University of California-Davis Top Questions

I'm a runner, so I have to go to practice every day, which makes that pretty much my only activity. There is a lot of stuff to do on campus though, so if you want to get involved you can. My closest friends are on the team, I think it helps if you can find a club/team to get involved with, that will help. There are a fair number of free speakers that come through, some of which are cool. The Mondavi Center is really good too, make sure to go for a play or something while you're here. Party-wise, people mostly just head out on Friday and Saturday nights with their friends to some frat parties.

Going downtown is very popular on weekends. There are so many unique choices for food. People also party a lot. Usually freshmen go to frats, but the most common thing for upperclassmen to do is house parties.

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If you're into social activites, the fraternities and sororities seem pretty fun, but you have to pay dues and they are purely social. If you like community work combined with a social aspect than I would suggest a few of the different cultural groups. The Student Recruitment and Retention Center has a lot of really dope people.

Fraternities and sororities are very important at Davis. They're also a little different here, not quite as "hard core" as at some schools. It really depends on when you come to Davis. If you come as a transfer as I did, it is much more difficult to meet people. Everyone in the transfer dorms studies all of the time, including the weekends! Part of that though is the fact that you have to be super quiet there all the time. There's definitely stuff to do though. If your a transfer I would recommend getting involved in some organization. I ride on the hunter/jumper equestrian team and have a lot of fun doing it. I've also met a lot of people that way. As far as the equestrian team goes it attracts a very broad range of people from those who have been showing on the A circuit prior to going to school to kids who have never ridden in their lives! The UC Davis Equestrian Center itself doesn't support the team much at all and it's quite shabby other than the new indoor. There are plans to improve it and to go NCAA, but both will take time. Our coaches are great and our ponies try very hard though!

I met my closest friend through a friend, who I met at church. IF I was awake at 0200 on a Tuesday I would be talking to friends. I attended a lot of parties, at the same time I spend hours with the local fire department. I spend a lot of time off campus by meeting up with friends by talking and hanging out.

Frats seem to be popular, but there's a good deal of students that are very anti-frat (as am I). People that are in frats/sor think that it's the most important thing in the world, and they're happy with their lifestyle. Others on campus could care less and their lifestyle works too. I think they can keep separated if they want to. I've been involved in community service groups, and there are several types to choose from. The dorm rooms are normally left open I think because we are all aware that we want to make new friendships. I met my closest friends in the dorms. We would stay up all night watching movies, singing, dancing, playing video games, talking about theories on life, etc. People party all the time, but it's easy to get away from it if you don't want to go. Saturday nights without drinking can involve dancing, board games, playing sports at the ARC (awesome facility), bowling, arcades, etc.

I think the most popular groups, organizations,clubs, and teams on campus are those that have sandwich boards outside, and Greek clubs seem to be abundant. I am involved with Student Housing Television, which runs free movies, important announcements and bulletins, and review sessions (every quarter) through the Student Housing Television channel. I think students in the conventional dorms might leave their doors open, but those in the suites do not usually do so. Athletic events are quite popular since they are always being mentioned, although I have not attended one. Guest speakers are somewhat popular depending on how well known they are. Theater is somewhat popular on an independent level. I haven't had experience with the dating scene, but I would not attend a singles mixer. I met my closest friends in high school and we continued our friendship here, but I haven't met any new close friends here. If I'm awake in the middle of the night, I'm mostly likely studying or doing homework. There are a few interesting traditions like Picnic Day, the Buzz, and the Whole Earth Festival which involve booths from local or school related interests and businesses, and I thinks some are nonprofit ventures. I think people probably party a lot, but my roommates and I never do because we are always too bust studying for upcoming tests. I think fraternities and sororities are important to the people in them because I am always getting flyers from people who want new members to rush. Last weekend, I wrote many papers for finals, although I usually like to go back home for weekends. On Saturday night, I watch SNL! and I don't drink. I go home when I'm off campus since I don't really hang out in the local area.

Unless you put yourself out there and get involved, Davis can be a fairly quiet town and a bit boring. It helps to make your own fun by joining clubs or sororities and fraternities and meeting people.

I'm part of gospel choir and studio 301. I know in my dorm everyone left their down open. We were really that close. Athletic events, I have no idea about their popularity. As for guest speakers, it depends on the speaker, Bill Clinton got quite a turn out. Theater? I would like to hope it does pretty darn well. The dating scene in Davis? Ooooh I here complaints about this one all the time. I personally, have a boyfriend a couple of hours away. But most people here say that the dating pool is horrible here. My closest friends I met at work, Unitrans! Greek life isn't as prevalent here as I've noticed it is at other schools. But it does exist. Last weekend I went to the city to a club. Go bowling at the MUGA. Off campus? I go home! I'm usually on campus most of my day.