Which schools have a noticeable or dominant drug culture?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all the replies. I’m asking about the schools where it would be hard to find a friend group if you aren’t into hanging out & getting high on a daily or several times a week basis.

The vast majority of bigger schools will have a significant portion of students who don't drink or do drugs - or are at least cautious or prudent about it. Drinking in particular is not nearly as widespread as it was 20-30 years ago. Weed use of course is up. But there are tons of students who are pretty clean living. At the better schools, even if you do drink or smoke, it's maybe Thursday to Saturday. No one is imbibing anything on a Tuesday.

I'd be more concerned with smaller liberal arts colleges. Much smaller social group. Generally, very isolated with not a lot to do. There will always be students going hard. Think it would be tougher there

Agree.

Of those I’d be more concerned with ones with conformist culture. There aren’t any alternatives at schools like Claremont McKenna or Colgate.

Right. Much better to go to open-minded schools like Oberlin or Hampshire, where you can just be yourself & everyone will leave you alone.

Still remember the review about Hampshire College athletics = take a hit of acid while playing on the swingset.

No problem with categorizing Oberlin as non-conformist.

Agrre that both CMC & Colgate are heavy drinking schools, but don't know about whether or not drugs are in widespread use.

I saw more coke when I was at NCS than I did while I was at Colgate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Olaf is dry, there are other colleges the same. Might be worth looking into?

St. Olaf is dry (wink wink, nod nod). Carleton is adjacent and very mUch not.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all the replies. I’m asking about the schools where it would be hard to find a friend group if you aren’t into hanging out & getting high on a daily or several times a week basis.

The vast majority of bigger schools will have a significant portion of students who don't drink or do drugs - or are at least cautious or prudent about it. Drinking in particular is not nearly as widespread as it was 20-30 years ago. Weed use of course is up. But there are tons of students who are pretty clean living. At the better schools, even if you do drink or smoke, it's maybe Thursday to Saturday. No one is imbibing anything on a Tuesday.

I'd be more concerned with smaller liberal arts colleges. Much smaller social group. Generally, very isolated with not a lot to do. There will always be students going hard. Think it would be tougher there

Agree.

Of those I’d be more concerned with ones with conformist culture. There aren’t any alternatives at schools like Claremont McKenna or Colgate.

Right. Much better to go to open-minded schools like Oberlin or Hampshire, where you can just be yourself & everyone will leave you alone.

Still remember the review about Hampshire College athletics = take a hit of acid while playing on the swingset.

No problem with categorizing Oberlin as non-conformist.

Agrre that both CMC & Colgate are heavy drinking schools, but don't know about whether or not drugs are in widespread use.

I have a kid at Oberlin and a kid elsewhere. Neither are into substance use. Oberlin kid says it’s a “pot school”— not much alcohol use (for a college campus) and they have not seen much in the way of hard drugs. Kids tend to go to Oberlin because they are non-conformists who can be themselves— as opposed to arriving and becoming nonconformist for the sake of not conforming. It isn’t a drop acid, do heroin place. Unless I’ve spent 4 years being very clueless.

The other kid describes their school as an “alcohol school”. I had a fascinating conversation with them last summer about the differences in the school cultures. I think pot just lends itself to the more introverted, smaller crowd social life at Oberlin. It’s not a big group party place. It also seems that Oberlin has a more mellow vibe and is less of a cram for 4-5 days, party hard on weekends mentality. Not having frats helps wIth that too, I think.

Which do I prefer? There was an alcohol death at the other kids school last year and the drinking is more open, so that concerns me. Then again, for different reasons, both of my kids might apply to the federal government, which is still erratic on security clearances for pot use.

[Anonymous]

My kid, currently at Swarthmore, went to visit a friend at Colgate and said parents were doing kegstands there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid, currently at Swarthmore, went to visit a friend at Colgate and said parents were doing kegstands there.

As a Dartmouth alum, this checks out. Made me laugh and brought back some memories. Obviously, there are a lot of serious issues with alcoholism and these schools aren’t the path I seek for my kids. But thinking of my fellow ‘9x ers doing a few keg stands at 50 makes me chuckle.

[Anonymous]

Snow Mound University (SMU). I know many personal stories of people who developed drug problems there.

[Anonymous]

Vermont

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure your kid can find friends, drinkers and non drinkers in most schools. But I think your concern is very understandable. Not just in college but in high school, we have seen two many negatively effected by drugs and drinking.
We have two kids in college at different schools, both known for a party bent. Neither are big partiers and one doesn’t drink at all.
JMU and VA Tech.

FYI - Pot smokers are not big partiers and don't drink much.

+1 my kid is a pot smoker (unfortunatley) and does not drink and really doesn't go out much. They just like to chill and watch movies, or hang out with friends. In fact, they are trying to get themselves out more and said that weed just makes them tired and too chill to bother to go out. I would not consdier them "a partier".

Wow not good for the developing brain for sure.

My nephew was like this and lacks motivation /direction to this day.

It is an addictive drug for many.

Marijuana does affect the brain in those under 25. DP here with another nephew cautionary tale. I wouldn't be so cavalier about it.

Marijuana's impact on the brain seems to be greatest for consumption under age 18. Even though there's significant brain development between 18-25, the impacts seen in users that begin before 18 are not seen in users after (and the differences plateau for the early users after 18). Of course, much more research needs to be done.