<p>Hey,
I will be looking at schools pretty soon and want to get a college list together. I go to a pretty competitive, SMALL school in Idaho. I am a smart, intellectual kid looking for a decent sized school (not huge, not tiny) that boasts a good reputation with employers and grad school and has a fun social scene. Since 8th grade I have partied and never has it effected me. Quite the opposite, I finished middle school near the bottom of my class and then moved and transfered to a new high school where I find myself number 1 in my class. I smoke marijuana on occasion and drink on weekends. I am looking for a school with a laid back party scene. I am outdoorsy and athletic. I am pretty much open to any location in the United States.</p>
<p>I am still a junior
STATS:
SAT: no official SAT taken yet, but I usually get: M: 660-700 CR: 680-760 W: 680-730 (all on tests from Blue Book)
PSAT: M: 64 CR: 72 W:69 TOTAL: 205
I plan on working on those and improving them before spring SAT's.
GPA: 4.0 (nothing but A's with every possible honors taken so far and hardest course load in grade)
Rank: unofficially 1/21
AP: school does not offer AP courses due to its self styled curriculum, but I will take APUSH, Psych, Stats, Lang and Lit
EC's: XC Running (state qualifier)
Nordic Skier
Tennis (state qualifier)
Amnesty International (President)
Knowledge Bowl
Community Service Leadership Team
Spent 1 month in Africa working with human rights group
*Freshman year spent in Paris</p>
<p>So where do you guys recommend? I am starting trips in January and need to start planning! Let me know if you need more info.</p>
<p>Jshain, I stand corrected, my years of partying have Affected my grammar, but my spelling… it has always been atrocious, wait, atrocious right. As you can see just last year I had a 44 on my writing section of the SAT, so obviously I am not that great gramatically. Anyway, I am sure I made plenty of mistakes (and will continue to) in this and many other posts. I apologize grammar nazis. Although, without spell check it is kind of hard for your average joe to never make a mistake on a forum.</p>
<p>So when you say laid-back party scene, I am guessing more pot and travelling to Burning Man than frat parties and kegs. UC Santa Cruz, Reed (though the academics will kick your tail), Hampshire, Univeristy of Colorado since you are outdoorsy, and any number of small LACs in the middle of nowhere that work hard during the week but play hard on the weekends. If that is your route, pick a campus that has a hands-off party policy, like Beloit.
If, on the other hand, you want the organized party scene, try Big Ten or SEC schools that are heavy on fraternity party scene. </p>
<p>A word of caution, this is a great time of year to check out the parent threads where kids smarter than you are on probation, flunking out, losing scholarships, because they partied too hard. In addition, there are plenty of stories of kids getting busted, suspended, etc for a too good a time. Why would you just want to do what you did in high school? Do you really want to pick a school based on what you already do, as opposed to what you COULD do? Not everyone can be Tucker Max.</p>
<p>Boulder and whatever cal is in either Chico or Fresno (don’t remember which) are consistently considered the top party schools.</p>
<p>Of course, if you like the big city environment, you are going to have to look elsewhere. But if you like the greek/house party atmosphere, state school is a good choice. </p>
<p>You’ll need to check out schools in NY, Boston, etc. for schools with a better bar or club atmosphere. </p>
<p>I am not sure on my major, but maybe international relations, english, history, or economics/business. Nothing to do with applied science or engineering. </p>
<p>MizzBee, I think you have misinterpreted me as a stoner. I smoke once a month at most and during stretches I go 3-4 months without smoking. Same with drinking except I drink a bit more frequently. I am not looking to “party hard”. When I say, “laid back party scene” what I mean is a scene that is not exclusive and does not entail a party hard atmosphere. Just kids that like to hang out but are responsible and “chill”. I am not looking for keggers or ridiculous all week party frats. Not sure if that really makes sense to anyone. </p>
<p>Boulder definitely does not have the intellectual atmosphere that I am looking for.</p>
<p>Also, mountains are plus, but not a necessity.</p>
<p>Also, I am looking for an intellectual, academic school. Apparently, likes to party is synonymous with lazy on this board. NO! I work very hard in school and love the challenge. Chico State is just kind of insulting. Do my stats suggest that I belong at a school like that? I am not looking for a party hard atmosphere! I am thankful for the suggestions, but I think people have misinterpreted what I am looking for in a college.</p>
<p>^Thanks. Whitman loves my high school and I will definitely be looking into it. I also like the idea of Claremont McKenna. Reed seems cool and so does Hampshire. Vandy was another good suggestion. Will look into all!</p>
