<p>I'm familiar with the academic aspects of UCLA, but I would like to know more about the social life. I'm a freshman at a highly competitive private liberal arts university, but considering transferring out next year because it feels too small and serious. </p>
<p>So what is the social life like? I would sincerely appreciate real and honest input about this if you don't mind responding, because this is a really high stakes decision for me to leave my current university. Thank you so much!!</p>
<p>1) Are frat parties big, or do people generally tire of them after freshman year or so and do something else/nothing at all?
2) What is greek life like? (I know this is a general question, but any specific details or even anecdotes would be great to hear) - maybe as compared to USC's greek life, which I know a lot about since I looked into USC last year
3) I'm reading a lot about UCLA's party scene being "weak", which I'm surprised about because I had always thought of it as a party school. In all honesty, is it kind of a tame party scene? It may not seem like it should matter to me, but I've discovered that it's important to me to have a school on the wilder side so I'd like an honest assessment.</p>
<p>IF THERE ARE TOO MANY QUESTIONS I'D STILL APPRECIATE JUST ANY INPUT AT ALL! Thanks in advance to everyone willing to help!</p>
<p>First off, UCLA IMO has the biggest social life next to UCSB in the UC system. The location makes it perfect to go out on the weekends and the bus system is decent. </p>
<p>1) Frat parties are big every Thursday/Friday night. Like any other schools though, if you are a male, you have to either bring at least five girls with you to get in or know a person from the frat. After freshman/sophmore year, people tend to get tired of them and move to apartment parties (which are a lot more fun IMO). </p>
<p>2) Not in a frat so I can’t speak from experience. Also don’t know if you are interested in a sorority/fraternity. </p>
<p>3) Tame compared to what school? I think UCLA’s party scene is great. There are always parties Thursday/Friday/Saturday night, and a lot of organizations have clubbing events every week.</p>
<p>Don’t let this fool you though, UCLA students DO study hard. Its just that the atmosphere outside of class is a lot more relaxing. Also, it really depends on your major whether you have more/less time to go out. That’s the thing I love about UCLA: there’s plenty of opportunity. If you like to party, there is plenty going on thurs-sat. If you’re not into that, there are plenty of people you can hang out with.</p>
<p>Whether or not the party scene is “weak” depends on your perspective. On Thursday nights there is a lot going on, especially if you live in the apartments you realize how crazy it gets.</p>
<p>There is some stuff on Friday, and there might be scattered events on other days, but for the most part the rest of the week is pretty dead. This is in contrast to what I’ve heard from my friends who go to certain CSUs, and and certain out of state universities, where people take maybe one day off a week for a break (maybe Sunday) and other than that party every day.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response. Do you know why it’s dead? That just seems so surprising and disappointing to me. Do people really leave on the weekends to go home?</p>
<p>Oh you’re right. I must have misread that since Ive heard from other sources that it IS dead on the weekends (after friday) because people go home. Is this really true? and what if one is involved in greek life - do people in th greek system tend to stay on campus more?</p>
<p>My daughter is a senior at UCLA this year. She has had an extremely busy social life the past 4 years. She is in a sorority so I know that makes a difference and she is a very social person. She lived on campus for just her first year and since has lived in apartments around campus. I know she would tell you that you can certainly have a very busy social/party life if you want it. I know her sorority had social events (not sure what they are called, raids?) during the week and I know Thursday nights are always busy nights. Some people do go home on the weekends but home is a 7 hour drive for her and she has not been home since August. </p>
<p>So I think it depends on the person. If you are social and want to have a social/party life you can. There are numerous opportunities to meet people, get involved, etc. And Westwood is just a 10 min walk away with lots of bars, restaurants, movies, etc. Some less social people might say they don’t go out much and study all the time but they are probably the types who didn’t go out much in high school either. From what I have seen, heard, and know of other colleges my other daughter and nieces went to I would say UCLA has a very active social/party scene but probably not like some of the CSUs or some of the notorious party schools.</p>
<p>Thank you so much! That’s very helpful. Do you know if your daughter found it to be the case that most of her friends (or at least most of the people involved in greek life) stay on campus on weekends? (I’m from the east coast so the idea that everyone will abandon me on the weekends is a little disheartening - I would also plan to be in a sorority)</p>
