On campus tours she grilled students about the party scene. She liked what she found at George Washington University. The urban environment in Washington, D.C., made her feel like the campus extended beyond tailgating and Friday-night parties, says Andrew Bryan, a college consultant who helped with her search. Shaughnessy, now a freshman, has sipped a few drinks, but she happily spends most weekend nights at dance clubs or watching DVDs. The best-known ranking of party schools, done by The Princeton Review, is based on student opinions, and its editor admits it s not scientific.
Experts offer other rules of thumb.
Schools with large fraternity systems traditionally harbor more excessive drinkers. Some studies also show heavier drinking at rural colleges, which have fewer off-campus entertainment options. Not surprisingly, Christian and women s colleges have less drinking. More definitive data are on the way. Last month Mothers Against Drunk Driving approved plans to begin ranking colleges based on how well they curb student drinking.