Why are Northern Kids Flocking to Southern Universities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.).

Agree!

You agree that the bolded is true? You know this how?

Easy to confirm with quick Google searches - go ahead and look ("record number applications" and "(name of school").

Yes, when you type UGA or Florida or Vanderblit, Rice, Auburn you learn that these schools have had record high applications in the past few years.

DS is at one of them and feels like he’s surrounded by kids from Fairfax County and New Jersey.

[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

Perfect comment. These girls look like they go through hell to try to pretend to be Barbie so that ken can come along and trash them. Sounds so great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.).

Agree!

You agree that the bolded is true? You know this how?

Easy to confirm with quick Google searches - go ahead and look ("record number applications" and "(name of school").

Yes, when you type UGA or Florida or Vanderblit, Rice, Auburn you learn that these schools have had record high applications in the past few years.

DS is at one of them and feels like he’s surrounded by kids from Fairfax County and New Jersey.

NJ kids going south has been true for ever. We used to refer to UVA as University of New Jersey Charlottesville

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

Tons of kids would pick Vandy or Duke over schools like Cornell, Dartmouth, or University of Pennsylvania. Especially kids that live in the south.

I have a kid at Vandy who would’ve probably been admitted to Chicago, Penn, Cornell, JHU via ED. Possibly Northwestern if ED. A very similar neighbor kid is at Rice.

Tulane, Clemson and Charleston are big draws in our DC neighborhood for slightly different profile kids. I can also think of an Ole Miss and one Alabama

I can’t pretend to know why all these kids are currently in schools but I can confidently say it wasn’t their parents’ idea or preferred choice (since I know all the parents and we’ve discussed)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.).

Agree!

You agree that the bolded is true? You know this how?

Easy to confirm with quick Google searches - go ahead and look ("record number applications" and "(name of school").

Yes, when you type UGA or Florida or Vanderblit, Rice, Auburn you learn that these schools have had record high applications in the past few years.

DS is at one of them and feels like he’s surrounded by kids from Fairfax County and New Jersey.

The fact is, many very good schools in both the North and the South are experiencing a record number of applications. (And I'd note that the environment at a school like Rice is markedly different, and much less traditionally southern, that at an SEC school.) So it's not like students are turning their backs on Northern schools to go South.

[Anonymous]

DC kids don’t have an in state choice, so it is possible they chase merit money even more than others

I attended Wake in the 90s, and there was a heavy NJ contingent at the time. I wasn’t from Jersey, but it was 8 hours South of home for me. After a particularly crappy winter, my campus visit with a beautiful 60 degree sunny morning while it was snowing at home heavily influenced my final choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Tons of kids would pick Vandy or Duke over schools like Cornell, Dartmouth, or University of Pennsylvania. Especially kids that live in the south.

I have a kid at Vandy who would’ve probably been admitted to Chicago, Penn, Cornell, JHU via ED. Possibly Northwestern if ED. A very similar neighbor kid is at Rice.

Tulane, Clemson and Charleston are big draws in our DC neighborhood for slightly different profile kids. I can also think of an Ole Miss and one Alabama

I can’t pretend to know why all these kids are currently in schools but I can confidently say it wasn’t their parents’ idea or preferred choice (since I know all the parents and we’ve discussed)

Well my kid probably would have been admitted to Stanford, Harvard and MIT. But they chose Rice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Tons of kids would pick Vandy or Duke over schools like Cornell, Dartmouth, or University of Pennsylvania. Especially kids that live in the south.

I have a kid at Vandy who would’ve probably been admitted to Chicago, Penn, Cornell, JHU via ED. Possibly Northwestern if ED. A very similar neighbor kid is at Rice.

Tulane, Clemson and Charleston are big draws in our DC neighborhood for slightly different profile kids. I can also think of an Ole Miss and one Alabama

I can’t pretend to know why all these kids are currently in schools but I can confidently say it wasn’t their parents’ idea or preferred choice (since I know all the parents and we’ve discussed)

Well my kid probably would have been admitted to Stanford, Harvard and MIT. But they chose Rice.

lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.).

Agree!

You agree that the bolded is true? You know this how?

https://www.michigandaily.com/news/university-highlights-gains-in-applicants-for-class-of-2026-admissions/#:~:text=For%20the%20class%
20of%202026%2C%20the%20University%20of,to%20the%20over%2080%2C000%20applications%20received%20last%20year.

