<p>Hey everyone, this is a more general question about student life but I thought I'd put it here because MHC is one of my favorite schools that I'm applying to. I'm wondering how much of the student population at Mount Holyoke is substance-free or light drinkers. If anyone knows it would be awesome if you could tell me how it compares to the drinking/drugs/party scene at Scripps, Carleton, Bryn Mawr, Wellesley, or Colorado College. Thanks!!</p>
<p>My D is a soph. She reports that there are plenty of students who don’t drink and plenty who do and plenty in between. There are school-wide parties sponsored by MHC, parties of particular groups, and private parties. These run the gamut of alcohol consumption, although there still is a 21 year old drinking law in Massachusetts which is enforced at school wide parties, in terms of who gets served. Most parties happen on Friday and Saturday night, although private parties happen anytime. This excludes, of course the Sunday to Thursday evening M&Cs, which is no longer just milk and cookies – sometimes, chips and salsa, cake, veggies & dip, etc. etc. Around mid-terms, many are too concerned with exams and papers to party, but some party anyway. Kids are the same everywhere. There seem to be enough goings on most of the time to distract you from your studies, if you are so inclined, especially if you get involved in various groups that have their own social get togethers and other commitments (such as practices for games or performances). Everyone seems to be overly busy doing STUFF, with each student’s STUFF being different than another’s. As to the other LACs, few can compare them against one another since almost all have only been to the one. I suggest asking the same questions on their threads. At MHC (as likely the others), one can request to be housed in a quiet floor, or a substance-free floor of a dorm (or with a similarly minded roommate), but no dorm is entirely quiet or substance free. MHC is certainly not a convent or a Female Seminary (well, not anymore).</p>
<p>Lots of people drink. Some drink a lot, some drink a little. Lots of people don’t drink at all.</p>
<p>I personally don’t drink. Sometimes it can get frustrating when it’s a somewhat prominent part of many social functions BUT I can tell you with confidence that I really believe the situation is better here than larger schools (though I can’t speak specifically to those you listed–I would imagine the climate is similar).</p>
<p>Nonetheless there really is no pressure, and I can guarantee that it is in no way the only option for fun on campus. For a non-drinker, what drinking does occur just becomes more obvious.</p>
<p>I’ve posted this comment in other forums when this question comes up. D1 graduated from another school last spring. She does not drink. She explained that life isn’t an ABC after school special, when non-drinkers are tempted and figuratively seduced into drinking. When D1 refused a drink, guess what? She was offered a soda instead!!</p>
<p>I graduated from MHC several years ago and there is not much drinking on campus. There are some large school-wide parties that the college sponsors, and some students pre-party with friends in their dorm rooms before-hand. Aside from that, there weren’t many parties unless you were involved with specific groups (i.e. athletics or club sports). I recall the ice hockey team specifically…</p>
<p>I didn’t drink much in college and never got drunk once. Some of my friends didn’t drink at all, some drank occasionally like me, and I had a friend who did not drink often, but when she did, she over-did it. There truly are all types, and choosing not to drink is not a big deal. </p>
<p>My first “party” on campus was with a small group of friends involved in the theatre department and we had wine and brie. 
Nobody got drunk, just good conversation with good friends.</p>