<p>Interesting discussion. DS goes to UIUC, (Greek scene supposedly dominated per CC, but actually only 22% of student body Greek, AND rural environment) and I’m quite sure he IS drinking like a fish. Oh well, I did the same when I was there. Funny thing about that IMO, you get it out of your system…As long as you can keep your grades up, people I know who drank like a fish, which was my entire social network, really grew up and lost interest in partying as adults. Contrast that to some of the people in my neighborhood who in their 40’s are STILL drinking like fish, and I’m thinking sewing one’s wild oats in college is a whole lot more appropriate.</p>
<p>Now, DD will be going to college in Fall of 2012, and I can’t imagine her in a Party school atmosphere…I think she’d be lost. However, I don’t know where the heck she can possibly go that would not have a lot of partying, given the fact that she wants a sports presence and a larger school. That being said, all schools seems to have Substance Free Dorm Floors these days, and that might be our best bet.</p>
<p>I very rarely drink, but oatmeal cookie shooters are really delicious. We had them for D’s 21st b’day party, and they were worth the calories, which drinks usually aren’t for me.</p>
<p>As we try to narrow down the college list, one of the criteria I have is that the school should have less alchohol/liquor usage.*</p>
<p>There is going to be drinking/partying at virtually all schools unless the school is some kind of bible school. Even elite schools have drinking/partying. </p>
<p>However, if your child wants to be a teetotaler, she’ll find others who thinks as she does. </p>
<p>My kids go/went to a so-called party school, but they and their friends choose to party very infrequently. No big deal.</p>
<p>*I very rarely drink, but oatmeal cookie shooters are really delicious. We had them for D’s 21st b’day party, and they were worth the calories, which drinks usually aren’t for me. *</p>
<p>Had to google that! LOL</p>
<p>Yield: 1 Drink
Ingredients:
•3/4 oz butterscotch schnapps
•3/4 oz Irish cream liqueur
•splash of J</p>
<p>Oatmeal cookie shooters or Carrot Cake shots. Either name, but if well-made taste fantastic! The recipe I have used is: 1 oz. Butterscotch schnapps, 1/2 oz Bailey’s with a splash of Goldschlagger shaken on ice. Both can also be a lovely after dinner drink if iced and sipped. Shots are too rough for me now, but I loved a Butterball (Butterscotch schnapps with a Bailey’s layer on top) which tastes like a Werther’s butterscotch candy back in those days.</p>
<p>I guess I should try the Choco-wine I received for Christmas…</p>
<p>BC and Nova are very strict about drinking on campus. It is almost nonexistant or face heavey fines (about $10 per bottle= 1 case of beer $200 fine… ) & for BC a 3 strick rule which carries with them all 4 years. </p>
<p>But there is still lots of parties of drinking to be found! Those who want to drink find the off campus parties/ upper classmen/ which will let them in, or got to nearby colleges that are more permissive (many Nova go to UPenn parties). </p>
<p>These schools are getting tip top serious students, who seek alternative activites for fun as the Barnard mother said.</p>
<p>Like the broad analysis big Greek school + rural setting = lots of drinking</p>
<p>I’ve heard the stereotype that the more there is an engineering / science culture on the campus, the less the drinking. But I don’t think I particularly believe it. Just throwing that out there as a discussion point.</p>
<p>“I’ve heard the stereotype that the more there is an engineering / science culture on the campus, the less the drinking. But I don’t think I particularly believe it. Just throwing that out there as a discussion point.”</p>
<p>Lehigh…thats all I have to say to counteract above discussion…</p>
<p>When you put a bunch of 18-21 year old kids together with no parental supervision together for the first time, there will be parties. All schools have alcohol rules, fines, etc but if kids want to party they will find a way. Having said that, alcohol is all around us in our society and the question becomes more of whether or not the student will partake or find alternative options. Any school near an urban area will have more “alcohol free” social options than schools that are in rural areas. Cities have more coffee shops, shows, restaurants, and cultural activities. Any yes, the all-woman colleges will have less drinking.</p>
<p>I agree with the general guideline, but I’d also say that schools are different in terms of the ease of finding one’s niche. I went to one of the schools mentioned in hypermom’s post and I probably drank no more than 10 times over 4 years - I’m just not a big drinker - and never had any problem with it whatsoever. Another alum who was contemporary to me posts on these boards, and I suspect she drank like a fish :-). Well, maybe not, but certainly more than I did. To me, it’s whether a school has enough distinct sub-cultures that you can find your niche / groove. That may actually work against some LAC’s / smaller schools where it’s all one big fraternity / sorority, in a sense.</p>
<p>Glad to see you have Northwestern on the list. Do consider adding University of Chicago too! Both should have a good dose of the environment you are looking for.</p>
<p>What is important to me (as a parent) is not whether there is a drinking culture at a school, but what is the administration´s policy about drinking, and whether the policy is there to protect students or to just protect the school´s behind. Some schools are realistic about college students drinking, and they create a safety net in case if students should get in trouble. By just banning drinking on campus, and have severe punishment if it is breached often is more dangerous to kids. Substance free dorms more often than not is not substance free, so parents shouldn´t assume their kids wouldn´t be drinking just because they live in such a dorm.</p>
<p>yes, in fact, some of our highest achieving, brightest, and wealthiest students are drinking and using drugs excessively. I’m not sure it’s that much different at any of the schools. To make the assumption (as is done earlier in the thread) that students of higher socio economic status may use less alcohol/drugs is ludicrous. Also, I would argue that engineering students and others in high-stress majors may drink more than the average. I do agree that there is a heavy drinking culture at large Greek Schools with heavy sports presence, but absolutely there are MANY alcohol free events at even large rural schools like UIUC. No doubt there is PLENTY of drinking going on at even the most unlikely college. It will be a personal decision for your child how much/ if she/he drinks.</p>
<p>Quote from the above article: Ivy league school are:</p>
<p>“more likely to enroll students whose race (white) and favorable socioeconomic status make them more likely to engage in risky behavior such as alcohol and drug abuse; the competitive nature of such institutions also creates a high-pressure environment in which students are more prone to substance abuse.”</p>