Florida State University Top Questions

Being from Miami, I was a little worried to come to Tallahassee because I thought it wasn't going to be a cultural melting pot like back at home. I was so wrong. FSU is home to a mixture of students of every race, religious background, sexual orientation, and students from other foreign countries. The great thing about the mixture of students is the large amount of acceptance that is spread around. Everyone on campus spews auras of positive energy that is very welcoming. And since the school is very student oriented with social events and activities almost every day, it is extremely easy to meet new people and spark new friendships. It's very cool to meet new people with different views of life. The mix of students here creates an atmosphere where majority and minority don't exist. We are all Seminoles.

The student population at FSU is very diverse. You will see people of all races and cultures that it becomes part of the norm. Being able to go to class, and befriend people that are not from your area, or even from this country is what makes FSU so great. There are even multicultural sororities and fraternities that they have on campus, where students can either expand their knowledge of other cultures, or make them feel more at home. For examples, my sorority itself is very diverse. We have Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites, and we all have a strong sisterhood bond with one another. I would have to say that most of the student population attend class in comfortable clothing such as sweat pants, FSU logo clothing, and even very stylish attire. Class attire is anything that you feel comfortable in basically. I myself will have days when I wear "frat tanks" and sweatpants, but then again there are days when I want to dress up nice for class.

One of the best things about Florida State is the diversity of the student body. I came from a high school graduating class of 55 students, so I was beyond excited to have so many new, interesting people to meet. At FSU, you can find every "type" of person: Greeks, dancers, musicians, "nerds", etc. People are from all kinds of demographics and ethnic backgrounds, which is proven by the various multicultuaral organizations. The downside about FSU being so large is that there are enough of every "type" of person to have a club or organization that reflects them. This is great in that there's something for everyone, but it also makes it easy for people to stay in their comfort zones. The best outlets I have found to meet different kinds of people are by joining philanthropic clubs. Participating in events like Dance Marathon and organizations like Habitat for Humanity, are great for bringing people together from different interests and backgrounds.

The student body at Florida State University is very diverse. You will see all sorts of people when you walk through campus. We have foreign exchange students, local students and students from all across the United States. Many people who attend FSU come from all over Florida, as it is one of the best schools in the state. Florida State has many financial aid options, such as grants, loans and scholarships. People from all financial backgrounds are able to attend due to these excellent opportunities. Similarly, people of all age groups attend FSU, as it has both graduate and undergraduate programs. Being an FSU student means you get to meet many different kinds of people. There are always events happening on campus that make it easy to meet new people. There are plenty of clubs and associations available. Everyone should be able to find something to satisfy their interests, regardless of political or religious affiliation. There are two major political associations on campus: the College Democrats and the College Republicans. Both hold many events such as panels by guest speakers, debates, rallies, protests and fund raising events. Overall, FSU has a laid back environment that welcomes anyone regardless of background or affiliations.

Since FSU is one of the largest universities in Florida, there is a huge variety of students. I can honestly say that no student would feel left out; there are groups and communities for every kind of person. There is a strong LGBT community that frequently participates in campus events like Homecoming Week. There are two groups for the College Democrats and the College Republicans, and each group meets once a week. There are also numerous religious groups. The financial background of students covers a wide rang. There are students driving $80,000 cars and students who are working part-time to put themselves through school. I have also found that most FSU students are very accommodating and understand of groups different from themselves. When protests are taking place, most students are respectful of the other students, even if they don't particularly agree with what is being said. Students are very different from each other, but there is a mutual respect that binds the community together. Class attire depends on what type of group you belong to. The two biggest divisions are Greek and non-Greek students. Non-Greek students wear a variety of things to class, depending on the weather. Dress is still casual; for example, you might wear shorts, a casual tank top, and cute sandals. It is easier to spot out the Greek students because they typically have a type of "uniform." Fraternity men will be wearing khaki shorts above the knee, some kind of polo, sunglasses with croakies, and Sperry Top-siders. They will be holding one notebook in their hand because they are too cool to bring a backpack to class. Sorority women will be wearing some kind of sorority/fraternity tank top over leggings with Nike running shoes. They will be carrying a Longchamp bag, which are available in a variety of colors. Lots of students are very politically aware/active. Student Government Association (SGA) is one of the most predominate groups on campus. Tons of students are involved in this massive group, and the students who are involved are very passionate and serious about it. SGA makes most of the decisions around campus, and they work directly with FSU administration. Student Alumni Association is also huge. These students coordinate many events like football game tailgates and community service projects. They also work directly with alumni to bring new things to FSU while continuing old traditions.

When I came to FSU I knew I was coming to the American South and to a part of the bible belt. As an atheist and a Cuban-American, this was something that I thought about quite a bit: would I be comfortable here? While Tallahassee is still "the South" and still part of the bible belt, while you will hear people with a drawl in their speech and preachers are a regular fixture on campus, I have never really had a bad experience here. Instead, I have found a great deal of diversity. Through groups I've joined and classes I've taken I've met people from Venezuela, Panama, Armenia, Korea, France and Germany. The university, with its exchange programs and magnet lab, is a huge draw for people from all walks of life. There is also LGBT representation on campus--they hosted an awesome Harry Potter marathon last year. I think that the only kind of student who would truly feel uncomfortable at FSU is an intolerant one. Students at FSU are by and large accepting of and interested in the cultural diversity of the university.

When I came to FSU I knew I was coming to the American South and to a part of the bible belt. As an atheist and a Cuban-American, this was something that I thought about quite a bit: would I be comfortable here? While Tallahassee is still "the South" and still part of the bible belt, while you will hear people with a drawl in their speech and preachers are a regular fixture on campus, I have never really had a bad experience here. Instead, I have found a great deal of diversity. Through groups I've joined and classes I've taken I've met people from Venezuela, Panama, Armenia, Korea, France and Germany. The university, with its exchange programs and magnet lab, is a huge draw for people from all walks of life. There is also LGBT representation on campus--they hosted an awesome Harry Potter marathon last year. I think that the only kind of student who would truly feel uncomfortable at FSU is an intolerant one. Students at FSU are by and large accepting of and interested in the cultural diversity of the university.

FSU students are diverse. You certainly experience all different cultures here. Every Wednesday at the student union there are performances by the black fraternities and sororities. There are also pro-gay rights organizers, as well as anti-gay rights religious organizers. I don't think there is any student that could feel out of place. If you look, you will find a group of people who share your same interests and beliefs. Politics and financial backgrounds are split fairly even down the middle. Most students are middle class or above. Not many students talk about future earnings. Most people are living in the moment and focusing on today.

There are all kinds of students here at FSU and for almost every kind of student, there is an organization or club. There are clubs for all races, for LGBT, for people who love salsa, for people who play sports, and there is even Humans vs Zombies (a game where humans have nerd guns and literally run around school hunting for students who are tagged as zombies). As far as clothing goes, students wear anything. I've seen guys go to class in their PJ's, girls looking like they are going clubbing, gym outfits, and one time this guy on a bicycle in a bunny suit. I wear a t-shirt and a pair of basketball pants almost everyday (i like being comfortable).

Some students wear pajamas to class, while others dress up more. Dining halls feel more like your kitchen at home; you can eat alone, eat with friends, or sit with a stranger and strike up a conversation. There is a variety of student political groups on campus, though the most active ones seem to be more conservative, such as the FSU College Republicans and the Occupy movement. There is a College Democrats group as well, though they seem to hold fewer rallies on campus. I don't think anyone would feel out of place on this campus, as there is such a diverse variety of types of people here.