Is there a lot of drinking at Lehigh- I hope not!

<p>I applied to Lehigh ED2. It looks amazing. Recently, however, everyone I meet has been giving me the reaction, "Oh, I hear that's a huge party school" and "They drink more there than at Penn State". Is this true? I know that it is a large Greek school, but I'm kind of alarmed by this reaction. As long as there isn't pressure to drink I would be fine. Would a student mind telling me the truth about Lehigh?</p>

<p>yes, there is a lot of drinking. All of my friends who go there say so, as well as both my grandparents and uncle who went there.</p>

<p>Haha. Is there a lot of drinking at Lehigh? That’s a funny question. From what I’ve heard, most of the kids there party several times a week. </p>

<p>I’m not particularly into the idea of drinking my way through college, however, and since I have a place to stay (I’ll be helping to pay the mortgage on the house, either way,) I’m going to try to get permission to live off-campus my freshman year. If that isn’t an option for you, and you really don’t like drinking, you might want to try another school. I’m sure there are other things to do, if you have a car, but it seems to be very much a part of the school’s identity.</p>

<p>as a Lehigh student, yes there is a lot of drinking. I know kids that go out pretty much every night except Sundays. I also know a lot of people who only go out on weekends, and thats fine too, what ever you feel comfortable with. This is a very academic school and when it comes down to it people almost always put academics first.</p>

<p>Also I want to point out that there isn’t any pressure to drink. I know dozens of people who go out to dance parties and off campus parties and just don’t drink and they are hardly ever questioned. </p>

<p>-Also note this is from a girls perspective…It maybe totally different for guys, especially if you plan on rushing.</p>

<p>Trust me, if you don’t want to get involved there will be no pressure. I visited Lehigh for a weekend. It’s there if you want it, and it’s really out there if you know what I mean. lol</p>

<p>Lehigh is a party school. They are ranked #14 with Playboy. You don’t have to drink…just have fun!</p>

<p>Although Lehigh is known as a “work hard, play hard” school, you will find many things to do that don’t involve drinking. If you want, you can even apply for substance-free housing where you will live with other students who don’t drink.</p>

<p>You’ll find partying at most any school out there; college IS what you make of it. That said, however, I do think that Lehigh is a bit on the high end of things when it comes to drinking. </p>

<p>They paid for me to fly to PA and visit the school as a part of a special diversity program, and we were housed with current students for a weekend. These students were supposed to be top-of-the-line students that I would think Lehigh would want representing the school…however, on the second night I was there (a Sat.), the guys I was rooming with threw us a party, specifically FOR the underage, high school kids visiting as part of this program. It wasn’t really a party so much as a 5 hour-long game of beer pong in a crammed apartment. I can’t say that I was necessarily PRESSURED to drink, but I was the only person of the 20 or so folk in the room without a cup in hand…so there will always be that internal, trying to fit in pressure. I tried to walk around the campus to leave the room for a while, but it was clear that partying was happening all over the campus. Loud music could be heard blasting from off-campus housing, girls in slutty dresses were getting rides up to the “hill” to go to frat parties, and I counted dozens of people bringing cases of beer into rooms and buildings. Also, one of the student tour guides on the first day was bragging about the recent Playboy rankings, and some of the student leaders were filling us in during lunch to “just meet a junior or senior your freshman year and they’ll get you all the beer you need.” Overall, my weekend there certainly gave me the impression that if you don’t drink at Lehigh, you won’t have a lot to do.</p>

<p>Originally, Lehigh was my top choice…but after the visit, I decided not to even apply at all:( I know that what I got was only a glimpse, but I could tell that the atmosphere wasn’t right for me. I’m sure that if you end up at Lehigh you’ll love it, I just personally had a bad experience there.</p>

<p>There is definitely a lot of drinking at Lehigh, but you don’t have to do it. </p>

<p>I don’t drink. I’ll admit that parties full of a bunch of people you don’t know can get to be not a lot of fun when you’re the only sober person in the room, but once you make some friends and hang out with them, you’ll find that you don’t need to drink to have fun (even at a party).</p>

<p>And as far as pressure goes, as a guy, I am constantly asked why I don’t drink, but I’ve never really been pressured to actually do it. Any pressure I’ve felt has been due to wanting to fit in.</p>

<p>I’m really glad to hear all this, actually. It makes me feel a lot better. I had originally applied Early Decision 2. I pulled it out just before the deadline. I really disapprove of alcohol, and want to find a place where social doesn’t mean party. I understand that all schools will have partying, but with the amount at Lehigh I can’t imagine I would feel very comfortable there. </p>

<p>Anyway, now my top two schools are hours away, instead of Lehigh which was ONLY an hour away from me. Still, I’d rather be far and happy than near and uncomfortable.</p>

<p>Mjh2010- I can’t believe someone would do that!</p>

<p>dreamergranger, did you get in? I got in yesterday, maybe we’ll meet.</p>

<p>I pulled my early decision so I won’t hear until later. Even if I get in I might not go though. I know two of my friends will be there next there though, so I’m happy for them</p>

<p>How does South Mountain College differ wrt drinking, or does it?</p>

<p>Dreamer - I understand you are against drinking and that’s perfectly fine. I don’t drink and I definitely respect your decision. But I’m sure a lot of the kids who say “I will never underage drink” end up drinking at college, no matter which one you go to (sans BYU or another mormon school)</p>

<p>Haha this is comical. Lehigh is a party school, along with every other university out there. Your college experience is what you make it; if you don’t want to drink, you don’t have to. You’ll run into opportunities in which you may be pressured to drink at any school. With that said, you shouldn’t pass by an opportunity to attend a school just because you don’t want to feel “pressure to drink.”</p>

<p>Lehigh is a party school and you can find a party every night, but a lot of other schools are party schools as well. A lot of kids don’t drink. I’m tired of people talking about it so much though. Just keep quiet and do what you want.
(I don’t drink – I don’t feel pressured)</p>

<p>My son and I are driving out mid week and we are going to walk around campus at night - he has this vision of drunken students falling all over the campus every night - thanks to the internet! Anyway, I hope to reassure him that Lehigh, like any college, has drinkers and it is available anytime - you do not have to involve yourself if you do not wish to partake. Fingers crossed that we do not come accross a gang of drunken students while walking the campus late night mid week!</p>

<p>You shouldn’t come across anything too bad. haha. All the parties take place up on the hill where the frat and sorority houses are, or off campus. And mid week you shouldn’t really come across many people at all.</p>

<p>ar31 are the dorms relatively quiet on weekends in case the freshman has to do some catch-up studying on a Saturday instead of go to the frat parties?</p>

<p>JohnAdams, Most of the day – yes. Most of the night – no. But it depends what hall you are in, the type of kids, how strict the gryphons (residence hall advisors) are in that building, etc.</p>