Party Schools
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Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen Sep 19, 2007 |
Every year, The Princeton Review comes out with its list of college rankings. (Here are some of its more unusual rankings). By far, their most publicized ranking is the top 10 "Party School" list. This list is determined by tabulating " a combination of survey questions concerning the use of alcohol and drugs, hours of study each day, and the popularity of the Greek system." According to the Princeton Review 2008 Best 366 College Rankings, these are the best party schools in the U.S. As you can see, the South dominates the list.
- West Virginia University
- University of Mississippi
- University of Texas
- University of Florida
- University of Georgia
- Penn State
- University of New Hampshire
- Indiana University
- Ohio University
- University of California Santa Barbara
This list makes me wonder: does being ranked on this list attract more students, or detract them? are there students who use this list to help pick out a school? Are there parents out there saying, "No way are you going to West Virginia University!"
I also wonder if this list really offers valuable information, or if it's just a humorous conversation piece. Really, I don't know if these "party schools" are all that different from any other big school--with lots and lots of activities going on, including parties. The thing is, I taught at Indiana University during the year it was named the number one party school. Was that accurate? Kind of, I guess. The Greek system is very popular, and partying was definitely a priority for some of my students. However, there was so much more going on at IU-- including academics, theater, music, and protests against the War in Iraq-- that the title of party school seemed misleading.
Like all college rankings, take this one with a grain of salt, because it's only moderately useful.