Colleges where it sucks if you’re not Greek or sporty - help us avoid them!

[Anonymous]

Berry College? Lol no

[Anonymous]

I'd imagine most state colleges are that way, like UMD was for sure. Privates, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe this issue goes away at schools in cities?

+1. NP. This was my first thought as well. If a student want lots of things to do on the weekend that aren't frat parties, then try to be in or near a city, especially in the mid size university category. Would she have a problem with, say, Jesuit schools?

Also OP, on the price, did you check Net Price Calculators to make sure you wouldn't be eligible for need based aid? If you'll need to rely on merit, how much is your annual budget and what are your D's stats like?

Some mid-size to large universities to check out further, some might have Greek but less heavily than large publics or rural LACs, various prices and selectivity levels, in or nearby a city, just a starting point: American, Boston Univ, Brandeis, Case Western, Clark, Creighton, Drexel, Fordham, Gonzaga, GWU, Loyola Chicago, Loyola Marymount, Marquette, Northeastern, RIT, St Louis U, Syracuse, Temple, U Denver, U Miami, U Rochester, U San Diego, USF, Villanova

[Anonymous]

(^And of course there are several more mid-size highly-selective schools that are in or near a city if need-based aid might make them affordable)

[Anonymous]

I would also look more deeply at campus culture, without ruling out a school with a high percentage of students in Greek life. For example, my DDs LAC has a rule that all students must be able to attend all fraternity parties so no student is left out, although my DD says that doesn't mean that all students will be served. The school also has eating houses for female-identifying students so any student may participate if they choose.

[Anonymous]

My DS had Lehigh as his first choice but is now questioning it because he’s heard the frat party culture is so obnoxious and there’s not much else to do.

[Anonymous]

Many Catholic colleges don't have frats/sororities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My twins are first years at UVA which is described as "fratty" and is a party school in many ways.Yes, that is the scene that my DD is experiencing but she is enjoying it very much and will rush in the spring. My DS is NOT into Greek life and is not involved in any athletics on grounds. He did however join a bunch of clubs which have had parties and activities where he has enjoyed himself. He is not a drinker, usually two beers is very much his limit and that happens maybe once a month. He has been stone cold sober at these club parties and still had a good time.

I went to a SLAC that was oh about 60-70% greek at the time, and yes it was the only thing to do on the weekends. Which was fine, I found a sorority that I loved and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Prior to, I would never have said I was someone who would rush. in fact i didn't until spring sophomore year.

My point is that there are kids at every school that are not Greek. She will just have to work harder to find them.

But why should they have to if they can identify schools ahead of time that don’t have this culture? And even though you may be able to find your people eventually at a school that has a high Greek life participation, they tend to be very high profile on campus and hard to get away from.

Op - my kid had the same criteria and is very happy where she ended up. There is some Greek life at her school but it doesn’t overshadow other social activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. I know this is over-simplifying but my daughter is looking a tier lower than from what maybe she could have a shot at because we can’t afford $70-80 thousand. This sounds whiney but it feels like this makes it hard to avoid party-schools, which she would like to do. The big state schools seem so Greek and overwhelming to her — we visited some.)

Though I went to an Ivy and frats ruled the weekends because the school was so isolated.)

I went to UVA and happily avoided the frats. It can be done. She’ll find her quiet friends in other activities. Any club that meets the same night as sorority meetings is a good bet.

[Anonymous]

Smaller state colleges: Mary Washington, St Mary's in Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Look up the schools you are considering on UNIGO's website.

It includes answers to student survey questions that address your concerns specifically.

It is an easy (though of course not perfect) way to compare schools.

[Anonymous]

Look at Vassar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many Catholic colleges don't have frats/sororities

Yes, but many of them have a big drinking culture anyway.

[Anonymous]

Np. My dd is not a drinker or a partier. She wanted a smaller school because of smaller class size and access to professors. She has found that bc of the remote location and the lack of other activities on campus (which may have to do with Covid and the fact that the student center is being renovated), most social love revolves around drinking. She realizes that she would be better off at a larger school. Even schools with a “party school” reputation have lots of groups and activities to join and people can find their niche. I went to a so called party school but I hated going to parties. I had good friends that also hated parties and we did other things. However, I also had friends who partied and while I didn’t party with them, we did other things. One of the benefits of a big school. I think my dd would have been better off at a school in the 5,000-10,000 range. She will likely end up at a school with around 20,000 people (as a transfer) and I hope she is happier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Np. My dd is not a drinker or a partier. She wanted a smaller school because of smaller class size and access to professors. She has found that bc of the remote location and the lack of other activities on campus (which may have to do with Covid and the fact that the student center is being renovated), most social love revolves around drinking. She realizes that she would be better off at a larger school. Even schools with a “party school” reputation have lots of groups and activities to join and people can find their niche. I went to a so called party school but I hated going to parties. I had good friends that also hated parties and we did other things. However, I also had friends who partied and while I didn’t party with them, we did other things. One of the benefits of a big school. I think my dd would have been better off at a school in the 5,000-10,000 range. She will likely end up at a school with around 20,000 people (as a transfer) and I hope she is happier.

Thank you so much for this. Hope she likes her new school.