Could a current student or someone very familiar with the culture at UNC help with some advice?
I’ve been admitted to UNC-CH and it’s in my top 2 schools. One of my concerns about attending school here is the social environment. I do not smoke, drink, or use any type of drugs and I will do the same in college. Are people generally accepting of others who don’t choose to engage in these activities, or would I feel ostracized and unwelcome? I’m not completely opposed to attending parties, but it I find the culture to be too focused on inebriation it would be a turn off. Also, are there plenty of other activities for students to engage in that do not involve alcohol, like on weekends and evenings? Thank you!!
Let me begin by saying that there is drinking and partying at every school in the country. You will not be ostracized at UNC if you don’t drink or attend parties… many have no interest.
There is a lot to do, including attending games, volunteering, joining and becoming very active in clubs, attending concerts, going to dinner in town, seeing guest speakers, etc. There is also school work to do.
There will be parties at every school in the country. If you don’t want to party at UNC…you can easily avoid it. Good luck with your decision!
Thank you! The reason I asked in the first place is that my #1 school is generally accepting of students who choose not to drink, according to many testimonies I’ve heard, and I wanted to compare attitudes with those at UNC.
Good luck with your decision!
I have a daughter at UNC-CH, and based on her experiences – at least what she tells me – you should have no problem engaging in a social life without smoking, drinking, or use of illicit drugs. Nor will you be ostracized for not engaging in those activities, so long as you don’t shove it in other people’s faces.
As @twogirls notes, you will not lack for social opportunities of many different sorts. UNC-CH is large enough that you should be able to find your particular “tribe” and social comfort zone.
UNC is a public university not a private religious school. They are people wo do not party and people who do. It sounds like from your post UNC is not your first choice but maybe you are not comparing like environments. Go where you feel most confortable.
I have a son at UNC-CH and can only echo what the other posters have said. If you love UNC, don’t worry for a minute that you will have to drink to fit in or feel welcome (or not like a Goody Two Shoes). There are plenty of students at UNC who don’t drink (or smoke, etc.)
There are so many things to do, so many ways to get involved on campus, but I think many students who go to random parties do so because it’s easier than joining a group or club. It’s also quicker. It takes time to find the right group/club/team, but invitations to frat (or other) parties start coming right away. Wherever you go, just be patient. Get involved in the things that excite you and it won’t take long before your social calendar fills up and you’re on to worrying about how to balance it all with your academics.
Good luck!