<p>I was looking on the Princeton Review guide the other day and U-M was ranked in the top 15-20 for beer, hard liquor, and weed. Hence, I was wondering:</p>
<p>1.) Is drugs a noticable problem at U-M? This is my big concern. In fact, I can hardly imagine, what would draw U-M students to drugs? If they were already druggies in high school then I doubt they could have made the academic standards to get in (drugs kill brain cells like crazy). If they started taking drugs in college, well.. WHY? Academic stress? </p>
<p>2.) Is U-M commonly considered a "party school"? </p>
<p>Once again, just asking for objective information, no means to belittle U-M. I'm only asking coz I have a very high likelihood of attending.</p>
<p>1) There will always be kids at any college who take drugs. Have I seen them on campus? Yes. Is it predominant? No.</p>
<p>And don't assume that druggies are "dumb". It may be a "dumb" choice depending on your perspective, but if you enter college with that preassumption, you'll be surprised. Some of the smartest ppl I know here are 24/7 alcoholics lol.</p>
<p>2) UM is not a "party school" in the true sense of the word. If you want to party, you will find them. If you want to study, you will be able to.</p>
<p>I can believe that certain drunkards are also geniuses. But druggies? Unless born an Einstein *10^10, how can one maintain his/her intelligence after a long period of drug abuse? Of course, I'm assuming that they all get addicted; if they have abstinence control over their drug use, then that's another matter. I'm not expecting every one at U-M to be perfect goodlings, but wouldn't you expect them to be normally rational; noticeable drug use sounds too extreme. Anyways, thanks for the perspective.</p>
<p>The University of Michigan is not a party school...not even close. Of course, Michigan isn't the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins or BYU, but it is not the University of Arizona or the University of Wisconsin. I'd say Michigan is about the same as Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke and Penn when it comes to parties. In short, the students are serious about their studies, but they know how to have fun. Work hard...play hard. </p>
<p>And do yourself a favor man, torch that Princeton Review. The PR is a joke.</p>
<p>You forget that pot is probably not nearly as bad for you as alcohol. I might even go so far as to say that the only reason you have fewer reservations about alcohol is because it's "legal."</p>
<p>I know plenty of very very intelligent people who use marijuana. Don't buy into the crap they taught you in DARE. :p</p>
<p>By the way, most drugs don't particulary "kill brain cells like crazy." For example, while cocaine has terrible effects on the heart and may cause some forms of psychosis, it's not known for killing brain cells. </p>
<p>You probably kill more brain cells sitting in traffic (CO poisoning) than you would getting high.</p>
<p>Using drugs/alcohol does not mean that you are dumb. I'll admit that I smoke pot and drink regularly. Yet, I'm ranked first in my class and got into UM. However, I can only say this about pot.
Furthermore, 4 of the top ten kids in our class smoke pot and 9 out of ten smoke pot.<br>
However, I don't think that anybody at UM will force it upon you. They will respect the fact that you don't want to drink/smoke.</p>
<p>I would say UofM is considered a party school by people who also consider Dartmouth a party school, meaning its work hard/play hard and you won't have trouble avoiding that scene if you want to.</p>
<p>And heavy drinking and casual coke use seem like great ways to make four years pass faster for a bored and wealthy student</p>
<p>that is a HUGE misconception that the media and various religious right wing conservatives feed people with.</p>
<p>I smoke pot and drink on a regular basis as well. I'll also use other drugs recreationally on occasion (pharmaceuticals, other illicit drugs). Do some research... you'll likely be very suprised. </p>
<p>Drugs can certainly be found on just about any college campus and people are going to use them. U-M is no exception. </p>
<p>Drugs in moderation are NOT a bad thing. It's that moderation thing some people have a problem with... which can lead to all sorts of serious problems depending on type of drugs... but I can assure you these people aren't killing brain cells (the one exception may be ecstacy, open to debate)</p>
<p>Even if you have no moral issues regarding drugs, at least take note of the legal. Marijuana along with many others drugs are illegal. There is no way you can justify that what you are doing is okay. It is illegal.</p>
<p>That being beside the point, no matter what school you go to, you will see drug use and alcohol abuse, but that's part of life. Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to take part in it.</p>
<p>speeding is illegal as well... you're going to tell me you've never been over the speed limit in a car? in Ann Arbor, there are much stiffer fines for doing 5mph over the speed limit, than for lighting up a doobie while taking a stroll down South U. how about drinking before you were 21? jaywalking? </p>
<p>You're going to tell me you're a 100% law abiding citizen? No exceptions? </p>
<p>There are laws with a rational basis, and there are laws without rational basis. Marijuana laws are part of the latter group. Look up the facts, all of them, and you'll be hard-pressed to disagree with me, and you certainly wouldn't be rational. </p>
<p>Furthermore, there are certain laws designed to protect people from themselves. Many drug laws fall into this category, including marijuana which is hypocritical of our legal system considering alcohol and tobacco are legal. At any rate, I'll decide for myself if laws in this group apply to me.</p>
<p>and I agree with Cincinnatistudent. If you want to let laws decide for you what is "okay" and what is not "okay," then be my guest. I'll make those decisions for myself.</p>
<p>I assume if the university authorities catch you with a beer before you're 21, you'll just get a slap on the wrist since it's so taken for granted. But if they catch you with pot, wouldn't that lead to explusion or something?</p>
<p>In case you aren't aware, Ann Arbor basically decriminalized marijuana. The fine for marijuana possession under a certain amount is a $25 fine.</p>
<p>and no, the university doesn't involve itself with your personal life. This isn't southern baptist university :p</p>
<p>However, I believe DPS may follow state law, which is obviously more serious than city law. So if they catch you, you're in some trouble unfortunately. However its pretty difficult to get caught smoking marijuana. Most people that get busted are selling it.</p>