Make sure to see where the school lies with regard to how much drinking/partying dominates the social scene generally.

UNIGO shows survey rates for each college, and there IS a large degree of variation, despite what some parents say.

My daughter was like yours. Freshman year is probably the most challenging because the kids have newfound freedom and they are trying to show off. Also, those who will fail out due to partying have not gone yet. She was able, however, to find friends who did not drink either.

Anonymous wrote:My daughter lived in a substance free dorm in Tulane, because she doesn’t drink and didn’t want to be around lots of drinking and partying. I could smell pot in the dorm and her roommate frequently came home drunk and puking.

Also went to tulane and don't doubt this, though the one person I knew in the substance-free dorm was very religious, very judgmental about those who chose a different lifestyle, and not really fun at all. And no, I don't think fun requires alcohol or drugs, she was just a very judgey buzzkill. I think all her friends also lived in the substance-free dorm. I imagine it's an odd mix of folks.

My daughter lived in a substance free dorm in Tulane, because she doesn’t drink and didn’t want to be around lots of drinking and partying. I could smell pot in the dorm and her roommate frequently came home drunk and puking.

If your DC chooses to be an outliner, make a choice that's an outline, just make sure it's completely on her. I wouldn't want to sway this decision, in any way. Not as a parent. She will more likely make the best of it, however it turns out, if she's completely responsible for the decision (and the research)

Our school had the choice but it was easy to avoid partying and partiers anyway. OP, are there opportunities to give other preferences? (How late to bed, how social, etc?) If so, that might be enough.

They’re like Catholic schools. Some kids are there because they want to be there, and other kids are there because their parents already know they need more rules than most.

I would have liked a substance-free dorm when I was in college, as in college I was into fitness and healthy eating (still am for the most part). I didn't want to drink or use drugs, and so this would have been a nice option. (Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed my 3 years of living in the dorms.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine these places really exist. Get her some noise cancelling headphones or tell her to go to the library.

NP, I imagine that she is not literally looking to avoid noise, but rather partying/heavy drinking etc.

Yes, colleges typically describe quiet floors as being for students who like to go out and have fun but do not bring the “fun” back to their dorm.

A better plan might be to see what the school says about each dorm's reputation and pick accordingly, At my DS school, one of the freshman dorms has more communal space and has a party vibe, the other has suite style and for some reason has a more quiet vibe. That might be bette.

Anonymous wrote:What are these really like? My daughter is social but quiet and is interested in these choices but would love to know how these actually work. When she searched she found warnings not to live in substance-free floors because often students are only there because they were forced to live there by heir parents or are recovering from substance abuse problems…not that there’s anything wrong with battling that but it’s very different from why my DD would want to live there.

My university didn't have quiet/substance free dorms. However, one of my suitemates used to buy coke from a guy who lived in a quiet/substance free place at another university. Apparently he was there because his parents would only pay for college if he lived there.

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine these places really exist. Get her some noise cancelling headphones or tell her to go to the library.

NP, I imagine that she is not literally looking to avoid noise, but rather partying/heavy drinking etc.

I cannot imagine worrying about this

It would be helpful to know which college in particular you refer to bc several colleges have this housing option. I think the answers will vary on the school.

I can’t imagine these places really exist. Get her some noise cancelling headphones or tell her to go to the library.

What are these really like? My daughter is social but quiet and is interested in these choices but would love to know how these actually work. When she searched she found warnings not to live in substance-free floors because often students are only there because they were forced to live there by heir parents or are recovering from substance abuse problems…not that there’s anything wrong with battling that but it’s very different from why my DD would want to live there.