College dorm parties are a rite of passage for many students. But they can also be dangerous.
Students who drink heavily while celebrating could get behind the wheel of a car or otherwise endanger themselves or others, said Dr. Jane Thacker, a pediatrician at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
“College drinking has been on the rise for decades,” she said. “It’s not just alcohol poisoning but also drunk driving and other injuries that are related to alcohol.”
Drinking games like beer pong often take place at college parties, Thacker said. The game involves tossing pingpong balls into cups of beer, with each team trying to sink as many balls as possible before one misses the cup. College students may drink heavily during these games because if they make a mistake, they lose points for their team, she said.
Another common activity at college parties is “keg stands,” where participants hold their breath while drinking straight from a keg through long straws, according to Thacker. She added that this practice puts pressure on the esophagus and stomach muscles and increases blood pressure in the head due to carbon dioxide buildup — both of which can result in fainting spells or alcohol poisoning if too much alcohol is consumed too quickly.
College dorm parties can be a lot of fun, but they can also be a little intimidating. If you’re new to college or just want to get the most out of your social life, here are some tips that will help you make the most of your time at the dorms.
- Start early
A good rule of thumb is to start drinking at least an hour before you plan on getting to the party. This way, you’ll have time to get there early and get settled in before everyone else arrives. It’s also important to have a drink before you leave for the party so that you don’t arrive with a buzz — this way, you’ll be able to start off slow and ease into things rather than dive right in headfirst.
- Bring food
You should always bring food when going to a party at another student’s house because it helps break up the flow of conversation and makes everything more relaxed and comfortable. The host should always offer food first; if not, bring something yourself! It’s also good etiquette if someone else brings snacks for everyone else too — it shows that they care about making sure everyone has a good time together.
In a time when many people are worried about the future of higher education, some vocational colleges often are booming.
The schools offer programs such as welding and culinary arts. They’re often smaller than traditional four-year institutions and can cost less than $10,000 for an associate’s degree.
But they’re also facing criticism that they’re not preparing students for the real world — and that they’re more like trade schools than true universities.
“A lot of these kids come in thinking they’re going to be a chef,” said Rick Villarreal, dean of instruction at Austin Community College’s Northwest campus in Texas. “They don’t realize that there’s a lot more to it than just cooking.”
Villarreal said he spends time trying to convince students that they need more than just culinary skills if they want to succeed in the food industry.
College dorm parties can be a great way to meet people, but they can also be a nightmare. If you’re not careful, you could end up being the only one sober in the room.
One of my friends in college had this problem all the time. Every time he went to a party at his dorm, he got so wasted that he ended up passing out on the floor or in someone else’s bed.
He would wake up with no idea where he was or what had happened the night before. It was pretty embarrassing for him because it happened over and over again.
It took him a long time to figure out that he needed to stop drinking before going to parties at his school. But once he did, he was able to have fun without getting wasted every single time!
