University of California-San Diego Top Questions

Cultural organizations and greek orgs are clearly the most visible and the most popular orgs on campus. Student government is also very visible and very active, however fewer students tend to be involved in these orgs than on might expect. There something for everyone, as there are over 400 student orgs and 7 student governing bodies, and the only thing keeping students from connecting to other people with similar interests is their own reservations and shy personalities. Once students move past that, the interact much more with other people and express a much higher satisfaction with the university overall. There's always stuff going on at UCSD, both on-campus and off, and with the opening of the new expansion to the student center the campus life is likely going to be much more centralized and vibrant. As alcohol sale has been allowed on campus, I look for 3rd and 4th year students to spend much more time on-campus and feel much more connected to the community here.

UCSD is somewhat of a commuter campus on weekends, most student who live close enough to go home on the weekends do, therefore the campus is quite dead on weekends. Nightlife at this campus aside from studying at the many great libraries, is a choose your own adventure format...if you wanna party you have to find one or make your own. Getting involved in clubs is a great way to meet people, and to get involved. Athletics would probably be bigger if we hada football team.

Sucks.

AWESOME! Get involved in the Greek system.... so much fun!

there are several social activities to engage in, if you're into that type of thing. the school sponsors several musical festivities as well.

UCSD has an awful stereotype about being socially dead. It's totally untrue! The things you get involved in at UCSD are never forced on you, so those who aren't willing to be proactive may not gain much out of the experience. But if you put yourself out there, the social and extracurricular activities are completely fulfilling and fun.

Go Greek! The biggest complaint you hear from people about UCSD is that there is no social life, and that's not true. I agree that my first quarter of freshman year was boring, but I wasn't involved. I found out about Greek life, and I haven't been bored since. Greek life is the best way to have fun and get involved on campus. sororities and fraternities do philanthropy, fundraising, socials, exchanges, and so much more. Greek organizations give you the opportunity to develop emotionally, socially, professionally, and academically all in one organization. If you think you aren't a Greek kind of person, try it anyway, because it was the last thing I wanted to do until it became the biggest part of my life. I have become such a better and more developed person because of my sorority. UCSD is as fun as you make it. You can't expect to have fun by chilling in your dorm, you have to make the best of it all around.

Here's a trick I learned. On the first week of fall quarter, just talk to everybody. Sit with people you don't know. Nobody will even question you because they'll assume you're a new student wanting to meet people. With that momentum going, you'll have at least five good friends to start the year off with. During the school year, you'll have to think of other clever ways to get to know the student body. The best way is through student organizations... There are many Christian orgs on campus that put together outreach events. There are Jewish, Hindu, Islamic, Catholic, and many other religious orgs on campus as well. This is a good thing to have because it allows you to explore spirituality and personal growth. GREEK system is not entirely nonexistent. You'll see lots of fraternities and sororities advertise events on campus. Orgs that center around CULTURE are available for all students. Asian-themed clubs are ubiquitous. There are plenty of non-Asian culture orgs that a student can join as well. There are tons of recreational things to do: theatre, sports, hang out in dorms, concerts, campus events, cultural events, and more. Finally...dating. It's kind of hard depending on the types of guy/girls you go for. But...that's a whole other story. Depending on you, dating is either pleasant or difficult.

There are many organizations at this school. I mostly stuck to those associated with Res Life because I lived on campus all four years.

Dorms are fun, but be careful, because RSO's can get you in trouble if you are being too rambunctious. Especially if you are on the first floor of your building or really loud. Sun God is a festival everyone looks forward to. Fallfest is fun, and at the end of every quarter they give out food and massages, and have a TGIO concert. There are lots of concerts througout the year, and movies on tuesdays, thursdays and saturdays for three dollars. Partying is hard to find, but it is definitely happening, if you get in with the right people. If I wanted to I could go to a party tuesday through sunday. Getting into the greek life is the best idea if you want to party, or at least know someone in te greek life. Frats/Sororities don't have on campus housing, but they are definitely still felt on campus. They have a cool lecture series called 'last lecture' where a professor gives what would be their last lecture ever. The school has a lot of school papers, which is fun. the MQ is like the Onion, the Koala is really dirty, the Triton is just opinions, and the Guardian is the main paper that comes out biweekly. On the weekends I normally go to one party, go out into San Diego by bus another day, and study on Sunday. The campus has a really good theater program. Freshman activities are normally dumb, but you should take advantage of them because technically you are paying for them.