University of Wisconsin-Madison Top Questions

There is no ‘most popular’ group on campus. The athletes are clearly worshiped by all, because they give us the many titles we earn each year. The school has two newspapers, The Badger Herald and The Daily Cardinal; both respected and frequently read all over the city. For people who were high school athletes, there are many club and intramural sports on campus that people get involved in. There are clubs for pretty much everything. From business, to photography, to Habitat for Humanity, pretty much everything is covered on campus. And clearly, if it is not here already, you can bring it here. My sorority, as of right now, is what I am most involved in on campus. We meet at least once a week, and are extremely involved both on and off campus. Each Greek organization has a philanthropy, or charitable event that they do annually. We have three. First, we have a fashion show that benefits the Make a Wish foundation. We have even gotten to help film a commercial for the foundation with a child whose wish it was to be in a commercial! Also, each Friday, we visit local Madison public elementary schools and read with students who are below their expected reading levels. Finally, we have an event called Celebration for Shona, in which we spend time in local pediatric units of hospitals. Besides these philanthropic events, we have socials with other groups across campus; participate in the competitions of homecoming week, and much more. However, I do have to say that being Greek on campus, I am actually a minority. While Wisconsin is a huge school, it is different from most schools in that Greek life here is lacking as compared to most other large schools. While going Greek is certainly fun, it is not at all necessary to enjoy your time here. It is actually more like the University is all of our fraternities, and Chi Omega is just my smaller group within that larger Frat. Games are a must. Season tickets are the most amazing thing that have ever happened to me. However, my best friend here hates sports, so it is definitely not a requirement. But really? Go to games, freak. I have personally been to many guest speakers and shows across campus, but I know that most people do not. I have been to a step show performance but the multi-cultural sororities and fraternities on campus, I saw Barack Obama speak twice, Chelsea Clinton once, Hilary Clinton once, a show called “the race show” on prejudice, the Ying Yang Twins, the DJ GirlTalk, Rockapella, and much more, all at the student union literally 3 blocks away from my dorm. And it is not just famous people – there are many student-run events and performances across campus as well. A lot of people do not take advantage of everything available here on campus, because it is nearly impossible to do so, but take in as much as you can – it is worth it. I met my closest friends in my dorm. Of my two best friends at school, one is my neighbor, and one went to high school with a different neighbor. My dorm is extremely friendly, and my door is always open. There are constantly people stopping by to say hello, hang out for a while, and talk about anything really. However, once your door is closed, everyone is aware that your privacy is needed.

the cool kids leave their doors open, the ones that are looking for friends, walk in! that's why the door is open

A lot of students my freshman year were involved with the Hoofers club because they do a lot of out doors skiing trips, etc. Sororities and Fraternities are popular if you want them to be, but if you are not in that seen you are fine as well. You definitely do not have to be in one in order to go to this school which is something that drew me to it when I was an incoming Freshman. Football and Basketball are huge events throughout the year and lots of students go to those games. Most students go out on the weekends to bars or house parties. Lots of beer drinking! However, if you do not drink there are other things going on in Madison you can do within the community as well.

The sports at the University are amazing. I am a sports junkie, and I have been blessed to witness some unbelievable sports while I have been a Wisconsin Badger. In 2006, the men and women’s hockey team won the national title. In 2007 the basketball team secured its first #1 ranking in the country, and the football team has been extremely successful as well. The spirit felt in Camp Randall and the Kohl Center is unbelievable especially when we play a big ten rival. University of Wisconsin has broken out on to the same level as UNC, Texas, and Florida, and arguably the premier overall sports department in the entire Midwest. Having a successful sports program is not essential to a quality college education, but it makes writing a paper much less stressful after storming the basketball court when winning the Big Ten regular season title. I have participated in MADPAC (America-Israel Political group), History Association, Roosevelt Institution (Political think tank), and College Democrats. Also I have participated in other classes that are not sponsored by the university. I was able to learn boxing in a grungy boxing gym in the middle of Madison, and also learn how to write a screenplay. Thousands of students are active, but you have to have the motivation. Many students just drink beer, but on the whole it is a positive mix.