<p>I think you got off on the wrong foot by asking about party schools. Sounds like you want an intellectual school. As far as I know, drinking and pot smoking exists at pretty much all schools except the most ultra conservative religious ones.</p>
<p>On the East Coast there are many LACs you might consider. Don’t know how small you are willing to go but how about Skidmore? </p>
<p>For a little larger school, how about Tulane?</p>
<p>I agree. I should not of made it seem like I was asking for a school primarily for partying. This was my bad. I am willing to consider as small as 800 (tiny), but will probably consider bigger schools with a bit more enthusiasm. I just know that some schools have a bit more of a fun atmosphere and that is what I was looking for.</p>
<p>I am guessing that the adult consensus on this board is that partying every weekend, even if it is just a “chill” kind of party, interferes in the long run with the goal of being academically challenged. At some point, at a truly academically challenging college, partying <em>every</em> weekend is a costly toll on the student. Lack of sleep from both staying up into the wee hours plus the loss of REM cycles from going to sleep while drunk (this lack of REM also screws up retention of things learned earlier that day) becomes a problem the more frequently it is employed.</p>
<p>The OP has a lack of perspective that most the adults here have on the cumulative effects of partying (even “chill” parties) on body health, mental health, and study and productivity outcomes. One can generally abuse the body more as a youth and “bounce” back much quicker than one can even a few years later. To plan a party lifestyle up to 6 years in the future (2 years of hs followed by 4 years of college) shows a lack of understanding of the cumulative effect of partying. Perhaps, perhaps, the idea of a “chill” party scene is 2 or 3 beers a weekend. But it isn’t certain because the OP has only put the upper limits at “not weekend keggers” which leaves a lot to interpretation.</p>
<p>The OP is also probably naive in his/her comparison of the study workload of high school (even rigorous hs schedule) and the workload and expectations of college studies. I am of the thought (and probably many other adults here will concur) that one should enter college with an open mind and a VERY flexible idea of how much studying will be required to do well in classes. I was also a bright hs student who eventually had her <em>ss handed to her by a Music History class. I was in shock for several semesters about the workload associated with those classes before I adjusted. Quite simply put, partying *every</em> weekend and doing well at my LAC did not mix.</p>
<p>Do a google search - there are lots of lists of “best party schools”. Cross-reference it with other lists that denote academic excellence. Once you have a list of potential schools, start asking more specifics about the social scene.</p>
<p>^I did not say that it was not up to my standards, I said, “Boulder definitely does not have the intellectual atmosphere that I am looking for”. As a Colorado native I love Boulder and know many who go, will go, and have gone there. That being said, I am above it most categories. There middle 50% for SAT’s are math 550-650 and critical reading 520-630. I am way out of the middle 50% for critical reading and I am usually out of it for math, but I suffered from a poor PSAT and a vicious curve. I can usually get near a 700 on math, granted those are practice tests. Boulder is fine school and I realize that I could most likely get the same education at any school depending on what I put into it. I know for a fact that Boulder does not have the intellectual atmosphere that other schools boast. Also, my GPA is definitely above the average Boulder student. If I was instate then I would probably consider it seriously, but why pay as much for a state school as for a private school? If I am to consider state schools, I will most likely look at Umich and Uva and probably Boise State as my safety.</p>
<p>Edit: I also like the UVM suggestion, might look into it.</p>
<p>Annika,
I appreciate your honest and thoughtful response. I am sure that partying <em>every</em> weekend does take quite a toll. I think I have presented myself of too much of a party boy. I actually go to a party 2-3 times a month and drink one of those times. On average, I just have a few beers and have never had too much to drink to the point of feeling ill. I have a curfew and so I am never up late and I do not imagine that being a problem. I am a safe drinker and rarely, very rarely, actually get drunk. I only exceed a few beers on rare occasions. This is what partying is to me. It is not “throwing down” or “raging”. It is responsible, fun, and laid back. I am sure that I am “naive”, but this is a time when I can be naive and have fun. Obviously drinking won’t help me academically, but I am looking to experience life to its fullest in college, which means not only focusing on academics. I am sure a college workload is hard and I doubt I will be able to truly prepare for it, but I do work hard now (2-3 hrs a night) and I will step up my game when it is called for.</p>