Why are OOS flagships so popular these days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:College students care much less about museums and culture than parents. Students choose OOS flagships bc they want a big school, big sports experience. These schools are mostly in cities where the university is the center of the city.

It’s not for everybody, but many students like the traditional college experience.

+100

Absolutely agree. They want the big school, big sports experience - it's not because the towns of the OOS flagships are so great in comparison to their home cities.

I don’t think the towns even necessarily need to be “better”. Just being somewhere different is fun.

er.. different is not always fun.

You’ll never know if you don’t try.

Sure, and they may hate it.

I have lived in different cities and state across the country. My spouse even moved to a different continent. Different is not always better. But, sure, I can understand wanting to try it.

The PP stated " Just being somewhere different is fun."

My point is that just because it's different, doesn't make it more "fun" or better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:
I think the first shot fired is as early as page ONE:

“You are going to OOS public instead of in state UVA because you didn't get into UVA.“

The UVA fans might not realize it but their confidence in statements like this is nauseating. I mean who are you to make a statement like that? The 13th grade stuff (which I did not take part in & don’t agree with) came after repeated insults like this.

But here’s the thing: poster after poster admitted that their kids were going to school out of state because they couldn’t get into UVA.

Let’s look at cross admits.

UVA 82% Indiana 18%
UVA 80% UC Boulder 20%
UVA 75% Delaware 25%
UVA 72% Arizona 28%
UVA 67% Wisconsin 33%
UVA 65% UCSB 35%
UVA 64% Perdue 36%
UVA 63% UIUC 37%
UVA 57% UT Austin 43%
UVA 54% GA Tech 46%
UVA 46% UCLA 54%
UVA 43% Michigan 57%
UVA 40% Berkeley 60%

Plenty of kids who get into UVA are choosing other flagships. Even for lower ranked schools it’s at least 1 out of 5 kids.

Do we know those were all Virginia kids not picking UVA?

They weren’t all VA kids, obviously, but demonstrates that many, many kids will choose OOS schools, even lower-ranked, over UVA.

I couldn’t find cross admit data solely for in-state students, but if the argument is that people pick always UVA because it’s cheaper & better ranked than the other schools admitted, then we wouldn’t see any UVA admits choosing more expensive and lower-ranked schools.

But we do.

UVA 21% Notre Dame 81%
UVA 40% Tufts 60%
UVA 60% Howard 40%
UVA 63% SMU 37%
UVA 67% AU 33%
UVA 68% Villanova 32%
UVA 72% Lehigh 28%
UVA 75% U Rochester 25%

Many kids choose don’t choose the cheapest, highest ranked option.

Many kids prefer OOS.

Not sure why that’s a tough concept.

Look, you can site parchment (or whatever that site is) no until the cows come home, but unless you separate in state from out of state it’s meaningless. For example, if a kid is admitted to both Notre Dame and UVA out of state, yes, I can see them selecting Notre Dame at that rate easily. But in state? Less certain.

Again, I included all private schools above to take out the in-state/OOS tuition discretionary when I *cited* Parchment.

Many kids choose don’t choose the cheapest, highest ranked option.

Many kids prefer OOS.

You can’t acknowledge that people are different and have different priorities than you?

Sure I can. I’m sure it happens. But the “data” that you claim supports it simply
doesn’t.

Where is your data?

+1

Many kids choose other schools, including other OOS flagships, simply because they want something other than UVA. It’s clearly not for everyone. Just look at yield and cross admits.

You sound like a Trump supporter. You deny facts right in your face.

First, as said previously, the cross admit data that you cite doesn’t distinguish between in state and out of state and doesn’t account for where kids are also getting in. Fifty-seven percent of UVA in state admits attend. That’s a high number. By comparison, 60 percent of Notre Dame admits elect to attend. It’s under 50 percent at Vanderbilt and under 40 percent at both Wash U and Emory. In fact, UVA’s yield for in state and OOS combined is higher than both of those schools.

