I’m at a point in my life where organized religion is not very important to me. I’m still discouraged by how many college students are abusing alcohol and drugs, and by how much irresponsibility many of them show in their coursework. Will there be a little less foolishness among the student population if I choose to attend a graduate school? This is discouraging. 
In graduate school I never recall seeing any students who were undisciplined or who used drugs. I do recall a small amount of social drinking (on the order of one glass of wine with dinner and one more in the evening, on weekends only) and I also recall some dating, in a responsible way.
Also, in graduate school I recall a lot of students who took their studies very seriously and did well.
I can speak to this some…I attended community college for a few years, where there was no real campus life, so I don’t know what people were doing. After transferring to a four-year school as a Junior, we partied, but we also took our studies seriously. We partied one or two nights a week, never on school nights. So, I don’t know if it’s that you’re seeing more of the young crowd, or if it’s your particular school. If you’re mostly hanging around younger adults, then it may just be an issue of maturity that will improve even in undergrad… But if this is all ages, then maybe it’s just your school. That said, I can’t imagine that it’s not possible to find more like-minded peers, and just let other people do what they want to do. As to grad school, for me anyway, there wasn’t a school party scene, but of course some people still liked to party, but everyone there was committed to their studies.
I think sometimes it just takes a little while for destructive habits to impact grades enough to cause a reaction from the school or parents.
Adults make a conscious decision to attend grad school. Often they pay for it themselves. They are doing it to advance their career and improve their prospects. I think it’s safe to assume that the vast majority of students in grad school are there becasue they want to be there and are going to take it seriously. Taking it seriously probably means that toga parties and beer bongs are not going to be too prevalent.
Finding some like-minded peers has not been easy for me. At my school, which is decently selective, students (and sometimes faculty) do what is called a bar crawl. Bar crawls involve binge drinking. ^#(^
I’ve just seen a lot of fool-hearty stuff: students using drugs and potent alcohol regularly, turning in assignments late or not at all, skipping lectures regularly, neglecting assigned reading, lying, stealing, cheating, etc. I like to think that people are basically good, but these experiences frustrate me. I can imagine that the real workforce is like this, which is also sad. 8-|
I put in 40-60 hours a week on my coursework, and I would probably cry if I ever get a B grade in a class (I’ve never gotten one). I consider myself to be mostly honest, caring, and intensely driven, and I don’t know how to understand such flakiness.
You can affect how you live your life, but not really how everyone else does.
Easiest way to fix this problem is to ignore it. You can’t do a single thing to change it, so just associate with the people more like you (I know they’re there – I’ve met them and am one) and don’t get bothered by the rest.
I’m sorry, but this really isn’t healthy. School work is extremely important, of course, but crying over a B in a class probably isn’t healthy. You have to learn how to take some lumps.
I’m in graduate school. A PhD program at one of the best schools in the country. They drink and most consume pot. I know others who use even harder recreational drugs.
They all, however, get their work done. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t have made it into the program. Many of them have a work hard, play hard attitude.
I didn’t drink much as an undergrad and I don’t now. Find like-minded people. They exist.
Every day we stray further from God’s light…
Lmao, but seriously, your peers are big bois who can make their own decisions. I doubt the holier-than-thou attitude will convince your classmates to behave like good little boy and girls. Just ignore them and focus on your own success.
I wouldn’t call it straying from God’s light, but I do feel bad seeing people engage in so much self-destructive, volatile behavior. I try to be a good example.
I spent so much time working in college (I commuted) that I very rarely partied. I don’t believe I ever attended a single party in college because I didn’t socialize with classmates in college. When I went to law school, I also lived at home, but had a scholarship, and I drank, but only to excess. I was, however, extremely motivated and disciplined and graduated second in my class. Number 1 was an even more motivated single mother of 3 who also drank, but only on the nights when she left her kids with grandma and stayed over at a classmate’s home. To my kids, it’s a joke that mom drank dad under the table all throughout law school. Once I graduated and began working, my drinking tapered down and now, if I have a drink once or twice a month, it’s a lot. I would say to the OP that when I was in law school, the drinking was generally confined to Thursday and Friday nights and I don’t recall people getting blitzed to the point of oblivion or acting ridiculous, just silly. I also went to a commuter school where most people used public transportation.
Be a good example to yourself. You need to tone things down a bit. You don’t have to agree with people partying to let off some steam, but you shouldn’t judge people who go on a bar crawl. What do you do for fun? Do you hang out with people and relax? 40-60 hours a week studying is frankly, completely OTT. I don’t think that is a good example, because it’s not healthy. I think you actually should try to get a B. You will discover the world still turns.
Getting a B has never made any one a failure in life. Look at Albert Einstein, who famously failed his entrance exams. No one will deny he was a genius, and was also very successful and knew how to have fun. He enjoyed sailing, music, and got married. Why don’t you join one of the bar crawls? They are fun. You get to hang out with people, relax, and have a good time. You don’t have to get drunk. You can still study and get good grades.
The other student are adults, particularly in grad school. They don’t need you to be a good example. They need to to not encourage dangerous or illegal behavior and to go on with your life. I’m not a drinker but no one cares what I do when they are making their choices. No reason to be discouraged. If the other students are behaving this poorly, it should be very easy to out perform them for all the best grades and best opportunities.
I commuted for grad school while working and did not have time for any socializing. I did note as an undergrad that the law students in my building had parties that occurred after major tests, etc. They were very focused on their studies when it mattered.
Lindagaf,
I play violin and chess for fun.
You can’t control what other people do but you can control how you react to it. Stay focused on your goals and less time focused on others. They are responsible for their futures and the consequences of their actions so don’t worry about it. Everyone has a different moral compass and you can’t impose your beliefs on others.
Are you part of an ensemble? Are you hanging out with others? Playing chess is fun. I suggest you drink a few beers while you play chess one time. Give it a try. Go to a party. Step out of your comfort zone. I think you must live a very rigid life. Be careful of becoming a loner. That’s not fun. You don’t have to live life restricted by self-imposed rules.
Even Jesus drank wine 
Lindagaf,
You don’t know that my life is rigid. That’s a false assumption. I’m not saying that drinking a few beers is the problem, either. I’m saying that I see a surprising amount of folly and irresponsibility. Also, some of the acts I mentioned earlier are illegal, so it’s not just about me imposing my opinion on others. It’s not uncommon to see students do some jail time for some of this stuff. I just think that’s a shame.
^ Yeah, it actually is pretty uncommon for students to do jail time of any sort. Sure, maybe a night in the drunk tank but then you’re off with a ticket in the morning.
I think it’s a shame that you’re so concerned about what other students do. If they’re not affecting you (which they’re not), who cares?
I’ll say again, if you want to go to grad school, some of them will be there. Even, gasp, doing “illegal” things like weed. Or worse!