Vanderbilt University Top Questions

I think I am the only non-drinker at Vanderbilt. I sometimes go to parties, but it's not really that fun to be groped by some drunk frat guy while you're sober. The best thing for a girl to do if she wants to dance without being pawed is to go to the gay bars on Church Street with some friends - they always have very fun vibes, great dancing, and men who do not want to touch you!

Depending on who you talk to, the most popular organizations will definitely change. I think their are many diverse groups that have large notoriority. One of the bigger groups on the campus, however, are definitely the greek organizations. This spring, I pledged a sorority and am now a member of Delta Delta Delta. Greek organizations by no means dominate Vanderbilt culture or social life, but they are definitely a main asset on campus because they run so many of the philantrophy and campaign events benefitting all types of organizations nation-wide. Students in the dorms leave their doors open at different times. I was very surprised first semester at how quiet the dorms can be and that you can actually get work done in your room. I think that dorm life definitely differs from other schools because of the unisex floor set-up. During the week, people are typically very busy with work and are coming and going. Some people have their doors open so you may walk over to a friends room for a snack, to hang out, or to say hello admidst study sessions. During the weekend, the dorm takes on a much different feeling. Usually starting thursday night, the dorms become much livelier and people are out and about getting ready to go out or to go eat. During the week days you may find people going to bed at very early hours (which is something I think is unique about Vanderbilt, because students actually sleep!) but on the weekends people may be up to all hours of the night. Athletic events are very popular. In the fall, football is a huge events and especially for tailgates on saturday which are a special event to get dressed up and go to the game. During the winter, basketball season becomes pretty big and normally people, especially the boys, get pretty hyped up about the events. Although most students do not go to as many as they should, every week there are dozens of guest speakers from all over the country. The dating scene at Vanderbilt is very limited. Vanderbilt has the traditional hook-up culture in which most people do not start seriously dating until junior year. Most students are so busy they do not have time for serious relationships, but it also takes away from that hospitible charm because people do not have to make as much effort and take people on dates. I was very lucky freshman year and met most of my closest friends on my hall. We had a tight knit group of about 10 girls who did everything together. Although I am still close with them, things are definitely changed since rush as getting into a sorority breaks up your group of friends because people pledge different houses. However, I am still best friends with the girl I met the first week of school. I normally go to bed early during the week or whenever I finish my work. I would never be up at 2am on a tuesday, but if I were, it was because I went out to go hang out at a fraternity house. Traditions/events that happen each year are things like community service events/projects run by various fraternities such as frats at bat, dance marathon, etc. Other traditions include founders day walk for the freshman, rites of spring before finals, tailgates for football games, and the list goes on. People party a fair amount at Vanderbilt, but party culture tends to die down a lot during mid-terms and finals because people are busy studying. Essentially, however, if you have no work, you can go out and do something every night of the week here. People that do go out every night just get their work done during the day so that they can play later. Fraternities/sororities are a big part of party culture. Fraternities are what run all the parties and supply most of the social scene - with all the fraternities there are always dozens of parties to choose from each weekend. Last weekend I hung out with my friends and went out to dinner fri/sat followed by going out to fraterntiy parties with everyone. For people that dont drink, you can go downtown, go to a movie at green hills, go out to any of the fabulous restaurants in Nashville, hang out with friends in the dorm, go to any concerts/performances at blair, go to various speakers or events on campus...the list is endless. Although most students choose to go out and party, other students choose a different scene and that is entirely okay. For students not involved in the greek scene or that do not drink, there are so many things to get involved in, as well as so many groups of students like them that there is not a problem finding a place to fit in at Vanderbilt. There are norms that most students do fall under, but wherever you find yourself or whatever you are happy doing, there will be a place for you.

Most popular organizations: greek. I am in it too--> it is a really fun way to meet new people and have some amazing activities to do. Not many students leave the dorms open because we are in the heart of a city and crime is present. The Athletic events are popular directly according to how good we are. If we are doing good man people come. Dating scene is random. You meet random boys and it seems like most of them just want a hookup (especially freshman/sophomore year). Last weekend i got drunk all weekend.