Beyond that, the data that your site does not show the number of students who are cross admits. For example, what percentage of Ohio State applicants do you think are also applying to an Ivy League school? What percentage of UVA applicants are also applying to an Ivy? Do you honestly think the percentage is the same?

What facts have I denied? None.

We are still waiting on the data that supports “You are going to OOS public instead of in state UVA because you didn't get into UVA”.

Again, many kids choose other schools, including other OOS flagships, simply because they want something other than UVA. It’s clearly not for everyone. Just look at yield rates and cross admits for more expensive, lower ranked schools.

Lol. You just repeated yourself AGAIN and didn’t address anything that I said AGAIN. You’re not debating with anyone but yourself. Priceless

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College students care much less about museums and culture than parents. Students choose OOS flagships bc they want a big school, big sports experience. These schools are mostly in cities where the university is the center of the city.

It’s not for everybody, but many students like the traditional college experience.

+100

Absolutely agree. They want the big school, big sports experience - it's not because the towns of the OOS flagships are so great in comparison to their home cities.

I don’t think the towns even necessarily need to be “better”. Just being somewhere different is fun.

er.. different is not always fun.

You’ll never know if you don’t try.

Sure, and they may hate it.

I have lived in different cities and state across the country. My spouse even moved to a different continent. Different is not always better. But, sure, I can understand wanting to try it.

The PP stated " Just being somewhere different is fun."

My point is that just because it's different, doesn't make it more "fun" or better.

Some places aren’t necessarily “better” than other places but being somewhere new is fun for some people. Shake up the routine. Try new things. Appreciate things you like in other places.

People can find enjoyable things to do in most places where colleges are located.

YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think the first shot fired is as early as page ONE:

“You are going to OOS public instead of in state UVA because you didn't get into UVA.“

The UVA fans might not realize it but their confidence in statements like this is nauseating. I mean who are you to make a statement like that? The 13th grade stuff (which I did not take part in & don’t agree with) came after repeated insults like this.

But here’s the thing: poster after poster admitted that their kids were going to school out of state because they couldn’t get into UVA.

Let’s look at cross admits.

UVA 82% Indiana 18%
UVA 80% UC Boulder 20%
UVA 75% Delaware 25%
UVA 72% Arizona 28%
UVA 67% Wisconsin 33%
UVA 65% UCSB 35%
UVA 64% Perdue 36%
UVA 63% UIUC 37%
UVA 57% UT Austin 43%
UVA 54% GA Tech 46%
UVA 46% UCLA 54%
UVA 43% Michigan 57%
UVA 40% Berkeley 60%

Plenty of kids who get into UVA are choosing other flagships. Even for lower ranked schools it’s at least 1 out of 5 kids.

Do we know those were all Virginia kids not picking UVA?

They weren’t all VA kids, obviously, but demonstrates that many, many kids will choose OOS schools, even lower-ranked, over UVA.

I couldn’t find cross admit data solely for in-state students, but if the argument is that people pick always UVA because it’s cheaper & better ranked than the other schools admitted, then we wouldn’t see any UVA admits choosing more expensive and lower-ranked schools.

But we do.

UVA 21% Notre Dame 81%
UVA 40% Tufts 60%
UVA 60% Howard 40%
UVA 63% SMU 37%
UVA 67% AU 33%
UVA 68% Villanova 32%
UVA 72% Lehigh 28%
UVA 75% U Rochester 25%

Many kids choose don’t choose the cheapest, highest ranked option.

Many kids prefer OOS.

Not sure why that’s a tough concept.

Look, you can site parchment (or whatever that site is) no until the cows come home, but unless you separate in state from out of state it’s meaningless. For example, if a kid is admitted to both Notre Dame and UVA out of state, yes, I can see them selecting Notre Dame at that rate easily. But in state? Less certain.

Again, I included all private schools above to take out the in-state/OOS tuition discretionary when I *cited* Parchment.

Many kids choose don’t choose the cheapest, highest ranked option.

Many kids prefer OOS.

You can’t acknowledge that people are different and have different priorities than you?

Sure I can. I’m sure it happens. But the “data” that you claim supports it simply
doesn’t.

