Alright, let’s be honest here. Half the reason I was so excited to come to college was because of the parties. I’ve never been a huge drinker or partygoer, especially not in high school, but I was excited to get out and “live it up” when I visited Melbourne. I was pumped for the frat parties and to have a good time. And don’t get me wrong, it’s an absolutely great time, but there are some things about partying and drinking in college you should know, both good and bad.
1.) It can be fun.
If you do it right. Don’t get so wasted you can’t do anything on your own, don’t throw up, and don’t do anything you’ll regret completely in the morning and you’re set.
2.) It can be dangerous.
Partying, in general, can be dangerous if you’re an idiot about it. Don’t mix your liquors. Beer before liquor, never been sicker: LIVE BY IT. Always go out with people you know and don’t leave them behind when you go home. Don’t take drinks from people you don’t know, watch someone make your drink, and don’t leave your drink sitting somewhere. Taking jungle juice from that huge container may not be the best idea. You never know what’s in drinks you didn’t make or see made. Be careful. If you’re not an idiot, you’ll be fine.
3.) Frat houses aren’t always clean.
In fact, they’re hardly ever clean. And a lot of them smell bad.
4.) House parties do in fact get busted.
If it’s clear that a party is overly loud and overly crowded, skip out and go somewhere else. And if the party you’re at gets busted, if there’s absolutely no way to get out unseen, just comply with the campus police. If you cooperate and aren’t so drunk you can’t see straight, you’ll most likely just be asked to go home.
5.) You can drink in the dorms.
You’re not supposed to, but it can totally be done. Trust me. Lock your door so no one can come barging in. Don’t be loud; don’t play loud music, don’t start screaming, don’t say the words “shots” or “alcohol” at a high volume, etc. Take shots, don’t drink beer. You have to sip on a beer. A shot you can just take a put back. Don’t leave the drink in it’s labeled container. Put vodka and other clear liquors in water bottles, dark liquors in dark bottles, etc. Don’t keep leaving the room and coming back, but if you must, close and lock the door when you leave. And most importantly, if you get caught, cooperate. You’ll get in a lot less trouble and it will be much better for you in the long run.
6.) It can be awkward.
Some parties are just awkward. End of story. You walk in with your friends and it’s literally just people sitting on a couch with some music in the background. These parties are no fun, especially if you’re not close friends with anyone else there. They probably won’t get any better as the night goes on either, so just find another place to go.
7.) Wearing heels is a bad idea.
It will not only get you stared at but you’ll probably be called a whore by several girls around you and you’ll hate yourself by the end of the night because your feet will hurt so bad.
8.) BOYB, always.
If you walk into a party completely sober and with no alcohol on you, there’s about a 98% chance you will leave the party equally as sober as you came. Parties generally don’t just hand out free shots, so it’s always best to bring your own.
9.) Dirty dancing is dirty.
Very, very dirty.
10.) Some parties are listed.
Frat parties are sometimes listed, meaning you can only get in if you’re on the list. This doesn’t happen too often at my school, but it definitely does sometimes. Know before you go, that way you don’t look like an idiot when you get there.
11.) Themed parties are real things.
And everyone dresses up. If you walk into the party in normal clothes, you will stand out and you will be judged.
12.) Undercover cops are out to get you.
At my school, excise cops are everywhere, especially on holiday weekends and the first week or two of class. They’re undercover, so you don’t know they’re cops until they pull their badge out of their t-shirt pocket. It’s really simple to avoid being caught by one: don’t be an idiot. Don’t carry your alcohol around in a marked container and keep it in your bag when you’re not using it (but not a backpack – that makes you an idiot). If you’re not drunk enough to stumble around, don’t stumble around. Don’t scream and run around, don’t walk in huge groups and never get behind a wheel.
13.) Hangovers are way worse when you’re in class.
Thirsty Thursdays are great, great times, don’t get me wrong here. But there’s a pretty good chance your 9 am history class on Friday mornings already makes you nauseous, so downing that fifth vodka on a Thursday night probably isn’t the best idea. Be smart when you have an early morning the next day.
14.) No one says you have to drink.
If you don’t drink, don’t drink. No one is shoving shots down your throat (and if they are, you should probably leave that party). You can still have a good time being sober at a party, and you don’t have a hangover the next day, so there’s that.
15.) Have fun with it.
If you walk into a party ready to have a great time, you’ll probably have a great time. Leave the drama at home and just loosen up. College parties are meant to be fun, so have fun.
Bottom line: Don’t be an idiot. Know your limits. Partying can take a wrong turn fast when someone has a couple too many.
Be safe, loosen up, put on your dancing shoes, and have a good time. Rawk on.
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