Record enrollment at U South Carolina

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/why-young-americans-are-shunning-elite-universities-for-the-deep-south-2ktn6fmv2

Interesting article suggesting they have been working for 20 years to get the results seen in the past five years. Enrollment over 40,000, 46% increase.

That makes it seem more sustainable and less like a fad. Even my skeptical nature wonders if this is more of a permanent shift in attitudes towards SEC institutions.

Good send MAGA to one place.
Jail for life will be fun for their DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is in the business school at SC. Loves it.

Got a $16k/ scholarship that makes it the same as in state at VT. Better ranked first year experience too. He seemed to have a better time than some of his other friends he has at other popular schools around here.

Strong business program and he has lots of friends from up and down the East Coast. His best friends are from NH, Maryland and Charlotte.

Didn’t have to go Greek either. Yes the state politics are MAGA and repulsive, but to be honest, it doesn’t really impact him day to day, any more than it does for me in NOVA. The school is a mix of Dems and republicans. (I was worried about it, but it has been a non-issue.).

Pretty similar to my MoCo kid. There have been some rough patches with the politics in terms of discomfort and relationships, but it has been eye-opening and part of the learning experience. I do not expect her to stay after graduation, but she loves it now!

Except that she may not be able to get a job anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/why-young-americans-are-shunning-elite-universities-for-the-deep-south-2ktn6fmv2

Interesting article suggesting they have been working for 20 years to get the results seen in the past five years. Enrollment over 40,000, 46% increase.

That makes it seem more sustainable and less like a fad. Even my skeptical nature wonders if this is more of a permanent shift in attitudes towards SEC institutions.

Good send MAGA to one place.
Jail for life will be fun for their DD.

If you think only MAGA loves the SEC, you are being just as close minded. Don’t stoop to their level.

-Dem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/why-young-americans-are-shunning-elite-universities-for-the-deep-south-2ktn6fmv2

Interesting article suggesting they have been working for 20 years to get the results seen in the past five years. Enrollment over 40,000, 46% increase.

That makes it seem more sustainable and less like a fad. Even my skeptical nature wonders if this is more of a permanent shift in attitudes towards SEC institutions.

Good send MAGA to one place.
Jail for life will be fun for their DD.

If you think only MAGA loves the SEC, you are being just as close minded. Don’t stoop to their level.

-Dem

Just stop. has no place here on colleges and universities. Take it to politics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/why-young-americans-are-shunning-elite-universities-for-the-deep-south-2ktn6fmv2

Interesting article suggesting they have been working for 20 years to get the results seen in the past five years. Enrollment over 40,000, 46% increase.

That makes it seem more sustainable and less like a fad. Even my skeptical nature wonders if this is more of a permanent shift in attitudes towards SEC institutions.

Good send MAGA to one place.
Jail for life will be fun for their DD.

If you think only MAGA loves the SEC, you are being just as close minded. Don’t stoop to their level.

-Dem

Just stop. has no place here on colleges and universities. Take it to politics.

Tell that to the petulant posters that derail every thread about colleges south of DC. It’s ridiculous.

-Dem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t underestimate ‘normal and fun’. SEC schools are fun. The kids are happy.

This.

And given how many twenty somethings are struggling with adulting, dating, launching, etc., learning how to have fun and be happy are critically important skills.

All schools are equipped to teach the academic stuff, but not all schools are created equal when it comes to the oh-so-important soft skills.

PS - my kids are at SEC schools and thriving. The weather is great, they quickly made friends from across the country, and they immediately noticed how much friendlier and outgoing everyone is in “the south.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/why-young-americans-are-shunning-elite-universities-for-the-deep-south-2ktn6fmv2

Interesting article suggesting they have been working for 20 years to get the results seen in the past five years. Enrollment over 40,000, 46% increase.

That makes it seem more sustainable and less like a fad. Even my skeptical nature wonders if this is more of a permanent shift in attitudes towards SEC institutions.

Good send MAGA to one place.
Jail for life will be fun for their DD.

If you think only MAGA loves the SEC, you are being just as close minded. Don’t stoop to their level.

-Dem

Just stop. has no place here on colleges and universities. Take it to politics.

Tell that to the petulant posters that derail every thread about colleges south of DC. It’s ridiculous.

-Dem

It is ridiculous and no one cares here on Colleges and Universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/why-young-americans-are-shunning-elite-universities-for-the-deep-south-2ktn6fmv2

Interesting article suggesting they have been working for 20 years to get the results seen in the past five years. Enrollment over 40,000, 46% increase.

That makes it seem more sustainable and less like a fad. Even my skeptical nature wonders if this is more of a permanent shift in attitudes towards SEC institutions.

