<p>Yeah, it is a very limited picture and not at all representative of the University of Colorado. I dare say if you visited your home state’s “State U”, you’d find similar stuff. You might have to look a bit harder for that magazine, but it WOULD be there too. </p>
<p>And I know for SURE you didn’t look at the right places for that magazine when you visited at least two of the three other Colorado schools. ;)</p>
<p>I agree with ColoradoMomof2. There are drugs on campus, as they are at every college campus across the country, but to imply it is rampant and “everyone is doing it” is just patently untrue.</p>
<p>rocknroll52, funny I had the same thoughts as my son will likely apply to both Penn state and Boulder. I went to school at UCSC (30 yrs ago) which has the reputation of being that dope smoking hippie school but to be honest, all the folks I knew who smoked dope were the locals, not the students. </p>
<p>I think like many things it is something to discuss with your child. Let them know that if drugs or alcohol become an issue, they will not be staying at the school, so your student better figure out a way to balance academics with partying.</p>
<p>Mine and my husband’s alma mater is ALWAYS top 5 on USNR for “party schools” in SEVERAL categories for, well as long as there’s been a list. We both felt that we got a great education AND had a lot of fun (drinkling age was grandfathered in at 18) There are kids that freak out a Harvard cause they’re no longer one in their class and get jobs at BestBUY. There are kinds that are on full schlparship at Princeton and leave without degrees to become unibombers, there are girls who follow HS beaus across the country for college-just to get dumped…this stuff is out there, especially with big state schools. If your kid has had issues with drugs or alcohol UCB is most likely not a good choice. I’d like S to stay closer to home and am tempted to pull the “I’m payin” card…but if he’s feelin Boulder…he’s goin Boulder!</p>
<p>As a student a CU Boulder, and a restaurant employee on Pearl, and after growing up in a border town in AZ known as the U.S.'s hub of illegal drugs for distribution… I can assure you the drug use here is not like other places… 4/20 is one of the largest gatherings in the country is on the Norlin quad at CU, and the bar scene once 21 is intensee, not to mention try walking the streets of The Hill say Halloween weekend, even sober you would want to throw up. Its lots of rich kids who parents are hopefully unknowingly paying for a party. Academically, seriously… CU is a joke… my high school AP classes were WAY more demanding and intellectually stimulating in the nations worst ranked state for education (AZ). But this is the Colorado way, if you grew up here you know that. There is the most beer and weed per capita here in the country, and its not just the students,Ive heard stories of the owner of Crocs who still parties with the drug that is most widely used in this state more than any other, coke. Maybe thats why Colorado also has the lowest obesity rate… Not to mention adderol, is considered to be nothing, many students have perceptions, and molly (ecstasy) (Which is extremely dangerous btw, taking 2-3 grams at once would surely result in a overdose) has exploded along with the dupstep movement here and also 30 mins away in Denver. Its easy to get *<strong><em>ed up (and though in my hometown of tucson the U of A and ASU has raging campus alcohol problems, here getting *</em></strong>ed up normally means alcohol plus couple other drugs) especially because the public transportation is so great you can go to shows here and in Denver effortlessly, which is good, I mean driving on these drugs is a horrible idea. </p>
<p>trust me, its a blast, and Boulder is sooo soso beautiful with unreal hiking trails, tons of great yoga classes, and a huge organic food movement, not to mention skiing and snow stuff right up the road, but it really depends on who you are… Even if you have strong personal reasons to not do drugs, it will be around you almost all the time… Its good practice to say no, but you will likely be around things you currently dont even know exist. Its your choice, and if you want to you can make CU an academic challenge, but its sure not a small liberal arts school that I sure wish I attended and am thinking might be a good idea… Also, the majority of CU’s achievements have nothing to do with undergrads… like many state schools advanced research is only possible because of the thousands of undergrads who are given bare minimum and pay for it with out of state tuition. All of the bad here is equally weighed out with the good, it is a very appealing town but make sure you come here for the right reasons. If your not rich, white, and if your parents dont pay for your audi, $700-900 rent for one room in a house (utilities not included), C average business degree and entertainment, you might think, *** is happening here?</p>
<p>My son attends CU. We also live in Boulder. I think CU offers plenty of opportunity to get a fabulous education. It also admittedly offers the opportunity to get into as much trouble as you want. </p>