Where is your data?

+1

Many kids choose other schools, including other OOS flagships, simply because they want something other than UVA. It’s clearly not for everyone. Just look at yield and cross admits.

You sound like a Trump supporter. You deny facts right in your face.

First, as said previously, the cross admit data that you cite doesn’t distinguish between in state and out of state and doesn’t account for where kids are also getting in. Fifty-seven percent of UVA in state admits attend. That’s a high number. By comparison, 60 percent of Notre Dame admits elect to attend. It’s under 50 percent at Vanderbilt and under 40 percent at both Wash U and Emory. In fact, UVA’s yield for in state and OOS combined is higher than both of those schools.

Beyond that, the data that your site does not show the number of students who are cross admits. For example, what percentage of Ohio State applicants do you think are also applying to an Ivy League school? What percentage of UVA applicants are also applying to an Ivy? Do you honestly think the percentage is the same?

What facts have I denied? None.

We are still waiting on the data that supports “You are going to OOS public instead of in state UVA because you didn't get into UVA”.

Again, many kids choose other schools, including other OOS flagships, simply because they want something other than UVA. It’s clearly not for everyone. Just look at yield rates and cross admits for more expensive, lower ranked schools.

Lol. You just repeated yourself AGAIN and didn’t address anything that I said AGAIN. You’re not debating with anyone but yourself. Priceless

??

I’ve already addressed those points in prior posts that you ignored.

Speaking of you ignoring posts, where is your data that supports your claim?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I know this is a thread about UVA at this point but we are in MD and my kid doesn’t want to go to UMD. Is not interested in STEM. Doesn’t like that it’s 20 minutes from home, would prefer a college town, and would prefer more school spirit.

UVA booster here. I get that. Not only is UMD not in the same league as UVA reputation wise, it’s so close that it has a metro stop. That doesn’t work for a lot of kids. Makes total sense.

UMD is better than UVa in all the rigorous majors. More National Championships Nobels, Pulitzers, Emmys, Academy Awards, Fields Medals among alumni than all the Virginia schools put together. UMD is B1G and uva is loser ACC.

Even if that were all true, it doesn’t change the fact that UVA is in higher demand and has a better reputation nationwide among top applicants.

It just means that uva doesn’t produce people as smart as UMD. It takes smart people and makes them lazy and unproductive.

You forgot psycho as well judging from their thin skinned and defensive borderline insanity on these college threads.

Borderline?

Some of these boosters’ kids graduated many years ago. They are grandparents now.

Can you imagine being so irrationally obsessed over your adult children’s college many years later?

[Anonymous]

The UVA fans are giving me flashbacks to my grandmother trying to make me eat liver and headcheese: “Come on! You’ll like it! *I* like it!”

[Anonymous]

To UVA folks: Pizza is great. I LOVE pizza. I could eat it 3 times per week. But even I eat things other than pizza. And I understand that some people don’t like pizza at all. That doesn’t make pizza bad, & it doesn’t make me bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: if

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:
I think the first shot fired is as early as page ONE:

“You are going to OOS public instead of in state UVA because you didn't get into UVA.“

The UVA fans might not realize it but their confidence in statements like this is nauseating. I mean who are you to make a statement like that? The 13th grade stuff (which I did not take part in & don’t agree with) came after repeated insults like this.

But here’s the thing: poster after poster admitted that their kids were going to school out of state because they couldn’t get into UVA.

Let’s look at cross admits.

UVA 82% Indiana 18%
UVA 80% UC Boulder 20%
UVA 75% Delaware 25%
UVA 72% Arizona 28%
UVA 67% Wisconsin 33%
UVA 65% UCSB 35%
UVA 64% Perdue 36%
UVA 63% UIUC 37%
UVA 57% UT Austin 43%
UVA 54% GA Tech 46%
UVA 46% UCLA 54%
UVA 43% Michigan 57%
UVA 40% Berkeley 60%

Plenty of kids who get into UVA are choosing other flagships. Even for lower ranked schools it’s at least 1 out of 5 kids.

Do we know those were all Virginia kids not picking UVA?

