<p>Yeah if you are seriously against make a check-list after a few weeks at college. Remember your views may change. It isn't the same old "popular jerks" who are doing it. Everyone (well not everyone but I'm saying almost anyone can drink, not just the select few with nice houses and lots of money, and alcoholic parents) will drink at some point. I know I was VERY against it. I can't stress that enough. But after a while I made a list of every single reason I could think of for not drinking and said, True or Not True Anymore for each one. Guess what all my reasons had vanished. So don't be scared of it and really don't think of it. You will do what makes you happy and what comes naturally. So no matter what anyone says (is your brother a bad guy? does his drinking bother you?) it doesn't matter either way.</p>
<p>But whoever said personality matters. I think confidence and personality matter the absolute most in college. If you are well-liked and don't mind drunk people and you hang out with partiers you'll be okay. If you're socially inadequate and drunks make you uncomfortable, then you'll probably stray away. But hey do what makes you comfortable. I never EVER drank in high school (sure I was a bit behind in that area when I got to college, but I soon found so was almost everyone else that I met [never drank in high school either, the people that say this may surprise you, I was surprise by who and the number of them b/c I thought everyone drank in high school!!]) and now that I'm in college, I do. I don't party all the time or anything but getting drunk is fun and well worth the effort. Just don't do anything stupid and don't get sick. It's easier than it looks.</p>
<p>YES
I go to a party school. Granted, I'm a freshman, but I certainly have a social life comparable to, if not better than the one that I had in high school. I have not set foot in a party (and have no intentions too). I'm not religious, so I'm not hanging out with all the religious kids either. I do live in the honors dorm though, so I'm sure that has A LOT to do with it. We have plenty of fun, and there are TONS of activities on campus without going to the parties.</p>
<p>Most students spend their weekends in bars or frat parties. Even though most people drink, it doesn't mean you have to and there isn't any pressure.</p>
<p>^ Exactly. Nothing wrong with being a part of the scene while not drinking. If you're just looking for a social life, then it doesn't mean you have to drink or be extremely crazy and stupid at some party. You could just go just to meet new people and nothing more. They won't pressure you. If they do, they will leave you alone in most cases if you just say no.</p>
<p>VERY DIFFICULT
I don't drink, and multiple people told me I should just go to parties anyway and just not drink. For the record, being the only sober one (while sometimes amusing) is at other times just a waste of time. Drunk people aren't going to remember you, so it's not like you're going to make any new friends or have any profound conversations.</p>
<p>Granted, you can go to parties and not drink, and no one will care...but honestly, most college parties are centered around drinking/getting drunk...so there will be very little for you to do.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it is easier to find the people who do drink and much more difficult to find the non-drinkers. This can be GREATLY facilitated by applying to a Living Well floor, or an Honors Floor, etc. I wish I had done this...And popular to contrary belief the people who occupy such floors are not religious zealots. (or all of them at least). A lot of people, myself included, have other reasons for not drinking that have nothing to do with being religious.</p>
<p>It's totally possible. I go to Washington and Lee University, which has parties all the time, and I don't drink and I hardly go to parties, and I've found a couple of circles of friends that are all good people who don't do either. It's all about having the right, optimistic attitude that there are others like you, feeling the same way, and that you just have to find them.</p>
<p>I spent the past four days visiting a party school- UConn. Although it IS possible to meet people without partying, don't count on meeting tons of people without it. All in all, I think it's difficult...but still possible. I think it's extremely hard to meet the hot chicks though if you're not willing to go out and party...</p>
<p>I do drink almost every weekend, but certainly not stupidly/excessively, but I've had a lot of fun not drinking before so it's not a problem - I have a bunch of friends who don't drink but we have a great time because they just have really outgoing personalities...it's also nice not to get trashed every weekend...i can definitely have fun not drinking just hanging out and meeting new people....then again, if you're sober at a frat or a club, it's probably not going to be as fun...i had a pretty bad night drinking and decided to go out sober the next night and finally realized how obnoxious drunk people can be when you're sober...</p>
<p>I think there are people everywhere that don't drink and party.. I know a lot of them actually, and all of my friends aren't really the drunken party type. If you take a lot of hard science/math courses I think you'll find several people there that don't party (nerds, like myself).
you can have a social life, if you can pry other hermits out of thier shells, movies, food, bowling, just hanging out.</p>
<p>Drinking is an important part of the college experience, it always has been. Don't be so quick to write it off and say "No I won't ever drink." What is the point in that? You work hard all week, you should at least allow yourself to relax and let loose a little bit on the weekends. Also, I'm very sick of negative stereotype of "idiotic jock drinker/partier." It's unfair to classify like that. It's possible to work hard and party hard. Trust me i've done it all through high school. Haven't missed a party yet still manage to carry a 4.0 GPA. Personally, school gets to me after a while. I need a break. Give yourself one.</p>
<p>It really depends on the school you attend. At my school, Furman, I would say the majority of the students do not drink, and you'd definitely not be on the outside of the social scene by not drinking/partying. Also, you can go to parties and not drink, but the parties here really suck if you're sober.</p>
<p>But yeah, I definitely want to echo the above posts saying that one should try alcohol before damning it. I never drank in high school, but I now that I'm in college, I find myself drinking every weekend. It is indeed an important part of the college experience. This is the way I look at it: college is the very last time that you will be able to have fun, go crazy, and basically do whatever you want without the responsibilities of being an adult. There's plenty of time for being responsible later in life, so why not take advantage of the chance to try new things and have a good time? There are so many people at my school that really look down on people who drink, and it makes me mad. At least get drunk once, to say you've done it and so you'll know what you're missing.</p>
<p>I don't agree that you should forfeit all responsibilities as an adult until later on in life. Not something I will do. I can still have fun. But I still want to be a responsible person in general.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, if it's a small school, probably not. My school only has about 1000 people in it and I am having a REALLY hard time finding friends. I am doing everything to find them clubs, etc. I am pretty unhappy currently to say the least. I am also not a really religious person, so it seems like the only people at my school that don't drink (small group) are really religious.</p>