<p>On CC, a lot of emphasis is placed on the "fit" of a college in terms of classes, location, student type, social life (a large part of which seems to be the strength and nature of the "drinking culture" at the school). If you knew your kid wanted to go to a school with a large drinking/party culture, would you actively seek out party schools for your kid to visit in the same way that many CC'ers seek out schools with a minimal or avoidable drinking culture? Would this just be inviting trouble?</p>
<p>no, no and no.</p>
<p>Two part answer, one for each question asked...
No (to the first question.)
No, it would be inviting psychiatry.</p>
<p>My son didn't need any help finding a party school. It happened to be an Ivy!</p>
<p>If the student wanted a school with an active social community and wanted to go to a challenging school with tough academics, it should be taken into account if the parents thought that the child would work hard, succeed, and stay safe in such an environment. I don't think parents should be in the business of searching for schools where the kid can party, slack off, and drink, though.</p>
<p>I let him apply to Arizona State, what more do you want?</p>
<p>(He's matriculating at what might be America's least-party school, though.)</p>
<p>No (ten char).</p>
<p>Why not send them to amsterdam? Free zone for drugs, prostitutes, alcohol...the world will be their oyster.</p>
<p>It really depends on what you mean by "party" school.</p>
<p>One of my D's is very social and would probably fit very well at schools like USC, SMU, Duke or UCSB, all of which are known to be party-type schools. But they are all good academic schools as well.</p>
<p>For her safeties, she will probably apply to schools like ASU, because if she can't get admitted to a high-calibre academic school, she would be much happier at a lower-tier school with a good social life than a lower-tier school with a dead social life.</p>
<p>So in sum, I guess my answer is "yes!"</p>
<p>Bay: UCSB, SMU, Duke and USC have tough academic standards to get in. Once there, students may party, but the competition for grades is tough and kids who are excessive partiers may not last. </p>
<p>Contrast this to other schools (ASU, CSU San Diego, Chico State) the standards to get in are not too high and staying is not the biggest challenge. There are plenty of lower tier schools that your D can get into, have an active social life and not be sucked into the totally pervasive party scene.</p>
<p>I encouraged my D to go to Chico State because it was a good fit. And it is.</p>
<p>My brother made his 4 years at MIT a "work hard, play hard" school. He had a stellar GPA in an engineering major, yet he managed to be VERY active in his fraternity and was a varsity athlete for all 4 years on one of the MIT athletic teams.</p>
<p>I know somebody who graduated summa cum laude from Columbia; he was baked for 4 years straight.</p>
<p>mladyD: Chico, San Diego, ASU, etc are good fits for many kids. However, if you have a kid who is looking to spend the time partying (as OP implied) then I would not actively seek out a school that has a reputation of problems with this. We know several kids doing great at Chico. But Chico has had very serious problems such that the school has had to take action. If I were a parent and worried about my kid, I would not let him/her go there.</p>
<p>blucroo,</p>
<p>OP said:
[quote]
If you knew your kid wanted to go to a school with a large drinking/party culture, would you actively seek out party schools for your kid to visit
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I did not intrepret OP to exclude good academic schools from this question. A school can have both good academics and lots of parties, and many do.</p>
<p>if the kid only wanted a party school for the sake of partying, then no. But, evey ASU has an excellent honors program, and for a NMF it's free.</p>
<p>Duke has a party rep, and it ain't too shabby. Neither is Northwestern, Dartmouth or Williiams. According to the Rice thread, it was party-hearty over accepted-day weekend, but yet Rice provides a wonderful education. I would hazard a guess than nearly every state flagship public has plenty of partying going on, even the big ones, Cal, UVa, UNCC, and UMich (the Big House ain't exactly dry on Saturday afternoons in the fall).</p>
<p>"party schools" is not the same as school where there are parties. (Almost) all colleges have lots of parties, but that does not make them "party" schools. Schools that are referred to as "party schools" first are not generally thought of for their academics on an equal basis. That doesn't mean that schools known for being "party schools" don't offer serious students a good education (ASU, Chico, etc.) Conversely, the best academic schools can be wasted on kids who spend their times being wasted.</p>
<p>True. I guess you would have to know whether the kid had a problem in this area or not. Some kids are just more at home in a "party" environment, and wouldn't be happy at a less social college. A good fit is when the school matches the kid both academically and socially but doesn't overwhelm in either area.</p>
<p>as long as it also had other good attributes.... such as good academics and a friendly social environment.</p>
<p>I do know a family who sent their son off to a school with a party rep ... and is so happy he is having a good time. I was a bit horrified -- but the parents have that sort of party rep too. I suppose if you have the money to burn and the family business to bring the kid into after his 4 year party ... why not! It's not for me though ... I made a big point that we were not sending him off for a four-year lacrosse camp or a four-year party. He actually needed to get an education from our investment.</p>