This phrase pops up often in descriptions of certain top schools. I’m wondering if “play hard” is a code phrase for " lots of partying and drinking" and generally points to heavily Greek and/or prep school/yuppie culture? Or am I reading too much into this and this just means students enjoy their life and normally have a lot of things they do besides studying?
The latter.
Yep, enjoying life in whatever way they choose outside of the classroom with gusto.
Unfortunately, my kids would say it was the former meaning.
I think it does mean partying, but within a culture of academics first.
Kids who are bright and work seriously at academics in an environment where partying (yes, with alcohol and some drugs perhaps ) is the norm (dominant culture ) for blowing off steam.
There are plenty of ways to have fun without partying hard, but this is not what is meant by that expression.
And of course, there are places in which academics are almost secondary (think “spring break”). That’s not what’s meant either.
I had friends in college who were elite (Olympics level) athletes. They worked so hard most of the time and lived such a pristine physical/nutritional life that every year after their last big meet, they would “play very hard.” They would drink too much and get hammered; a few inevitably got sick. That’s what I think of when I hear the phrase.
My impression is that “play hard” is a code phrase for " lots of partying and drinking."
An article on the subject:
https://www.businessinsider.com/most-intense-colleges-in-america-2016-4
To me, it means alcohol abuse and usually the jock/Greek thing too.
To me, it’s study really really hard, drink way, way too much.
I interpret it as drinking/partying, but I wouldn’t rule out a school based on hearing that phrase attached to it.
I agree with those who say it’s code for drinking and partying and perhaps a frat culture - but respectable academics.
I had a NFL boyfriend, many years ago. The day or two after the last game they would have a year end physical and within hours they would be drinking to excess as well as LOTS of cocaine. That’s what I think of when I hear that phrase.
Obviously, it means different things to different people.
I sometimes say we like to “work hard play hard” on vacation.
What I mean by that is we like to be very active during the day, but we also want to have time to relax, a nice place to sleep at night, great food and drink, etc.
I’ve never associated this phrase with either partying or drinking. It sounds more like an advertisement for athletic shoes than anything else. I know I’ve encouraged our son to both work and play hard meaning to find a good life balance between the two and to put as much effort into the one as the other as work and play are both healthy and good for the soul.
OTOH, I HAVE heard the term “work hard, party hard” which means just that.
Urban dictionary says it’s schools like Vanderbilt - great party atmosphere plus great academics. (Defined by someone whose screenname includes “vandyfan”/)
But I think this is pretty accurate: https://education.media/work-hard-play-harder-the-top-party-schools-in-america
Schools that define themselves as “work hard play hard” tend to be competitive academically and have a culture of ‘heavy drinking as entertainment’ on weekends, where getting wasted is seen as letting off steam from the long hours of work toward high grades.
I definitely associate the phrase with decently strong academic chops but also a party scene - one of those schools where students let loose 2-3 nights a week not 4-5.
Greek life isn’t a requirement to be a work hard, play hard culture.
I understand it to be better than “Play Hard, Play Hard”. Generally speaking, the Work Hard, Play Hard schools are among the best academic institutions in the country. Frankly, given the pressure cooker students at top schools find themselves in today, I don’t begrudge them their fun…as long as the work comes first and the play doesn’t interfere (I read that last phrase in my best Dad voice).
It has always meant to me the people work hard or study hard in the case of colleges but also spend serious time doing things for enjoyment. I am sure for some suburban type colleges it might mean parties but for rural and mountain colleges it could also be biking, hiking, skiing, camping and so on or for city colleges it could mean taking advantage of the cultural and restaurant scene.