I am looking for advice on how to determine which campuses are good for non-partier quieter students. I am trying to help my D determine which schools fit her, and with covid preventing normal interactions, it is more difficult. She is looking at small-med liberal arts in the northeast. Roger Williams, Susquehanna, Washington College, Ithaca College, Marist, Hobart & William Smith, Skidmore, St. Lawrence, Dickinson and Connecticut College (runs the gambit of lesser known to more elite). She has been accepted to the first 5 EA, waiting RD for others. Obviously, she may not get into a number of them, which reduces what we must consider, but we are also trying to do our due diligence in the mean while, so it is not a mad dash at the end to figure it out. She is oriented toward art (film) and Science. Will join a riding club. Public School. Hard worker. I have heard people on CC say Dickinson and Conn are very friendly. That does not necessarily address our concerns though. All these schools tick off minimum requirements for her - but the most important one - student body characteristics- is hard to determine this year. Any experience with these schools is greatly appreciated.
Ithaca College is well known as a party school. Lots of drinking.
St. Lawrence is a very social school–so it would not be a great choice for a non-partier as it is cold, rural, and isolated. A non-partier would be lonely & a bit isolated.
Skidmore College is very social in a good way with lots of small parties.
Connecticut College is upscale, 65% female with less partying than the above schools.
Dickinson College is fine, although drinking is a common activity.
Susquehanna has a different campus culture than the other schools on your list. If I recall correctly, it is near Bucknell University.
Although not on your list & outside of your desired region, Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina might be of interest.
Would she consider a women’s college? Mount Holyoke seems to be a fit, and from what I understand it has an excellent equestrian program. As you may know it’s also part of a 5-college consortium. I’m trying to gauge the same thing about Conn. We’ve had a hard time figuring out what the social life there is like.
If you mean drinking (closely associated with partying around college campuses), here is a relevant study:
Characteristics associated with lower drinking:
- Historically black college
- Student race/ethnicity: Black, Asian < Latino < White, Native
- Women’s college
- Lower or absent fraternity and sorority presence and participation
- Less participation in athletics
- Two year college < four year college
- Living situation: commuter < on or near campus < fraternity or sorority
- College size: larger < smaller
- College region: south, west < north central < northeast
Of course, specific colleges may vary from the trends described above.
The last factor regarding geographic location is interesting.
I would have guessed the other way around except for west. That is South > north central > northeast > west
All of those colleges will have partying.
Both my kids considered/visited many of those schools. My college grad D nearly chose Dickinson. She wasn’t interested in partying and felt she would have been happy there. I think Conn isn’t too much of a party central school. Skidmore is a good choice, students are academically inclined and creative, perhaps not so much focused on drinking. I can’t vouch for the others, but I do think there is a lot of partying at most of the others mentioned.
I recommend your daughter look at student reviews on Niche. It will give her honest student perspective on how students view their colleges and partying.
Check out their profiles on Unigo. While not perfect, they’re more relevant then what you’re getting here. For example, in response to the question “Do Students Drink Alcohol”, here are the following percentage of responses that said “There’s some drinking happening every night”
Ithaca - 49%
Conn College - 43%
Susquehanna - 37%
Skidmore - 35%
Washington - 32%
Dickinson - 22%
Thank you - I have not spent a lot of time with Unigo. I will check it out.
I suspect this relates to weather. If it’s freezing and the ground is covered with snow, students are more likely to stay home and party in the dorm, as opposed to doing something off campus or outside.
I expect that at the vast majority of colleges, a student can find a group of like minded friends who either are in to partying or in to not partying. Some of this relates to personal choices while at the college. For example, it might be easier to find like minded friends who are less in to partying, if you choose to live in a substance free or not all freshman dorm than if you choose to live in a fraternity.
HWS has a pretty robust party scene, too. One of our tour guides was going on and on about the frequency of big parties and then chuckled and said she probably shouldn’t have said it in front of all the parents.
That being said, D20 is not a partier and not into Greek life but attends a school where both of those things drive the campus culture. She has managed to find a small group of likeminded friends and they find plenty of things to do.
Yes - I looked up a lot of stats about crime - stats ranging from being drunk to rape at all the colleges - and interestingly, the more prestigious the college, the higher the crime rate - especially against women - especially northeast. Thank you for the list - I had seen that a long time ago and am happy to be reminded. Most of the schools that she looked at had been women’s colleges at some time in their past and still have a bit of that vibe today (Skidmore, Conn being two that made it to her final list). We have actively pursued non-greek schools, though some on her final list DO have active greek systems.
Yes - it is just south of Bucknell. Can you tell me why you said it has a different campus culture? It is more regional than the others - not well known in New England, but does your comment infer something else?
Perhaps Bucknell was mentioned due to its very high fraternity and sorority participation and assumed level of partying and drinking.
I have heard from a number of sources now, that Conn is well liked by quiet shy students. New London is not the greatest town, but so many colleges are in the same situation. I read on Niche, that many of the “bad” grades students assign Conn are in the social life/party scene - I am assuming that means there isn’t much. Maybe assuming wrong? Mt. Holyoke is a really great suggestion - it was not on our radar bc she said she didn’t want all women, but I do think it would have fit her well.
My niece loved Furman when she looked at it - most likely a very good suggestion, but out of our geo area as you said.
Susquehanna students seem different than the typical applicant to the nationally known schools. A bit more down-to-earth or humble might be the differentiating factor.
P.S. Just read that slightly over one-third (about 34%) of all students at Susquehanna receive Pell Grants.
The campus is beautiful & the surrounding areas are nice.
Sometimes at a large state school it is easier to find similar people because there are so many people and activities. Smaller more isolated schools have fewer activities and as mentioned above partying becomes the primary activity.
When I was at orientation for my large state school, I was told that I could find a party every night if I wanted to. But most students were not partying especially during the week. The party goers are louder and get more attention, but that doesn’t mean there are not others diligently pursuing their studies and other interests.
Take Uni go with a grain of salt. Their reviews are not dated. In general, student reviews on Uni go tend to be much more negative than Niche. My kids spent a lot of time on both and both found Niche more useful.