Macalester College Top Questions

too much to do, too little time. don't like the on campus activities? go off campus.

In general, Mac's social life and social activities are varied and generally effective. Parties happen, but are not as prevalent as they could be. It's definitely possible to avoid alcohol if you want to - I did - but finding a party on a Friday night (Or a Thursday night) is pretty easy. Although Mac doesn't have any kind of greek life, the role of fraternities or sororities tends to be taken over by sports teams (particularly the Ultimate Frisbee and Rugby teams) and the three a-cappella groups.

Dorm life, especially when coupled with a residential first year course, was a great experience for me. The majority of my friends are the ones who lived on my floor during my first year, but I have also heard stories of people who felt that their floor was too cliquey. It is difficult to meet new people sometimes, especially after the first semester when social groups are set. Coming back sophmore year, with everyone living in different places, helped me meet more people. There is no Greek life, but there is always a party to go. The majority of kids drink in the dorms, although RAs can be strict. Off campus parties are generally hosted by upperclass Mac students, and almost always get busted.

Not a party school at all, but still a lot of fun. Great memory: Being piss-drunk standing around a keg in an upper-classmen dorm room debating effectiveness of international development policies. That is a Macalester moment in a nutshell!

Everyone is friendly and laid back. Students are always outside playing some sort of sport during decent weather. There's always a student activity held by student orgs every weekend.

Athletic Events are not very popular, but I think the administration is trying to change that with the building of a gigantic sports facility. The soccer games are fun. Club sports are where it's at. Rugby, hockey, frisbee, that sort of thing, not so serious but really fun. Theater is strong, I think the plays and dance performances are well attended. My closest friends I met gradually, starting with my freshman year floormates and then just meeting people through other people. Dating is okay. . . . it's kind of a frustrating scene because it's small and the studious nature of people makes them awkward. The men are actually kind of aggravating and asexual. But by the end of college I think most people have had some sort of interesting dating. I always party on Friday and Saturday, there is most often something going on, if not it's easy to just hang out with friends. There's also always something going on in Saint Paul or Minneapolis so concerts and art events are also a good option. There are no frats or sororities.

There is no greek life, which I love, and I do not find it to be detrimental to the social scene. Lots of people party/drink/do drugs, but it is pretty easy not too and totally accepted. There seems to be less dating and much more hooking up, but that may simply be the nature of college.

soccer is by far the most popular sport, both men and women's...students are by and large willing to go out, but they need someone to push them to going out. the best parties are house parties, but in the winter those can be few and far between. most people do not have boy friends or girl friends the first few years, but that changes by the end of junior year.

PARTY!!! haha. just kidding. Only on the weekends. Well, sometimes every night. And then I grew up and couldn't drink til I passed out every night. I had a blast: smokes doobies under the bleachers and had BBQs on the roof. Not every one parties. Some people don't ever drink until they turn 21 or not at all. You'll find the whole spectrum. Oh! And there are tons of student orgs! I loved CHEEBA (creating a harmless environment to enjoy buds appropriately) with all my high little heart. I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for. Students & faculty are all about volunteering and giving back to the community. It looked really good on my resume.

If you're looking for a frat scene, this is not the place to come. Dorm parties were the norm the first two years since everyone lives on campus and house parties often drew people into the neighborhood more. As junior and senior year approaches, people tend to gather in smaller groups for potlucks and more intimate gatherings. There are some very weird themed parties such as the grafitti party, red light/green light party, and underwear party. Awkwardness seems to run rampant and is only heightened by the fact that everyone discusses how awkward some situations are.

Dorms are the center of life for the first two years because everyone is required to live in them, and people in the dorm become quite close. At 2 am on a Tuesday most people are doing homework (or sleeping) but with the knowledge that they can chat with their neighbor once in awhile who is also working. In terms of activities, there really is a great diversity. Many people are in MIO (Macalester International Organization) or on the Legislative Board, on Model UN or other organizations, I can't really say there is any sort of hierarchy because people find what they like and everyone respects the different choices of individuals.

