Emory University Top Questions

Emory has every club available and if they don't have one you can make one. I have seen several clubs start up -student government also provides funding to startups. Emory stresses volunteering on its applications so the majority of the students continue this thread while at school. Volunteer Emory is a large organization that has many service trips that span different charities throughout the year. For students interested in business, Goizueta Investors is the most popular club and connects underclassman with those in the business school. Greek Life dominates 1/3 of the school and provides a social outlet for those who want to be involved. Club tennis and soccer are also played frequently. For those interested in different niches Emory offers everything from culinary cub to salsa club. All of these clubs are a great way to meet new people and learn as well as better adjust to campus.

I think almost everyone on campus is involved with either a community service initiative or a part of Greek life, or in both. There are a bunch of multicultural organizations, but they tend to stick together moreso than the other members of community service and greek life who seem to branch out more to others. I am involved with numerous global health organizations since health is a big part of Emory's curriculum. Students are involved with the Atlanta community as a part of Volunteer Emory or other service organizations. Athletic events aren't really big here, but I think artistic student groups are pretty fun and well attended. A lot of alums attend the soccer games, but other than that, I am not sure about the other sports. The dating scene usually starts as an upperclassmen, but the hook up culture is definitely prevalent. A lot of the activities for students in their free time involve playing sports, going to frat parties, and checking out local clubs/bars in the Atlanta area. Traditions like Wonderful Wednesday, Homecoming parade, concerts on campus, and alumni day, etc. all help to bring the Emory community together. People here know how to prioritize and so a lot of studying occurs before a lot of partying. I think there's almost as much studying as there is partying, which is a lot, but I think students know what is more important. I think Greek life is a big thing here, but it is actually okay to not be a part of since it isn't the only thing you can do. There are so many students not involved in Greek life but also know how to have a good time. However, if you are looking for a socially organized schedule of events and you spend a lot of time at the frats, you should rush. Dance, acapella, and cultural performances can also be found around campus, just be on the lookout because these are hidden gems!

The student group that I am most involved with is the newspaper, The Emory Wheel. It is a great group of people for working with and for just hanging out with. I am not involved with Greek life directly but thee sororities and fraternities do have a pretty large presence on our campus. Even if you are not Greek, you can attend most of the frat parties and mixers. The brothers and sisters are very open to hanging out with non-Greeks. My two favorite student activities are Dooley's Week and SongFest. Dooley's Week is an annual celebration in the spring that honors our unofficial mascot named Dooley. The week involves lots of free food, usually a stand up comedian and of course a few concerts and its all for free. SongFest is something that you go through only once at the beginning of your freshmen year. You and your dorm sing and dance in the Woodruff PE Center (aka the WoodPEC), competing against the other dorms.

The student group that I am most involved with is the newspaper, The Emory Wheel. It is a great group of people for working with and for just hanging out with. I am not involved with Greek life directly but thee sororities and fraternities do have a pretty large presence on our campus. Even if you are not Greek, you can attend most of the frat parties and mixers. The brothers and sisters are very open to hanging out with non-Greeks. My two favorite student activities are Dooley's Week and SongFest. Dooley's Week is an annual celebration in the spring that honors our unofficial mascot named Dooley. The week involves lots of free food, usually a stand up comedian and of course a few concerts and its all for free. SongFest is something that you go through only once at the beginning of your freshmen year. You and your dorm sing and dance in the Woodruff PE Center (aka the WoodPEC), competing against the other dorms.

The most popular student groups, activities and teams on campus are Greek life, the Student Programming Council, College Council, Wonderful Wednesdays, No Strings Attached a cappella group, the Indian Cultural Exchange, Korean Undergraduate Student Association, the mens' soccer, baseball and basketball teams, Karma Bhangra dance group, and AHANA dance group. I've been a part of the Student Programming Council since I was a freshman, and now as a senior, I'm the president. SPC, as we're known, is responsible for planning all the university-wide student events, including concerts, comedians, carnivals, field days, trivia nights, etc. In the past we've brought artists, such as Big Boi, Wiz Khalifa, NERD, Third Eye Blind, Matt and Kim, One Republic, Girl Talk, Super Mash Bros, B.O.B. and T.I. We also give out the most free t-shirts and food to students throughout the year. We plan the biggest events on campus, like Homecoming Week and Dooley's Week, dedicated to our unofficial skeleton mascot. These weeklong events usually include a couple of concerts and a comedian. Being a member has been one of the best and most fun experiences I've had at Emory. Student government groups, like the College Council and the Student Government Association, bring educational speakers like Soledad O'Brien, Spike Lee and Cornell West. Athletic events don't get too much of a show at Emory. Few students usually attend sporting events, but the most popular among them are the men's soccer, baseball and basketball games. Dance, theater and cultural groups are also a big source of Emory student activities. There are at least two dance shows per semester, as well as at least two theater productions per semester. Tickets usually sell out quickly so students buy them in advance. Emory also has a really great student activity called Wonderful Wednesdays where student groups gather in the center of campus at Asbury Circle every Wednesday for a few hours to publicize future events, promote their clubs or just to hang out. There's usually free food and there's always music playing. The tradition stemmed from the 1970s when the then president of Emory cancelled Wednesday classes in hopes that a mid-week break would encourage students to study more. Classes were reinstated some time later and Wonderful Wednesdays came back in 2005, thanks to the work of a secret society, as the weekly club gathering it is today. It's almost impossible to avoid stopping and hanging out for a while at WW. Social life at Emory gets a bad reputation because we're known as a smart school, but most students generally go out every weekend. Students in Greek life tend to party and go out the most about 3-4 nights a week to frat parties or local bars. Students who aren't in Greek life often go to house parties or local bar areas around Atlanta. There's a lot to do in Atlanta and on campus if you're not Greek. To show a little bit of that variety, last weekend I went to a Christmas-themed frat party one night and the next night I went to a small, local bar that encourages its patrons to play board games while they drink. Tuesday and Thursday nights are also really big going out nights at Emory. There are fewer weekend activities on campus that don't involve drinking than those activities that do, but there is a lot of university-sponsored late night programming on Friday and Saturday nights, like karaoke, food fairs and movie nights in our cinema. Students can also go off campus through our shuttle programs to museums, parks, malls or the aquarium, which is really popular in Atlanta. Greek life is quite big at Emory, more than most people who don't go to Emory think, but it's not as big as it would be in a state school for example. I have as many friends in Greek life as I do outside of Greek life. Most of my current close friends lived in my hall freshman year but I've also met many more close friends through my sorority and through Greek life. In the residence halls, it seems that most students in older dorms leave their doors open more than students who live in the newer dorms that have been built throughout the last four years. In any case, it's really easy to meet people at Emory, whether it be through your residence hall, Greek life, student clubs or through mutual friends.