They weren’t all VA kids, obviously, but demonstrates that many, many kids will choose OOS schools, even lower-ranked, over UVA.

I couldn’t find cross admit data solely for in-state students, but if the argument is that people pick always UVA because it’s cheaper & better ranked than the other schools admitted, then we wouldn’t see any UVA admits choosing more expensive and lower-ranked schools.

But we do.

UVA 21% Notre Dame 81%
UVA 40% Tufts 60%
UVA 60% Howard 40%
UVA 63% SMU 37%
UVA 67% AU 33%
UVA 68% Villanova 32%
UVA 72% Lehigh 28%
UVA 75% U Rochester 25%

Many kids choose don’t choose the cheapest, highest ranked option.

Many kids prefer OOS.

Not sure why that’s a tough concept.

Look, you can site parchment (or whatever that site is) no until the cows come home, but unless you separate in state from out of state it’s meaningless. For example, if a kid is admitted to both Notre Dame and UVA out of state, yes, I can see them selecting Notre Dame at that rate easily. But in state? Less certain.

Again, I included all private schools above to take out the in-state/OOS tuition discretionary when I *cited* Parchment.

Many kids choose don’t choose the cheapest, highest ranked option.

Many kids prefer OOS.

You can’t acknowledge that people are different and have different priorities than you?

Sure I can. I’m sure it happens. But the “data” that you claim supports it simply
doesn’t.

Where is your data?

+1

Many kids choose other schools, including other OOS flagships, simply because they want something other than UVA. It’s clearly not for everyone. Just look at yield and cross admits.

You sound like a Trump supporter. You deny facts right in your face.

First, as said previously, the cross admit data that you cite doesn’t distinguish between in state and out of state and doesn’t account for where kids are also getting in. Fifty-seven percent of UVA in state admits attend. That’s a high number. By comparison, 60 percent of Notre Dame admits elect to attend. It’s under 50 percent at Vanderbilt and under 40 percent at both Wash U and Emory. In fact, UVA’s yield for in state and OOS combined is higher than both of those schools.

Beyond that, the data that your site does not show the number of students who are cross admits. For example, what percentage of Ohio State applicants do you think are also applying to an Ivy League school? What percentage of UVA applicants are also applying to an Ivy? Do you honestly think the percentage is the same?

What facts have I denied? None.

We are still waiting on the data that supports “You are going to OOS public instead of in state UVA because you didn't get into UVA”.

Again, many kids choose other schools, including other OOS flagships, simply because they want something other than UVA. It’s clearly not for everyone. Just look at yield rates and cross admits for more expensive, lower ranked schools.

Lol. You just repeated yourself AGAIN and didn’t address anything that I said AGAIN. You’re not debating with anyone but yourself. Priceless

??

I’ve already addressed those points in prior posts that you ignored.

Speaking of you ignoring posts, where is your data that supports your claim?

You haven’t addressed at all the fact that your cross admit data is useless because it’s so incomplete. It doesn’t distinguish between in state and out of state and doesn’t take into account the number of students applying to both schools being compared either.

Very few of even the top schools have yields of over 50 percent, especially now that kids are applying to so many schools. Looking at recent yields for the top 25 schools as defined by US News - UVA being one of them - there are many privates with yields the same as or lower than UVA: Hopkins, Cal Tech, Rice, Wash U, Emory, USC and Carnegie Mellon. On the public school side, UCLA and Berkeley have slightly higher yields, yes, but they get more in state applicants than out of state and accept more from in state.

UVA had 56,000+ applicants this year. More than 41,000 - 3/4 of them - were from OOS. Only 12 percent were accepted. Accepted OOS applicants have very high stats and are getting other offers from top schools. OOS tuition is far less of a bargain for them. Of course many are going to pick other schools. The same can be said about every school in this country except the top handful.

You seem to think UVA’s yield is low. It isn’t. By comparison, Maryland’s is 24 percent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College students care much less about museums and culture than parents. Students choose OOS flagships bc they want a big school, big sports experience. These schools are mostly in cities where the university is the center of the city.

