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Are students very social? Is there an active social scene open to students? Does the school have a reputation as a party school?

Yes to all three!

Students here seem to be very social; I can give you a few examples. First off, at least 1/2 of the floor that I live on has girls involved in sororites, which is a great way to make new friends and always have something going on. If you don't want that, there are also frisbee players, hookah groups, guitar-players, and other hang-out crowds around campus, both day and night.

You can't expect to be involved in the social scene if you don't make the effort to be involved. In other words, get out there! I know that's a bit easier for me to say since I have many people I know here from high school, but had I come here not knowing anyone, I would have been pleased at how easy it is to make friends. I would start with the people on the floor; making friends with your neighbors is an essential part to enjoying the school year. Also, the Resident Assistants are all very nice and extremely willing to help get groups together.

Yes, the school does have a reputation for being a party school, but don't worry if you're not into that. If you're not, then you'll be able to enjoy a relaxing weekend, because tons of people will have disappeared and you'll have the campus to yourself and your other non-partying friends! You could also go to RT's, a dance club on the strip, if you wanted to have fun without feeling awkward at a random party. Furthermore, being a party school does not mean the school is going to suck away your morals...if you dont want to party, there's no body who's going to make you, and you can instead spend your days doing what you like. If you are a partying type person, you'll love it. Just about every weekend there's a party at Frat Row, and if there's nothing going on there then you could always go to parties around campus and at apartments. That being said, UT is a dry-campus so if you do get caught drinking at party somewhere on campus, be prepared for a violation. And that being said: I wouldn't be overly concerned with that. Cops have shown up to two of the parties I've been to and couldn't have cared less about busting people.

You do have to be smart, of course, about partying...some of the girls I know party every night, and always look exhausted. Surely that weighs heavily on their grades and minds...just remember that you're paying for your education, it's no longer something you can afford to not care at all about.