OP here.
DD it’s not my only child and I am not naïve to the fact that drinking goes on in college. I personally went to a very party heavy college and drank a lot. I have another child who almost certainly will choose to drink in college.
My question was, if I have a child that is going to Bucknell and does not want to drink, is that the wrong choice for her? Or are there a lot of other things to do besides drinking? She would be a college athlete, but I know that sometimes college athletes are the biggest partiers! She wants to get involved in Christian organizations, loves to hang out and be social, but is not a partier.

I'm an alum and have a close friend who is a professor there. A lot of drinking, and day drinking is becoming much more the norm these days. Bucknell is more heavily Greek than other SLACs which adds to the drinking culture.

Anonymous wrote:I've heard Bucknell has the best finance outcomes in the Patriot League. Is this generally considered to be true?

Yes. I know Bucknell/The Street has become a meme here, but the touse fraternities really are a pipeline to IB, MC, and even PE.

I've heard Bucknell has the best finance outcomes in the Patriot League. Is this generally considered to be true?

How is the drinking culture different at Bucknell compared to other private colleges with a high SES student body?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a non-drinker at a mid-size private near a city. My other is at a rural school, wish they were a non-drinker but they aren’t. I personally think location is biggest issue, having enough going on outside of parties but also not too big of a city that you lose campus culture as too much to do.

I’m not familar enough with Bucknell’s location, but just sharing in case helpful.

Did the student at the rural school go in as a non-drinker?

Yes, first parties in college. It’s also a school known for Greek life/drinking. I was worried about it as it’s not my preference, and unfortunately came true. They are an eager to be liked personality, so at higher risk to go with flow of the company they keep.

It’s definitely school-specific, so I wouldn’t blame just the rural location, as you initially did.

I wasn’t blaming rural, I was suggesting it can be a factor especially when it coincides with heavy Greek life and partying reputation. Also, depends on kid. My oldest wouldn’t waiver no matter where they were. I posted merely as thoughts to consider, that is all.

Anonymous wrote:I think it is unreasonable for a non-drinker to only hang out with non-drinkers. You have to be willing to be the one who isn't drinking at a party.

Definitely. One of my friends was also the non-drinker in our group and she had a blast and is still the craziest one of us all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Know matter how sure mom and dad are that it will never happen, a significant percentage of non-drinkers become drinkers in college.

I went to Bucknell years ago and a fraternity brother didn't drink when he rushed and didn't drink when he graduated. Entirely up to the individual. My son, at another college, didn't drink in high school and has started to drink in college. Nothing a parent can do about it.

I think the question is about a feeling of connection for those whose preferences don’t align with the overall tenor of the school.

How did the frat brother in your anecdote feel about his sobriety among his peers? How does he feel about his college choice in retrospect?

Anonymous wrote:Know matter how sure mom and dad are that it will never happen, a significant percentage of non-drinkers become drinkers in college.

I went to Bucknell years ago and a fraternity brother didn't drink when he rushed and didn't drink when he graduated. Entirely up to the individual. My son, at another college, didn't drink in high school and has started to drink in college. Nothing a parent can do about it.

Know matter how sure mom and dad are that it will never happen, a significant percentage of non-drinkers become drinkers in college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a non-drinker at a mid-size private near a city. My other is at a rural school, wish they were a non-drinker but they aren’t. I personally think location is biggest issue, having enough going on outside of parties but also not too big of a city that you lose campus culture as too much to do.

I’m not familar enough with Bucknell’s location, but just sharing in case helpful.

Did the student at the rural school go in as a non-drinker?

Yes, first parties in college. It’s also a school known for Greek life/drinking. I was worried about it as it’s not my preference, and unfortunately came true. They are an eager to be liked personality, so at higher risk to go with flow of the company they keep.

It’s definitely school-specific, so I wouldn’t blame just the rural location, as you initially did.

Tulane, for example, surpasses Bucknell in a Princeton Review survey-based ranking, "Lots of Hard Liquor":

https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/?rankings=lots-hard-liquor

I think it is unreasonable for a non-drinker to only hang out with non-drinkers. You have to be willing to be the one who isn't drinking at a party.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a non-drinker at a mid-size private near a city. My other is at a rural school, wish they were a non-drinker but they aren’t. I personally think location is biggest issue, having enough going on outside of parties but also not too big of a city that you lose campus culture as too much to do.

I’m not familar enough with Bucknell’s location, but just sharing in case helpful.

Did the student at the rural school go in as a non-drinker?

Yes, first parties in college. It’s also a school known for Greek life/drinking. I was worried about it as it’s not my preference, and unfortunately came true. They are an eager to be liked personality, so at higher risk to go with flow of the company they keep.

It’s definitely school-specific, so I wouldn’t blame just the rural location, as you initially did.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a non-drinker at a mid-size private near a city. My other is at a rural school, wish they were a non-drinker but they aren’t. I personally think location is biggest issue, having enough going on outside of parties but also not too big of a city that you lose campus culture as too much to do.

I’m not familar enough with Bucknell’s location, but just sharing in case helpful.

Did the student at the rural school go in as a non-drinker?

Yes, first parties in college. It’s also a school known for Greek life/drinking. I was worried about it as it’s not my preference, and unfortunately came true. They are an eager to be liked personality, so at higher risk to go with flow of the company they keep.

She will just need to find other friends who don't drink. If she wants to go to parties and be in the Greek system, then I would not go to Bucknell.