<p>Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Nobody will force you to go to parties. Somewhere on a 25,000-student campus, there must be a few other engineering students who’d rather go for a hike than play beer pong.</p>
<p>Apply to a range of schools that all meet your most important criteria (even if not perfectly). See how admissions and aid shake out. Decide based on academics and cost, then request a substance-free dorm.</p>