Why are Northern Kids Flocking to Southern Universities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are full pay, liberal democrats. We have a child at a private southern university and our current senior is applying to (mostly) southern schools. For my kids, it isn’t about the merit aid since we can afford for them to go anywhere. They love how friendly everyone is at the southern schools. They love the social life, weather and sports games. School is FUN and the education has been great for my older child. My DC says it feels like a breath of fresh air after attending private school in DC.

+10 MY DD needs a break from the stress and nastiness of the kids in her Montgomery County "W" public school. I am a Midwesterner. I didn't have these type of people around me. I don't really want her to either. It's enough.

So, send your DD back to the Midwest.

+1 On her way! Accepted at Michigan, Northwestern and Indiana!!

Michigan hasn’t come out yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid noticed how extremely good looking most of the kids were at all the southern schools (Auburn, Clemson, UofSC, SMU)

Also, Ole Miss, Tulane, Alabama. Lots of attractive students.

-=-=-=- You won't find this in the Ivy League :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KudwS5U9ouA

That is bizarro. Perfect teeth, hair, skin, clothes....eating disorders galore......total turnoff.

Give mine an ice rink and a hockey stick please, but thanks for a peek into a really weird world

It's the cheerleader effect, if you put a bunch of 6s and 7s together, they look like 8s and 9s

They look like they live in some slow motion Nordic toothpaste ad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are full pay, liberal democrats. We have a child at a private southern university and our current senior is applying to (mostly) southern schools. For my kids, it isn’t about the merit aid since we can afford for them to go anywhere. They love how friendly everyone is at the southern schools. They love the social life, weather and sports games. School is FUN and the education has been great for my older child. My DC says it feels like a breath of fresh air after attending private school in DC.

+10 MY DD needs a break from the stress and nastiness of the kids in her Montgomery County "W" public school. I am a Midwesterner. I didn't have these type of people around me. I don't really want her to either. It's enough.

So, send your DD back to the Midwest.

+1 On her way! Accepted at Michigan, Northwestern and Indiana!!

Great! Nice to see that some parents are grounded in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much easier to get in. It's not like anyone got into Harvard and then decided to go to Alabama for the weather. They are usually average students who don't have a chance in NE.

Actually, I wouldn't doubt that they have. If someone got into both, they're likely getting a free ride at Alabama, versus potentially 80,000 a year for Harvard, or whatever it is now. Cost matters to some people more than "prestige."

This. Plenty of kids choosing southern state schools over Ivies, especially if headed to grad school or med school and don't want the debt at the undergrad level.

Credible evidence for this? Highly doubtful, unless your definition "plenty" is skewed.

I think it is pretty common and we met a few on a visit to Alabama last year (Brown, Cornell). The kids never looked back and they all gave they impression they felt they were on to something with their decisions. These schools make sense for a lot of reasons and the opportunities and things they were doing were pretty amazing.

Does it happen? Sure. Is it "pretty common"? Of course not. But that doesn't mean that there aren't great opportunities for stellar students down there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much easier to get in. It's not like anyone got into Harvard and then decided to go to Alabama for the weather. They are usually average students who don't have a chance in NE.

Actually, I wouldn't doubt that they have. If someone got into both, they're likely getting a free ride at Alabama, versus potentially 80,000 a year for Harvard, or whatever it is now. Cost matters to some people more than "prestige."

This. Plenty of kids choosing southern state schools over Ivies, especially if headed to grad school or med school and don't want the debt at the undergrad level.

Credible evidence for this? Highly doubtful, unless your definition "plenty" is skewed.

I think it is pretty common and we met a few on a visit to Alabama last year (Brown, Cornell). The kids never looked back and they all gave they impression they felt they were on to something with their decisions. These schools make sense for a lot of reasons and the opportunities and things they were doing were pretty amazing.

Does it happen? Sure. Is it "pretty common"? Of course not. But that doesn't mean that there aren't great opportunities for stellar students down there.

