<p>Hi -
I'm looking at the more competitive universities (the Harvard -> Duke range, if that makes sense), and to be honest, I'm a bit scheptical about the social life, nighlife, and general partying thereof. I get that none of this lot are ever going to be true party schools, but which are my best bet? (obviously, there are other concerns too). Brown, UC Berkely and UCLA spring to mind, but I've never been to any of them, so I'll shut up now.</p>
<p>Any thoughts?
rman</p>
<p>Brown looks like a really relaxed school (compared to other Ivies), but I'm not sure what their nightlife is like.</p>
<p>Well, I'm sure that most of those schools have others nearby so that if students at your school don't do anything other than classwork, there will be people around to hang out with. I know Harvard, for one, though it is technically in 'Cambridge' is only a T ride away from many places in Boston, and BU has a good number of students who tend to have 'house' parties (in the apartment row near Fenway there had been a good bit). I'm not sure about any others, because I only really know Boston and Montreal as far as big cities with good colleges go.</p>
<p>University of Pennsylvania</p>
<p>Rice University has some pretty good parties (at least public ones). Private parties vary, though.</p>
<p>IMHO, Top twenty colleges with a combination of a good greek scene and good sports teams would fit the bill.</p>
<p>I agree with tickytock</p>
<p>Look for a big football or basketball team, and with it will come parties.</p>
<p>UCLA
Michigan
Vandy
Penn
Dartmouth
Northwestern
UVA
USC
Wake
UNC
Lehigh
Wisconsin
Illinois</p>
<p>When I chose my school, people tried to tell me that the party-scene was non-existent. </p>
<p>Incredibly wrong. I got to a top-20 school and it really is a study-hard/party-hard school. On top of that there's an open-doors policy on alcohol in the dorms (ra's won't say/do anything if your door is open and you're drinking, so long as you're not playing drinking games).</p>
<p>I was going to post but TUOwls has a solid list, that included all the places I was going to mention.</p>
<p>Cornell! Ivy league, strong academic reputation....but also huge Greek scene, lotsa parties. If you're looking from something from the Harvard to Duke range, Cornell fits, much better than good state schools like Michigan, Illinois or UNC.</p>
<p>much better? lol</p>
<p>UNC has a great social atmosphere, and if you are looking at Ivys then you may want to consider the Morehead Scholarship program at Carolina. It is intensely competitive, but a huge honor. Lots of people turn down Princeton/Harvard/other Ivy league schools for it. </p>
<p>Even if you come as a regular student, its a pretty fun school and good academically as well.</p>
<p>ok, not much better, sorry....</p>
<p>but people looking at schools like Harvard would probably consider Cornell a better fit than Illinois in general...I mean a lot of those schools would give him decent scholarships to attend, like UNC, but they're not reach/match schools....assuming he's qualified for harvard</p>
<p>most schools have party and non party people.</p>
<p>Cornell
Penn
Dartmouth
Duke
Vandy
UVa</p>
<p>The party Ivy: Penn</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for all your input - penn and cornell seem to be cropping up a lot! I've also been looking into scholarships at UNC, though i suspect that might be a little overambitious of me.</p>
<p>thanks again,
rman</p>
<p>The University of Akron Honors College! Save money, and go to the only college in ohio with a Engineering college ranked top five nationally!</p>
<p>Seriously though, unless you come from money, don't waste your dough on these Ivies. For Pete's sake just go to the nearest big state college! Some of you never fail to amaze me with your persistent elitist attitude. There's quite a few kids going to large state universities free of charge who will most likely compete with the Ivies graduates in their major, and guess what....NO DEBT! </p>
<p>Get a clue some of you.</p>