<p>My daughter currently has 3 roommates. Only one of them lives within 2 hours of campus. So I would say it varies but many people are from far away and do not go home on the weekends. But now that she is older and has explored the Southern California area more she has gone away for the weekend with friends to San Diego, Las Vegas, and Santa Barbara. I think there are always some people around on the weekends to do something with. I know she also used the weekends to catch up with schoolwork since she goes out a lot during the week nights, has a full load of classes and is doing an internship 21/2 days a week. I do think sorority people have things they do on weekends so that would help. Also if you chose to live in the sorority house you would always have people around on the weekends.</p>
<p>While more people may go home on the weekends than a collage like say, Colby in Maine, or Dartmouth in New England, I wouldn’t call UCLA a commuter school.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Frat parties are pretty big here. There’s always something to do on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday IF you know the right people. Sometimes it is hard being a male trying to get into a frat party. As mentioned before, there are also a lot of apartment parties.</p></li>
<li><p>Greek life is a pretty big deal here at UCLA. It’s really fun and you meet a lot of great people. I’m in a fraternity, PM if you have any specific questions.</p></li>
<li><p>Honestly, the party scene here is what you make it. You can always find something to do if you want to go out. I’ve never had a weekend here where I haven’t heard of at least a few parties to go to.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’m only a first year so you have to take this with a grain of salt but here are my thoughts on the social life here so far:</p>
<p>I think that UCLA has a great balance between studying/extracurriculars and partying. While it is not a “party school”, we really know how to have fun. As a first year, most of the parties we’re able to get into are frat parties (unless you’re a guy, then you need to know a current member of the frat to get you in). Thursday nights are the big party nights, and their are usually smaller apartment parties on Fridays and maybe Saturdays. Personally I find apartment parties to be more fun because I get to actually talk to people. There’s always parties going on, you just have to know the right people.</p>
<p>I’m not in Greek life but most of my friends are (ranging from top to mid-tier sororities and frats) and it definitely involves lots of partying including “raids” which are clubbing events between a frat and sorority on Mondays-Wednesdays, date parties, and tailgating. Some frats and sororities are really stereotypical while others are more laid back. Sometimes it seems like all Greeks know each other and it is a very large and bonded community. I kind of wish I rushed but it’s just too expensive for me. </p>
<p>The campus is so huge that you’ll easily be able to find people with the same interests as you. Hope that helps and good luck! I absolutely love UCLA!!</p>
<p>I think UCLA is a big enough school with enough kids that there’s not really any overall themes. Some people might party all the time and some never party. Frat parties are certainly always there on Thursdays and Fridays (and Saturdays) though I far prefer partying with friends. This experience depends more on you and your friend group you make than the school itself. I find that the community is very active though and you probably won’t have a hard time having fun.</p>
<p>p.s - UCLA is a pretty serious and competitive place as well, depending on your major. I wouldn’t transfer here hoping to have an easy time.</p>
<p>First off, it depends on you. If you are willing to make the effort (if you are a dude, you need to make A LOT of effort meeting the right people to get into the frat parties; if you are a CUTE girl then you’re set…and this is true even if it sounds insensitive), but you can harness the benefits of a bustling social life here. Thursday is definitely the night to go out IMO (Fridays, Saturdays are okay, but it seems Thursdays are the craziest) If you want a picture of the social life at UCLA, try walking down Gayley at 1am on a Thursday night…you’ll see drunk frat guys urinating on the street while attempting to serenade passersby in between gulps of cheap beer, you’ll hear catcalls at every remotely attractive chick (largely enhanced through those lovely goggles that we all wear after a night out), you’ll have to watch your step, lest you step into a steaming pile of fresh vomit (usually full of the partially digested remnants of Tommy’s Taco or Fat Sals…the culprits feeding the drunken UCLA students every night), you’ll see the parties on frat row (laughter, music, smell cheap alcohol and sweaty shame)…really, take a stroll. You’ll see what I mean…</p>
<p>^I can second and confirm that post from partial experience (won’t say which parts I have experienced for dignity’s sake) and the rest of the parts from observed experience.</p>
I absolutely love UCLA!!</p>