I am starting my freshman year at Amherst this fall (2015), and I just can’t decide if I should choose substance-free dorming or not! I do occasionally drink and party now, but I’m not the type of person to party all the time. I am content with partying, but do the dorms that aren’t sub-free get really nasty and are they noisy most of the time? Also, what kind of people live in the sub-free dorms? Are they really conservative?
Looks like all Amherst students are on break and most new posts here haven’t gotten a response. I am a dad of accepted student for next year who will be choosing sub free, so I have no actual experience. That said, I have done a lot of reading and can summarize what I’ve read.
As far as your questions
==>do the dorms that aren’t sub-free get really nasty and are they noisy most of the time?
From one of the posts linked to below:
An indirect answer is that first year dorms aren’t going to be full of “nasty” parties as all first year dorms are dry, meaning alcohol is not allowed in any of the dorms. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, but it won’t be huge. Regarding the non first year dorms… you’ll have to hear from someone else.
==>what kind of people live in the sub-free dorms? Are they really conservative
This is going to be my theoretical answer until someone with experience responds…
First off, I don’t think you’re going to find a lot of conservatives at Amherst in general.
Also, I see no inherent reason why social or political view would be connected to one’s desire to get high. Perhaps, if it comes from a religious belief.
What I’ve read (and from my own college experience 40 years ago), drugs and alcohol become the glue and common experience for many. They make being social “easy.” Without drugs and alcohol, the connections have to be based on something else. You’re forced to relate in a sober state. This translates to having connections based on something else - hopefully something real and genuine. I don’t see why this would have any connection to being conservative.
Here are posts which discuss sub free and drinking
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/amherst-college/1108104-sub-free.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/amherst-college/175451-amherst-drinking-and-sub-free-dorms.html
http://acvoice.com/2013/09/28/the-deconstruction-of-first-year-sub-free-housing/
Good luck in figuring this out. Hopefully some students will chime in.
Thank you so much for your response, rmsdad. I really like what you said in your last paragraph. Though I didn’t mean conservative politically, I meant of it more as in someone’s ideology. May I ask why your child is going to choose substance-free?
This is the daughter (going to Amherst next year, posting on my dad’s account). Most concisely said, I am choosing substance free because drugs/alcohol is not something I have ever done or plan to do routinely, and I relate more to those who choose that same lifestyle. I totally understand your concern because it is something I thought about when making this decision - like, what type of person chooses substance free anyway? It’s not that I’m close-minded; I’m sure I’ll have a good number of non-sub-free friends, it’s just that I hope the relationships I form can revolve around a human connection rather than a drug/alcohol connection.
Regarding ideological conservatism, it’s hard for me to tangibly define that, but I still feel pretty confident that my answer is no, I am not overly conservative. I love having fun - going to movies, playing games, running around, hanging out, and the like. Basically, for crowds that are not overly condescending/rude, overly cocky, overly high/drunk, etc. I would say that I fit in just fine.
I hope this gives you some idea of what to expect. Like I said, I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “ideologically conservative”. Party scene aside, I’d say I’m quite normal! Haha, anyway good luck and come to the sub-free dorms (if you want to)!!! I quite hope / expect that they will be as normal as ever just without the drug/alcohol emphasis.
Also, if you have any more questions feel free to ask. It’s kind of hard to put myself into writing, so let me know if you want more clarification.
Awesome response! Thank you so much for replying. Yeah, I know the “conservative ideology” thing is a little vague, but I can’t seem to really explain what I mean. You seem like a really cool person though, so that definitely gives a least a slight insight into what kind of people choose substance-free. Originally, I was set on sub-free dorming, but I heard some things from other people about why I shouldn’t choose substance-free. So maybe I should just go with my original plan. I don’t know! Anyway, the housing questionnaire is supposed to come out tomorrow, so I’ll have to make up my mind soon!
Another parent here …S chose substance free for Freshman year ( will be a Senior in the Fall) mostly because he wanted his room to be a quiet place to retreat to if need be. It was the best decision. The kids connected quickly as they all enjoyed having fun but also appreciated a quiet living space. Most were fun loving, some on the quiet side, but the bond they made has remained for the past 3 years. In fact on his floor, they subsequently entered the housing lottery together. Some of the sub free kids did drink but only as allowed, outside of their assigned housing.
Good luck and Congrats!!
I’m an incoming freshman and I’m really stuck on this. I know that I’m not planning to drink/use substances at all, but my mom is really intent on my not doing substance-free because she is afraid it will limit the people I met and my chances of making friends. Right now I’m thinking about putting “no preference” in that area of the form.
Hey, I don’t know much, but I actually decided to go with regular housing instead of substance-free because I figured that I can pretty much predict life in substance-free housing. It’ll be quiet and clean and have nice people! But I don’t really know what to expect from regular housing. Will it be all bad? Will the students be party animals? Who knows! But if they are and if it is so terrible, there are ways to transfer to different housing that is more suitable for you! For if regular housing really isn’t for me, then I’ll switch! But I know if I do sub-free, then I’ll never know what it’ll be like in a regular dorm! Haha, just my perspective! I hope it can help sway you in the direction that’s right for you!