Drinking/Drugs Scenes

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Now, this is only reflecting what I've heard and read...so, bear with me.</p>

<p>I'm going to visit Colgate, Hamilton, and Union College (NY) over February break. So far, I've visited Brown, Brandeis, Columbia, Haverford, Northwestern, U of Chicago, Tufts, and Swarthmore. Is it really true that Colgate, Hamilton, and Union are big on the drinking and/or drugs? Would they be too heavy on that for someone like me who perceives himself as person who likes to learn for learning's sake and doesn't partake in drinking at all, but is certainly not uncomfortable in being around those who do or are drinking at the moment? For example, I wouldn't be uncomfortable at a party where everyone else was drinking (but I wasn't), but I wouldn't drink myself. So, the real crux is if the peer pressure is really there (and if the intellectual atmosphere that I desire is lessened by the propensity of students to drink, as I've heard they do).</p>

2

<p>Maybe Colgate more than Hamilton and Union, but the student body is large enough that you could easily avoid that scene w/ folks like yourself. Go to the school you like best and is the best for you; don't base your decision on the party scene. Students at all those schools are intelligent enough to realize not everyone is a heavy drinker, etc.</p>

3

<p>Bump? Anyone agree/disagree?</p>

4

<p>I've heard Colgate is heavy on it too. But all those schools are highly respectable and good schools for academics. At every school, there are kids who drink/etc. If you don't want to be around it, I'm sure you can avoid it. I doubt the atmosphere would be ruined by a party here and there.</p>

<p>As Charlie's World said, decide based things in general. Not off the social scene alone.</p>

5

<p>Since you say you're not uncomfortable being around drunk people, I don't think it should be much of a problem.<br>
Originally, I was going to enumerate my experiences and thoughts on the matter, but really, you're already planning to visit these schools, and you've already visited a large number of schools with varying reputations for drinking. Thus, you have a good background to look at these schools, and so I really think your visits will be the best indication of whether you'd fit in with the campus culture, or whether the drinking would be overwhelming.</p>

6

<p>Colgate and Union definitely have a reputation as drinking schools. Partly due to the prevalence of Greek life- several frats were started at Union.</p>

7

<p>In my college books, Hamilton has gotten really bashed for the strong drinking scene. It's obviously present everywhere, but I was reading that the non-drinkers are in the great minority.<br>
I really like the College ******* guides for giving a true picture of each college... and how much they bashed the drinking scene at Hamilton was enough for me not to complete my application.</p>

8

<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_school#The_Party_School_Network.27s_Top_20_Party_School_List%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_school#The_Party_School_Network.27s_Top_20_Party_School_List&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The Party School Network's Top Party School List For 2007</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Arizona State University</p></li>
<li><p>Pennsylvania State University</p></li>
<li><p>University of Wisconsin</p></li>
<li><p>University of Texas</p></li>
<li><p>University of Maryland</p></li>
<li><p>Ohio University</p></li>
<li><p>Louisiana State University</p></li>
<li><p>West Virginia University</p></li>
<li><p>University of Massachusetts</p></li>
<li><p>Radford University</p></li>
<li><p>Indiana University</p></li>
<li><p>Michigan State University</p></li>
<li><p>University of Alabama</p></li>
<li><p>James Madison University</p></li>
<li><p>Ohio State University</p></li>
<li><p>University of Kentucky</p></li>
<li><p>Texas A&M University</p></li>
<li><p>University of Mississippi</p></li>
<li><p>University of Florida</p></li>
<li><p>University of Georgia</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Honorable Mentions: University of Tennessee, University of Kansas, Rutgers University, University of Rhode Island, SUNY Albany, Kansas State University, University of Arizona, Florida State University, Colorado State University.</p>

<hr>

<p>The Princeton Review's Top Party Schools for 2007</p>

<ol>
<li><p>West Virginia University</p></li>
<li><p>University of Mississippi</p></li>
<li><p>University of Texas at Austin</p></li>
<li><p>University of Florida</p></li>
<li><p>University of Georgia</p></li>
<li><p>Penn State</p></li>
<li><p>Central Michigan University</p></li>
<li><p>Indiana University (Bloomington)</p></li>
<li><p>Ohio University-Athens</p></li>
<li><p>University of California, Santa Barbara</p></li>
<li><p>Randolph-Macon College</p></li>
<li><p>University of Iowa</p></li>
<li><p>Louisiana State University</p></li>
<li><p>University of Maryland, College Park</p></li>
<li><p>University of Tennessee--Knoxville</p></li>
<li><p>University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</p></li>
<li><p>Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus</p></li>
<li><p>Florida State University</p></li>
<li><p>University of Alabama--Tuscaloosa</p></li>
<li><p>University at Albany, The State University of New York</p></li>
</ol>

9

<p>We also have this list of top Party Schools :</p>

<p><a href="http://encarta.msn.com/college_article_partyheartyschools/that_party_the_heartiest.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://encarta.msn.com/college_article_partyheartyschools/that_party_the_heartiest.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

10

<p>Colgate's actually supposed to be really cracking down on drinking. It's not nearly as much of a party school as it was a few years ago.</p>

11

<p>That's good to hear – thanks for all the info!</p>