Good send MAGA to one place.
Jail for life will be fun for their DD.

If you think only MAGA loves the SEC, you are being just as close minded. Don’t stoop to their level.

-Dem

Just stop. has no place here on colleges and universities. Take it to politics.

Tell that to the petulant posters that derail every thread about colleges south of DC. It’s ridiculous.

-Dem

It is ridiculous and no one cares here on Colleges and Universities.

You’re right, it’s ridiculous the libs have to derail every thread about southern colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shift to SEC schools. These are very well-run schools as a group. They have a lot of sports money and almost all are making investments in teaching, research and capital improvements. In contrast to the Big 10 who are squabbling over their private equity investments (Michigan threatening to leave) and schools like Chicago, Northwestern and Stanford laying off and addressing massive financial issues.

To what are you referring ?

I like SEC & Big Ten universities. However, comparing SEC schools to U Michigan, Stanford, Northwestern, and to U Chicago reveals a lack of familiarity with higher education in the US.

Not true anymore. The top SEC schools like UGA can now compete with Michigan.

And GATech compete with MIT.

GT lost to Pitt lol

They didn’t lose in engineering.

Sorry they suck at football

I didn’t even know they had a football

And that’s why GT is a nerd school.

You don’t see MIT worrying about their football team and you won’t find GT either.

Go bulldogs.

UGA must live rent free in your head. Stop hijacking this thread with GT and MIT drivel. Nobody cares, seriously.

We cousins

[Anonymous]

OP, application numbers are up at all of the publics because of the obscene cost of the privates. This is a non-story

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, application numbers are up at all of the publics because of the obscene cost of the privates. This is a non-story

Read the article again. This isn’t just applications, it’s enrollment doubling or nearly doubling over the past 10 years. If you can’t understand why that’s a big deal you’re being obtuse or you just don’t understand basic enrollment management.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t underestimate ‘normal and fun’. SEC schools are fun. The kids are happy.

This.

And given how many twenty somethings are struggling with adulting, dating, launching, etc., learning how to have fun and be happy are critically important skills.

All schools are equipped to teach the academic stuff, but not all schools are created equal when it comes to the oh-so-important soft skills.

PS - my kids are at SEC schools and thriving. The weather is great, they quickly made friends from across the country, and they immediately noticed how much friendlier and outgoing everyone is in “the south.”

Ok I have nothing against SEC schools but it's ridiculous to think that the students there are more outgoing and friendlier than students at other schools. I went to school in the south. My kid is at Ohio State having a blast and is surrounded by tons of kids who are smart but love to have fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is in the business school at SC. Loves it.

Got a $16k/ scholarship that makes it the same as in state at VT. Better ranked first year experience too. He seemed to have a better time than some of his other friends he has at other popular schools around here.

Strong business program and he has lots of friends from up and down the East Coast. His best friends are from NH, Maryland and Charlotte.

Didn’t have to go Greek either. Yes the state politics are MAGA and repulsive, but to be honest, it doesn’t really impact him day to day, any more than it does for me in NOVA. The school is a mix of Dems and republicans. (I was worried about it, but it has been a non-issue.).

Yes this!! Trust me, I researched 1st and said she wasn’t allowed to apply to any public FL schools. They still have diversity programs and pride month and things like that.

Yes-daughter does get frustrated that many (majority) of the “frat bros” are Trumpers. But unfortunately that’s true of many in that age range. Even at VT Yes-didn’t appreciate Kirk when he came to campus and couldn’t avoid walking through the area.

What southern schools still have diversity programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/why-young-americans-are-shunning-elite-universities-for-the-deep-south-2ktn6fmv2

Interesting article suggesting they have been working for 20 years to get the results seen in the past five years. Enrollment over 40,000, 46% increase.

That makes it seem more sustainable and less like a fad. Even my skeptical nature wonders if this is more of a permanent shift in attitudes towards SEC institutions.

These families are insane! Have they ever visited the South?!? It’s completely MAGA down there!

Need to get out of your bubble. Over 75% of counties in the US voted republican in the 2024 election. So many colleges are going to be located in republican areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another article about the SEC being in style. This is unbelievable hype.

https://nypost.com/2025/11/24/lifestyle/high-schoolers-are-swapping-the-ivy-league-for-the-sec-thanks-to-sunshine-campus-culture/

Interesting article, what was interesting to me is that applications have increased to both northern and southern schools...although the increase is greater for southern schools.

I'm in NE and I do see it being fairly common for solid but not top students (not a knock, thats my kid!) wanting to get away and explore AND go big school spirit and these schools are easier admits and/or more affordable than say, Penn State etc.

I don't think people here see them as better or worse academically than the NE flagships...just a different flavor.