College Tip 6: Partying

College Tip 6: Partying

***As a precautionary statement, I do not by any means encourage or support underage drinking. It is illegal.***

Welcome week is basically the prime time to get smashed, meet people that you’ll never talk to again, and learn the many ways to avoid MIPs. Not every school has a welcome week, but I’m referring to the week prior to the start of classes in the fall. All the freshmen have just moved in and are anxiously waiting for their chance to experience college nightlife. They’re on FB scrounging for listed parties that they can stumble into, even though they don’t know where they’re located because they haven’t learned campus yet. The upperclassmen return, experienced and ready to celebrate the beginning of another year of the greatest lifestyle imaginable. In short, it’s time to rage.

Partying is a huge part of college life. Whether you want to admit it or not, the thought of underage drinking attracts kids because it is rebellious. Your entire life you’ve been the good kid, always obeying your parents and now that you’re on your own you want to push the limits. First tip: do it, but don’t be a dumbass. You’re an adult and you can make decisions on your own, but you need to remember that there are always consequences for your actions. It could be a terrible hangover on game day or it could be a ride with the popo.

Now, I’m going to assume you’re that perfect kid who has never been within 50 yards of a liquor store and could honestly not tell the difference between a keg and a garbage can. You need to get off to a good start and figure out your levels of tolerance and discover what you can drink. There is beer and there is liquor. Tip two: liquor before beer, you’re in the clear; beer before liquor, never been sicker. This is 100% true, proven by science. You will be sorry if you’re alternating liquor and beer all night, so be smart. Typically, you will start with liquor anyways.

Pregaming is a term that you will probably use just about every weekend, before any concert, before any sporting event, or just about before anything that could be fun – because it’s just more fun if you’re under the influence. Pregaming is really a genius idea that is essentially drinking to get somewhat drunk before you go out and get drunk. You usually do this at your own place or at a friend’s house. You just take shots of various liquors and get pumped up for the night. Tip three: don’t get drunk while pregaming. I say this because you’re getting ready to go out and nobody will be your friend if you’re stumbling down the front steps as you’re heading to the bars, clubs, frat parties, or wherever you may be going. Get comfortably buzzed and walk out into the night world with confidence.

The walks to and from your final destination are always exciting as well because random people on the street will become your best friends or want to start fights with you for no reason at all. Others will actually be that person that got drunk pregaming who will entertain you for a couple good laughs as you pass them while they’re running zig-zags across four way intersections.

When you get to the party, the fun continues. The great thing is that you aren’t on a schedule and if one event blows, you can guarantee there’s probably another party going on relatively close. When you get inside (there might be a line), first goal is to always hit up the bar. Tip four: even if you don’t drink, never be caught at a party without one because you look like a freshman. Second goal should be to dance. There’s usually not much going on at parties other than drinking, dancing, and maybe some drinking games which I’ll talk about later. So enjoy yourself and try to meet people. This is another place where you’ll actually make some pretty good friends, assuming they remember your name in the morning.

 
I hope this helps you as you venture out for the first time! Good luck, have fun, and most importantly, be safe!