Of all colleges I have visited, UCSB is my top choice (beautiful campus, lots of ECs, great study abroad program), but the party school reputation worries me. I take medications (Lamictal, in particular) which cannot be mixed with alcohol or drugs; it is too dangerous and I don’t want to get sick. I also feel that I am the type of person who will give in to risky ways to relieve temporary pain, and alcoholism runs in my family.
Second, I am rather introverted. I can be very shy and timid at first, but once I open up, I can be loud, silly, and down for a good time. I love to have fun. Could I find friends like me who would prefer to “adventure” around SB and go out to IV to enjoy its unique atmosphere, get dinner,… basically anything that doesn’t involve alcohol/drugs or “casual sex and beer”?
To summarize, will I fit in, and can I avoid the party scene? Any responses are much appreciated!
Thanks again 
You do not have to drink alcohol to go to college or have a good time. You may, however, want to select roommates or housemates whose lives are not centered around alcohol, particularly in terms of hosting alcohol-based parties.
I appreciate that, thanks. I did hear that there are substance-free dorm floors, so if I do get accepted to the school, I definitely plan on trying to land in one of those, haha.