Wesleyan University Top Questions

Too Much. Too Much. Pick something. You can probably do it. Sometimes PSafe shuts down our parties mad early. This sucks.

no one cares about football except the football players. many people care about big concerts and plays and even dances. the frisbee team is more respected than the football team. but this also makes the athletes into a pretty ironic counterculture, which is also cool. there are always interesting lectures about everything going on, film screenings, concerts, plays, art shows, dances. people generally keep doors open. lots of nakedness. people generally party three nights a week. there are three frats, that throw good parties but otherwise are pretty irrelevant to life outside themselves. Wesfest is really big and really sweet -- lots of student run festivities. and spring fling is cool too -- the school brings in big musical acts. and 4/20 is like times square on new years eve.

Psi U is unofficial king of parties, even though they only get up a good one every three weeks or month or so. (please don't hate me Wes Psi U. I'm highly opinionated on parties). I'm too busy for social outside of the friends I already know and dance parties; not the guy to talk to.

A lot of students feel peer pressure at colleges to drink, and it's possible to feel that pressure at Wes, but most people here will totally respect you if you don't want to. Some frats push it, but some don't. I've felt most comfortable at parties at Alpha Delt, which is a co-ed literary society... not a frat. The people there will accept you if you just want to drink soda at parties, and they have a lot of events that have nothing to do with alcohol but that are just really quirky and fun, even at prime partying hours. I've heard that Wesleyan students don't believe in love and are really bad about relationships, but I know a handful of people who have been with the same person since first semester freshman year and stay happy. If you're looking for hook-ups or something more serious, it's usually not too hard to find. Some weekends, there are a lot of campus events, and some have very few, but there's always something or another to do. Regarding dorm life, you never know what kind of hall you'll get, but if your hall is particularly social, it's not rare to find people with their doors open all the time to hang out, or chat, or invite you over to watch stuff. A good hall is priceless. I had one freshman year, and it was never a dull moment.

Social life at Wesleyan is just right. There is something for everyone. If big frat parties are your thing, Wesleyan has them. If you like movies, you'll love the Wesleyan Cinema Series. The week days aren't very socially active. Weekends tend to have many activities from frat parties to parties at seniors' houses to just relaxing with your friends. Athletic events aren't very popular at Wesleyan. For example, at graduation, the president of the class said "you know you went to Wesleyan when you've never seen an entire football game." That statement can be extended to nearly every sports event. There isn't much to do off campus besides go to the restaurants in Middletown.

All sorts of types mingle on the Wesleyan social scene. I didn't partake in any substances for a long time and I still went out with plenty of people who did. The school does not impose any specific lifestyle-- as long as you are willing to meet people who want to meet you, it'll be great.

Wesleyan knows how to have a great time. You'll probaly be drunk your first two years. By junior year, your major gets really serious and focused and people cool off a little. The people are lots of fun, the most costume parties I've ever been to. Its rare that a week goes by without one of your friends having a concert, hosting a show, or performing in something. Weekend starts on Wednesday with Bar Night and goes until Sunday night. Few annual traditions outside of the typical halloween/valentines type sexed-out parties for Freshmen. Amazing guest speakers. Few frats and sororities, though this option exists. There are many program houses that fill a similar function: eclectic, well-being house, women of color house, community service house, Malcom X house, out house, open house, chinese house, alpha delt literary soc, etc. Something is going on every night, but it's also ok to stay home and relax.

You should always be able to find someone who wants to party. However, things can get a little old and redundant towards the end of the year.

There's so much to do, and most Wes students do a million things. There's tons of talent here - student bands, student plays, student concerts, student art shows. There are games to go see: basketball, softball, squash. On any given night, there are five University-wide things to do, see, or participate in. There are always way more lectures, performances, meetings, concerts, games, shows and events than you've got time for. At night, there are house parties, frat parties, concerts, dances, substance-free parties, a free movie series in the theater, midnight tag or capture the flag, late-night dining, events hosted by program houses (like community service house, outdoor club, sign-language club, asian-american house, women of color house, etc.), and small gatherings in peoples' rooms. Drugs and alcohol are definitely prevalent on campus. There are people who'll find occasion to drink heavily five or six nights a week, and those who don't drink at all. There is a lot of weed on campus, and there are substantial amounts of other drugs as well. But it's all very relaxed. Campus security is not very strict. And most students drink and use in moderation. We love beirut on this campus, at least in my group of friends. There isn't a whole lot of getting drunk and doing nothing. There's a lot of activity here, all the time, whether students are inebriated or sober. There are annual events and parties happening all the time, and life here is really, really fun.

The social life at Wes has a little something for everybody. If the frats are you scene, rest assured that theres almost always a party at the houses on campus. If you are always on the cutting edge of music and love plastic sunglasses, then Eclectic is your place. Maybe you are intrigued by fire spinning? Join Prometheus, the campus fire spinning club. Or maybe Alpha Delt is more your pace. Whatever your fancy, you'll find it. There are also frequently parties thrown in program housing. I'd say one of the best parties I have been to at Wes was a random dance party (a make-shift rave, if you will) thrown in the living room of one of the houses. And don't forget Fountain Ave! A street full of senior houses often opens up to the masses, with parties in many houses at the same time, leading to a block party. Fountain isn't even the only street with senior houses. If you make friends with older kids, or even if you don't, walk on into a party at a senior house, and you are sure to have a good time. People also enjoy learning at Wes, no matter how "cool" they may be. Nobody is ashamed to attend a guest speaker, and on campus theater, music, and dance productions are almost always sold out. As for dating, it happens, but so do random hookups, which happen a LOT. If you're looking for a hook-up, and you go out with that in mind, you'll probably find it. Most freshman it seems get their random hooking up out of the way and try to settle down later. I personally dated a wonderful person for much of the year, and while that didn't end up being forever, it still provided a nice break from the random scene. Every year, Wes has spring fling, which is when the whole campus is outside on Foss Hill all day in the sun and the school brings in bands to play. It's looked forward to and talked about all year long, and the hype is well worth it. People tend to go out on Wednesdays sometimes, Thursdays very often, and obviously Fridays and Saturdays. That being said, usually one night per weekend tends to be quiet, often referred to as people's date nights. And if you have too much work and can't go out, nobody blames you or teases you. Everybody understands and respects that you gotta do what you gotta do.