Penn State's recent jump from the No. 6 party school to the No. 3 party school in the country is the result of party-conscious students, Garrett Guinivan said.
"I think we all stepped it up this year," said Guinivan (junior-turfgrass science), creator of a Facebook group that focused on bringing the ranking up. "That's pretty awesome that we got bumped up to No. 3."
The ranking is part of a survey the Princeton Review releases yearly, with the results published in a book, The Best 368 Colleges. The survey can be found on the Princeton Review's Web site, www.princetonreview.com, and features 80 Scantron-style questions, said Rob Franick, editorial director of the book.
Coming in at the No. 1 spot is The University of Florida at Gainesville, followed by the University of Mississippi. West Virginia University, last year's top party school, fell to fourth place.
There are five areas that are addressed to determine the party ranking for a school, Franick said. These include consumption of beer, consumption of hard liquor, drug consumption, hours at study outside classroom and the popularity of sororities and fraternities, he said.
Geoff Rushton, a university spokesman, said the rankings are unscientific and frivolous because they are done through an online survey.
"Most students considering a school like Penn State, which is tremendous academically, give more consideration to practical things than a ranking in the Princeton Review," he said.
Penn State Police have not seen a rise in alcohol-related citations or on-campus parties in the last year, Penn State Police Officer Thomas Sowerby said.
"It's been pretty consistent over the past few years," he said.
Though Penn State has a thriving social scene, it's complemented by the students' high academics, said Gavin Keirans, president of University Park Undergraduate Association.
"As long as we stay an elite school academically, there's nothing wrong with a social life to go along with it," he said. "It shows a well-rounded student."
Students who are looking to attend Penn State should think about more serious aspects of the university, rather than a "silly marketing ploy, which is what the Princeton Review party rankings are," Rushton said.
"We want students to enjoy the college experience -- it's a fun place with a lot for the students, but the ranking is a morphing trick to sell Princeton Review," he said.
Most students will use the rankings to gain better information about a school, and that is the mission of the book and survey -- to make sure they find the best fit, Franick said.
Students are the most important part of the Princeton Review survey because they know the university the best, Franick said.
"Academics are important, but we know they do more than sit in the classroom," he said
It's easy to look at these surveys and say it's great we're ranked at this or that, said Tom Shakely, Safeguard Old State advocacy director. But when it comes to party rankings, it's subjective, he added.
Safeguard Old State is an on-campus grassroots organization that most recently threw its support behind the second State Patty's Day, a celebration before the actual date of St. Patrick's Day.
"We're proud of our university and of our spirit in the Nittany Valley. As far as the reputation for partying, I think it's more a reflective of our spirit," Shakely said.
Shakely added the football games and tailgates could definitely affect Penn State's ranking.
Students agreed the ranking was accurate but said they do more than party.
"It's your choice to party or not. It is still one of the best academic institutions," Nathan Barndt (freshman-security risk analysis) said.
Students still know how to balance classes, partying and extracurricular activities, Guinivan said.
He cited the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon held last spring which raised more than $6.6 million dollars as an example of student dedication outside of partying.
"We went up in partying, and then raised millions for Thon," he said. "We know how to balance having fun and being responsible."
