<p>So I'm a sober and straight edge kid(seen alcohol wreck lives in my own family, and I have friends that have really messed up their lives with binging and drugs and I never wanna end up like them) and I'm concerned about being accepted in college. I'm applying early decision to Cornell where, with over 14,000 students there, I know I can find at least some people that would accept me, despite the very large frat presence, but if that doesn't work out I'm also going to be applying to SUNY Binghamton, Northeastern, BU, and U of Richmond, and probably Michigan. I'm not judgemental towards anyone, despite the stereotype, but it'd be nice to have a roommate that wasnt hosting a kegger in our dorm room on a weekly basis, uk? What schools could people suggest to where I could be accepted(wellness housing, not a big drug culture, etc) that isn't a catholic school? My SAT score is a 2060 and my ACT score is a 30(yes on the lower side of accepted scores for Cornell, but I'm taking the SAT's again in October and applying early decision to maximize my chances in addition to strong EC's and administrative, strong teacher, and alumni recommendations). So basically, where would anyone suggest for me with my scores and my lifestyle, and could anyone tell me what my chances of being accepted and finding friends that don't abuse drugs and alcohol are at the schools mentioned above (Cornell, Binghamton, BU, NE, U Richmond)?</p>
<p>If you have any questions about Binghamton, let me know. I go there. I don’t drink either-- I used to, very moderately, until one incident which kind of swore me off alcohol-- and I’m fine. Like you said, those schools are all so big that you can easily find friends who aren’t into partying/alcohol culture. There’s plenty of people who spend their weekends watching movies, going on hikes, and other sober fun. If you do want to go out to a frat or whatever, you can still dance and socialize and stuff without drinking.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about religion schools, but there’ll be drugs and alcohol at pretty much every college campus (somebody correct me if I’m wrong 
). What you can do when you go to college is don’t fall victim to peer pressure, and follow your own beliefs and your own mind. </p>
<p>If you’re at a party with friends, and they’re drinking, you don’t have to follow behind them just because you’re the only sober person in the crowd. You can be the designated driver or just try to keep your friends from doing anything stupid like driving under the influence. </p>
<p>Anyways, I was just giving you an example of what you can do in certain situations. If you’re looking at elite schools, you can check out Stanford University or Swarthmore College. Since I don’t know what state you live in, I can’t really give you a lot of college suggestions. lol :p</p>
<p>^ I live in New York. Not looking to go further South than Virginia and not looking to go out west (visited Colorado schools while out there skiing and didn’t really love them, and while the UC schools are great, I don’t wanna be on the opposite coast from home from a convenience standpoint and a financial standpoint with travel costs).</p>
<p>Thank you for your input. It’s really helpful and eases my concerns.</p>
<p>I go to school in the Midwest. I never had a sip of alcohol and I got along just fine. Honestly, college is such an experience that you’ll be accepted regardless of your drinking preference.</p>
<p>I went to a major party school. Didn’t really drink (a beer once in a while but never enough to get drunk) and never had any problems. You’ll be fine. </p>
<p>You can really find your niche at any large school.</p>
<p>no! you’ll be castigated and excoriated for your sobriety! :p</p>
<p>Thank you all for your input! And enfieldacademy, that was very funny :-)</p>
<p>You’ll definitely be accepted. You need not worry. People are, as a whole, not very judgmental about alcohol use.</p>
<p>However, it will be more difficult to make friends, so you’ll just have to be ready to make a serious effort to find the right people who do the kinds of social activities you like. I don’t drink, either, and I’d say it is a lot easier to find a party than to find sober socialization. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t out there; it is. Good job on your decision and good luck going forward!</p>
<p>^Thank you so much! I really appreciate that!</p>
<p>[Binge</a> drinking, dangers of alcohol at College Drinking](<a href=“College Drinking, Changing the Culture”>Studies on Alcohol) has some information on alcohol drinking and college characteristics.</p>
<p>The following are associated with less drinking:</p>
<ul>
<li>Black students and historically black schools</li>
<li>Female students and women’s schools</li>
<li>Two year schools</li>
<li>Commuter students living with parents</li>
<li>Larger schools</li>
</ul>
<p>The following are associated with more drinking:</p>
<ul>
<li>Fraternities and sororities</li>
<li>Four year schools</li>
<li>Male students living on-campus</li>
<li>Female students living off-campus (not with parents)</li>
<li>More athletics</li>
<li>Northeast region, followed by north central region</li>
</ul>
<p>For college suggestions, have you thought about NYU or Vassar College?</p>
<p>There are going to be people at any school in the country that will drink to excess and use a lot of drugs. However, there are also a lot of people at all of these same schools that share your mindset, and prefer to avoid it.</p>
<p>I know a lot of people that refrain from drinking and are still quite popular in their social groups. It’s all about finding your niche- when you’re with people who like you/are similar, you’re not going to be judged.</p>
<p>There are lots of people in college. You only need ~3 of them to be your friends. You don’t need to be friends with the entire school, and it’s not hard to find friends that don’t drink.</p>
<p>None of your schools are specifically known for excess drinking or partying, so I think you’ll be good.That said, even at party schools non-drinkers manage to be accepted. On of my friends who refuses to so much as watch an advertisement for beer goes to a major party school and she still has a social group.</p>
<p>To the OP, wise choice on abstaining from alcohol/chemicals. People with chemical abuse problems in their families have a 50% chance of becoming chemically dependent if they try alcohol/drugs. The population as a whole has a 10% chance.</p>
<p>Based on, admittedly, a very small anecdotal sample, I’d avoid small isolated LACs. The young people who I know who have gone to such schools say the only thing to do there is drink, and that everyone does it.</p>
<p>My friend, who is a professor/student adviser at a midwestern LAC says she feels sorry for the students she advises who don’t drink. She says they complain to her in the first months of college that they don’t fit in at all, and can’t find a friendship group. She says she advises them to hang in, and that the students are typically able to find a friendship group by the spring term.</p>
<p>How much are you going to judge others? I would say you can make friends anywhere. You can go to any party. You can hold a cup in your hand - no one knows what’s in it. OR are you going to proclaim you are a non-drinker. Are you going to announce all the reasons you don’t drink (even though they are good ones). THAT will make you a pain to be around.</p>
<p>Yeah, no, snugapug.</p>
<p>Believe it or not, you don’t have to assimilate to “not be a pain.”</p>
<p>It is not judging others to say, “I don’t drink because X.”</p>
<p>It is judging others to say, “you are X because you drink” or “you are X because you don’t drink.”</p>
<p>Believe it or not, people who don’t drink don’t have to actually go to parties and pretend they are drinking just to fit in. It’s so ridiculous that every time anyone says “I don’t drink,” it is assumed that person is being judgmental when all he/she is doing is making a personal choice.</p>
<p>Take it from me: if you think your “friends” are people you have to pretend to be drinking around are your friends, they aren’t. Your friends aren’t people who think you are a “pain to be around” because you have made a personal choice. Don’t try to impress people like that. You will find real friends who will allow you to make your choices and support you in them, as you will support them.</p>
<p>I don’t drink. Never have, probably never will. I have no reason other than it doesn’t interest me. I went to a bar the other day with my friends. They drank. I had water. At no point was anyone ever judging anyone in that situation. They didn’t tell me “you’re such a pain.” What a bleak view of socialization to think that people who drink and people who do not drink can only get along if they fake who they are.</p>