When most parents/students express concern/worries about schools labeled as “party schools” what they usually mean IME are schools with campus cultures where heavy alcohol consumption is the main part of those parties/socialization and heartily embraced. One recent example of this is the tragedy at one of Penn State’s fraternity pledge nights.
They’re not worried about dorm/college parties where the main feature have no alcohol or at least don’t make it the main feature like I’ve read/seen firsthand on campuses where such “party school” campus cultures exist.
Personally, I was of the view that college wasn’t the right time/place to go party hearty…especially in light of what happened to an older cousin whose emphasis on his fraternity/beer/partying over academic obligations brought him to the brink of disciplinary/academic suspension multiple times at a Big-10 school sometime in the '80s.
I also felt it made no sense to attend a “party school” considering the expense involved(especially at private schools) and the fact one will be “distracted” by academic obligations.
In my 17 year old college freshman mind, if one wants to embrace partying and has the funds…just take a gap year and go bar hopping every few days/every day. Unless one hits the most exclusive/ritzy bars/clubs…one will likely still have some of that full-pay tuition money left over at the end.
Also, I was of the mind I have the rest of my life to embrace “partying” of this type without risking underage drinking legal issues and not being around a large pool of immature undergrad classmates. Especially those who lack self-control or use the occasion to engage in anti-social or worse…violently criminal behavior. .
Then again, as an undergrad and even now, my favorite parties aren’t parties of the “party school” type described above. IMO, a great party is one where there’s a ginormous banquet/buffet of FREE delectable food fit for the likes of King Kong, Godzilla and company, etc.
If there was a college campus which had THAT as parties…sign me up!