<p>My daughter returned from an overnight visit and was shocked by how much underage drinking was taking place in the dorms. Is it as wild as she thought? Are there kids on campus serious about academics?</p>
<p>This is true at Ivy League schools, small liberal arts colleges, big flagship state universities.</p>
<p>And while underage drinking is problematic on multiple levels, I think you are being a bit naive in thinking that the categories “serious about academics” and “underage drinking” don’t have significant overlap at the college level.</p>
<p>So your daughter did an overnight on one of the first weekends of the semester (and a three day one at that) and was surprised to see a number of students partying? Did she also see the students who were hanging out with friends while watching a movie, going out to eat, or doing any of the much less visible activities that non partiers tend to do? Keep in mind that the workload on the first weekend is typically the lowest it will be for the rest of the semester. Had she overnighted during finals week, you might have posted here asking if any SCU students ever have fun.</p>
<p>We are not too far from Santa Clara and SCU does not have the reputation of being a party school if that eases your mind.</p>
<p>This is true at Ivy League schools, small liberal arts colleges, big flagship state universities.</p>
<p>This is very true. Unless your D goes to a bible college, there will be a lot of partying and drinking…even at the top top schools. When you put 18-22 year old people together, you’re going to have parties, booze…and sex.</p>
<p>SCU is not a party school compared to other schools like UCSB or any number of other state and private schools. In fact, it is a religious based institution. However, keep in mind that a school with no partying is going to be extremely odd. mom2collegekids says that unless she goes to a Bible college there will be some partying. I say there will be partying even at a Bible college too. Generally, there will be less partying for sure, but I’ve seen crazy things happen including unwed pregnancies at Bible colleges. This happens more often than you think as one can not get counseling (other than a recommendation for abstinence) or contraceptives at a Bible school student health center.</p>
<p>Please look back at your own college experience and remember what it used to be like. When I was in college most states allowed 18 year-olds to buy beer and wine and cigarettes were legal from the age of 16. Drinking was allowed on campus as well as smoking in teachers offices and every restaurant on campus. I do not remember people actually smoking during classes, but a lot of folks smoked between classes. The administration was far less worried about alcohol than illegal drugs which were being heavily experimented with back in the 70’s.</p>
<p>Today’s college kids are generally straighter, far more educated regarding the dangers of alcohol, drugs, sex and cigarettes. Most kids have had it drilled into them since elementary school. I believe that our kids are far less likely to get into trouble than our generation.</p>
<p>If you raised your daughter to be strong, independent and straight, that is exactly who she will be in college without your supervision. Jut trust her to make her own decisions. She’ll be fine.</p>
<p>[High-Risk</a> Drinking in College: Understanding College Drinking From a Multidimensional Perspective](<a href=“College Drinking, Changing the Culture”>http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/niaaacollegematerials/panel01/highrisk_05.aspx) does describe college characteristics associated with more or less drinking of alcohol.</p>
<p>I’m on the SCU campus about a half-dozen times a year, and it definitely doesn’t come off as a party school. </p>
<p>Academically, it has a pretty good reputation.</p>
<p>SCU has a great reputation. I agree with other posters that you will find drinking at any school, but also that your daughter attended on a weekend when drinking was probably at a higher level. </p>
<p>Your daughter needs to be prepared for being confronted with drinking, drugs, and sex. Students even at a Christian school do all of these. But if she chooses to abstain she will certainly find like-minded peers.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the feedback. I think my daughter was put in an extreme party environment: Friday/Sat of 3 day weekend early in the semester. This was her third OV for athletics and the first one with these issues.</p>
<p>My D met someone recently at a volunteer event that is going to a local JC. She mentioned that she was interested in Santa Clara (we are local). His first statement was ‘oh, you’ll have fun. that’s where all the parties are’. She, unfortunately, put the school a higher notch up on her list.</p>
<p>^^
I wouldn’t read too much into that. </p>
<p>You’re local to SCU, so a CC student would likely go to parties there…because the parties aren’t at the CC. That’s pretty typical anywhere. CC students looking for parties often head to where the residential colleges are.</p>