Grace
Greek life is relatively popular at Maryland, along with the different club and varsity sports. Maryland has much more of a hookup scene than a dating one. Parties are average, and it is much more common to just drink with friends. People within different programs are more likely to have majority of their friends be in that program.
Carly
The most popular student organizations would be sororities and fraternities. 15{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the students on campus are involved in either a fraternity or sorority. These groups of students tend to also make good grades while maintaining a social life. If you decide that being part of Greek life is not for you, no need to worry. There are plenty of other clubs that you may join. Maryland has almost any type of club you can imagine.
I am involved in a non-profit student run group called MaryPIRG. MaryPIRG takes on powerful issues and seeks to further the community and environment. I have attended two meetings so far because I am a new student at Maryland, and I really just seemed to click with the people in this group. MaryPIRG has beliefs that are aligned strongly with mine. This group gives students the opportunity not only get involved with the community but build strong leadership skills as well.
Alyssa
I'll start with the obvious; drinking is a popular activity. People I know in fraternities and sororities love it, but it's not for everyone. You'll find people who drink every weekend and during the week, people who may go out once a month, and people who never drink at all.
There are so many other ways to get involved that don't involve drinking as well. There are musical performances in our performing arts centers, guest speakers, and sporting events, and as I mentioned before a variety of student organizations.
People can also be found just hanging out in their dorms or apartments. Most students in dorms like to leave their doors open. I actually met most of my good friends where I lived freshman year.
Paymaan
Most popular student organizations are part of Greek life (fraternities and sororities). Athletic students also get involved in intramural and club sports. I am involved in the pre-dental society along with intramural sports. Many students go to football games at Byrd stadium or basketball games at Comcast center. I have noticed that usually students leave their doors open in the dorms as a sign of friendliness. Leaving your door open will spark conversation with your floor mates and lead to arranging future events (videogames, gym, study, etc). In fact, my closest friends that I have met were actually in my freshman dorm and I have kept in touch with most of them ever since. While there certainly are plenty of parties at Maryland (starting Thursday night through Saturday night), other options on the weekend include going to Terpzone, playing basketball at the gym, going to prince george's plaza nearby, or taking the metro downtown to DC. There is no excuse for not having fun on the weekend being a Maryland student!
Brendan
The largest and most influential student groups on campus are Student Government Association, Jewish Student Union, Iranian Student Foundation, the up-and-coming Food Recovery Network, and the Greek community. As a member of Student Government Association, I have had the opportunity to understand many issues affecting the student body. SGA is the focal point of all student groups as we are responsible for allocation the student activities fees. We also vocalize the students' concerns to the administration and host numerous programming events. For example, this year we expressed our viewpoints on grading policy changes and a mandate requiring all students riding scooters to wear helmets. Overall the administration listens to us as an organization, but not necessarily the individual student. Rather, it is our job as SGA to understand the wants and needs of the student body, and forward that information to the administration.
Brendan
The largest and most influential student groups on campus are Student Government Association, Jewish Student Union, Iranian Student Foundation, the up-and-coming Food Recovery Network, and the Greek community. As a member of Student Government Association, I have had the opportunity to understand many issues affecting the student body. SGA is the focal point of all student groups as we are responsible for allocation the student activities fees. We also vocalize the students' concerns to the administration and host numerous programming events. For example, this year we expressed our viewpoints on grading policy changes and a mandate requiring all students riding scooters to wear helmets. Overall the administration listens to us as an organization, but not necessarily the individual student. Rather, it is our job as SGA to understand the wants and needs of the student body, and forward that information to the administration.
Zahir
Football and Basketball are big here--we are a D1 school after all. Fringe benefits--awesome spirit, and fantastic tailgating.
We have great speakers and cultural series organized by university and student-run organizations. The arts excel here, as the music school and performing arts center is phenomenal. For more info on the events we do check out http://thestamp.umd.edu/
The dating scene is DFMOs- Dance Floor Makeouts. Nothing serious here guys...
People that want to party do it at least 3 nights a week. Most of us debauch at least once a week and if we're up at 2am on a Tuesday night, the likelihood of us studying or partying is about 6:4. Considering how nocturnal we can all be (as a generation...) it's also likely we're just up hanging out or wiki/youtube-jacking.
On weekends, for those who dont drink and dont want to hang out with the drunk and slovenly, there are a few things they can do. You can always hang out with others that aren't drinking, check out the live music scene nearby (and in DC), and frolic in TerpZone at the student union. Its a fun time, with billiards, bowling, a theater and arcade games. There's music blasting and students hanging out. Also family friendly. There are also 3 movie theaters in close proximity.
Off-campus you have DC about 25 minutes away. I was there all last weekend and its a blast. Bit more expensive, but you can play smart and save a ton of money. If you're into arts, music (especially Jazz), clubbing and world class live music.
Michelle
Comedy groups on campus are made up of a select group of goofballs--some of which you will inevitably become friends with--but entertain almost everyone on campus. Nearly every Maryland student has been to a Bureau comedy show, and a large crowd gathers on Fridays when the improv group Sketchup performs on the steps in front of McKeldin Library. Service fraternities are also very popular at Maryland, and are incredibly inclusive. Anyone passionate about volunteering and giving back can join, and the networks formed within these frats are very tightknit. Sporting events are some of the most popular events on campus in terms of attracting numbers. On Homecoming Weekend, nearly everyone on campus is in a red Maryland t-shirt with their game faces on. There are also SEE, or Student Entertainment Events, which get famous acts such as Lupe Fiasco and Ben Folds to come to campus. The spring "Art Attack" show is always a huge hit, and has featured artists such as Weezer and Ludacris in the past.
One of the easiest way to meet people is to socialize within your living community. Chances are, your neighbors in your dorm or the people downstairs or the kids at the table next to you at the dining hall might end up being your best friends come senior year. It's these friends that you'll pull all-nighters with, drinking inhuman amounts of caffeine and Rockstar energy beverages. These are the friends that you'll go to 7-11 with at 2am for slurpees and taquitos, or who you'll skip class with to go hill rolling down by the Memorial Chapel, or who you'll jump into McKeldin Fountain with in just your underwear.
Alexandra
Greek life and sports. There are tons of clubs available to be a part of as well.
Chineme
UMD students are overflowing with school spirit, and the most popular activities are going to various sporting events, especially football and basketball games. Football game days are filled with students sporting red and tailgating before actually heading to the game. The games are filled with enthusiastic fans who sing the Maryland fight song throughout the game, shout for our team, rejoice when we win, and cry when we lose.
Besides sporting events, UMD has various student organizations ranging from cultural groups such as the African Student Association, activist groups such as the U.S. Campaign for Burma at UMD, entertainment groups such as SEE (Student Entertainment Events), and honor societies such as the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Some popular off-campus activities are shopping in Chinatown, eating in Georgetown, attending concerts in D.C., and ...