Why are Northern Kids Flocking to Southern Universities?

[Anonymous]

it's more fun, kids get bored in dark cold places with crappy sports teams.

Most people don't sit around studying 24/7 they like to be out and about. Imagine being at an outdoor party while those up north are inside sipping tea on a study break

[Anonymous]

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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.

That's some pretty serious cherry-picking putting Harvard vs. Alabama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it's more fun, kids get bored in dark cold places with crappy sports teams.

Most people don't sit around studying 24/7 they like to be out and about. Imagine being at an outdoor party while those up north are inside sipping tea on a study break

LOL

[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.

This may be the reputation, but DS is not Greek at his SEC school, and there is sizeable international contingent. His friend just got a research position at Stanford for his Senior year. That said, Game Day is a blast.

[Anonymous]

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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.

OK, so two rando's on an anonymous board, you and your spouse. "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." Those are your words give us the data oh sage from the south...

[Anonymous]

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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

So, pp’s claimed that students at Southern schools are all ugly & fat, but when presented with evidence that they’re beautiful and thin, the argument is that they’re “too perfect” and have eating disorders?

Definitely lots of peroxide and orthodontia (heaven forbid — apparently all the girls in Northern schools are natural blondes & have bad teeth?), but those girls all just look fit & thin to me. And I’m really glad we’re not body shaming here.

[Anonymous]

I think Alabama over Harvard is a stretch but we definitely are seeing the likes of Duke, Vanderbilt, and even Rice getting picked over some ivies. I know countless people who've picked Duke over ivy but that's been happening for years so no surprise to anyone. But increasingly Vanderbilt has been winning Cornell admits, and Rice has been picking off some Dartmouth/Brown admits. I expect this will only continue to increase as the South is really the next US region poised for an economic boom.

[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.

Hmmmm let’s see I have coworkers who attended Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, and UGA. Somehow they made the transition to highly paid DC area jobs. Eventually they learned to chew with their mouths closed and not spit their dip on the floor. 🙄

Very true that nobody else anywhere in the country gets drunk and watches college football games, this is solely the custom at degenerate Southern colleges. /sarc

DCUM culture is also basic and white but it’s better than Southern culture because reasons.

[Anonymous]

No one throws a college party like a southern university.

Also, southern frats & sororities are elite when compared to most northern.

[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.

Hmmmm let’s see I have coworkers who attended Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, and UGA. Somehow they made the transition to highly paid DC area jobs. Eventually they learned to chew with their mouths closed and not spit their dip on the floor. 🙄

Very true that nobody else anywhere in the country gets drunk and watches college football games, this is solely the custom at degenerate Southern colleges. /sarc

DCUM culture is also basic and white but it’s better than Southern culture because reasons.

PP is a dolt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

DP. I grew up in & live again in the South (after 30 years of working in DC) & not only is the “tone & tenor” of your post wrong, the substance is, as well. It sounds like you lived in DC long enough to absorb the snobbery, but not long enough to have any experience with who actually lives and works in DC (or NY or London). Of course now you see the SEC grads who stayed in their home state (duh?). They’ve stayed home & practiced law or medicine or built a business and enjoy going to football games in the fall. Good for them. Not something I want to do every weekend, but it is fun. That doesn’t mean that grads don’t move away and do impressive things elsewhere. They do. I know dozens of very successful Bama, LSU, Florida, Ole Miss, Auburn, etc etc. grads in DC. In fact, they outnumber the Ivy grads (which, considering the relative size of the student bodies, isn’t a surprise).

(FWIW, my DC isn’t going to a SEC school, but they applied to several and I would have been happy to have them attend. They instead chose a *private* Southern university.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it's more fun, kids get bored in dark cold places with crappy sports teams.

Most people don't sit around studying 24/7 they like to be out and about. Imagine being at an outdoor party while those up north are inside sipping tea on a study break

Students who are primarily focused on partying, having a good time, and ogling "hot coeds" may indeed be flocking to Southern universities. I don't think that's a big loss for colder-weather northern universities, especially those receiving record numbers of applicants (e.g., University of Michigan, University of Chicago, Purdue, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's more fun, kids get bored in dark cold places with crappy sports teams.

Most people don't sit around studying 24/7 they like to be out and about. Imagine being at an outdoor party while those up north are inside sipping tea on a study break

Students who are primarily focused on partying, having a good time, and ogling "hot coeds" may indeed be flocking to Southern universities. I don't think that's a big loss for colder-weather northern universities, especially those receiving record numbers of applicants (e.g., University of Michigan, University of Chicago, Purdue, etc.).

Why post something like this? What is wrong with some of you?

[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

You'd prefer this Dartmouth sausage fest? -

https://youtu.be/e2Nsif8EUiw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

You'd prefer this Dartmouth sausage fest? -

https://youtu.be/e2Nsif8EUiw

LOL, good video. Dorks chugging White Claws is so sophisticated.