Any recommendations for schools with a smaller emphasis on the party scene for entertainment? Or which schools to avoid that are party schools (Lehigh?).
Fun things like concerts, campus plays, games, active clubs, movies, events, friends hanging, etc. We know all schools have a party scene and there’s no problem with that, just looking for one that isn’t dominated by it and has students active Thur-Sat nights doing things than getting drunk.
My daughter has been searching for a school that has a fun, active campus where students actually participate in events and hang out without getting wasted as the goal. While she’s fine with going to a party here and there, it’s not really her thing.
It’s been hard to get a hand on the Social Life category in researching. There’s info on shopping and food, Greek life, and partying. And while comments are made there’s a lot going on at X college, they don’t say if they’re well attended. Thank you in advance!
East Coast and Mid-Atlantic Regions, Engineering (social nerd).
What can/will you pay? What are your daughters stats? Does she want urban? Big, small?
Definitely check out Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). It’s more highly ranked than most know. Beautiful campus, nice part of Worcester. Great campus vibe. Students seem terrific, and more mature and purposeful than at most schools. Program is very hands-on and project-oriented if that appeals to your daughter. Students take 3 classes at a time. It has been very heavily male until the last couple of years. New-ish female president is doing a great job. Last freshman class was about 56% male. Push to make it more gender balanced this year, including merit awards to female students.
https://www.wpi.edu/project-based-learning/wpi-plan
https://www.wpi.edu/project-based-learning/global-project-program
https://www.wpi.edu/news/press-releases
Good luck!
I second the WPI recommendation. The students there are nerdy, fun, and not party animals. And they send students to top grad schools. A friend of mine’s son is now in a PhD program at Cornell after graduating from WPI with a degree in chemistry last year.
Your daughter may also want to look at Olin. It’s a fantastic engineering school and if she gets in, she’s guaranteed a half ride.
University of Rochester
Smith is worth a look if she’s open to women’s colleges.
Good recs with WPI and UofR. I’d add BU/Northeastern, American, GWU, Drexel. Generally, a city school means that people will have more options than staying on campus and drinking. RIT would be a worthwhile safety.
Brandeis