New York Influencer Embarks on Cross-Country Quest for Top Party School

Marco Graci, a 20-year-old influencer from Valhalla, NY, has set out on a mission to identify the United States' premier party school. His endeavor involves visiting 40 college campuses across the country, immersing himself in their social scenes, and documenting his findings for his TikTok and Instagram followers.

Graci evaluates schools based on factors such as crowd size at parties, tailgate events, and bars, as well as the energy and music at gatherings. He also considers the level of school spirit, the perceived wildness of the student body at parties, unique elements of each school's party scene, and the overall weekend atmosphere. He refrains from drinking during these events to maintain a clear perspective for his documentation.

Currently, the University of South Carolina holds the top spot in his rankings with an 8.2 rating, largely due to its acclaimed college football tailgates. Graci described the scene there as chaotic, with numerous fraternity parties happening simultaneously in a single parking lot, allowing for easy movement between them.

Graci, a public relations and advertising major, travels with a friend who acts as his cameraman. They typically stay in dorm rooms of students they connect with through social media. A video he shared from his visit to South Carolina gained significant traction, amassing over 1.4 million views.

The project originated in March during a spring break visit to a friend at the University of Tampa. He continued his tour throughout the spring semester, visiting institutions such as the University of Delaware, UConn, Marist College, and SUNY Binghamton.

During his travels, Graci has observed various party behaviors, including students jumping through tables and a trend he calls "fish beer," where individuals pour beer over their faces instead of consuming it. He noted that his own institution, Sacred Heart University, a Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut, is considerably more subdued compared to the schools he has visited.

He found the University of Tampa to be particularly appealing, citing an environment filled with attractive people and pleasant weather from morning until late night. His upcoming destinations include West Virginia University, Florida State University, Penn State, Arizona State, University of Pittsburgh, Coastal Carolina University, and Syracuse University.

Graci has not ruled out the possibility of making a career out of ranking college parties, humorously suggesting he might continue this pursuit into his thirties.