<p>Hi, everybody. This is my first post on the Alabama board. I recently became interested in 'Bama after seeing television program about the school and hearing about their generous scholarship offers. I have the grades to receive a Presidential Scholarship, and I hope to partake in the honors program.</p>
<p>That being said, I a few questions about undergraduate life.</p>
<p>Since I have never visited Alabama, I have no idea what student life is like. I know Alabama has a reputation for its football games, but what SEC school doesn’t? My primary concern, however, is that students at Alabama might have too much of a good time.</p>
<p>I should give some background. My brother attended UNC Chapel Hill for about a year and half before he was suspended due to conduct violations. As it turns out, he is an alcoholic. There is a good chance that I am also an addict, but I have never been involved in drugs/drinking.</p>
<p>My question pertains to Alabama and its party scene. Is it at the point where it will be a serious distraction to my studies? I plan to go to school to learn, with the partying being more of a sideshow and not the main attraction. Will I be able to enjoy myself without attending parties where drinking is the de facto behavior?</p>
<p>JChamp, what a mature and levelheaded young adult you are! I am sorry about your brother and I am amazed at your insight into his problems and how it might impact you. I would check to see if Bama has any substance free housing, and if you read some of the other posts about Honors housing at Bama, it is implied that there is not much if any partying going on and that they are pretty quiet.
I think you will have a very hard time at ANY school, public or private, that does not have a significant party scene. Obviously, some are much worse than others.
My niece is a freshman at Baylor University in Texax (Baptist!) and she wants to transfer because all of the weekend drinking. Most of her friends leave for home every weekend and they are the nicer kids, and she is left being the designated driver for the kids who do stay and drink all weekend. She is miserable.
I think if you are aware that you will probably not be able to find a dry campus anywhere (perhaps Bob Jones or Liberty?) you can prepare yourself adequately. Get very active in various clubs early on as a social outlet and that will be a good start.
Good luck to you in your search</p>
<p>JChamp, Drinking CAN be a problem at any college. It all boils down to choices. Some students make good choices and other do not. Either way, ALCOHOL is not the problem. Many young adults can and do handle their alcohol consumption whether or not they are of leagal age.<br>
One can make the same argument about guns....guns don't kill, people kill....guns are the tools used to carry out the act. </p>
<p>If you are a serious student and have a level head on your shoulders, you should do well no matter what school you attend. Temptation to conform is real. Unless someone has secretly altered your drink, no one can force you to consume drugs or alcohol. </p>
<p>Can non-partying students coexist with others that partake? Absolutely! My son has made good choices with his free time that do not include drugs and alcohol.<br>
Just as "hope4freeride" posted, get involved in activities that keep you grounded in your convictions.</p>
<p>YES alabama is a party school over all but NO not everyone participates in that. There is substance free floors in some dorms, so i would check that out. But if youre smart enough to realize the future temptation now, you should be fine in resisting it. good luck :)</p>
<p>IsleofJD
Junior Member (post about this student's freshmen experience at U of A)</p>
<p>Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 30
I am not a huge fan of all things "old south" and I thought that in this day in age, it would not be as prevalent at Bama. I have enjoyed my time there and I know the administration is trying their hardest to change things but I am 90% sure that it is not where I want to spend all 4 years when I have in-state tuition to UGA and FSU. Greek life is essentially all there is to do in Tuscaloosa. The strip is a fun place but the university owns it and has monopolized it and getting into a bar with a fake is near impossible. I feel as though it is a university where people who really liked to gossip in high school are able to continue to do so in college while being in a sorority or fraternity. Do not listen to anyone when they tell you that greek life is not as intense at Bama as people claim. The Beta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Bama was just closed down for a hazing incident. They made their pledges sit in a metal chair that had been heated up with irons. One pledge suffered 3rd degree burns and complications from an infection that included a collapsed lung, 106 degree fever, and seizure. Yet, this student did not even report Sig Ep for what they did but rather, it was discovered when he went to the local hospital for something unrelated. Now his father is trying to sue for the hospital releasing private information and they are trying to get the fraternity re-instated on campus. The issue with the state of Alabama...it is still run by old money old south men who would prefer to keep the "good ole' boy system" in place. There are an extreme amount of dirty secrets at this school that you will never hear about. I have never heard of pledges outside of SEC Schools having to wear slacks and polo to class every day and a dress shirt, slacks, sport coat, and tie to all football games. It is absolutely absurd. If the Feds were to launch an investigation into Alabama, I highly doubt the greek system would continue to exist and I wonder if the university itself would not be taken under some sort of federal control. </p>
<p>I honestly think we need to reinstitute Reconstruction into Mississippi and Alabama. I laugh at how many people from these states, and from all over the south, try to claim they are the "real" America...yet they believe that all that really entails is fighting wars, drinking beer, and yelling "America! **** Yeah!".....all while proudly sporting the Confederate Flag at every chance they get...</p>
<p>Word of advise: Be carefull what you say on public forums. It is clear that U of AL was not the right fit for YOU. Your experience of GREEK LIFE is from your perspective. Greek Life is not the right choice for many but it is also NOT the only way to enjoy your college experience. You obviously liked AL enough to start your freshman year even if it was a fallback to your first choice (FSU). </p>
<p>You also exposed a flaw in your moral character when you shared your frustration of not being able to use a fake ID to get into bars. Whether you drink or not, you still see nothing wrong with using a fake ID to get into establishments that are following rules. Rules are put in place for a reason even if you don't like them. If you think everyone does it, what's the harm? You are not looking at the big picture. </p>
<p>Plenty of articles have been written warning young adults and teens about public forums and social networking sites. Do you realize that many college admissions offices across the nation monitor these forums and can determine each of our identities with great accuracy? Wether you indended to or not, the admissions department at FSU can narrow down their applicant pool and figure out which transfer applicant you are. How many current (male)freshman attending the U of AL are seeking to transfer to FSU? Of those current applicants, how many were not offered admission last year? If I were on the review panel, regardless of grades, I can determine you are a complainer and have no regard for rules. Even more, I can conclude you will do anything it takes to break the rules (fake ID).
I can conclude you don't respect authority when rules hinder your needs. </p>
<p>Let FSU have you, U of AL will have one less student that does not fit the ideal quality students every school seeks.</p>