerson offers.

Athletics is not a huge part of the school's social scene, but that's changing a little now that there's a gym. But don't be surprised if you don't know anything about athletics unless you seek it out or know someone on the team. People party usually only on the weekends. Lots of silly themed parties that may or may not be a "get drunk fest." Usually it's get a little drunk and have a fun theme. Harmless and in control. Sometimes not. Popular organizations on campus: WERS- the radio station, EmComm, Musical Theater Society (MTS), EVVYs, The dating scene sucks. It's a total hook-ups scene. I know few people in long term and healthy relationships. I met my closest friend because she was my roommate. I met my boyfriend through the resident assistant program. Res Life rocks! Plus, if you get the job, you get free room and board.

There aren't many popular TEAMS at Emerson, but there's a great selection of film production companies and comedy troupes. The theater is somewhat expensive but a great experience. There's never a lack of things to do in the city because there are ALWAYS people out on the streets. Sororities and Frats are sort of a joke here, and when they aren't, they're mostly doing community work. People are always willing to party, but it's difficult if you live on campus. The dating scene for straight girls is bleak as most of the Emerson male population is gay, but there are plenty of other schools in Boston that provide straight men. And hey, you'll have a ton of guy best friends.