No one picks a southern school over an Ivy --- even for Vandy or Duke --------- unless there is a cost issue. If you applied to any Ivy you are going unless you are are looking at Chi, Stanford, MIT, ect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much easier to get in. It's not like anyone got into Harvard and then decided to go to Alabama for the weather. They are usually average students who don't have a chance in NE.

Actually, I wouldn't doubt that they have. If someone got into both, they're likely getting a free ride at Alabama, versus potentially 80,000 a year for Harvard, or whatever it is now. Cost matters to some people more than "prestige."

This. Plenty of kids choosing southern state schools over Ivies, especially if headed to grad school or med school and don't want the debt at the undergrad level.

Credible evidence for this? Highly doubtful, unless your definition "plenty" is skewed.

I think it is pretty common and we met a few on a visit to Alabama last year (Brown, Cornell). The kids never looked back and they all gave they impression they felt they were on to something with their decisions. These schools make sense for a lot of reasons and the opportunities and things they were doing were pretty amazing.

Does it happen? Sure. Is it "pretty common"? Of course not. But that doesn't mean that there aren't great opportunities for stellar students down there.

No one picks a southern school over an Ivy --- even for Vandy or Duke --------- unless there is a cost issue. If you applied to any Ivy you are going unless you are are looking at Chi, Stanford, MIT, ect.

Since we're just saying random BS with nothing to back it up I'll say you're full of $hit, prove me wrong.

[Anonymous]

I live in the South (from here but grew up mostly in DC) and am not allowing my kids to apply to the big state schools in the SEC. I find them to be overly focused on the worst version of greek life, very white, basic, and to involve a huge gameday culture that includes lots of parents visiting all the time to drink etc. That is the last thing I plan to do with my weekends. It's a whole thing that you don't really understand unless you are from here. Also, sorry, but you don't just move to NYC, DC, London etc with a degree from Alabama or Miss State. Those schools still are largely for people who stay close by and are part of a Southern culture that I am not really into.

I can see how it is exotic for people, but TBH, kids from other places are not going to have the same experience that all these kids who grew up aspiring to be part of greek life there have. I live and breathe amongst this group and many of them are currently spending tons on good private schools. I find it baffling that they would do that and then send their kids off to these places where, of course you can get a wonderful education, but the predominant culture is basic, white, drunk, and greek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in the South (from here but grew up mostly in DC) and am not allowing my kids to apply to the big state schools in the SEC. I find them to be overly focused on the worst version of greek life, very white, basic, and to involve a huge gameday culture that includes lots of parents visiting all the time to drink etc. That is the last thing I plan to do with my weekends. It's a whole thing that you don't really understand unless you are from here. Also, sorry, but you don't just move to NYC, DC, London etc with a degree from Alabama or Miss State. Those schools still are largely for people who stay close by and are part of a Southern culture that I am not really into.

I can see how it is exotic for people, but TBH, kids from other places are not going to have the same experience that all these kids who grew up aspiring to be part of greek life there have. I live and breathe amongst this group and many of them are currently spending tons on good private schools. I find it baffling that they would do that and then send their kids off to these places where, of course you can get a wonderful education, but the predominant culture is basic, white, drunk, and greek.

You are insufferable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in the South (from here but grew up mostly in DC) and am not allowing my kids to apply to the big state schools in the SEC. I find them to be overly focused on the worst version of greek life, very white, basic, and to involve a huge gameday culture that includes lots of parents visiting all the time to drink etc. That is the last thing I plan to do with my weekends. It's a whole thing that you don't really understand unless you are from here. Also, sorry, but you don't just move to NYC, DC, London etc with a degree from Alabama or Miss State. Those schools still are largely for people who stay close by and are part of a Southern culture that I am not really into.

I can see how it is exotic for people, but TBH, kids from other places are not going to have the same experience that all these kids who grew up aspiring to be part of greek life there have. I live and breathe amongst this group and many of them are currently spending tons on good private schools. I find it baffling that they would do that and then send their kids off to these places where, of course you can get a wonderful education, but the predominant culture is basic, white, drunk, and greek.

