By Colin Ross
Campus News
When arriving on campus in the fall for the first time, many college freshmen are faced with the same dilemma, whether or not to participate in the party scene that encompasses most schools. Throughout their years in high school, students have often been told by their older peers about this unique part of the college experience. Some students might hear about wild and raucous parties that last throughout the night, leaving many rising freshmen teaming with anticipation for their turn. On the other hand, some students may tell of their horror stories and the consequences that followed, which may leave these very same rising freshmen with a bad feeling or a downright fear of the year to come.
I struggled with both of these schools of thought when I first arrived at my college this past year. I was conflicted between the parts of myself that wanted to maintain a solid academic foundation while also getting a grasp of the social scene. By laying out the pros and cons of campus party culture through my personal experience, hopefully, some students will have a better grasp of what college partying really is like.
As you settle into college after your move-in, a priority for many new students is being able to branch out in a new social setting. In this way, parties can be a great resource. Going out to that first party with your roommate is a great way to do this. Interacting with tons of people outside of the classroom may help you get closer to people and eventually may even blossom into close-knit friendships. Gaining that hold on the social aspect of college is an important goal for many incoming students and parties are a great tool to achieve this.
Another pro of attending college parties is the newfound responsibility that you wield. Although the forces of peer pressure may be strong at college parties, they are also a great place to practice your decision-making skills. You may be faced with tough decisions, like whether to drink or go back to your dorm and do homework. You could also be placed in scenarios that make you and your friends uncomfortable and it could be up to you to speak out for the group. All in all, parties are also a great place to test your real-world decision making.
While college parties do have their benefits, there are also some negatives associated with attending them. One of these is the culture of binge drinking. For many, college parties are associated with excessive alcohol consumption which can have harmful benefits on your overall health. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), binge drinking can cause violence, alcohol poisoning, liver disease, liver cancer, and memory and learning problems. Some people even binge drink multiple times a week in college through parties. It is likely that this behavior will have serious consequences on your future, both in college and in life. When attending parties, it is important to understand the risks of binge drinking and how to best avoid it.
A pretty obvious flipside to attending college parties is that you’re taking away time you could be working on your studies. Some people attend parties not only on the weekend but also during the week, which is usually a vital time to get work done. Tie in the effects of drinking, if you so choose, and you could face a day in which you have to attend class hungover and weak, which is not ideal. In a worst-case scenario and done recklessly, partying can lead to academic decline, which is in spite of the whole reason you (hopefully) attended school in the first place. When deciding whether or not to party, make sure you have a plan to finish your work and keep up with your classes.
As you can see, there are both positive and negative aspects of partying in college. While some people choose to attend them all of the time and others may never, it is important to realize that partying can be a tool to utilize to have fun during the school year but also isn’t necessary. If you do choose to attend parties, make sure you are fully aware of all of the good and bad sides and make a fully informed decision.
When I went to college I partied every night. My rule was to study until 9pm and not a minute longer and then party until I passed out (2-3am). I ended up with a 3.88/4. I later learned that this was called being a functional alcoholic.