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Canadian universities social life

likeitaloud

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Man was someone else kind of bummed out by the social life when going to a Canadian university? Don't get me wrong first term was not bad, dated a bit, went to a few parties, some clubs/sport team/univ. events but nothing really seemed that exciting.

There are no fraternities/sororities, parties although are hosted pretty often are usually smaller scale res parties. Maybe it has something to do with 19 being the legal drinking age so clubbing is way more popular? But anyway when I went applied I expected university to be high school x100 but it largely is a bunch of tired kids. There isn't really any strong school spirit and I don't really feel that there is a community associated with the uni.

Maybe it's just me being first year and all, or my vision of what college is supposed to be like is too skewed by American movies.

Don't get me wrong college is pretty awesome and there is a lot of fun stuff going on but my expectations were somewhat greater.

What was your experience like?
 

Z!NG

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u seem to contradict urself alot lol.

which uni?
 

unjung

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This is going to be massively dependent on the school you attend. Where are you?

The big schools are going to have "townie" and mature student populations - kids who go home to either high school friends or families at the end of the day (UBC, U of A, U of T). It tends to be the smaller schools in smaller communities with large populations of out-of-towners that have party scenes - Lethbridge, Western Ontario, St. FX. Res should have parties wherever you go, as well as the sports team, but I wouldn't expect ragers with multiple bands and old guys doing beer bongs... that stuff is on its way out south of us as well.

There are fraternities at many or most schools in ON, as well as several in BC, AB, MB and even QC and the Maritimes. I was in one and remain involved nationally as an alum.

If I were you, I would have moved into res for first-year, to develop a bit of a social circle.
 

DNW

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You just need to find out where the good parties are.
 

cheessus

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+1 for America
 

likeitaloud

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Originally Posted by unjung
This is going to be massively dependent on the school you attend. Where are you?

The big schools are going to have "townie" and mature student populations - kids who go home to either high school friends or families at the end of the day (UBC, U of A, U of T). It tends to be the smaller schools in smaller communities with large populations of out-of-towners that have party scenes - Lethbridge, Western Ontario, St. FX. Res should have parties wherever you go, as well as the sports team, but I wouldn't expect ragers with multiple bands and old guys doing beer bongs... that stuff is on its way out south of us as well.

There are fraternities at many or most schools in ON, as well as several in BC, AB, MB and even QC and the Maritimes. I was in one and remain involved nationally as an alum.

If I were you, I would have moved into res for first-year, to develop a bit of a social circle.


K I go to University of Victoria, I decided not to move into res just to save money. Well if I pressed my parents I could've stayed in res but after talking to some seniors I decided there isn't a huge advantage. I don't really have a problem with making friends and such so I didn't think it was really worth 10grand to live a few km away from my house.

I don't know if Uvic was the best choice but my parents really wanted me to stay around BC for my undergrad, and given that they are offering to pay for my entire education I decided to to stay. I had the marks for UBC, probably UofT but given my future plans, superb marks from a smaller school would be better than good ones from a major one. Uvic looked pretty good, I can transfer somewhere if I really want to later on.

Unfortunately at high school I had other things on my mind so I never considered an alternative to go to a US school.

u seem to contradict urself alot lol.

which uni?
How so?
 

BYucko

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Funny, my whole high school refers to UVic as a "party school".

More likely than not, you're just not meeting the right people.

I know of some kids in UVic right now and I mean, they party hard.
 

likeitaloud

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Originally Posted by BYucko
Funny, my whole high school refers to UVic as a "party school". More likely than not, you're just not meeting the right people. I know of some kids in UVic right now and I mean, they party hard.
oo
 

denning

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I did my law degree at UVic. Get to know some law students, they know how to party by and large.
 

tiecollector

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University of Toronto seemed pretty fun just from my walk around the area the week before classes started. I wish I had gone there instead of the UC I went to.

The main point of college is to study though, not party. If you study a lot, any break will seem more entertaining. Otherwise go to Miami.
 

Crawford

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Originally Posted by likeitaloud
K I go to University of Victoria

Originally Posted by BYucko
Funny, my whole high school refers to UVic as a "party school".

More likely than not, you're just not meeting the right people.


I go to UBC, and I'm very happy with the social/party scene. That being said, I'm probably content with what could be considered a moderate social life, and I supplement the empty parts heavily with my high school and hometown friends.

One thing is for certain though: Anyone who I've talked to who had checked out the social scene at UVic (including UBC students, UVic student and non-students just looking to party) has said that UVic is definitely a party school and beats UBC out for parties.

So, give it a little time (it's still your first year, right?), start meeting new people and spend more time on campus. You'll be disappointed with the social scene no matter what if all you do is drive to class and then home again.
 

Z!NG

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Originally Posted by tiecollector
University of Toronto seemed pretty fun just from my walk around the area the week before classes started. I wish I had gone there instead of the UC I went to.

The main point of college is to study though, not party. If you study a lot, any break will seem more entertaining. Otherwise go to Miami.


im a transfer from University of Toronto to one of the UCs, wat up?
 

likeitaloud

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Originally Posted by Crawford
I go to UBC, and I'm very happy with the social/party scene. That being said, I'm probably content with what could be considered a moderate social life, and I supplement the empty parts heavily with my high school and hometown friends.

One thing is for certain though: Anyone who I've talked to who had checked out the social scene at UVic (including UBC students, UVic student and non-students just looking to party) has said that UVic is definitely a party school and beats UBC out for parties.

So, give it a little time (it's still your first year, right?), start meeting new people and spend more time on campus. You'll be disappointed with the social scene no matter what if all you do is drive to class and then home again.


Yes I just started my second semester. I think you are definably right about spending more time on campus though, there is just too much to miss.
 

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