You are insufferable.

LOL, Roll Tide, I guess. Do you know about this culture and have a greater understanding of it or are you just excited about the acceptance rates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much easier to get in. It's not like anyone got into Harvard and then decided to go to Alabama for the weather. They are usually average students who don't have a chance in NE.

Actually, I wouldn't doubt that they have. If someone got into both, they're likely getting a free ride at Alabama, versus potentially 80,000 a year for Harvard, or whatever it is now. Cost matters to some people more than "prestige."

This. Plenty of kids choosing southern state schools over Ivies, especially if headed to grad school or med school and don't want the debt at the undergrad level.

Credible evidence for this? Highly doubtful, unless your definition "plenty" is skewed.

I think it is pretty common and we met a few on a visit to Alabama last year (Brown, Cornell). The kids never looked back and they all gave they impression they felt they were on to something with their decisions. These schools make sense for a lot of reasons and the opportunities and things they were doing were pretty amazing.

Does it happen? Sure. Is it "pretty common"? Of course not. But that doesn't mean that there aren't great opportunities for stellar students down there.

No one picks a southern school over an Ivy --- even for Vandy or Duke --------- unless there is a cost issue. If you applied to any Ivy you are going unless you are are looking at Chi, Stanford, MIT, ect.

Since we're just saying random BS with nothing to back it up I'll say you're full of $hit, prove me wrong.

I agree there's a lot of evidence-free opinions popping up on this thread. But here's some relevant data points:

The stats for admitted students to, say, University of Alabama are WAY below those of, for example, Harvard. This shows that few students attending the University of Alabama would even have the stats for a shot at Harvard.

Harvard's extremely low acceptance rate, even for those few with the high stats needed for a lottery ticket, means that those accepted at Alabama that might also have a shot at Harvard would likely still lose out in the lottery. (Plus, a good chunk of those accepted at Harvard are legacy kids who most certainly aren't considering Alabama or similar.)

Harvard's yield rate of 82% shows that among those very high stats kids who win the admissions lottery, the vast majority do NOT opt for other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in the South (from here but grew up mostly in DC) and am not allowing my kids to apply to the big state schools in the SEC. I find them to be overly focused on the worst version of greek life, very white, basic, and to involve a huge gameday culture that includes lots of parents visiting all the time to drink etc. That is the last thing I plan to do with my weekends. It's a whole thing that you don't really understand unless you are from here. Also, sorry, but you don't just move to NYC, DC, London etc with a degree from Alabama or Miss State. Those schools still are largely for people who stay close by and are part of a Southern culture that I am not really into.

I can see how it is exotic for people, but TBH, kids from other places are not going to have the same experience that all these kids who grew up aspiring to be part of greek life there have. I live and breathe amongst this group and many of them are currently spending tons on good private schools. I find it baffling that they would do that and then send their kids off to these places where, of course you can get a wonderful education, but the predominant culture is basic, white, drunk, and greek.

You are insufferable.

LOL, Roll Tide, I guess. Do you know about this culture and have a greater understanding of it or are you just excited about the acceptance rates?

My kid is Northeast school and their is no interest in Southern schools. Have lived in the South but my response was to your tone and tenor. A lot of I in a thread about kids flocking to Southern schools...add in the baseless accusations and you just look pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in the South (from here but grew up mostly in DC) and am not allowing my kids to apply to the big state schools in the SEC. I find them to be overly focused on the worst version of greek life, very white, basic, and to involve a huge gameday culture that includes lots of parents visiting all the time to drink etc. That is the last thing I plan to do with my weekends. It's a whole thing that you don't really understand unless you are from here. Also, sorry, but you don't just move to NYC, DC, London etc with a degree from Alabama or Miss State. Those schools still are largely for people who stay close by and are part of a Southern culture that I am not really into.