A lot of people participate in intermural/club sports here at Wisconsin. I played co-ed intermural soccer in the fall and it was actually competitive. I am a member of a sorority on campus. Greek life is deffinately present on campus, but it is deffinately not overwhelming at all. Athletic events are extremely popular. Saturdays in the fall are all about Wisconsin football. Men's hockey and basketball are also really big. We actually just won Big Ten men's basketball, which is really exciting. My closest friends are from my sorority, but a lot of people hang out with the people in their dorms. If I am awake at 2am on Tuesday, I am deffinately studying. Halloween weekend is huge here. Thousands of people come from all over, and they recently started selling tickets just to get onto state stree. This year is was sponsored by Mountain Dew and Lifehouse came to perform. The mifflin block party is also huge in April. People party a lot here. I have friends who go out Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. There are always a ton of parties. The campus is huge and so many people live in houses and appartments so there is always so much going on. There are tons of clubs so theres always a drinking alternative.

All sports, club anything-really what ever your interested in-so are other people. I have been so grateful to my sorority and i really would love to see more people get involved with the greek system. I have met almost all of my closest friends through it, and college would not have been the same with out it. yes dorms are very friendly. Very popular-on game days EVERY one wears red. if teachers give extra credit, but usually yes anyways. I think a lot of ppl date and a lot dont. Definitely not as many as at a private school. The women here are builing their own careers, they don't go to college to find a mate. Either at a bar or studying. Mifflin Street Block party is ridiculous, Halloween is fantastic. All summer is unbelievable (great weather, great lake, no lines at bars) I would say 3-4 a week. Important to those not in them-not so much (except for charities that we help out throughout the year). People in them-priceless. hmmm. study, watch a movie, go to the terrace and play card (weather permitting) or see any of the live music, theres a comedy club, etc. Went out. Go to Target, grocery or clothing shopping. thats about it!

1. men's football, hockey, and basketball 2. Hillel 3. in Statesider, yes; Towers, no. Not sure about other dorms 4. very popular--athletic events, especially men's football, basketball, and hockey; guest speakers--if it's a good on; never been to the theater 5. lots of guys and girls to choose from, whether you are heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual 6. sorority, dorms 7. watching tv, on my computer, or sleeping 8. Halloween, Mifflin Street Block Party, homecoming 9. at least 3 nights/week 10. not very important 11. went out (drank) and watched a movie at home one night 12. smoke, movies 13. movies, shop, eat

The athletic events are very popular. People party a lot. Tuesdays, thursday, friday, and saturday are common days to party. I am in a frat and it is a very big part of my life. On a friday/sat. there isn't much to do if you aren't drinking. The union sometimes has events and you can rent a movie or something, but the majority of people go out.

The sports teams (esp. football, basketball, hockey and crew) are incredibly popular, as is the marching band, but the Greek community is also burgeoning (the last three fall recruitments have all successively had the biggest turnout ever). I'm involved in the mock trial program, as well as the Delta Delta sorority; Tri Delta is amazing in that we not only have fun together as a group socially, but we also give back to the community through community service, and every girl is involved in at least one other campus activity. Depending on the dorm and floor you live in, the door policy differs [on my floor in my dorm last year, we were open-door]. Sports are huge on campus - people wait outside, overnight for days to get hockey/basketball tickets with their friends, and football ticket sales online sold out in under three days last year. Guest speakers are somewhat popular, but not hugely. Theatre is somewhat popular on campus - but there is also some student interest when shows come to the Overture Center. Dating scene on campus has a healthy mix of couples and singles (this isn't a huge M.R.S. degree school, and most studetns are married). I met many of my close friends through the dorms last year, a few from Choral Union[a UW choir], and several through Tri Delta. If I'm awake at 2am on Tuesday, I'm probably doing homework or studying for an exam. Major transitions on campus include football to hockey/basketball, fall to spring semester. Major events include Homecoming, Greek Week, Humorology [the largest philanthropy on campus, the Greeks put on student-written musical comedies with the proceeds going to Camp Heartland and the Chris Farley Foundation], Halloween, St. Patrick's Day. People can be found partying most often Thursday through Saturday nights. Greek life on campus greatly contributes to the community, but by no means is it so pervasive that it's a necessary thing to be part of (Greeks make up a bit more than 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of campus). Last weekend my sorority had a social and I spent a fair bit of time at the library working on a partner midterm. I don't drink, so I know Saturdays can still be fun without alcohol - whether it's going to a friend's appartment, having a social or staying in for movie night, it's all good. I don't do much off campus at Madison, I don't have a car.

I'm in the greek system. Not the biggest community, but fun.