<p>I keep seeing posts that mention "party schools" and whether or not the poster should go to them if they are not a party person. Never having been to a university myself (went to nursing school at age 30), I have much to learn. I heard the phrase "party school" a few years ago when I heard that East Carolina University (sorry ECU. But ESC is a great school my nephew went there and turned out great) was considered the party school capital of North Carolina. I was amused then, but now that MY daughter will be going to college in a couple years, "party school" is a term that causes me concern.</p>
<p>I know, I know, all colleges can be pretty wild. They are all away from home for the first time and have so much freedom. AND I remember being that age also (which is part of what worries me, lol). But I surely don't want to send her to any college that is well known for their partying. Yes, I want her to have a fun social life, yes, I realize she may do things she's never done before, yes I know I can't shelter her always....but I don't want to send her to a school famous for partying either. But then again, many party schools have great academics and are fine universities. </p>
<p>So, how do you know the ones that are considered party schools? I at least know one in NC. How do I find out the others in other areas as well?</p>
<p>But having said that, if the school is a great fit for my daughter but yet is considered a party school, do I just send her off to it and hope for the best? </p>
<p>You could go look in the Princeton Review's book: The Best 357 (different amount for 2006) Colleges... and some other college informational books as well (Fiske Guide, Insider's Guide, etc.- ) those kinds of books are invaluable for many kinds of information, in my opinion! </p>
<p>From my experience in researching colleges with my son, I've found that often, schools with lots of frats & sor. have lots of drinking... it also seemed that the more conservative (but not religious), the more drinking... the more liberal, the more pot smoking... Also, the bigger "sports" colleges... football, etc., seem to be more drinking-oriented schools...BUT of course, as always, there are exceptions - so you'll need to check out things individually.</p>
<p>That said, teens will be teens - and in every school, there will be drinking and smoking - period.</p>
<p>As pointed out by lelalellen, the college review books (and online reviews and forums) can be of some help in identifying well known schools with reputations as party schools. You can also check the school's alcohol policies; however, most are very similar and do not reflect reality. I am suspicious of those schools which allow alcohol in the dorms. College tours can be helpful. We had student tour guides who provided detailed information. Usually you get the stock answer that some kids drink, but no one will make you drink. Sometimes it takes some digging to find out what is actually happening on the campus. I agree with the comment above that a high percentage of Greeks usually indicates are party school. Some colleges and chapters are cleaning up but often the official statements don't reflect reality and policies are ignored.</p>
<p>I disagree with the attitude that kids will be kids and alcohol and drugs are everywhere so it does not matter. A high percentage of kids can go to a party school, binge drink and participate in all kinds of crazy activities and not have serious or livelong consequences. Some are not so lucky.</p>
<p>edad, I did not say that drinking and drugs "does not matter." I merely said "there will be drinking and smoking." Of course it matters! My son is going to a school that is not known to be a "party school," but there will be drinking and drugs... period. Yes, it matters... but unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing you can do to prevent it from being there. </p>
<p>The following is out of PR's 2005 Best 357 Colleges:
Top 20 Party Schools: Based on a combination survey questions concerning the use of alcohol & drugs, hours of study each day, and the popularity of the Greek system:
1. SUNY - Albany
2. Washington & Lee U
3. U of Wisconsin - Madison
4. W. Virginia U
5. Ohio U - Athens
6. Florida State U
7. U of Texas - Austin
8. U of Georgia
9. U of Colorado - Boulder
10. U of Mississippi
11. U of Florida
12. U of Cal. - Santa Barbara
13. U of Mass. - Amherst
14. U of Oregon
15. Indiana U - Bloomington
16. U of Vermont
17. U of Tennessee - Knoxville
18. Seton Hall U
19. Louisiana State U - & A & M College
20. Penn State - Univ. Park</p>
<p>There's also a list for "Lots of Hard Liquor" :
