Your life in college is really different than what you have imagined. There are unexpected parties, friendships, rivals, insecurity, debts and all kinds of emotions.
College is all about friends and getting exposed to new things. Now-a-days, there are no ‘roaring parties’ in in colleges, as these are organized in confined places which are planned in advance. These are not the parties you see in films.
Does College Have a Prom in 2023?
Most colleges do not have prom in 2023. There used to be a prom tradition in colleges, but this changed in recent years. Proms are still a big hit at smaller schools. If you go to a college that still has a prom, you’ll get a formal invitation.
There is no need to be upset though since almost all colleges offer plenty of alternatives for you to make up for it.
Since proms are an amazing experience for any high schooler, you might wonder and even be a little confused as to why colleges wouldn’t have prom.
Why Is There No Prom in College?
Here are three common reasons why higher educational institutions such as colleges don’t host prom.
1. Prom can Get Out of Hand Quickly
When it comes to prom, with all the fun and the adventure, there are also certain risks.
You might have heard a horror story or two about how something went wrong during prom in the past. When something goes wrong during prom, usually the school takes responsibility for it. This is why you notice many chaperones and adults during such school events to keep an eye on the young people.
However, this is not a luxury many colleges can afford.
Many colleges do not have prom since they cannot keep an eye on the entire student body. Since college students are known for being reckless, especially when there is alcohol involved and when they are in large groups, many universities do not feel comfortable taking responsibility for such an event.
In addition, this one of the main reasons why college students are not allowed to attend prom. Since most college students are above the legal age to purchase alcohol, school administrations do not allow college students to participate in events such as prom.
Incidents involves drugs and alcohol are quite common in many college campuses.
There is a real possibility of such incidents escalating during large-scale events like prom – especially if there isn’t sufficient supervision.
So, if something bad were to happen, such a student getting injured, the college will be legally responsible for the incident. They will also be required to take partial responsibility to compensate for any damage caused. Since prom is an annual event, such costs can accumulate over time and put the college in financial trouble.
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2. Proms are Too Large-Scale
Proms are usually organized for the entire student body. In high school, it’s manageable – especially when you segregate the event as junior and senior prom.
But in university, even if you arrange the prom according to graduation years or batches, it will still be too many people. For instance, the average student body size in a high school is approximately 500.
However, even among medium-sized colleges, there are around 5000 – 15000 students in the overall student body.
This high number of students make prom a difficult event to arrange for most colleges.
For starters, it requires large funding to organize an event of this scale.
Even something simple such as decorations could cost a lot of money when considering the equipment and physical labour that is required. In the same way, the college will need to hire a large space to host the event, which can result in a massive expense as well.
Most colleges do not have budgets that can allow for such expenses.
This is one of the primary reasons why colleges prefer to host small-scale events that are limited to certain classes or even educational disciplines. So, just because there won’t be prom or homecoming in college, it does not mean you won’t get to go for a dance with your friends. Many colleges do host parties and formal gatherings such as dances and banquets.
But these are limited to certain societies and academic circles.
Therefore, the kind of events you will be going to and will get invited to will completely depend on your social circle as well as your choice of subjects. Since these smaller gatherings are easier to organize and are less costly, colleges prefer these instead of hosting something large and extravagant such as prom.
But remember that these events can be just as fun – especially if you get to hang out with your friends.
Moreover, when it comes to a large event like prom the cleaning up afterwards can be a nightmare.
After prom, students usually clean up after themselves or sometimes the parents help out. The school even employs the cleaning staff to oversee the cleaning of the space since the event is still small scale. But when held in a college, it can be difficult to clean up after an event of this scale. The students might not clean up after themselves and you definitely cannot expect the college to pay for a cleaning service too.
3. Proms are Organized for Teens
The overall aesthetic of prom is designed for high school students and teenagers.
Many teenagers see prom as an event that acts as a setting stone into their future as adults.
When you are you in college, you are already an adult. Higher education institutes firmly believe in treating their students as adults and expect a certain level of maturity and responsibility from the students.
Since proms are considered more suited for teenagers, colleges highly unlikely to host such an event for their student body.
While it might seem a little harsh, it does help college students to become more mature.
Most importantly, many do not understand that proms are a memorable experience for many students because it is restricted to high schools. It is an experience that you closely associate with your teenage years.
However, if proms were to be a common event hosted in high schools and universities, it wouldn’t be as memorable. In other words, if such an event is hosted every year, it would completely lose its sentimental value.
Despite the lack of proms, you don’t have to be disappointed. Colleges organize many events – including dances – for the student body. So, once you get enrolled into a college, make sure to keep an eye out for such events. Many clubs and societies within the institutions regularly host such events. It would be a good idea to follow their social media platforms to keep yourself posted on upcoming events.
As you can see, the rationale for colleges not hosting prom is a logical one. But there is no need to be disappointed, since college comes with plenty of other opportunities for you to have fun and lasting memories.
Do Colleges Have Formal Dances?
Colleges don’t really have formal dances. The only formal dance is homecoming. However in college you have other special events and parties that make up for this. It is a great way to meet different kinds of people from different backgrounds and develop new relationships.
