Jaime Hebel | Student Life

Dear Scene, 

​​I don’t know what to do with the WashU social scene. I am under 21 and hate spending a ridiculous amount of money on Ubers, alcohol, and stupid Pyramid tickets. I don’t really want to get involved with Greek Life, but I still want something that is more focused on a social scene and don’t know how to make this happen. I feel like at other schools, there are still places/events that people under 21 can go to and have fun.

— Frustrated First-Year

Dear Frustrated First-Year, 

Have you considered transferring? I hear that Florida has lovely weather this time of year!

In all seriousness, WashU can feel like a loop of sitting and studying in BD, especially in your first couple of weeks. As a sophomore, I remember feeling like that, and sometimes I still do. Finding a social scene here requires more effort and some out-of-the-box thinking. I’ll admit that  WashU doesn’t have the “typical” college social scene — you won’t get massive tailgates like at UMich, or RedBull-sponsored frat parties. Many WashU students have felt like this at some point because St. Louis isn’t a college town, nor does it have a vibrant sports culture or big Greek Life presence. Still, there are plenty of options. 

Don’t despair! Honestly, the best thing you can do is join high-intensity clubs. Groups like rowing, run club, dance team, or StudLife (shameless plug) require more commitment, but they in turn create a more social environment. Clubs that are more time-consuming tend to have a larger social scene because you end up spending so much time together. They’re also a great place to make friends because they typically have bonding events and other organized activities outside of the main activity itself that are fun — and can be significantly cheaper than going out. I highly recommend trying out different clubs without the pressure to commit, and joining whichever one you like. I remember being scared to join clubs after the first couple weeks because I felt like I was too late, but you can usually join most clubs at any time in the semester. 

As someone who isn’t in Greek Life, I promise that you don’t have to join a sorority or fraternity to have fun. Frat parties start a little later in the semester and, in my humble opinion, get old quickly. You can still casually participate in some of their events, but joining a club might have a similar effect to joining Greek Life when it comes to social opportunities and making friends fast. You can also start the rush process and drop if you are not interested; there is no harm in trying. Most people at WashU are not involved in Greek Life, so don’t worry about it. 

Transportation can be a barrier when you live on campus, but if you have a valid U.S. license, you should sign up for Enterprise CarShare through WashU. That deal allows you to rent a car for an hourly rate of five dollars. You can go to places like TopGolf (Tuesdays are half-off) or Chicken N Pickle with a group of friends. If you like theater, the Fabulous Fox sometimes offers student discounts if you sign up. On most event sites, you can find comedy shows, concerts, and performances in St. Louis. You can also attend different club events (the Film Club just organized a film festival on campus) and follow the Social Programming Board (@WASHUSPB) to learn about campus events.

Getting stuck in the WashU bubble and neglecting the opportunities that St. Louis does offer is easy. Many students, particularly students living in WashU housing, do not know what to do in town. Check out the botanical gardens, the zoo, the Tower Grove Farmers Market, and the art museum. Go to a Cardinals game, a Blues game, or a St. Louis CITY SC game. Watch out for food, music, or any festival coming to town. If you just want to get out of your routine, organize a picnic on Art Hill, explore random stores on the Loop, or watch a movie (Hi-Point theater is excellent for film bros). These activities might not include drinking, but they are just as fun. 

So many first-years face the same problem you do. Believe me, you are not alone. Both WashU and St. Louis have a lot to offer if you just look around. Talking about this to your friends or strangers is the perfect way to bond and have someone to try new things with. We can’t wait to see you in (extracurricular) clubs and around town!

Your club leaders and future teammates, 

Scene

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