<p>I know a lot of people out there want to go to a big university, but don't want to end up at a "party school." So I made a little list of major universities that aren't considered party schools. This is not for those who are looking at top-tier schools, but rather for those of you in the 1100-1400 SAT range.</p>
<p>George Washington University
New York University
University of Pittsburgh
Villanova University
University of California—San Diego
Georgia Institute of Technology
Tulane University
University of Connecticut
Syracuse University
Pepperdine University
Wake Forest University
Rutgers—New Brunswick
University of California—Irvine
Case Western Reserve University
Yeshiva University
Miami University—Oxford
Boston University
University of California—Davis
College of William and Mary
Brandeis University
University of Washington </p>
<p>This isn't a full list, just a couple that I could think of to get you started. Feel free to add any more or correct my list if I'm wrong. And I'm not saying that these schools don't have parties, just that parties aren't the major social option at these schools. These are all excellent universities and (ignoring geographics) I would choose just about any one of them over any of the top 10 party schools.</p>
<p>The social atmosphere of a school is never considered in rankings like US News, yet I believe that should be one of the most important factors in choosing a college (definately more important than "alumni giving rate".) I want my children to choose a school that is going to foster intellectual curiosity while still having a normal college experience. I think these schools offer that.</p>
<p>I think you may be mistaken about Tulane. Despite the huge hit that every aspect of life in New Orleans took after Hurricane Katrina, I think Tulane is as much of a party school as it ever was. I'm not saying that it doesn't have terrific academics, but...well, it is in the Big Easy, after all.</p>
<p>University of Connecticut at Storrs-My daughter just graduated from UCONN (Class of 2007) & has had a very positive experience, both academically and socially. She has already found a job and an apartment in Boston & is on her way to being independent. UCONN is ranked at #27 in the Top 50 Public National Universities in US News. I was surprised at the offerings academically with its College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Ratcliffe School of Agriculture, School of Business, School of Dental Medicine, Neag School of Education, School of Engineering, School of Fine Arts, School of Law, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy & School of Social Work. The State of Connecticut is committed financially with its building programs etc that have been going on in recent years. Yes, sometimes the students get rowdy with their Spring Weekend or NCAA Basketball March Madness, but they are college kids. A beautiful campus (stuck in the middle of nowhere) but a self contained community! My parents are UCONN alum, my mother (Class of 1948) and my father (Class of 1950) & they were so happy to see their granddaughter graduate from UCONN. They are so impressed with what UCONN has grown into! When they were students, there were about 800 students on campus. UCONN seems to be getting harder & harder to get into as well.</p>
<p>smile dog is correct about Tulane. Wake Forest also has a HUGE drinking scene. Ga Tech also has a large drinking scene. Big enough that the Atlanta Police started cracking down and was arresting students at one point last semester.</p>
<p>I think my attitude as a parent toward partying is that if your child wants to find a party, they will, the party doesn't come looking for them! Princeton Review's List of Party Schools for 2007 does not have UCONN listed, probably much to the student body's dismay. Those lists are rather fun to read. But aren't they all party schools anyway? (not the BYU's or the military schools as in "Stone Cold Sober Schools") UCONN does have an added attraction as well: once they hit 21, they can go to the casinos: Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun. I was afraid my daughter would become addicted to gambling, the way she carried on about it. My worries were unfounded, it was all in fun and playing the nickel slots was all she was interested in! Once she used up her five bucks she was done. The novelty of going to the casinos wore off.</p>
<p>Miami Ohio--party, Syracuse-party, U Washington--big party, Rutgers-party, Tulane--party party, this list is crazy. The few that are truly non party are the ones that empty on weekends and nights--UCI, Pitt or are in urban areas with plenty of off campus drinking--NYU. BU, GW.</p>
haha basically why i avoided UCI and UCSD and opted for USC. in my opinion, if you don't want to party, don't--nobody's forcing you, and you can still have whatever fun you would have had at absolutely any other school...and if you want to, at least the options are there. but don't count out excellent schools because students like to play just as hard as they study...also that doesn't mean that the students aren't intellectual.</p>
<p>also, i think if USNews ever did consider social atmosphere, it wouldn't be those schools that you listed that would be at the top, but in fact the schools that are excellent schools with some sort of party scene, or at the very least those right in the middle of vibrant college towns or diverse urban settings.</p>
<p>Most people who have taken the balanced school option (work and play hard) have no regrets. I think people who went to schools like UCI really missed half of the college experience.</p>
<p>Agree with Barrons.
Okay, I can see going to MIT and the University of Chicago for the intellectual dynamism, at some social cost.
But go to the listed schools and not build social memories, even under (or particularly under) some altered states? I don't get it.</p>
<p>I think the MIT kids know how to have a good time and enjoy sports and other activities at their level in their way. All the alums I know are very proud and loyal--as they should be. I think U of C is still finding that balance.</p>
<p>As I said orginially, while there are parties at all colleges, certain colleges have a "party atmosphere" that others don't have. After discussing it with many people, the only school I will remove from my original list is Tulane. I wanted a list of major universities that weren't party-centered, and while they still have more parties than most LACs or elite schools, they are far better than their peers.</p>
<p>Most of these schools have a ton of school spirit and very happy and fufilled alumni who didn't drink their four years away.
The schools on this list with most "school spirit":</p>
<p>University of Pittsburgh
Syracuse University
Villanova University
University of Connecticut
Rutgers—New Brunswick
University of Washington
Georgia Institute of Technology
Wake Forest University</p>