<p>I'm no righteous crusader against alcohol, but, personally, the thought of drinking alcohol has always disgusted me, worse than even cigarettes. Don't know why, maybe its from being around alcoholics all day, seeing the results, and smelling the odor. Or how it can mess you up mentally. Doesn't really matter why, I just don't like it.</p>
<p>Looking around the internet for other opinions on UCSB, I think most of us would agree that it's a great school. It worries me though that a main "selling point" of UCSB is its abundant drinking! I was reading an article in the Nexus, the UCSB school paper, and saw that alcohol was a huge factor in favor of UCSB, as if everyone did it. It's engrained in its culture. Name 3 good things about UCSB? Drunken partying, kegstands, and beer pong apparently. Basically a "come to UCSB because we are smart but can still do kegstands." Take away the alcohol, and I wonder if it is still such a great school on its own?</p>
<p>Of course, that "college is what you make of it" line is all over the place on these forums. But it would seem that the pressure to drink would be really high though, since most of the activities kids do at UCSB seem to involve alcohol. I wonder if someone who doesn't drink could even make it socially?</p>
<p>Is there anyone else out there that doesn't drink, or have anything reassuring to say?</p>
<p>Honestly no. Not everyone drinks, I for one don’t drink or smoke or party for that matter. Looking around these forums you can see that there’s a lot of other people who aren’t party/drinking animals. We might be a small group but we exist. Of course it shouldn’t mean you can’t be friends who drink/smoke/party if they’re real friends they’ll respect your decision not to involve yourself in those things and have fun without alcohol being the main stimulant. It’s not like they’ll be drunk 24/7. :] You’ll find enough people who like a substance free lifestyle so don’t fret. There are also plenty of activities to do that don’t involve getting drunk in the nexus there’s always a box about UCSB after dark.</p>
<p>"The UCSB After Dark Weekend Calendar, is a UCSB weekly entertainment guide highlighting Thursday, Friday and Saturday night alcohol-free and non-alcohol centered events happening on campus, around Isla Vista and in the communities of Goleta and Santa Barbara. "</p>
<p>I figured the community of those who don’t drink/party hard is very small. But I guess one doesn’t have to fit in with the entire school to be happy, right? (Which reminds me… why don’t we have some CC facebook group or something!?)</p>
<p>Of course I could still make friends with those who do party/drink. Like I said, I’m no righteous crusader and have no moral dilemmas against drinking, I just find it disgusting.</p>
<p>There actually is a CC facebook group that was made by some of us from fall 08. We actually met up at ucsb and i’m still good friends with them till this day. It would be a great idea for u guys to try to meet up when u guys all arrive and get lunch or something along those lines.</p>
<p>Not everyone drinks; however, drinking is a big activity at ANY college. I know a guy who went to UCSD, a college that supposedly should be boring, that constantly posts facebook updates saying, “GET DRAAAANK!”
I also know a girl who goes to UCSB who NEVER drinks at all! She doesn’t drink, smoke, party, whatever, and still is very happy at UCSB and has many like-minded friends.
Most students are probably in the middle (at any college) and probably do drink once in a while at parties but do not seem like the typical college drunks. But I am sure that as long as your are strong-willed, or just know that you won’t drink, you won’t. Simple as that.</p>
<p>I go to UCSB and my entire group of friends ( including myself ) doesn’t drink. Of course there are a lot of people who drink, but there are many who don’t as well. The line “college is what you make of it” may be thrown out a lot, but that is because it’s true. No one will force you to drink or even be around people who drink if you don’t want that. It will be easy enough to find friends who don’t do that stuff.</p>
<p>Hi, after transferring from community college, i have learned to balance partying, with school. I usually tend not to drink during the week and save it for the weekends… although i have been known to accepting an invite to play a game of beer pong or two at a buddies house on a random night. Anyways I like to workout so, working out and drinking during the nighttime usually don’t mix so i don’t really liek to do it that much at all during the week. The weekend ill usually party thursday night- saturday night, and spend sunday working off all the calories from the alcohol lol. But the main point is, moderation is key, and being responsible for knowing when you need to get work done. If you choose to play beer pong all night at a buddies house, knowing you had an essay due at 9 am, thats fault and no one elses. On that point, stay safe everyone and hope to see you in the summer/ fall</p>
<p>Yes, all schools party, but there is a reason UCSB is labeled a party school while others are not. It has that reputation of crazy parties and drinking, but it isn’t as “HUGE” as people try to make it. A party school does not mean everybody just goes there to party. It means that if you do go to a party, it is intense.</p>
<p>So if you don’t party, its not a party school. Drinking is totally optional. It ultimately comes down to your choice. Yes, people try to lure you into drinking and parties, but for the most part, they respect your decision.</p>
<p>You got to remember that kids just dont go drinking and party all day and blow off on their classes. UCSB is ranked as one of the best in the country, and its not like their are ■■■■■■■■ kids that waste their parents money. Most people are serious about learning, with SOME notable exceptions. Just don’t be that EXCEPTION and your ok. But for the most part, students are smart enough to know when to get down to business. Have fun, balance out work and play. Enjoy college, just don’t let the party and drinking overtake your life.</p>
<p>Just to clarify…Daily Nexus is the school’s newspaper that operates independently of UCSB. So, anything that is written in there is not representative of the opinions and views of the school administration and faculty. This is a student-manage publication without the governance of UCSB. [Frequently</a> Asked Questions - Daily Nexus](<a href=“http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=15585]Frequently”>http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=15585)</p>
<p>And not all students drink all the time. Some of us party when there is really a legitimate celebration but in the end, its all about personal choice.</p>
<p>it’s my third quarter here and i’ve never drunk alcohol (not a single sip) or gone to parties (except birthdays parties w/ delicious foods and stuff XD). one of my roommates never drinks either.</p>
<p>nicha89 are you happy that way? Like, do you find that the pressure to drink/party isn’t as strong as we presume? And can you easily find other things to do besides drinking and partying?</p>
<p>i dont drink or party either and i’m pretty content with my social life at UCSB. there is absolutely no pressure to go out and drink or party. often times there will be groups which are hosting things so you wont need to go out and drink. or you can just get a bunch of people and just watch a movie in the rec room on a 50in tv</p>
<p>i’m verry happy here =D. i’ve never felt any pressure. and i’m pretty sure my hall mates dont go to parties in IV either, although they sometimes drink in their dorm rooms. what i do if I don’t party? i just hang out at my friends’ apartment. they occasionally hold “food parties” for birthdays and sometimes just to socialize and chill. they do have alcohol but that’s just not the main part =). they sometimes plan trips for breaks too. we’re going to universal studios this weekend omg im so excited XD.</p>
<p>there r many things you can do besides partying and drinking. i was once told that just because you don’t party doesn’t mean that you’ll miss out on things.</p>
<p>I know tons of people who don’t drink in UCSB. No worries, you will be fine. It is actually fun being sober and watching the drucks act stupid. It cheers you up…its like having stand-up comedians around you. </p>
<p>Besides, people who drink in UCSB are very nice. They are laid back and fun to hang out with.</p>
<p>I will never drink so you are definately not alone. UCSB has alot of things to do on campus that don’t involve drinking or partying, so you can have fun and still focus on your studies.</p>