Would going to a school that has a reputation of being a party school distract me from my studies?
I went on a trip to look for colleges and fell in love with the campus at UCSB, but I'm worried that if I go there, I will get distracted from my studies, as it is known to be a party school. What are the pros and cons of going to a school like this? Would it be better to go somewhere that isn't as known for its parties? Does having a party school on your resume affect whether or not you will be hired? #college #education #management #school #party-school
7 answers
Elizabeth’s Answer
Whether or not you party in school is entirely up to you. If you worry you will be distracted, it is certainly something to consider when selecting a school. You may also request to live in a quiet dorm or other community on campus with like-minded students that do not party/drink on weekends. When you begin job hunting, employers are going to look at your academics and your extracurricular activities from sports to honors clubs. This said, in the world of social media - be smart with what you decide to put on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Many HR reps and recruiters review these sites when they are looking to hire. If you have a lot of inappropriate pictures or posts, you may hurt your chances of interviewing in support of your candidacy.
Thank you! This is really helpful
Sage
itI's a good thing that you mentioned the social media piece. Too many students think that their activities on Twitter or Facebook are private when the whole world can really see them easily
Jared Chung, Admin
Yeah, that's a good point, thanks!
Sage
Thank you for the helpful info!
Andrea
Thank you for the information and advice
Teal
Thank you for the information
Maeve
This is really interesting!
Martina
Thank you Elizabeth this is really interesting!
Savera
Darya Kashirtseva
Darya’s Answer
UCSB is a great school. Although it is known as a party school among many college students, it's only in comparison to its partnering UC's. I have friends that went to UCSB and have graduated with top notch jobs. I think that your college experience is what you make of it.
For example, you could start partying, stop going to classes and get a low GPA.... or... you could join lots of clubs, get involved on campus and take challenging classes. Chances are if you stay on the right track then you will definitely graduate and either get into a good grad school or score a really nice job.
Hope that helps!
Brianne’s Answer
My college was considered a "party" school when I went there and yes I enjoyed that aspect. It can open you up to meet all kinds of interesting people but its not so much about going out partying at this school is as it is being involved with different groups and meeting others. Remember you are there first to get your education but you also need to enjoy life and have fun.
Mark’s Answer
The short answer is: it all depends on your willpower and the circle of people you choose to hang out with.
Now, life is not meant to be that short nor is it basic. There is also the underlying foundation of the school, its culture and what makes it a "party school".
When I was considering colleges, one of my top picks was the University of Georgia (I had been a fan of UGA since I was 10). It was really developing its credibility as a research-centric university, offered a large variety of majors, was highly integrated with its town and had a long list of extra-curricular activities and organizations. The University and my high school also shared the same mascots, so there was that.
It was also, at the time, ranked as the number 1 party school in the nation.
I applied and was accepted, but I ended up not going there; something 10-year old me would have thought impossible.
Why? It had nothing to do with the party school reputation at all. The school I chose was actually a bit more party-heavy than I would have thought, but it aligned to my goal aspirations and I felt at home on the campus. It also gave me a much heftier scholarship to defer more costs.
A number of my high school friends went to UGA and graduated with honors; one runs his own law firm, another is a judge, another owns his own business, several more runs businesses and many others are having successful careers. I can't say how much "partying" they did, but I do remember what they did in high school. In college, they went in with a goal firmly set and did what they needed to do to achieve it. They mention their time at the school with a lot of fondness and cite specific instances or interactions at the school that helped shape them to be successful.
The bottom line is trust in your instincts and upbringing. Know what you are going to school for, do your research on the school to ensure that it offers you the opportunities to obtain your goal and listen to your inner voice. Having fun is an important part of life, but it must be in the appropriate ranking of priorities. Saying "no" is a valuable skill to learn and, at times, is a requirement.
I wouldn't turn away from a school just because it has a party reputation if it has strong academics for a foundation. If it feels like the right place for you, it very likely is.
Shawn’s Answer
I went to a school that was more of a commuter campus so it wasn't really considered a party school. However, we had plenty of organizations (including fraternities and sororities) that would make up for this commuter aspect. Though I think that socializing with your fellow students around campus is extremely important when it comes to your sanity with all of the hard studying, you must find a happy balance that will ensure that you are successful with your school. After all, you're paying for your education and not to have a good time. I have seen many fellow students fail out of college because they could not grasp the fact that they had nobody telling them that they needed to study. As for when you are searching for jobs, the employers are usually more concerned with what types of activities you were involved with on that campus rather than where you attended. I would stay focused on your school and get involved with any organization that you see fitting with your personality. College is all about finding yourself and in order to do so, you need to find a happy medium between your studies and social life.
Good luck!
Nariman Ahmed
Nariman’s Answer
It all depends on how disciplined you are. If you feel you are easily distracted by the college's party-like atmosphere, then perhaps another school would be a good choice for you. But know that whichever school you choose, there will always be such distractions to deal with and ultimately, it's up to you to decide what level of distractions you can tolerate.
Sean’s Answer
To add on to what Elizabeth said, whether the school is a party school or not, don't discount the school for that reason alone. The key is, do they have the major you're looking to pursue. Do they offer you athletics or honors classes or extra clubs/activities which will support your growth intellectually, physically and emotionally? Do they provide you with the skills and knowledge so you can take the next step after graduation? Your own personal discipline will weigh into whether or not you engage in the party behavior - you can balance that as much as you desire. And to paraphrase Dr Seuss a bit, you have a head on your shoulders and your feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any way you choose - but make sure you're aware of the repercussions of those choices before you take them.