The most popular student groups, activities and teams on campus are Greek life, the Student Programming Council, College Council, Wonderful Wednesdays, No Strings Attached a cappella group, the Indian Cultural Exchange, Korean Undergraduate Student Association, the mens' soccer, baseball and basketball teams, Karma Bhangra dance group, and AHANA dance group. I've been a part of the Student Programming Council since I was a freshman, and now as a senior, I'm the president. SPC, as we're known, is responsible for planning all the university-wide student events, including concerts, comedians, carnivals, field days, trivia nights, etc. In the past we've brought artists, such as Big Boi, Wiz Khalifa, NERD, Third Eye Blind, Matt and Kim, One Republic, Girl Talk, Super Mash Bros, B.O.B. and T.I. We also give out the most free t-shirts and food to students throughout the year. We plan the biggest events on campus, like Homecoming Week and Dooley's Week, dedicated to our unofficial skeleton mascot. These weeklong events usually include a couple of concerts and a comedian. Being a member has been one of the best and most fun experiences I've had at Emory. Student government groups, like the College Council and the Student Government Association, bring educational speakers like Soledad O'Brien, Spike Lee and Cornell West. Athletic events don't get too much of a show at Emory. Few students usually attend sporting events, but the most popular among them are the men's soccer, baseball and basketball games. Dance, theater and cultural groups are also a big source of Emory student activities. There are at least two dance shows per semester, as well as at least two theater productions per semester. Tickets usually sell out quickly so students buy them in advance. Emory also has a really great student activity called Wonderful Wednesdays where student groups gather in the center of campus at Asbury Circle every Wednesday for a few hours to publicize future events, promote their clubs or just to hang out. There's usually free food and there's always music playing. The tradition stemmed from the 1970s when the then president of Emory cancelled Wednesday classes in hopes that a mid-week break would encourage students to study more. Classes were reinstated some time later and Wonderful Wednesdays came back in 2005, thanks to the work of a secret society, as the weekly club gathering it is today. It's almost impossible to avoid stopping and hanging out for a while at WW. Social life at Emory gets a bad reputation because we're known as a smart school, but most students generally go out every weekend. Students in Greek life tend to party and go out the most about 3-4 nights a week to frat parties or local bars. Students who aren't in Greek life often go to house parties or local bar areas around Atlanta. There's a lot to do in Atlanta and on campus if you're not Greek. To show a little bit of that variety, last weekend I went to a Christmas-themed frat party one night and the next night I went to a small, local bar that encourages its patrons to play board games while they drink. Tuesday and Thursday nights are also really big going out nights at Emory. There are fewer weekend activities on campus that don't involve drinking than those activities that do, but there is a lot of university-sponsored late night programming on Friday and Saturday nights, like karaoke, food fairs and movie nights in our cinema. Students can also go off campus through our shuttle programs to museums, parks, malls or the aquarium, which is really popular in Atlanta. Greek life is quite big at Emory, more than most people who don't go to Emory think, but it's not as big as it would be in a state school for example. I have as many friends in Greek life as I do outside of Greek life. Most of my current close friends lived in my hall freshman year but I've also met many more close friends through my sorority and through Greek life. In the residence halls, it seems that most students in older dorms leave their doors open more than students who live in the newer dorms that have been built throughout the last four years. In any case, it's really easy to meet people at Emory, whether it be through your residence hall, Greek life, student clubs or through mutual friends.

