Whether you hang around Richardson, go north to Plano, or venture south into downtown Dallas, you’ll find plenty to do in this urban corridor. It’s usually more of a question of what you want to do rather than where you want to do it. There is a plethora of restaurants serving various kinds of delicious food, from Vietnamese and Thai to Mexican, Italian, and even Ethiopian, all within five or 10 minutes' driving time from campus. If you’re in the mood for some serious arts, drive downtown to attend a performance at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra or visit some of the best museums in the region, one of which is the Dallas Museum of Art. Need a dress for an upcoming formal? Check out the four or five malls nearby. End your night on a high note at Cowboys Dancehall or Lizard Lounge, just to wake up the next day and realize you can do this many more times at different places. Dallas sure isn’t the type of entertainment center like Vegas, New York, or even Austin, but it can undoubtedly give you all kinds of good fun.
As a whole, the area surrounding UTD isn’t too college-oriented. Cops patrol the streets of campus at night, hoping to catch underage drunk students, while neighbors easily complain when they hear some noise from your party. Overall, places, with the exception of restaurants, are a little too spread out for bus riders to conveniently get to. On the other hand, it’s a safe place to live, one where—more often than not—sober people drive and criminals think twice before they go for your wallet. If you highly value the local atmosphere in your college experience, definitely give Richardson-Dallas a chance; many a student has come here and fallen in love with what the Metroplex has to offer.