<p>What do you mean by a lot. I expect there to be some, but this could influence by decision. If there is a LOT. Not because I can't "resist" it, I resist idiots who try to sell heroin all the time... What I do not want are a bunch of idiots who go high to class, hence the reason I applied there. Of course there will be drugs, only thing is if it is (relative to other top schools) a lot, I will consider that before I chose.</p>
<p>Drugs and alcohol are problems on public and private campuses. When a high school child has money and the inclination to buy illegal substances, the danger is there. I think that in my high school days, prep schools had a larger problem with drugs, because the students had more money. Now, suburban school systems are much more affluent. Any public high school with a debate over the supply of student parking has students with money to burn. (For the younger set, I should clarify that my high school was in a very good town. Only a few seniors had cars. If they had cars, they were junkers. When I read about an accident in a school parking lot between two new SUVs, I know we're in a different world.)</p>
<p>Anywhere students have money, drugs will be available. In a boarding school, boarders' rooms are subject to search. They live with teachers who are not their parents, and who don't think that the sun rises and sets on them. In a boarding school, students know they can be kicked out. In order to get into these schools, the students have to convince adults that they would be an asset to the school. The students work really hard to get in, and have so much to lose if they are caught. </p>
<p>I'm paraphrasing Creative1's statement. I think the school's approach to drugs and alcohol offenses would be very telling. If a school says there isn't a problem, i.e. they never catch kids, I would think that there's a very big problem.</p>
<p>yee I agree with masontheswami...
I go to Milton too and, while I'm a day student, I know a lot of boarders who rage whether in their rooms or off campus. I wouldn't say people are always "going to class high" though. Everyone is an overachiever. We study hard and we party hard. I think most elite schools are like that. For day students its the same thing, usually with boarders sometimes without. I wouldn't say there is a ton of pressure though. If you do it fine-if you don't whatever. You won't be made fun of or anything. Most athletes, like me, take staying clean during the season very seriously too and no one makes fun of them. </p>
<p>Its basically personal preference. If you like too, than you hang out with other kids who do. If you don't like you than you don't chill with those kids on the weekends. Not too complicated-pretty much like every other school out there.</p>
<p>Also, for athletes, schools will drug test. Another incentive to keep clean. I think the amount of pressure a student feels is very subjective - what one person may feel is pressure, another may not. It's back to that self confidence thing I talked about before. Some kids are able to have a "screw you" attitude if people don't like it if they don't partake, others will fall to temptation to be accepted by a certain crowd. </p>
<p>Asking about a school's policies and experiences is a great thing to do at revisits. I agree with Periwinkle - if the school doesn't acknowledge at least some usage, they have their head in the sand. However, I am a big believer in 2 strike schools, not 1 strike schools. Teens will experiment and make mistakes. They need to be given a second chance to learn from those mistakes.</p>
<p>It sounds like your son has the right attitude, cdnhockeymom.</p>
<p>I have never heard that they test students who are athletes...is that all tier 1 schools or just some?<br>
I will ask each revisit school about the prevelance of drugs and what they do to address it.</p>
<p>I agree with sbarkowski.</p>
<p>Milton kids, especially athletes, really don't have any pressure to do drugs (sometimes, the opposite). Generally, if you're not an outgoing person who would be considered "cool", people don't really offer you drugs anyway. I'm not saying you have to be outgoing to do drugs, im just saying that if you're not, drugs are sort of a non-issue at boarding school, unless you make it part of your circle by conscious decision and steep financial investment. Basically, drugs are only present if youre a) awesome or b) looking for them. If you want to avoid them its pretty easy.</p>
<p>"Basically, drugs are only present if youre a) awesome..."</p>
<p>W t f?</p>
<p>So all the popular kids get high? How often to people go to class high? Drunk? And so on, I am curious.</p>
<p>hahahaaa I think hes kidding. No, I have never heard of any prep schools that do drug testing for athletes. Milton certainly doesn't and I agree with masontheswami, with athletes there is a certain pressure to not partake.</p>
<p>How often do you guys see drug/alcohol use? There really should be no drugs, but every high school has it. Is the alcohol use in moderation or do people get smashed.</p>
<p>Really, mason, what does that mean? You are not awesome if you do not do drugs??</p>
<p>I am smart, athletic and very outgoing and I would say "awesome" but I hope I would be smart enough to say no to drugs...</p>
<p>I amazingly good looking, and even more amazingly awesome. Will I die of intoxication? Please say no, I do not want to die.</p>
<p>Oh really. How did you get your latest acct banned?</p>
<p>Please, please... one question at a time.</p>
<ol>
<li>"Really, mason, what does that mean? You are not awesome if you do not do drugs?? I am smart, athletic and very outgoing and I would say "awesome" but I hope I would be smart enough to say no to drugs..."
-hammer 5</li>
</ol>
<p>you'll probably be offered drugs, you don't have to do them if you don't want to.</p>
<ol>
<li>"I amazingly good looking, and even more amazingly awesome. Will I die of intoxication? Please say no, I do not want to die."
-principalviola</li>
</ol>
<p>no, you probably won't die, but if youre that awesome, you'll probably get offered lots of drugs.</p>
<p>PS you have the same last name as the milton librarian, Mr. Viola (something to think about when making a decision)</p>
<p>:-)</p>
<p>Vermont Academy for one does random drug testing, with the permission of the student's parents of course. If they do I'm sure other schools do as well. I think it's a good thing.</p>
<p>Well I imagine they will only do drug testing if they are suspicious of you. For them to drug test more than 15 people...I think it would be a waste of money. Drug tests cost a lot of money. I kind of agree with mason lol. At my school you won't be offered drugs unless they think you're the kind of kid that would do drugs. And if they think that...usually no one will care if you say no. You just have to have the self-confidence to not really care.</p>
<p>I came in not as a freshman, and I don't think I feel more pressure this year than I would've if I had came as a freshman. However, I do think that drugs/alcohol are more prevalent amongst the older grades, so technically I guess there would be more "pressure" but not because you didn't come as a freshman. Does that make sense?</p>
<p>Also, I go to Andover. and am a girl. :)</p>
<p>As for athlete drug-testing, I've never heard of that. And actually know several people who have competed in athletics while high. (And still been better than me. So unfair!)</p>
<p>However, we do have a drug-test policy in which if you're suspected of taking drugs you can be asked to take a drug test. Which of course sucks if you have infact been doing drugs, but is helpful for people who are innocent to prove their innocence.</p>
<p>Also, i've found that boarding school has been more open about their policies than other schools. A couple kids got kicked out for dealing pretty early on in the year, and we actually took time out of all school to talk about it. I really liked that the administration was upfront with the kids. Although that being said, there are also things that happen kinda under the radar. So who knows.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity how many people do you know who... Drink/get high, are great at sports OR good at arts (or good at both :)), get top grades, and are really smart?</p>
<p>You make it sound like that's a lot lol. Getting top grades is almost the same as being really smart...especially at a top boarding school. I know kids who drink and get high on weekends that are good at many things. Not saying it's good for you, but not everyone who drinks/smokes are deadbeats.</p>
<p>I get that... I was just curious.</p>