What are college freshmen doing when they’re not studying?

Answer: Probably drinking.

In fact, nearly half of first-year students are spending more time drinking each week than studying.  At least that’s the verdict according to a survey of more than 30,000 first-year students on 76 college campuses.

Here’s what Outside the Classroom, a Boston-based company offering an online alcohol education program to colleges across the country, found: Nearly 70% of the respondents said they drank – and those who had at least one drink in the past two weeks averaged:

• 10.2 hours a week drinking, and
• 8.4 hours a week studying.

William DeJong, the lead researcher, says the numbers give “a pretty accurate picture” about what’s happening on campuses throughout the country.

And the real problem, of course, is the big picture – how to play down the role alcohol has in the lives of college students, especially freshmen.

What is your institution doing for alcohol education? Let us know in the comments section below.

Tags: alcohol, freshmen, Outside the Classroom