UK - be greek or be frustrated

Introduction
Do you care about your academic career? Are you going to college to get an education?
Then don't go to UK. The focus here is not on education - this college is deadset on becoming a "Top 20 Research University" and they're doing it on the backs of the undergraduates whose greatest benefit from the research is that they can be paid to be hamsters. Tuition raises EVERY year by several percentages.

Campus Life and Social Life
Greek life is HUGE and suffocating. If you are looking to party your college years away and don't care about curriculum, UK is the place for you. If you have always dreamed of being in a frat/sorority, UK is for you. Lexington has a small pocket of liberal, and/or artsy types. The art scene is huge compared to the size of the town, and the music scene is thriving. There is an amazing amount of Chicago style free and experimental jazz shows for all ages monthly. Advertisement
Academics
I am a double major in arts administration and art studio and if you are an art student, I would suggest steering clear of UK. Our studio facility is actually the largest in the nation, but it is terribly neglected, with air conditioning only in two rooms, several needed repairs not in UK's budget, no ventilation system...on and on. However, there are large private studios for BFA students, and metal sculpture is huge here. Some faculty are good, while others are just tenured and don't care. The foundation classes are dinosaurs - outmoded and outdated. A decent new media department. I get annoyed by a lot of the students who just seem like people who could draw or paint pretty good in high school, didn't know what to do with themselves, and just became art majors.

On the whole, I've found my courses, basic and non-major related courses to be laughably easy.

Really easy major that's mostly interesting: arts administration

Nationally recognized programs: dietetics, architecture, engineering

Student Body
Students on the whole are apathetic, unmotivated, and not interested in academics. The vibe here is that this is the place to go if you don't know what to do with your life and you don't really care to make goals.

In Closing...
You can make this univeristy work for you on a functional level if you get stuck going here:
-There are many grants and scholarships, aside from just for tuition but also for travel and undergraduate projects and research
-The Fine Arts library and main library are really awesome
-There are three top of the line Mac labs on campus which are a great resource
-don't get mired in the university atmosphere - get yourself downtown. Check out thelexingtonproject.blogspot.com to get a feel for some of the hipper options for things to do around Lex and the surrounding areas.
-Take a Freshman Discovery Seminar - mine was lifechanging in the best way
-Don't take UK 101 for God's sake.
-speaking of God's sake: there are really active anti-abortion groups here who love to put up disgusting distasteful anti abortion displays as often as possible. There are also crazy preachers who stand outside the Student Center screaming at the top of their lungs at you when you walk by about hellfire and damnation
-there is a real problem with women's safety on campus. 1 in 3 UK women have been assaulted in some form. Be aware.