Southern colleges putting stealth ads into popular TV shows, framing their campuses as fun and aspirational

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Landman" starring Billy Bob Thorton is the biggest drama on TV. A top sports reporter is suggesting a storyline involving Thorton's ex-wife and daughter on the show -- a stereotypical very attractive rich high school senior -- and her applying to schools like Texas Christian University and Texas Tech was paid advertising (product placement). While Northern and East Coast colleges obsess over U.S. News rankings, Southern colleges are framing their colleges on TV shows as places wealthy pretty kids want to go to. Pretty fascinating.

Ivies and liberal arts colleges have been doing it for decades. I'm surprised you didn't pay attention to that.Hollywood is the biggest marketer of alcohol as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since season 1 "Landman" has also had random lines name-checking Southern universities and underscoring how much petroleum engineers make coming out of said colleges.

Truth. They do.

[Anonymous]

The south land is basically the northeast in the 80’s…. In the best possible way

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend whose kid got sucked in by social media and went to a big fun-sounding Southern college. Hated it. Transferred out

Interesting. Off the top of my head, we know a handful kids who at Florida, UGA, Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, SMU, Miami, LSU and Rice who seem to love it. My theory is a large part of their happiness is simply due to the sunny weather during the school year.

And the easy classes, who are you kidding?

Classes are not easy. Many of these are R1 research schools with great professors, serious stem and very smart kids.

They are R1 research schools because of the Graduate programs students and professors. That is not to be confused with what is expected from the undergrads.

[Anonymous]

Texas is the new land of opportunity with better cost of living, job opportunities, state tax, low in state tuition, dozens of state medical schools accepting local residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend whose kid got sucked in by social media and went to a big fun-sounding Southern college. Hated it. Transferred out

Name the school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Texas is the new land of opportunity with better cost of living, job opportunities, state tax, low in state tuition, dozens of state medical schools accepting local residents.

The Texas job market is heading down just like everywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I kind of loved the depiction of ASU on Never Have I Ever. I feel like ASU did not approve or pay for that advertising!

There are a weird number of posts on here where the OP central theme is “Southern Schools are surpassing NE elite schools as the most desired, best, coolest schools with all the richest, smartest and best looking kids who have the most fun and get the best jobs.” All these posts seem sort of try hard and pick me. I have relatives who are professors at two of these schools so I’m not opposed to them, but it’s just so weird how it seems like someone is trying to astroturf support for them.

Actually, the threads seem to start with someone asking about these schools and then people who have never been to them or don’t have kids there deriding them. The posts follow with people who have kids at the schools describing the amazing experiences they are having.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend whose kid got sucked in by social media and went to a big fun-sounding Southern college. Hated it. Transferred out

Interesting. Off the top of my head, we know a handful kids who at Florida, UGA, Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, SMU, Miami, LSU and Rice who seem to love it. My theory is a large part of their happiness is simply due to the sunny weather during the school year.

And the easy classes, who are you kidding?

Classes are not easy. Many of these are R1 research schools with great professors, serious stem and very smart kids.

They are R1 research schools because of the Graduate programs students and professors. That is not to be confused with what is expected from the undergrads.

That’s true for research universities everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because so many teenagers watch TV dramas? With Billy Bob Thornton?

Parents and Grandparents do, then they might suggest checking out this cool college they heard about on the teevee.

God bless the Boomer grandparents who think their college advice is worth anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend whose kid got sucked in by social media and went to a big fun-sounding Southern college. Hated it. Transferred out

Interesting. Off the top of my head, we know a handful kids who at Florida, UGA, Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, SMU, Miami, LSU and Rice who seem to love it. My theory is a large part of their happiness is simply due to the sunny weather during the school year.

+1 We know kids at most of these schools and they love it. We toured UF and DC loved the vibe. Smart kids having tons of fun, great school spirit, and excellent food options. It's not an easy admit though, so fingers crossed that DC gets in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I kind of loved the depiction of ASU on Never Have I Ever. I feel like ASU did not approve or pay for that advertising!

There are a weird number of posts on here where the OP central theme is “Southern Schools are surpassing NE elite schools as the most desired, best, coolest schools with all the richest, smartest and best looking kids who have the most fun and get the best jobs.” All these posts seem sort of try hard and pick me. I have relatives who are professors at two of these schools so I’m not opposed to them, but it’s just so weird how it seems like someone is trying to astroturf support for them.

These big time southern schools are hyper aggressive in their marketing and efforts to grow. There’s no denying their efforts are paying off.

Marketing the cute but simple girls and football heroes is working. No surprise. Not everyone can go to the top Universities in the Northeast. Why not try Mississippi with a 97% admittance rate, same with Alabama and every other state school and most private schools.

If you’re a basic B /C student it might be a nice change to try the South. Enjoy the culture shock and have a blast at the football games and parties.

And get in to a top 10 med school at the same time! Can’t beat it - Roll Tide!

I don't think it matters much, but most Alabama pre-med kids who get accepted to Med school attend an Alabama Med school. That's not a shocking conclusion. The vast majority do not attend a top 10 med school.

The acceptance rate of 57% is good...but nothing compared to acceptance rates from top schools which are 80%+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because so many teenagers watch TV dramas? With Billy Bob Thornton?

Parents and Grandparents do, then they might suggest checking out this cool college they heard about on the teevee.

God bless the Boomer grandparents who think their college advice is worth anything.

Mat God bless you with more humility and kindness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Texas is the new land of opportunity with better cost of living, job opportunities, state tax, low in state tuition, dozens of state medical schools accepting local residents.

The Texas job market is heading down just like everywhere else.

And depending on where in Tx the COL is going up. Ask those in Austin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend whose kid got sucked in by social media and went to a big fun-sounding Southern college. Hated it. Transferred out

Interesting. Off the top of my head, we know a handful kids who at Florida, UGA, Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, SMU, Miami, LSU and Rice who seem to love it. My theory is a large part of their happiness is simply due to the sunny weather during the school year.

And the easy classes, who are you kidding?

Classes are not easy. Many of these are R1 research schools with great professors, serious stem and very smart kids.

They are R1 research schools because of the Graduate programs students and professors. That is not to be confused with what is expected from the undergrads.

That’s true for research universities everywhere.

Agreed. So not sure why someone would note a school being R1 as having anything to do with wether undergrad classes are considered easy.