<p>Sorry, this is another decisions post. I know there are so many parents on here that are so knowledgable that I just couldn't resist asking for a little help. </p>
<p>So here's the dilemna: I've been admitted to 5 schools: Skidmore, Holy Cross, Colby, Bates, and Wesleyan. Rejected at Vassar and waitlisted at Bowdoin.</p>
<p>I just found out I was admitted to Wesleyan today, which surprised me considering my rejection from Vassar. Before that I thought I was definetely going to Bates, although my parents want me to still consider Holy Cross because they gave me a $20,000 scholarship. However, my surprising Wesleyan acceptance has made things more difficult. I know that Wesleyan is by far the best school that I have been accepted to. I love the liberalness, the diversity, and political activism. However, I am worried about the drugs that come with such a liberal atmosphere. Just last week, I heard a story about two students who had drugs dropped in their drinks. </p>
<p>Basically, I am wondering if any parents have any imput on the drug scene at Wesleyan or any other experiences they have had with the school. </p>
<p>Any help is greatly appreciated and I will provided any other information if necessary.
Thanks!</p>
<p>I don't have any experience with Wesleyan (except from reading about it the book The Gatekeepers). But I know that drugs can be a huge problem at any school. Yet... if you choose, you can avoid the drug scene at any school, and there are ways to protect yourself from getting drugs dropped in your drinks, too. I wouldn't necessarily base a college decision on this particular issue. Now, if the scene was too politically liberal or conservative, too big or too small, too isolated or too urban... those are factors you would probably have no control over and they might really impact your experience. I doubt Wesleyan is just some bacchanal 24/7. But maybe you could visit this month and see for yourself how comfortable you would be?</p>
<p>My D graduated from Wesleyan this year. Yes, there is drug use on campus, but it is not rampant, and as far as I know, she never heard of anyone dropping drugs in someone's drink.</p>
<p>Both drinking and recreational drug use seem to be confined to those who choose them, with little peer pressure to take part. Many people she knew abstained totally, without being social pariahs.</p>
<p>I had not heard of the incidents you describe, but I trust, and believe, tht they are far outside the norm there.</p>
<p>She had a wonderful experience at Wes, and would recommend it an a heartbeat to anyone considering it. Congratulations! In our family, we consider it a special place.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your help so far. I had a feeling those stories that I heard might me just false rumors. I think I may do an overnight at Wesleyan sometime this month to see if it is a good fit.</p>
<p>The "drugs in the drink" thing can happen anywhere. We were visiting Brandeis (not exactly a big party school) and there was an article in the school paper about this happening at a frat party on campus last semester.</p>
<p>Ask for security reports on all your college choices to see what drug use incidents they show. If this is an imp. part of the decision for you, you should have some factual info on each college.</p>
<p>However, as is noted, there will be some amt. of drug use at most colleges...just try to see how prevelant it may be & how much the college does to enforce laws.</p>
<p>Congratulations. Definitely try to do an overnight at Wesleyan--I have visited with both my children and we came away with very different images of the school over a several-year period that leaves me thinking it is a school whose identity is partly what each student makes it. If it is a good fit for you, great. If you end up not feeling quite right about Wes, perhaps you can do an overnight or other hosted visit at Bates as well; that might be helpful, since it is also an excellent school, and I think maybe more in the style of Wes than Holy Cross is, yet with, I think based on three (!) visits, a somewhat more traditional though still liberal culture. (I believe Bates classes end very early and there is a week's vacation sometime in April before May term starts, but there should still be time to do the visit if necessary.)</p>