Vanderbilt University is one big party starting 10:00 pm Thursday night. Most everyone will go play pong at their favorite frat, or hop around to get the best of them all. The fraternities definitely do have their types, but for the most part they are welcoming, lots of fun, and SAFE. Hookups happen constantly, but so do long, meaningful relationships that last out of college. People can meet anywhere: in class, student concerts, the gym, events. Since Vanderbilt is in the capital of music, one of the best ways to chill and meet people is through music venues across the street, downtown, or even on campus. Rights of Spring, the big end-of-year concert featuring big names in music, is the campus event of the year. Perfect timing, too, when everyone is stressing over exams, and enjoying friends' company towards the end of the year. Downtown (five minutes away) there are clubs, music bars, great restaurants, sports events, big-name concerts, operas, symphonies, ballets, Nashville shopping, and more. You couldn't ask for a cooler college city where the people are friendly, polite, and full of personality.

Athletics are really popular here, on the Varsity, club, and intramural levels. Basket ball games and tailgating are so fun and something that the whole student body enjoys together. Any given day of the week someone is partying, with the most people going out on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Frats and sororities control the main party scene on campus but they are not exclusive to greek members, non greeks are welcome to any fraternity party or sorority events that are open to the general community. What can you do on a Sat. night that doesn't involve drinking? Stare at the wall? You don't have to participate in the drinking but it will be going on all around you.

I think that Greek life is a very big part of campus, as well as basketball. My favorite thing about Vandy is being in a sorority. My dorm is pretty small, so people do leave their doors open and congregate in the hallway a lot. I think that athletic events, especially basketball, are very popular. The game against UT brought so many students out that they had to send people away. I really don't pay attention to any of the guest speakers who come, as bad as that is to admit. The dating scene really doesn't occur until after freshman year, I think everyone is just after random hook ups and getting drunk, which is what the first year of college should be about. I've stayed with my high school boyfriend for many reasons, but one is that I'm so used to being in a relationship and thats the stage of my life that I am in. I don't want to do random drunken things anymore. The guys at Vandy aren't ready for that and I don't want to be single. I met my closest friends in my dorm and now in my sorority. At 2am on a Tuesday I am always awake, usually doing the work that I put off during the day. Most people go out on Tuesday's, but my boyfriend doesn't feel comfertable with me doing that, so its always good to talk, eat, and hang out with friends who are coming back. The only traditions I can think of would be Rights of Spring and Founders day. I wish we had more. I wish we did more freshman year than walk under balloons. I think people party regardles of the work they have. If we could, I think we would all go out every night. It's not uncommon at all for the weekend to start on a Thursday night or have people go out when they have a paper due the next day. I think greek life is very important, as there isn't much to do except go downtown if youre not going to a frat house. I think going out revolves around the frats. Last weekend I had my sorority formal and then the next night I went out with my big in my sorority. There are people in my dorm that don't go out and spend some nights just having popcorn and movie parties or you can go to the mall or to a concert or downtown nashville. But there really isn't anything on campus to do besides frats that youre going to find the majority of students at. I don't really go out of the Vandy bubble or off campus.

greek life is definitely huge here. i did dance marathon and had such a good experience. i'd say that athletic events are the most popular vandy events... school spirit isn't that high for football.. it's more just the fun of the games. basketball had great school spirit.. i loved being a fan for such a good team. i don't go off campus too often until it's for a meal or going downtown on a thursday night... when i have a car here or have several friends with cars, i want to explore nashville more.

Most popular organizations are the Greek organizations. I'm involved with a greek organization on campus. It is a large part of my life. Students in dorms definitely leave their doors open. Football and basketball games are a large part of student life. I met my closest friends from freshman year living and my sorority. People party a lot of the time - it depends on if there are parties available to go to or not. Fraternities and sororities are a large part of the social scene. I had two 21st birthday parties, a formal, and a st. patrick's day party to go to this past weekend. I also worked on Sunday morning. You can do a lot of stuff on Saturday night that does not involve drinking - you can go out, movies, dinner, hanging out with friends, or concerts.

Greek life is a big part of campus. Also other organizations such as VSG and volunteer groups are big. Students realize how much they have to offer and love to get into the community to help others. The dating scene is not great. People get stuck going to the same places each weekend with the same people and, therefore, don't meet new people. We go off campus to go to dinner or go to bars. There are plenty of things to do that don't involve drinking. You could go to dinner, a movie, and there are even some dry parties.