It’s not for everybody, but many students like the traditional college experience.

+100

Absolutely agree. They want the big school, big sports experience - it's not because the towns of the OOS flagships are so great in comparison to their home cities.

I don’t think the towns even necessarily need to be “better”. Just being somewhere different is fun.

er.. different is not always fun.

You’ll never know if you don’t try.

Sure, and they may hate it.

I have lived in different cities and state across the country. My spouse even moved to a different continent. Different is not always better. But, sure, I can understand wanting to try it.

The PP stated " Just being somewhere different is fun."

My point is that just because it's different, doesn't make it more "fun" or better.

Some places aren’t necessarily “better” than other places but being somewhere new is fun for some people. Shake up the routine. Try new things. Appreciate things you like in other places.

People can find enjoyable things to do in most places where colleges are located.

YMMV.

"Try new things.."' what new things can an 18 yr old in PA try that they can't try in MD or VA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a thread about UVA at this point but we are in MD and my kid doesn’t want to go to UMD. Is not interested in STEM. Doesn’t like that it’s 20 minutes from home, would prefer a college town, and would prefer more school spirit.

UVA booster here. I get that. Not only is UMD not in the same league as UVA reputation wise, it’s so close that it has a metro stop. That doesn’t work for a lot of kids. Makes total sense.

UMD is better than UVa in all the rigorous majors. More National Championships Nobels, Pulitzers, Emmys, Academy Awards, Fields Medals among alumni than all the Virginia schools put together. UMD is B1G and uva is loser ACC.

Even if that were all true, it doesn’t change the fact that UVA is in higher demand and has a better reputation nationwide among top applicants.

It just means that uva doesn’t produce people as smart as UMD. It takes smart people and makes them lazy and unproductive.

Right . . . and that explains how UVA has 56 Rhodes Scholars and UMD isn't even in the running. https://www.collegevaluesonline.com/features/colleges-future-rhodes-scholars/#:~:text=Get%20this%3A%20Harvard%20University%20has,in%20number%20of%20Rhodes%20Scholars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College students care much less about museums and culture than parents. Students choose OOS flagships bc they want a big school, big sports experience. These schools are mostly in cities where the university is the center of the city.

It’s not for everybody, but many students like the traditional college experience.

+100

Absolutely agree. They want the big school, big sports experience - it's not because the towns of the OOS flagships are so great in comparison to their home cities.

I don’t think the towns even necessarily need to be “better”. Just being somewhere different is fun.

er.. different is not always fun.

You’ll never know if you don’t try.

Sure, and they may hate it.

I have lived in different cities and state across the country. My spouse even moved to a different continent. Different is not always better. But, sure, I can understand wanting to try it.

The PP stated " Just being somewhere different is fun."

My point is that just because it's different, doesn't make it more "fun" or better.

Some places aren’t necessarily “better” than other places but being somewhere new is fun for some people. Shake up the routine. Try new things. Appreciate things you like in other places.

People can find enjoyable things to do in most places where colleges are located.

YMMV.

"Try new things.."' what new things can an 18 yr old in PA try that they can't try in MD or VA?

Go to Penn state football game?

[Anonymous]

I’m one of the UVA boosters and I’m just gonna sum things up as fairly and honestly and inoffensively as I can.

UVA is a highly selective school with an excellent reputation.

Most students who get into UVA in state elect to attend. Among those who don’t, some go to top privates instead. Others go to other top publics and pay full tuition. Some go to other lower ranked OOS publics and privates because of merit aid.

Few go to lower ranked OOS publics and pay full tuition.

In state students who don’t or can’t get into UVA often have high enough stats to get into all but the very best OOS flagships. These students will often elect to attend one of them over in state options other than UVA.

But an in state student who is accepted at UVA but not accepted at a top OOS public is not likely to attend another OOS public and pay full tuition just to get out of Virginia. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, just that it’s uncommon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think the first shot fired is as early as page ONE:

“You are going to OOS public instead of in state UVA because you didn't get into UVA.“

The UVA fans might not realize it but their confidence in statements like this is nauseating. I mean who are you to make a statement like that? The 13th grade stuff (which I did not take part in & don’t agree with) came after repeated insults like this.

