<p>I have heard that while academics are top-notch, W&L is very much a party school with lots of heavy drinking. This seems likely, given the unusually high participation in Greek life. Is W&L a poor social fit for a kid that does NOT drink and is not interested in partying hard?</p>
<p>I'm a freshmen here at W&L. I choose not to drink at all, and i really don't party at all. I choose to live on a substance free floor. Because of this i got to meet some really fun people and we still have fun without drinking. I would say that W&L is not a bad fit for someone who doesn't drink. I think you just have to realize that you are going to be around it to some degree and you have to be comfortable with that. But overall it really has never made me feel uncomfortable.</p>
<p>Thanks -- that's a big question we have, too. What do you and your friends like to do - how do you spend your time?</p>
<p>I will say that while it is perfectly acceptable not to drink, most people do. The people I know who really hate drinking (and don't like to be around people who have been drinking) are generally very unhappy here. Most people who don't drink still go out to frat parties. Many people who don't drink still pledge a fraternity or sorority. The key, I think, is to be willing to be friends with people who do drink, and to keep an open mind.</p>
<p>two of the very happiest guys I have known at w&l are non-drinkers. you don't really even need to live in a substance free dorm. it's just not a big deal. school surveys have consistently shown that 10% of the student body does not drink. you have to understand that this is a very vibrant community with lots going on. yes, there are lots of parties -- and non-drinkers are welcome at them (bottled water is always available) -- but there is a lot more going on too.</p>
<p>I think almost everything here is true. I was going to argue with beautyistruth's statement about people who hate drinking being very unhappy, but her qualifier of not liking being around people who have been drinking makes that somewhat true as well. There are more W&L students than I can count that don't drink, some rarely ever go out except to the big events. Personally, I tended not to drink at big events simply because I would rather dance than sit around and drink bad beer (and alcohol does not make you a better dancer). Non-drinkers are overrepresented as W&L tour guides - if they are unhappy, why would they be giving tours of the school to prospective students? One tour guide here even told me that the thing she likes least about W&L is the drinking that goes on at parties. </p>
<p>Drinking takes place at W&L, as it does at every college campus I have ever been to. Can you be happy at W&L if you don't drink? Can you be happy if you don't go out? Yes, there is SO much to do that you can never go out to a party - just check campusnotices! (campusnotices.wlu.edu for those of you who are curious) Can you be happy if you cannot stand to be around people who are drinking or people who like to drink? That is doubtful, it's rare to find someone so opposed to drinking that they cannot be around drinkers at all, but those few people will not be happy at W&L.</p>
<p>Perhaps I should qualify my statement. Obviously, I have lots of friends who don't drink (neither of my current roommates drink), but they still go out with me, and have no problem when I do drink. However, there are definitely more than a "few" people here who are deeply uncomfortable and have no respect for people who partake in the culture here. These people are often miserable here simply because it is difficult to escape here. It is difficult to go to a small school like this when you are against an activity that 75% (or more?) of the campus participates in or at least condones. These people are obviously the minority, but they definitely exist.</p>
<p>I'm not trying to turn you off the school, I'm simply trying to explain that if your son (?) is uncomfortable around drinking, it may not be the right school for him. Perhaps he should go to a larger school where he will be able to find more people with his ideals. Dima is right in asserting that there is no school that does not have excessive drinking.</p>
<p>(Also keep in mind that a lot of people who now drink a lot never drank in high school.)</p>
<p>Okay, beautyistruth, I would definitely agree with that. You can thrive at W&L as a nondrinker, but if you can't stand being around people who drink or being around alcohol at parties - you need a bigger school with a much more varied social scene and different big groups you can hang out with</p>