1. Washington & Lee
2. Tulane
3. U of Wisc. - Madison
4. St. Bonaventure U
5. U of Iowa
6. Loyola U New Orleans
7. SUNY - Albany
8. U of Cal. - Santa Barbara
9. St. John's College (NM)
10. W Virginia U
11. Providence College
12. U of S.D.
13. Sewanee - U of the South
14. Trinity College (CT)
15. U of Mass - Amherst
16. U of ND
17. Loyola College - MD
18. U of Georgia
19. Center College
20. Lehigh U</p>
<p>There are other lists - and certainly, you must always take these lists - and schools that are not on the top 20 lists (or other lists) with a grain of salt!</p>
<p>Salem, in addition to Greek life - lack of dorms. Many large univerisities now have very little dorm space. Most students, including large numbers of freshmen live off campus.</p>
<p>My DD is a non-drinker at a party school - she lives in a sub-free dorm and has found a gtoups of like-minded friends. Even in the sub-free dorm, there are substances to be found, and she has attended some parties with widespread drinking. But, she has learned which parties to go to as a non-drinker, who to hang out with, and, in general, it seems that if she starts experimenting with alcohol, it would be more like what I remember from college, as opposed to what seems to go on now.</p>
<p>chocoholic -- If I had to guess, it would be because public schools are OFTEN not as selective. SOMETIMES the students that get into SOME of the state schools are not as serious and spend more time partying than the more selective (often private) schools. </p>
<p>For example, I would think MOST people are less likely to go to all the work to get into MIT or Harvard, then party constantly once they get there.</p>
<p>I like to go to the student newspaper and do a search through the archives using words like "Drinking" "party" "pot" "drugs" "drunk" "alcohol poisoning" It is very interesting what turns up, and can often be a surprise as sometimes even schools that have a "no drinking" policy are pretty lax when it comes to enforcement. Most colleges now have their student newspapers online - do a search on the website for "student newspaper"</p>
<p>All schools have parties and all schools have distractions. If a kid is going to be a screw-up they will be a screw-up whether they are at BYU or the University of Florida. </p>
<p>But there is some merit to the idea of avoiding the "near occasion of sin" as the nuns taught in my in grade school.</p>
<p>I second Carolyn's advice about campus newspapers--they will also report when property has been damaged by partying, who has been blamed, who has to pay, who has complained, etc. Most colleges also make public a police blotter report about when there were incidents of loud or inebriated students causing disturbances. </p>
<p>Another good source is the Yale Daily News: Insider's Guide to the Colleges.</p>
<p>Gives a sense of the campus social atmosphere from student perspective.</p>
<p>Women's colleges (seven sisters) are also a good bet for avoiding the heavy party scene in dorms--although those women who are seeking it go elsewhere--frat parties at coed schools.</p>
<p>I've found that schools in remote areas tend to be drinking schools. In North Carolina, Western Carolina U exemplifies this- in the words of a student, "What else is there to do when you're snowed in during winter?" Other rural schools like Dartmouth and Colby have a bit more drinking than some of their counterparts. Schools with large athletic scenes (Duke and Williams, for example) also seem to have drinking. </p>
<p>carolyn has an excellent suggestion. I hadn't realized until I visited how significant (relatively) drinking was at Davidson- the newspaper cited several alcohol poisonings. I was also amused to find that the campus police station was positioned right next to the frat houses. :p</p>
<p>You can also check IPEDS for criminal activity at the school and in the surrounding community. These reports will include alcohol and drug offenses. I think this data can be misleading since many schools and communities have a very tolerant attitude and arrests are infrequent.
<a href="http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool/%5B/url%5D">http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool/</a></p>
<p>Most private schools have security depts that rarely report on campus crime to the real police. Most on campus security at public schools are sworn police officers and have to report all crimes/arrests.</p>
<p>Once you've done your book and newspaper research, do a Thursday overnight - you'll immediately find out whether "weekend" behavior has lapped into midweek.</p>
<p>The chances are, students and applicants will know if a school is a party school or not (from visiting, talking with students, exploring the website, and--most of all--talking to their friends); whether they let their parents know is a different matter! </p>
<p>Remember that there are "party schools" where kids all party and never work and "party schools" that have a work hard, play hard mentality. Schools like this would not be included on the Princeton Review list, for instance (since it takes into account hours studied). Just as an example, Animal House was based on Dartmouth!</p>
<p>That's just a euphemism applied to a party school for kids with high SAT scores. In many ways, it is the worst possible description because it implies that there is something positive or desireable about drinking heavily as the norm.</p>