Late-night drinking can impact a college student's sleep schedule, which can negatively impact her studies. Drinking disrupts sleep patterns, making it difficult for students to stay awake and concentrate during the day in class, according to Nemours Teens Health. Exhaustion and an inability to concentrate means students will not absorb information in their classes or while studying, resulting in academic troubles.
After a night of drinking, college students often wake up feeling hung over. This recovery period leads to missed classes, and it wastes time that students could spend studying or in class, according to the Virginia Tech Campus Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center. Harvard's "Binge Drinking on America's College Campuses" study reports that students who drink are 17 times more likely to miss a class than those who do not.
Due to widespread binge drinking on many college campuses, some schools are cracking down on underage drinking and other alcohol-related offenses by instituting strict alcohol policies for their students. For example, Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts disciplines students for every alcohol-related offense, such as drinking under the age of 21, using a fake ID or providing alcohol to minors. The school suspends or expels students who repeatedly violate the policy. Therefore, by drinking excessively and illegally, students risk their standing at their schools and, ultimately, their academic career.
The Virginia Tech Campus Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center reports that alcohol use can affect cognitive abilities "for a substantial period of time after the acute effects of alcohol impairment disappear." Long-term alcohol use, defined by Virginia Tech as a year or more of binge drinking, can cause irreversible damage to the brain's nerve cells. This damage can result in memory loss, which can have a significant impact on a student's ability to learn and retain information. Permanent memory loss can make test-taking even more challenging, impacting students' grades.
Excessive drinking can impact students' job opportunities in college and beyond. The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control reports that many companies screen applicants for drugs and alcohol. These companies may overlook students seeking internships if their alcohol screening indicates a problem. Some degree programs require internships, and an inability to secure an internship can hinder a student's ability to graduate. In addition, some companies conduct background checks, meaning any alcohol-related convictions in college will appear on the student's record long after he graduates, possibility harming his ability to get the job.