Greek life is definitely a prominent aspect of Emory's social life. There are constantly parties on frat row, date parties on the weekend and mixers throughout the year. Letter shirts and bags are a large part of students wardrobe and Rush in the Spring is a very big deal. I am a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and I have met some of my closest friends since joining as well as enjoyed some of my best moments from the parties. Many students want to be a part of Greek life here, many students become a part of it and many students make it their entire lives. BUT, Greek life at Emory is what you make of it. Yes, it can define who you are during your four years here and yes, it can determine your entire social life but only if you want it to. Given most Emory students are involved in so many other activities, Greek life is not the biggest part of people's lives at this school. Many students like myself, use it as a social outlet only but become involved in many other things on campus. Unlike many other schools, the sorority or fraternity you join does not dictate your friend group. Emory students have friends from all greek affiliations and other organizations on campus. And if you don't want to go Greek, don't worry about it, thats great too. You do not have to be in Greek life to have a social life at Emory at all. There are so many social outlets and so many other student groups and types of people here that it doesn't even matter. Not to mention, students rush in the Spring which gives you ample time to develop a group of friends and get involved before Greek life even starts. So if you want to join a sorority or fraternity, you will have an amazing time. If you don't think its for you, I promise you will still have an incredible experience at Emory.

Greek life is definitely a prominent aspect of Emory's social life. There are constantly parties on frat row, date parties on the weekend and mixers throughout the year. Letter shirts and bags are a large part of students wardrobe and Rush in the Spring is a very big deal. I am a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and I have met some of my closest friends since joining as well as enjoyed some of my best moments from the parties. Many students want to be a part of Greek life here, many students become a part of it and many students make it their entire lives. BUT, Greek life at Emory is what you make of it. Yes, it can define who you are during your four years here and yes, it can determine your entire social life but only if you want it to. Given most Emory students are involved in so many other activities, Greek life is not the biggest part of people's lives at this school. Many students like myself, use it as a social outlet only but become involved in many other things on campus. Unlike many other schools, the sorority or fraternity you join does not dictate your friend group. Emory students have friends from all greek affiliations and other organizations on campus. And if you don't want to go Greek, don't worry about it, thats great too. You do not have to be in Greek life to have a social life at Emory at all. There are so many social outlets and so many other student groups and types of people here that it doesn't even matter. Not to mention, students rush in the Spring which gives you ample time to develop a group of friends and get involved before Greek life even starts. So if you want to join a sorority or fraternity, you will have an amazing time. If you don't think its for you, I promise you will still have an incredible experience at Emory.

Emory's student activities cover a broad range, although some are definitely more popular than others. Religious and ethnic groups are generally large and very active, setting up events not just for their constituents but for the student body at large as well. Volunteer Emory runs events constantly, and many students involve themselves in the service projects around the community. Political groups also have large followings, and attract prominent speakers throughout the year. Candidates for political offices in Georgia make campaign stops on campus, and prominent politicians from across the country, most recently Mitt Romney. Fraternities and sororities make up a large part of the Emory social scene, with most estimates being around one third of undergraduates. Weekends are typically dominated by frat parties, although service trips during the day and occasional alcohol-free programming happen too. Clubs are popular for weeknights as well. although many students choose not to drink, a large amount of Emory students do - it's not difficult to get access to drinks if you're interested, even as an underage student. Marijuana is definitely popular on campus, but harder drugs are much rarer, although not completely non-existent. Emory's dating scene is more typically a hook-up culture, although some people do end up in committed relationships. Sporting events are not very popular, due partly to the lack of any big time sports programs and also to the lack of publicity for sporting events, but the arts are definitely prominent at Emory. Theater, a capella performances, concerts and art galleries often sell out, and there are typically events of some sort occurring every week. Emory has a few very fun customs. The year begins for Freshmen with Songfest, which takes place at the very end of orientation. Each Freshman Hall spends the week practicing song and dance routines that were written by the RAs and SAs in each building, and then have to perform it in front of the entire class. Although some kids decide not to go, most Freshman attend, and the atmosphere gets very intense as people try and win the competition. Another major tradition is Dooley's Week, which takes place in the spring. Dooley, a skeleton who is the unofficial mascot of Emory, wanders around campus throughout the week dismissing students from class by showing up. The entire week is full of partying and events, including food tasting, comedians, and concerts (this year features Kid Cudi and Girl Talk).

The most popular groups on campus are probably Volunteer Emory and Greek Life, though I'm not really involved in either. (I do community service though). I'm involved with debate; I started in college. There are extremely few schools where a student with little to no prior debating experience could learn to debate in college, and I'm so grateful to the Barkley Forum and Emory for the opportunity. I'm also involved with APO, a national service fraternity, that I love. It's a great mix of service and a few social events per semester. I think most people meet their closest friends in their dorm their freshman year. However, I met my closest friends in my Freshman Advising and Mentoring at Emory group (FAME), through Alpha Phi Omega, through debate, and classes. If I'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday, I'm probably doing homework and getting irritated because I know I have to get up in 5 or 6 hours. Traditions/ Events: Dooley's Week, Dooley's Ball, (previously described), lots of speakers and events...my brain is a bit fuzzy because I'm on summer break, but there are lots of things going on!