Soccer games and hockey games are very popular a and fun to attend. Sports is generally not a huge deal at Mac, though with the new athletic facility they are becomming bigger. There is always something to do every night, whether it be a lecture, a concert, a party or a gathering and you can always walk a block off campus and go study with a friend at the local coffee shops or take a bus to Minneapolis or the Mall of America.

Most sports teams here don't get a lot of attention, club sports do, however, as do most of the almost inane number of student organizations on campus. I'm in Macalester Peace and Justice Committee. There are so many student orgs though, something will appeal to you, be it martial arts with weapons or ballroom dance. There are no fraternities and sororities. This is awesome. I don't drink alcohol (I know, *GASP*) or do drugs of any kind and I always have things to do on weekends (besides homework). A huge group of friends of mine (10-15) will often go out to eat on Saturday nights, sampling a different ethnic cuisine every time, and hopefully visiting a part of the city we've never been to before. Of course, if partying is your thing, you'll have plenty of people to do it with. Also, a group of us went streaking across the campus and back in -40 degrees... I got frostbite on my fingers... it was great.

Unfortunately, this was my problem in high school--I didn't get involved in enough. This first year has really been about adjusting and learning efficient study habits. I will volunteer regularly next year, so I look forward to that. There are tons of opportunities for volunteering. The dating scene? Many of the guys on campus seem a little socially awkward, but not all. And it doesn't mean that the other guys aren't dateable, I'm just saying. All of the gay guys are really cute, so that sucks for me. :] If you want to party, you can and if you don't , then that's fine, too. NO GREEK LIFE and I am glad!

The freshman dorms have 3 distinct personalities. In Turck, and generally on halls for residential courses, doors are often left open and people spend their free time in the lounge hanging out, and people plan to hang out there even when they move out. In the gender-segregated Doty, things are a little calmer. People do all sorts of things on saturday evening. Last night I went to a three hour African Music Ensemble concert and then went to bed. Some people go to parties in houses off campus, especially sports teams parties (closest thing we have to frats).

Different ethnic groups are popular, as are political, environmental, and activist groups. There are clubs for just about anything. And, if there's not a club for what you want, you can always make one. These days, the male to female ratio of campus' often weighs down on the female side. This makes dating, especially for heterosexual women, difficult. We get a lot of guest speakers and presentations, which is cool. Students aren't supposed to leave their doors unlocked. Ususally, if we leave the dorms, we lock the doors. But, if you're just down the hall, or in the lounge, it usually isn't necessary.

Social life is centered around campus, and we have over 80 student organizations. However, many people go off campus since we are in the Twin Cities. There are parties and events that students like to attend. Since we don't have a Greek system, students take their social lives into their own hands.

We don't have fraternities or sororities but the athletes fill that role anyway. Soccer games have a huge cult following and are far more popular than our football games, though, those have been gaining importance lately too. The dating scene, or lack there of, goes like this: people meet drunk at a party, hook up, and then either avoid each other or are suddenly "dating." Actual dates are a rare occurrence before the couple is exclusive. Weekends consist of house parties off campus (because Residential Life is rough) and going to bars, once you're of age.

MacCares and MPIRG are some of the more popular student orgs on campus. The african music ensemble, and the Trads and Sirens (acapella) usually draw large crowds to their concerts. Other more obscure orgs include KAADATT, which holds dance parties in the basement of Dupre Hall, CHEEBA, which organizes its efforts around legalizing marajuana, and WMCN, the Macalester College radio station! The college brings a lot of great lectures to campus, which are frequented by students and faculty alike. There is drinking. On a Friday or Saturday night, it is not uncommon to see people stumbling and singing drunken slurs in the courtyard. The Grate is a place where everyone that smokes can go when it is cold out. It's really great to get off campus on the weekends as well. There is good public transit, and a lot of things are within walking or biking distance.

Many many organizations and things to do. What we need more is time to do everything. Being close to the cities, increases a lot the opportunities of internships, offcampus jobs as well as the entertaining opportunities.