<p>Every year, our high school sends some of our top students to CU. These are students who could have gone anywhere. For many, it is a monetary choice. For others, the programs at CU are a draw. For others still, they can’t imagine leaving Boulder and all that it has to offer. </p>
<p>If you want a challenging curriculum at CU you can easily find it. My son’s friend is pre-med and this semester’s schedule consisted of bio, chem and genetics (with their labs) plus 2 humanities classes. He is a smart kid and he said that he was pretty challenged. My freshman son, on the other hand, didn’t love his classes. He is a theater major and while he really liked his acting class and honors writing class, he did feel that his other classes: sociology, development of theater, and an intro journalism class lacked rigor. I think it has more to do with the luck of the draw. We will see how next semester goes.</p>
<p>Drugs? Sure they are easy to get. You can walk into one of the 100+ dispensaries in town and buy pot legally if you are 18 and have a prescription (you can get a prescription if you have menstrual cramps… I’m not making that up.) Life here becomes about making choices. What kind of person do you want to be. Drugs have never been a problem for our son. He had plenty of opportunity to do drugs in high school but he and his friends just weren’t into it. Same goes for college. I don’t see how this experience is any different from going to school in NYC or LA or NOLA. </p>
<p>I will say that the dorms have a zero tolerance policy about drugs and alcohol. Use and you lose. Similarly, the Boulder police department hands out MIP tickets like candy and they will not hesitate to throw you in the drunk tank if you are publicly intoxicated. As far as 4/20 goes. That loser of a gathering is mostly attended by high school stoners and adults from out of town (Thorton, Westminster, Denver etc). The CU students I know avoid it like the plague.</p>
<p>About being rich… my son does not have a car on campus. He walks or rides his bike everywhere. He earned all his own spending money for school via his summer job. He also worked during the fall semester and he is currently looking for a job for next semester.</p>
<p>Boulder is an escape from reality. Beautiful campus, great weather, decent education, and an absurd amount of affluent students. Obviously this is a recipe for a stronger social scene.</p>
<p>But guess what? Life is about balancing work and play. I was an out of state Undergrad from 2005-2010, got involved in Greek life and had entirely too much fun (notice I said five years), but had my choice of jobs when I graduated.</p>
<p>Simple advice:
<p>Done? Welcome to the real world. It sucks.</p>
<p>Obviously edhilo had a bad experience at CU. I went to CU, didn’t have any money, but I sure don’t hold it against anyone that did. Worked and studied hard in Electrical Engineering as the classes were very challenging (I scored a 34 on my ACT). Those people that partied and did drugs lasted about one semester and then stayed in Boulder to hang out with the “party” seem by getting jobs in bars on Pearl street. Sorry you have such a bad life edhilo.</p>
<p>I have lived in Colorado my whole life, and Boulder has always had a reputation for being a drug haven. However, it’s not true.</p>
<p>I hope to join the ranks as a Buffalo, and I’m a very motivated student. CU has been a college home away from home for me, as I have been fortunate enough to participate in many programs on the campus both athletic and academic. Unfortunately, CU has received a bad reputation for this problem because of a few students. Boulder used to be a “hippie town” but it really isn’t anymore. It’s a nice, small college town in the foothills with amazing views and a great atmosphere. While there may be drugs on campus, there is in no way any obligation for any student to join. There are close to 20,000 undergrads, and only a few are really involved in drugs. Like it is for most colleges, it totally depends on the friends you choose, and how much work you are willing to put into your studies. You don’t have to be a stoner to be well liked at CU. </p>
<p>Go buffs!</p>
<p>Yes, Boulder is a drug haven. I’ve seen people walk up to a random person, ask if they had acid, and buy it. Most kids smoke weed, the ones that dont dont mind it if you do it. I do it daily and all my friends do it. Other drugs are available too, Ive done most. Plenty of kids have medical cards and sell, some run their own grow ops to pay for school. Most of us aren’t bad people though. I’m a chemical engineering student, my gpa has taken a hit from high school, but not because its drugs. Its because I graduated high school with a 4.3 because I was under the house of a controlling parent, so when I got to college I just wanted to relax and have fun on the weekends. We go out, we drink, we smoke, merriment is made. It’s not bad though. We all know our levels, and we don’t do things we aren’t comfortable with. Sit your kid down, talk to them about every drug, ask them if they would do it and debate why with them. Personally I think it sounds like you don’t know your child’s thoughts on this issue and are trying to calm yourself down while still avoiding the discussion.</p>