Culture for Girls at Southern Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She needs to go to college in a major city. LA, Boston, NY.

Apply to UCLA

[Anonymous]

Greek life has always been a factor at Duke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She will be fine at Duke, many are not like that. Vanderbilt has changed a lot but is still more into looks/greek than Duke.
Both of those schools have a good percentage of Asians (Wasian mom of Duke 2026) and are not really southern culture, they have too many nerdy types(meant as a compliment).
Ivies have more asians than D and V and have no slight southern flare, but can still have some clicky girl groups. Same with Chicago.
UNC is NOT going to be a fit. UVa and Wake will not work either. Fully avoid SMU UGA AUBurn et al.
Look at William and Mary! Not as intellectually vibey as Duke but is much closer to it than big publics.

W&M is nowhere near as selective as Duke, but the intellectual vibe on campus is at least as strong if not stronger. Duke is still a pre-professional big sports school at heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a hs senior dd and had similar questions and concerns. From my anecdotal research (speaking with current college students and parents), the social scene at many (but not all) of the top private and public schools is pretty cliquey and dominated by wealthy, attractive, popular kids - often from private/prep schools. You don't have to be blond, but it does help if you are wealthy and attractive. Even girls who are not 'dresssed up' often wear designer jewelry and accessories. Its kind of crazy. These kids have already identified each other on social media before arriving on campus. Duke and Vanderbilt for sure are like this. Rice no, bc no greek and student body is very different. Emory- not as bad. It's not a southern thing. It's a wealthy/private school thing. You don't have to he part of it, but it is good for kids to think about how they can see themselves having fun outside those groups if they prevail on campus. There are plenty of non greek and non girly girls at duke amd vandy, you just have to find your group. I think it's sad, but it's the reality these kids face.

It is a southern thing. No such culture at Yale, Harvard, even schools like Case Western, Skidmore, Tufts.

Agree with this. There's a reason for the stereotype that it's a southern thing. It's because it is.

That's like saying every school in the NE is filled with woke blue-hairs. There are some, not all. Just as in southern schools there are some rush, looks-obsessed girls, but not all. Get a grip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a hs senior dd and had similar questions and concerns. From my anecdotal research (speaking with current college students and parents), the social scene at many (but not all) of the top private and public schools is pretty cliquey and dominated by wealthy, attractive, popular kids - often from private/prep schools. You don't have to be blond, but it does help if you are wealthy and attractive. Even girls who are not 'dresssed up' often wear designer jewelry and accessories. Its kind of crazy. These kids have already identified each other on social media before arriving on campus. Duke and Vanderbilt for sure are like this. Rice no, bc no greek and student body is very different. Emory- not as bad. It's not a southern thing. It's a wealthy/private school thing. You don't have to he part of it, but it is good for kids to think about how they can see themselves having fun outside those groups if they prevail on campus. There are plenty of non greek and non girly girls at duke amd vandy, you just have to find your group. I think it's sad, but it's the reality these kids face.

It is a southern thing. No such culture at Yale, Harvard, even schools like Case Western, Skidmore, Tufts.

Agree with this. There's a reason for the stereotype that it's a southern thing. It's because it is.

I hear what you are saying, but I also hear that kids attending various northern ivy schools (and other northern private schools) also socially, self-segregate. With social media, kids are super connected and know where they live, go to school, take vacations,etc. All of my dd friends have already attended "dinners and get togethers" in our home city with other girls attending in the fall. The social networking started in december after ED results and continued into spring. Roommates have been chosen with girls of similar interests and backgrounds. It's a very different world for girls today...highly curated and little spontaneity. When I mention this to other parents, they shrug their shoulders and say it is the same everywhere...

[Anonymous]

Rice is very chill and very Asian! No white, preppy vibe at all. Frankly, my smart but preppy/fratty kids did not feel like Rice was their school.

[Anonymous]

Look at some of the Catholic schools that don’t have greek life like Georgetown and Holy Cross.

[Anonymous]

Would definitely recommend Rice. Very friendly and inclusive culture

[Anonymous]

Might look at moderate LAC’s like Colgate, Bucknell, Holy Cross, and Colby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Might look at moderate LAC’s like Colgate, Bucknell, Holy Cross, and Colby.

Can't speak for Holy Cross and Colby but Colgate and Bucknell in no way seem like fits for OP's daughter. Both are white, preppy, fratty, Bro-ish.

[Anonymous]

I don't think "southern culture" really exists any more. It's just a stereotype that DCUM loves to hate.

I feel sure that there are other female social groups at Vanderbilt besides "tall skinny blondes"...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would definitely recommend Rice. Very friendly and inclusive culture

Not! Read the post at 13:28.

[Anonymous]

Holy Cross has no frats/sororities agree Colgate has large greek life vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at some of the Catholic schools that don’t have greek life like Georgetown and Holy Cross.

We went to the Georgetown vs Maryland lacrosse game last weekend. At halftime they showed a commercial about Georgetown and there were lots of images of Catholic priests. Seemed like they were playing up the Catholic aspect. But from what I hear, when you're actually at Georgetown it's barely Catholic at all (unless you actively seek it out).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at some of the Catholic schools that don’t have greek life like Georgetown and Holy Cross.

We went to the Georgetown vs Maryland lacrosse game last weekend. At halftime they showed a commercial about Georgetown and there were lots of images of Catholic priests. Seemed like they were playing up the Catholic aspect. But from what I hear, when you're actually at Georgetown it's barely Catholic at all (unless you actively seek it out).

Georgetown's chief religion is wokeness.