<p>My youngest daughter is a senior in high school and we are going through the college admissions process now. I discovered your web site recently.</p>
<p>I have a question about the many references to party schools and partying hard. I'm just not sure what it means.</p>
<p>I went to Stony Brook during the Vietnam war. The majority of my friends tried weed and many smoked it frequently. Many also experimented with LSD and other hallucinogens. The drinking age was 18 at the time and alcohol use was common.</p>
<p>My college did not allow fraternities and most of our drinking/smoking was done in a dorm room or suite, usually with several students present.</p>
<p>Stony Brook was a prime spot for concerts those days. A lot of our drinking/smoking/drugs was done in connection with the concerts (before, during and/or after). Even though we did more during the weekend, you could usually find people with whom to smoke any time during the week.</p>
<p>When we visited friends at other colleges, including the Ivy Leagues, it was the same thing. It was easy to drink/smoke as much or as little as you wanted, and we would usually go out to do something (movies, concerts, other parties) afterwards.</p>
<p>When I read about college reviews in 2011 there seems to be such a heavy emphasis on partying. This is not meant to be a stupid question, but how has partying changed in 45 years. How much more intense is it now than it was in the past? What is it that college kids are doing now that is different from the past?</p>
<p>At my school the focus is on drinking (usually natty, and lots of it). The people I know who smoke weed usually do so while drinking, which they do at their house. Because of my school’s housing system we have a unique party culture. I’m interested to see more responses…</p>
<p>The scene you describe is pretty much how my personal social scene is, but I don’t think it’s that common anymore.</p>
<p>It’s more of a pregame and sketchy house party type thing that’s popular. The focus is on getting as wasted as possible. Getting drunk and going out is almost mandatory.</p>
<p>At my school, it seems like most people have a few drinks before going out to parties (referred to as “pre-gaming”). The parties are either at frats (where freshmen mostly go) and apartment/houses. I think it’s mostly just drinking and marijuana at parties, with a greater emphasis on alcohol. I think the aversion to party schools is that a lot of people who party aren’t interesting enough to find other exciting things to do. Also, it’s harder to find quiet housing when you go to a party school. “Party School” doesn’t necessarily imply that the partying is insane, just that there’s a lot of emphasis on the (usually safe) partying.</p>
<p>At least where I go, most of the focus is on drinking and socializing. People also smoke, but that’s mostly in the spring or for outdoor functions. Basically, you pre-game, then you go to a party and talk to people. Hard drug use here is EXTREMELY rare.</p>
<p>Here, kids smoke, kids drink. Hard drug use is rare unless you’re in one of the more unruly frats. Kids pregame, then go out and try to find a party or go to a club or something. I’m sure it’s nothing more extreme than anything else that’s ever been done at college.</p>
<p>I think it’s a similar story everywhere, or in most places. Most people drink, some people smoke, and if you don’t do hard drugs you’ll almost never see them (depends entirely on the social circle, whereas weed and alcohol are pretty much staples).</p>