I can see how it is exotic for people, but TBH, kids from other places are not going to have the same experience that all these kids who grew up aspiring to be part of greek life there have. I live and breathe amongst this group and many of them are currently spending tons on good private schools. I find it baffling that they would do that and then send their kids off to these places where, of course you can get a wonderful education, but the predominant culture is basic, white, drunk, and greek.

You are insufferable.

LOL, Roll Tide, I guess. Do you know about this culture and have a greater understanding of it or are you just excited about the acceptance rates?

My kid is Northeast school and their is no interest in Southern schools. Have lived in the South but my response was to your tone and tenor. A lot of I in a thread about kids flocking to Southern schools...add in the baseless accusations and you just look pathetic.

This is an anonymous board so there are no points for tone and tenor. I am from the south and have lived here most of my life. Same for my DH and we agree on these schools. There is nothing "baseless" about my opinions. I know a lot about this world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are full pay, liberal democrats. We have a child at a private southern university and our current senior is applying to (mostly) southern schools. For my kids, it isn’t about the merit aid since we can afford for them to go anywhere. They love how friendly everyone is at the southern schools. They love the social life, weather and sports games. School is FUN and the education has been great for my older child. My DC says it feels like a breath of fresh air after attending private school in DC.

+10 MY DD needs a break from the stress and nastiness of the kids in her Montgomery County "W" public school. I am a Midwesterner. I didn't have these type of people around me. I don't really want her to either. It's enough.

So, send your DD back to the Midwest.

+1 On her way! Accepted at Michigan, Northwestern and Indiana!!

Great! Nice to see that some parents are grounded in this area.

Um, Michigan’s EA release date is late January … and she must have applied ED to NU if she has already heard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much easier to get in. It's not like anyone got into Harvard and then decided to go to Alabama for the weather. They are usually average students who don't have a chance in NE.

Actually, I wouldn't doubt that they have. If someone got into both, they're likely getting a free ride at Alabama, versus potentially 80,000 a year for Harvard, or whatever it is now. Cost matters to some people more than "prestige."

This. Plenty of kids choosing southern state schools over Ivies, especially if headed to grad school or med school and don't want the debt at the undergrad level.

Credible evidence for this? Highly doubtful, unless your definition "plenty" is skewed.

I think it is pretty common and we met a few on a visit to Alabama last year (Brown, Cornell). The kids never looked back and they all gave they impression they felt they were on to something with their decisions. These schools make sense for a lot of reasons and the opportunities and things they were doing were pretty amazing.

Does it happen? Sure. Is it "pretty common"? Of course not. But that doesn't mean that there aren't great opportunities for stellar students down there.

This. It is common in the selective specialized programs. The programs are small and competitive, so the students often have chosen them over higher ranked schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in the South (from here but grew up mostly in DC) and am not allowing my kids to apply to the big state schools in the SEC. I find them to be overly focused on the worst version of greek life, very white, basic, and to involve a huge gameday culture that includes lots of parents visiting all the time to drink etc. That is the last thing I plan to do with my weekends. It's a whole thing that you don't really understand unless you are from here. Also, sorry, but you don't just move to NYC, DC, London etc with a degree from Alabama or Miss State. Those schools still are largely for people who stay close by and are part of a Southern culture that I am not really into.

I can see how it is exotic for people, but TBH, kids from other places are not going to have the same experience that all these kids who grew up aspiring to be part of greek life there have. I live and breathe amongst this group and many of them are currently spending tons on good private schools. I find it baffling that they would do that and then send their kids off to these places where, of course you can get a wonderful education, but the predominant culture is basic, white, drunk, and greek.

You are insufferable.

LOL, Roll Tide, I guess. Do you know about this culture and have a greater understanding of it or are you just excited about the acceptance rates?

My kid is Northeast school and their is no interest in Southern schools. Have lived in the South but my response was to your tone and tenor. A lot of I in a thread about kids flocking to Southern schools...add in the baseless accusations and you just look pathetic.

+1 I grew up in South Carolina, but went to a north eastern slac. I have a lot of very smart friends who went to USC and Clemson and most of what is being said just doesn't resonate.