Do you hate the mainstream view of College?

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Drinking is an easy way to let loose. It gets awkward to be in a building with numerous people you barley know. Thats how I see it in their point of view. Drinking, clubbing and parties aren't the best. I've done them, there not so great.

Some people are also BORING and thats the only way they know how to have fun. I go to community college, so there isn't much parties. I also mainly talk to the "rocker" kids. So, I mainly go to local shows on the weekend xD

I always see college, or any grade as work for your future. I do not know how someone could get drunk all night and have to study, get up for an 8am class while doing all that partying. I know we need a break once in a while, but think of the consequences to all of that partying. If these kids did something stupid like got arrested and they were going to school to be a lawyer or doctor, it will go on their record. Me, I rather save the partying for the summer. Less distraction on my schooling.

Seeing some pretty cliche judgements on here; one might really question the worth of going to college if you just want to shut yourself in a room and study all day. Believe it or not, successful students learn to balance their time between a healthy social life and their work/study life, and obviously too much to either side can be catastrophic. I think being a student is much more than just attending classes, but also part of the tradition of doing things you may very well only be able to do in college, i.e., such "wild behavior" as partying of course, but also things like activism and community service, or extemporaneous speaking/debating. I don't mean to be discouraging, but after most people graduate and pursue a career all of these things tend to take a backseat. Anyone who takes college as anything less than a (rather expensive) gift probably shouldn't be going to college; if they want to work, they should get a job.

If some people want to think of it in a horribly stripped down, perverse sort of utilitarianism, a lot of these people are actually building up valuable social capital which often does lead to opportunities, something absolutely necessary for practically anyone who runs for a public office or even a CEO position. If one wants to be left to themselves or only do this or that, that's their prerogative, but it really has little to do with academic success. Rather, a lot of people here would do good to learn how to get along with people better, since even in a academic position, one's success largely rests on their ability to not only produce work independently, but also to demonstrate their worth to the research community, collaborate with others and to attract students to continue their work (not to mention getting grants lol). This can mean a level of friendship and intimacy with some people, but on the larger scale it means being on good terms with a wide variety of people who may not be your friends. If you think it's hard tolerating these rather tame people in college, then what'll happen when you can't go forward with some important research project (and perhaps your career) since you couldn't get along with the other collaborators?

This ridiculous fear and ignorance of alcohol (which ironically is one of the main reasons for its widespread abuse in the US) seems really childish, along with these throwbacks to the olden days. Not long ago college was a club for affluent white (protestant) males, and one can observe remnants of this in the eating clubs and secret societies which persist today.

I totally agree with the view that is being depicted by this thread.

I hate how university is being constantly misportrayed as a place where people get drunk and have a good time. At school we had a tutorial about drugs and alcohol and it was along the lines of finding new friends at university and avoiding those who might do that sort of thing. I hated it because it gave the impression that taking large risks such as 'getting wasted' is one of the only ways to make initial friends at university! I hate how there are so many pictures on websites such as Facebook, as well as from the general media, that give the opposite impression of what university life is supposed to be about!

Just why is there so much emphasis on university/college being an opportunity to drink? It's utter bollocks! I understand that alcohol is okay in moderation, as well as small amounts of it, but I hardly see the point in intoxicating myself with it!

However I do believe that a balance between fun and study at university is required, even more so because the students have more responsibilities of being adults. But the right balance needs to be found, because many students tend to become geared towards the fun side.