University of California-San Diego Top Questions

This i dont want to talk about.

There is no social life at UCSD. Athletic events are unknown. I sleep at midnight because there is nothing else to do.

I don't think there is any particular organization that is more popular than the rest, but in general, events or games that are more interesting to watch tend to generate larger crowds. However, the level of student involvement amongst all of the groups on campus is about equal. I am involved in a group called the Red Cross Club, which is an organization that works in close contact with Red Cross America to conduct relief efforts and blood drives through the UCSD community. The students in the dorms leave their doors open for the most part. Select athletic events, such as basketball and waterpolo are very popular, but the less "thrilling" sports tend to generate smaller crowds. Theather productions and concerts are very, very popular amongst the student body. My closest friends and I live on the same floors of our residential halls. I met them by studying in the communal lounge, and talking to them when they were passing through. From there, we started to hang out more often and now we do almost everything together. If I'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday, I'm usually with my friends. When I am done with my work or studying at night, I meet up with my friends to relax for an hour or two before I go to bed. Parties usually happen every weekend, with the exception of finals week. They're usually off campus so without a car, they're hard to get to. Depending on the student, fraternities and sororities are either very important to developing a social network, or pointless. Last weekend, I had a volunteer event all day Saturday, but Friday and Saturday evening I hung out with my friends. You can do virtually anything on a Saturday night that doesn't involve drinking. It's a personal choice to drink if you think you'll have a better time, but you can do just as much without it.

Although the greek life isn't really important, it probably is one of the most popular groups/organizations on campus. I'm involved in greek life and it is amazing. It gives you outlets for so many things, not only social but academic, athletic, community service and more. The dorms at UCSD are all different depending on which college you're in. But most are not like the typical dorm with a long hallway of doors and a bathroom at the end. I lived in a 'suite' my freshman year which consisted of an apartment like setting with 6 bedrooms. Most of us left our bedroom doors open but we wouldn't leave our front doors open. Athletic events are not too popular. Mostly other athletes go an support each other. Basketball and probably soccer are the two biggest sports on campus. Those are the only two that I've ever heard of a big number of students going to. Spirit night is also the biggest athletic spirit event. Its basically UCSD's homecoming basketball game. I made some of my really close friends my freshman year-they were a two of my seven roommates. I was lucky that I found good friends in my roommates. Then all my other close friends I've found through my sorority. I love them and I am so happy I rushed because then I found them. Well each quarter there is a concert: fall fest, winter fest and then sungod festival (spring quarter). Fallfest and Winterfest are just concerts they have each year and usually they get pretty good people to play. Sungod on the other had is a huge all day festival that takes over campus for the day. There is crazy stuff to do all day: blow-up obstacle courses and jumping things, bubbles in the fountains and so much more! Most people don't go to class at all that day. Its a perfect day to wander around campus and enjoy everything that is going on. Then they have a huge concert that night on RIMAC field. Its an amazing day filled with music, drinking, fun and craziness. As for things to do that don't involve drinking, there are plenty. I would just advise on finding other people who either don't drink or only drink occasionally to hang out with though. But you can go down to the beach and have a bonfire, go out to dinner, go see a movie, watch movies at home, go bowling, go to a concert or some other event happening on campus or somewhere close. Its basically the same stuff to do anywhere you are though.

The biggest student organization right now is a Intervarsity Christian Fellowhship.

Go DOTS!!!

SunGod is the biggest event at UCSD annually. It is basically one day of mayhem. There are concerts and activities going on throughout the day then at night there is usually a well known band playing. Even though people say it's the one day UCSD can let go and relax and party, with all of the law enforcement and undercover cops, I wouldn't recommend "letting go" too much. The constant presence of police definitely made it hard to feel completely laid back and relaxed.

I would say club sports, sororities/fraternaties and RA/OL are the most popular. I'm in a sorority. I left my door open in the dorms, but not in the apartments because I lived on the first floor. I only go to athletic events if I know someone playing or we are forced to go ( I don't like sports). I've been to the theater productions a few times and they have always been really good. Its just hard to find friends who will go with me. I will never again date a fraternity guy because the Greek community is waayy too small and too many people know your business. My bf is great and he is def not Greek. I met one friend freshman year in the dorms, and all the other ones through the sorority. I would only be awake on a Tuesday at 2AM if I had a massive paper due early the next morning. I think they have concerts every year, but I mostly don't go. I've only gone to Sungod once because I've had to go to a funeral or work for two of the years (I will also have to work this year. Partying wildly depends on individuals and specific friend groups. The sorority is a big part of my life, but for the rest of UCSD its probably relatively insignificant. Last weekend I shopped, had dinner with the bf's family, studied and went to serenades. I live off campus so everything I do except class is off campus.

the greek system is getting more popular, but still seems to be very judged and hated by those not involved. i personally hated sorority girls until i went through the rush process and met a lot of girls who were more like me than i would have expected. athletic events arent very popular, people almost have to be bribed to go to games. i'm usually always studying late at night and don't sleep much. sun god is the one day UCSD actually looks alive and people from all other schools come to celebrate. rockin' roosevelt is also a fun event that people tend to appreciate a lot. on a saturday night la jolla is a very dead city, thats another thing about san diego is that if you arent 21 its not much fun.

I hear a lot of people say UCSD stands for UC socially dead and in many ways I find this sadly to be true. The campus is split into 6 "colleges" and is very spread out. For what reason I do not know, but I think it is a big factor in why the social scene at UCSD is the way it is. If you have a friend that lives all the way across campus of course you aren't going to see them as much and you certainly wont randomly run into them as much. Each "college" holds its own events and a lot of times they aren't widely publicized to other parts of the campus. The social life, like the campus, just seemed so disconnected when I first got here. The feeling lessened my second year as I made more friends, but I still don't consider UCSD social life to be your typical university experience. The greek life here is big and seems to be a great way to meet people but theres no greek housing on campus so if your not involved you don't see too much of it. Of course there are tons of student orgs for whatever your interest. There's also a huge variety of food on campus. Off campus there is downtown La Jolla with tons of restaurants and shops. It's a great place to walk around. Black's beach is a ten minute walk from campus and if you want to drive La Jolla shores is a short drive away.