DePaul University Top Questions

Because of how spread out DePaul students are (only a small amount live on campus, while the rest can live anywhere from a five minute walk to an hour's drive away) the sense of school spirit you may get at another school isn't there. The school is much more tailored towards letting people figure out what they do and don't want to get involved in. There are funds available for student organizations, and it is incredibly easy to make one - you don't even need 10 people. That means you will easily find a group that fits your interests: Democrats or Republicans, Anime fans, cinema buffs, karate, Scrabble, cycling, LGBTQA, environmen...the list goes on forever. And if you can't find it on there, simply make it yourself. I was involved with the student newspaper, so never joined any of the groups (need to maintain objectivity) but had my finger on a lot of them.

I am, and have been a part of a group called Student Ambassadors. We are the students that get dragged out of bed the same as all prospective students, so that we can speak with them and their families when they come to visit DePaul University. My job is to tell students what it is really like at DePaul, how I feel about the campus, what I do to occupy my time, how I study, how I like my major, anything that they might want to know before choosing DePaul. I also have to qualm the worries of parents, especially those out of state families that are unsure of living in a big city is the right choice for their darling son/daughter. In response I'm just honest, DePaul is safe, I love it, its in a great location, and no one I know has been into any trouble. Though there are few of us who actually do this, many benefit in the long run. I suppose most students preoccupy their time with sports and athletics, since we have so many clubs to choose from both teams you have to try out for and ones for fun, like inner-tube water polo. Most everyone I know makes good use of their gym membership and all that that offers, even if it is just to study in the health cafe on the ground floor of the fitness center. My first week at DePaul, like all other first year students I participated in the involvement fair. This was a great opportunity to find out about all of the clubs and activities that I could join for that year, as well as a time to try and get free candy and shirts. I learned about 200 or so clubs that day just from walking around and talking with different club representatives. And after, what I came to realize is that I just wanted to talk to people about things I enjoyed. Which is what lead me to my choice of DePaul Ambassadors. I talk with people about my university constantly and have a vast knowledge of it. Why not spend my time making friends and doing something I enjoy? DePaul has something for everyone, which seems cliche, but has proved true with all of my friends thus far. Finding a group you want to be a part of whether its debate, latin, sport or greek life, its here, and waiting for you to choose.

Lincoln Park is a booming neighborhood and one of the trendiest there is on the north side of Chicago. Filled with bars, cafes, boutiques, and lake adjacent, one can always find something to do when he/she is not busy studying or writing term papers in the John T. Richardson Library. An old Irish neighborhood, Lincoln Park is essentially a giant bar. But for the great majority of undergrads that are not of the drinking age, DePaul always has something on the agenda be it a movie night in the student center, book readings and literary events in the Cortelyou Commons, or a live concert somewhere on campus. You're in the third largest American city, there are plenty of things to do that don't involve drinking. Millenium Park and Navy Pier are only a few train stops away, not to mention the endless array of museums located in the Loop. If you are into sports, DePaul has an outstanding workout facility called The Ray Meyers Fitness Center that is three floors containing hardwood basketball courts, a workout floor equipped with many different machines that'll get you in the finest shape of your life, three racquetball courts, and a swimming pool. And if you want to show off your school spirit, Wish Field is right on campus where you can catch men's and women's soccer games. During the basketball season, there are school buses that shuttle students to and from the Allstate Arena so that they can show their support for their Blue Demons.

Most students seem to enjoy partying with friends, but many of us work to help with tuition! Since DePaul is big on volunteering, Vencentian Service Day is also popular amongst the student body as well. Students can either volunteer at a local organization or sign up for Vincentian service and be placed to volunteer at a specific location. This is a great way to help the community and get to know the city if you are not a Chicago native. Of course, getting involved at DePaul and going out around the city is also a wonderful way to meet new people as well! The Lincoln Park Campus is located near tons of bars, shops, restaurants, etc, so you don't have to go far to have fun!

The most popular things are DAB, Student Government, sororities, psychology club, honors groups, sports

Throughout the academic year, there are multiple events that occur just so DePaul students can socialize with one another and have a good time! There's a pep rally at the beginning of the basketball season, a homecoming dance, countless concerts and interesting speakers, and the granddaddy of all events, FEST. It is the biggest DePaul event that nearly every student attends. FEST is the end of the year blow out concert in the quad. A popular artist is chosen to perform to a large crowd of students. Last year Ludacris headlined.

DePaul Activities Board is a really huge club on campus. They put all different types of events throughout campus. They have brought huge musicians, writers, and comedians to DePaul. They put on a huge festival at the end of the year that is only for DePaul students as well. I am heavily involved in PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) which is a pre-professional group. We meet with PR professors about Chicago and plan huge events pertaining to PR. I have met a lot of my friends through this club and it's something I am really excited to be apart of. There are a lot of students who date but there are also a lot of students who enjoy the single life. I like to hang out with my friends or go to a concerts on the weekends. We are in Chicago so there are endless amount of opportunities to do things that don't involve drinking.

For a large school that is a member of the Big East, DePaul is quite unusual in the way student groups are structured. Because many students commute and/or live outside of campus, it it pretty quiet at night because many of us are hanging out in all parts of the city. Sports are big, but we don't have a football team and our men's basketball stadium isn't on campus, so sporting events are not a school-wide affair. We have hundreds of student groups but our Greek scene is not huge (under 500 total participants) because so many students are more interested in cultural groups like Gospel Choir, Black Student Union, Irish Dance Club, Hillel, Outdoor Adventure Club, Student Government Association, etc. This year I lead the Environmental Concerns Committee and we did all sorts of on-campus outreach events as well as a few trips outside of campus. DePaul is really committed to service-learning and we have opportunities all the time to go out and work in the Chicago community.

Greek life is not big at DePaul as only 6{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the student body are in a fraternity or sorority. (3{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} for Frats and 4{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} for sororities). There are no traditional frat houses. Social life revolves a lot around the bars on Lincoln Avenue (between Wrightwood and Webster). There are many club sports including dodgeball, ice hockey and lacrosse. Only 5 fraternities at DePaul are not tied to a ethnic or religious group. Going to basketball games is hard because the men's team plays at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont about a 45 minute ride away.

This is where DePaul falls flat big time! Unless you live on campus and either involved in a major organizations or play for a the Demons, you'll be just another face on the crowd. DePaul Activities Board, the organization that puts on events, is a big joke! They get 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the activity funding, but they only do three good events a year. Events put on by ethnic or interest-based organizations, which get chump change of funding, are way more fun. Most of the fun takes place off campus on the students' own initiative, which most often involves going to bars with a fake ID.