<p>I love the academic intensity in college. Haven’t been the same with my work.</p>
<p>I think not naming schools in this case is a good thing. No one has had a bad experience, they just chose a school that fit them. When you start naming schools threads get sidetracked with other posters defending that school, or agreeing it is indeed where ‘fun goes to die’. Nothing positive can be gained.</p>
<p>I think all kids look for fun at their college - it is just a matter of what fun means to them. To some it may be being in a vibrant active city - to others it may be being in a school with lots of Rah Rah big name athletics - to others it may be being in a school with strong frats. This is part of the “fit” part of college selection which is very important to having a happy college experience.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why anyone would want to live somewhere that isn’t fun to them. Who wants a life that consists of 24/7 drudgery? </p>
<p>My son is not a party animal but he is social and does enjoy being around social people. </p>
<p>He chose an academically rigorous school in an urban area because his idea of fun does not include nonstop drinking. He felt that in some of the more secluded schools it would be hard NOT to party all the time because there isn’t much else to do there.</p>
<p>I think it is unwise for a student who loves the party scene to pick a school where there will be no place to let off steam. Four years is a long time to live somewhere that you hate.</p>
<p>I believe the students impression of what their life will be like beyond academics is a very attribute to consider.</p>
<p>If I am going to take a job for 4 years I certainly look at the nuts and bolts of the content of the job however I also look at the company culture and the dynamics of the group in which I will work. </p>
<p>Why would I expect my kids to do otherwise for 4 years of their life?</p>
<p>My D1 is a rising senior. So far her must haves only include “great physics program” and student body greater then 4000. She doesn’t want to feel like she knows everyone on campus. I guess she always wants there to be someone new to meet. </p>
<p>She says she can roll with anything else. We are waiting for admission decisions before visiting many schools since most of her applications are to selective colleges. She has been to UVA (a match school) twice and would like it there.</p>
<p>My S, a rising HS junior, is hoping to find a school where kids on average party one night a week. From what I understand at most schools the average is higher than that.</p>
<p>As parents, we sometimes think that the priorities need to be “academics, academics, academics” for 4 straight years, but that’s not practical.</p>
<p>After all, how many of us live lives that are 24/7 work, work, work???</p>
<p>Some of same parents that freak out about the social aspects of college, think nothing of spending THEIR free time golfing, having lunch with co-workers, going to BBQs, going to the gym, having friends/relatives over, shopping, etc. </p>
<p>Even if the parent is a homebody, he/she is spending free time on what interests them…watching TV, surfing the net, working in the yard, etc. </p>
<p>It’s unrealistic to expect that a social-fun-loving- child is going to be happy at a super-serious school without much “fun” to offer.</p>
<p>I remember meeting an incoming frosh mom at my kids’ private high school. She loudly stated that her child wouldn’t be taking ANY study halls - she wasn’t paying for THAT. She also didn’t allow her child to participate in very many ECs. She had it in her head that school needs to be work, work, work…yet SHE was a very social person!</p>
<p>My definition of a fun college is a school in a city. I love the fast-paced atmosphere and I do better when I’m around a lot of people. I also want to have the ability to participate in a wide array of activities. The size of the school doesn’t really matter as much to me as class size does. I do better in smaller, more inclusive environments where the class is more discussion based. Some schools on my list fit that, some don’t. I don’t want to go to a school where everything is a party 24/7 because I do feel like it would be a bit overwhelming, but I also want to have a good time over the course of the next four years. I like people who actually want to be in school to learn, not just to get a degree and move on with their lives. I guess my definition of “fun” in college is to work hard but play just as hard. I’d rather go to a school where the kids do things over the weekends and then work during the week.</p>
<p>Everyone’s definition of “fun” is different. I definitely wanted a good academic school with big-time sports. When deciding between three top schools, the Big Ten school won out (not Wisconsin, which I visited in the 80’s jaylynn, especially football games and Halloween). I went to a school considered a very serious school and one of the “top universities” on CC. If you asked my parents, they would tell you that, based on my experience, it was a “party school.” And they only know a fraction 
I would make my same college choice again; had a great education and a great time.</p>
<p>I think that academics is only part of the education of college. My DS has just started on his apps and I will not pressure him to go to the “top rated” school - based on academics alone - that he is accepted to. There’s more to education, and more to life, than that.</p>
<p>I would hope that my kids pick their college with some fun in mind. Same as wanting them to pick a job they enjoy, and friends and even a spouse that provides the same.</p>