But here’s the thing: poster after poster admitted that their kids were going to school out of state because they couldn’t get into UVA.

Let’s look at cross admits.

UVA 82% Indiana 18%
UVA 80% UC Boulder 20%
UVA 75% Delaware 25%
UVA 72% Arizona 28%
UVA 67% Wisconsin 33%
UVA 65% UCSB 35%
UVA 64% Perdue 36%
UVA 63% UIUC 37%
UVA 57% UT Austin 43%
UVA 54% GA Tech 46%
UVA 46% UCLA 54%
UVA 43% Michigan 57%
UVA 40% Berkeley 60%

Plenty of kids who get into UVA are choosing other flagships. Even for lower ranked schools it’s at least 1 out of 5 kids.

Do we know those were all Virginia kids not picking UVA?

They weren’t all VA kids, obviously, but demonstrates that many, many kids will choose OOS schools, even lower-ranked, over UVA.

I couldn’t find cross admit data solely for in-state students, but if the argument is that people pick always UVA because it’s cheaper & better ranked than the other schools admitted, then we wouldn’t see any UVA admits choosing more expensive and lower-ranked schools.

But we do.

UVA 21% Notre Dame 81%
UVA 40% Tufts 60%
UVA 60% Howard 40%
UVA 63% SMU 37%
UVA 67% AU 33%
UVA 68% Villanova 32%
UVA 72% Lehigh 28%
UVA 75% U Rochester 25%

Many kids choose don’t choose the cheapest, highest ranked option.

Many kids prefer OOS.

Not sure why that’s a tough concept.

Again, many kids choose schools that are more expensive and lower ranked than UVA. Those aren’t the only criteria that people use.

Not sure why that’s hard for you to accept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m one of the UVA boosters and I’m just gonna sum things up as fairly and honestly and inoffensively as I can.

UVA is a highly selective school with an excellent reputation.

Most students who get into UVA in state elect to attend. Among those who don’t, some go to top privates instead. Others go to other top publics and pay full tuition. Some go to other lower ranked OOS publics and privates because of merit aid.

Few go to lower ranked OOS publics and pay full tuition.

In state students who don’t or can’t get into UVA often have high enough stats to get into all but the very best OOS flagships. These students will often elect to attend one of them over in state options other than UVA.

But an in state student who is accepted at UVA but not accepted at a top OOS public is not likely to attend another OOS public and pay full tuition just to get out of Virginia. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, just that it’s uncommon.

1. Where is the data supporting this?

2. This thread isn’t just about UVA.

3. Glad you acknowledge that other people have different preferences than you.

4. Many kids/parents seek out OOS colleges regardless of their ability to get accepted at any particular in-state college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College students care much less about museums and culture than parents. Students choose OOS flagships bc they want a big school, big sports experience. These schools are mostly in cities where the university is the center of the city.

It’s not for everybody, but many students like the traditional college experience.

+100

Absolutely agree. They want the big school, big sports experience - it's not because the towns of the OOS flagships are so great in comparison to their home cities.

I don’t think the towns even necessarily need to be “better”. Just being somewhere different is fun.

er.. different is not always fun.

You’ll never know if you don’t try.

Sure, and they may hate it.

I have lived in different cities and state across the country. My spouse even moved to a different continent. Different is not always better. But, sure, I can understand wanting to try it.

The PP stated " Just being somewhere different is fun."

My point is that just because it's different, doesn't make it more "fun" or better.

Some places aren’t necessarily “better” than other places but being somewhere new is fun for some people. Shake up the routine. Try new things. Appreciate things you like in other places.

People can find enjoyable things to do in most places where colleges are located.

YMMV.

"Try new things.."' what new things can an 18 yr old in PA try that they can't try in MD or VA?

Go to Penn state football game?

? that's kind of silly. You can still go to a Penn State football game while you attend UVA or UMD. They allow non students to attend their games you know.