The Daily Gamecock

USC named No. 17 best party school by Princeton Review

University gets nods for athletics facilities, affordability in latest rankings

Raise your glasses, USC students: The University of South Carolina has been ranked the nation's 17th best party school in the Princeton Review's annual rankings.

After just cracking the top 20 last year, USC rose three spots thanks to surveys completed by USC students on the Princeton Review's website. More than 120,000 students were surveyed nationwide, said David Soto, senior editor of the 2013 edition of the Princeton Review's Best 377 Colleges list.

"The rankings are all based on student opinion," Soto said. "We want to go by the college experts, and those are current students."

USC students who took the survey indicated a high level of alcohol and drug use by students, little time spent studying outside of class and a popular Greek system, all of which are factors that classify a "party school."

Those votes also earned USC spots on the "Lots of Greek Life" and "Students Study the Least" lists, ranking No. 10 and No. 12, respectively.

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Jerry Brewer was tepid in his response to the recently released rankings.

"We don't put much credence in rankings, unless it's an academic ranking, but it's always better to be ranked than not ranked," Brewer said. "The campus has a wide array of people who are social and people who are serious about all aspects."

USC also garnered recognition as being the eighth-best "Jock School," the 15th-best athletic facilities and 14th-best college newspaper.

"I'd like to see a ranking of how well-rounded we are," Brewer said. "But I'm glad they think we have a good Greek system and good social life."

Brewer also noted that while USC students have a reputation for knowing how to have a good time, the media has a part in framing that image, invoking the example of the 2010 "College Gameday" on the Horseshoe, broadcast on ESPN in anticipation of USC's game against Alabama.

"There could not be a more enjoyable weekend on campus than that weekend, and the coverage was great, but everyone went to class on Friday, and everyone went to class on Monday," Brewer said.

USC's academics did not go unnoticed, either.

The university was named one of the top 377 colleges in the U.S., one of the top 135 in the Southeast and one of the 75 Best Value Colleges. Those lists did not provide more detailed rankings.


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