Hey,
I’m considering an exchange to UPenn, but am 18 years old, therefore not able to go to clubs, bars, parties, etc (I’m not a huge drinker, but do drink a bit). I know that many people use fake ids, but I don’t want to risk getting in trouble with foreign authorities.
Would my young age affect my social life in any way?
Cheers.
I’m assuming this is undergrad? At least half if not more students at every US institution are under 21. Getting alcohol is relatively easy from upperclassmen, frats, parties, etc etc. Your young age will not really affect your social life in that way, unless you really want to go to clubs/bars/beer gardens, which most undergrads don’t go to anyways.
Do not use a fake ID. It would be a violation of your visa.
US colleges function as communities. Therefore, their social life doesn’t depend on the town but rather on the campus offerings. There will be low key parties in dorm rooms, films, activities, etc, so much so that you won’t be able to do everything.
The fact you can’t enter bars will not matter.
Yes, its for undergrad. When reading about others’ college experiences at Penn, all I hear about is getting drunk and partying, so I’m just wondering whether I’d be able to fit in with other students there.
That’s an unfortunate downside to some young Americans compared to counterparts in other countries, they confuse getting drunk with having fun (with alcohol consumed).
However there are lots of activities on campus. A house (Gregory) sponsors four film showings each week, entirely free, for instance. There are so many clubs and groups your main problem will be how to manage your time.
How did you become interested in an exchange program at age 18? (Just curious)
At a school as large as UPenn, you will be able to find groups of people who don’t use drugs or alcohol to have fun. Many of the club meetings (virtually all of them) will be alcohol free. Sometimes entire dorms or at least dorm floors are designated as clean and/or sober – or some other designation. it’s possible to largely avoid parties, if you want to.
It’s the partying often in houses off campus or in frats that tend to have alcohol and drugs.
Although I don’t want you to get paranoid, I do want to let you know about how intense “parties” on some college campuses can be in the US. For some of us, it’s an unpleasant issue that is a deep concern. For others, they think it’s largely overblown.
Nonetheless, I think it’s wise to be prepared to be surprised at the antics at some of them. College parties have been known to get pretty wanton–way too much alcohol (sometimes dangerous levels) and lately drugs have made their way into the mix. The US is experiencing a rash of heroin and fentanyl abuse and addiction, and it’s hit the middle class, even some students at very high-level colleges and universities. Again, don’t be paranoid, but be aware that some dangers do exist. And it never hurts to keep a close eye on your drink so that it doesn’t get spiked. Keep it covered. Bring a trusted friend to take care of it when you go to the bathroom or bring it with you. That sort of thing.