For the class of 2026, the University of Michigan received a record breaking number of applications from prospective first year students, according to the University Record. In total, the University saw over 84,000 applications, which was a 6% increase to the over 80,000 applications received last year.

The Southern schools are seeing 20 plus percentage increases in apps, some significantly higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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...

If you all are interested in the SEC schools, great! I personally would not spend $120K on high school only to have my daughter go to a school where her main focus was dancing around in short shorts during rush with a bunch of tanning bed types. I, of course, know many smart people who went to SEC schools. I did not, however, encounter many of these in the elite law firm world of NYC or DC. Maybe that has changed. And I am talking about the predominant culture, not international students, etc. who I honestly think my child would not even find among the frat culture. I also know a lot of fratty types who are now Southern country clubbers (yes, successful but not really interesting). Not for me, but if you like it, great!

Calling BS on this person knowing anything about the “elite law firm world.”

The managing partner at O’Melveny (of the DC office and then the entire firm) received his undergraduate degree from Tennessee, and he wasn’t the only Tennessee grad in the DC office. I could find many other examples to show that person indeed has no clue about Big Law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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...

If you all are interested in the SEC schools, great! I personally would not spend $120K on high school only to have my daughter go to a school where her main focus was dancing around in short shorts during rush with a bunch of tanning bed types. I, of course, know many smart people who went to SEC schools. I did not, however, encounter many of these in the elite law firm world of NYC or DC. Maybe that has changed. And I am talking about the predominant culture, not international students, etc. who I honestly think my child would not even find among the frat culture. I also know a lot of fratty types who are now Southern country clubbers (yes, successful but not really interesting). Not for me, but if you like it, great!

Calling BS on this person knowing anything about the “elite law firm world.”

The managing partner at O’Melveny (of the DC office and then the entire firm) received his undergraduate degree from Tennessee, and he wasn’t the only Tennessee grad in the DC office. I could find many other examples to show that person indeed has no clue about Big Law.

Adding this was a decade or so ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.).

Agree!

You agree that the bolded is true? You know this how?

Maybe the same way that the OP knows that northern kids are "flocking" to southern universities? - NP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.).

Agree!

You agree that the bolded is true? You know this how?

Maybe the same way that the OP knows that northern kids are "flocking" to southern universities? - NP

Op provided links, maybe you missed that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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...

If you all are interested in the SEC schools, great! I personally would not spend $120K on high school only to have my daughter go to a school where her main focus was dancing around in short shorts during rush with a bunch of tanning bed types. I, of course, know many smart people who went to SEC schools. I did not, however, encounter many of these in the elite law firm world of NYC or DC. Maybe that has changed. And I am talking about the predominant culture, not international students, etc. who I honestly think my child would not even find among the frat culture. I also know a lot of fratty types who are now Southern country clubbers (yes, successful but not really interesting). Not for me, but if you like it, great!

Calling BS on this person knowing anything about the “elite law firm world.”

The managing partner at O’Melveny (of the DC office and then the entire firm) received his undergraduate degree from Tennessee, and he wasn’t the only Tennessee grad in the DC office. I could find many other examples to show that person indeed has no clue about Big Law.

LOL the managing partner is a woman who did not go to UT, but ok, you can probably find some people at most law firms who went to these schools and then better law schools.

If you all who live in DC and are not from the south know so much about Ole Miss, Alabama, the other big SEC schools, and the South in general, go forth and enjoy. It actually helps their rankings to have all of these DC area/Northeastern kids apply, so it helps them, and you will probably see more and more people in elite jobs with those degrees. Socially, I assure you that I understand the culture a lot better than you do, and will not be paying for my kids to participate in it. What you don't know is probably helping you love them. To be clear, I am not talking about Vandy, Rice, Duke, Emory and the like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.).

Agree!

You agree that the bolded is true? You know this how?

https://www.michigandaily.com/news/university-highlights-gains-in-applicants-for-class-of-2026-admissions/#:~:text=For%20the%20class%
20of%202026%2C%20the%20University%20of,to%20the%20over%2080%2C000%20applications%20received%20last%20year.

For the class of 2026, the University of Michigan received a record breaking number of applications from prospective first year students, according to the University Record. In total, the University saw over 84,000 applications, which was a 6% increase to the over 80,000 applications received last year.

The Southern schools are seeing 20 plus percentage increases in apps, some significantly higher.

Because they're starting from a lower baseline. And the increase is NOT coming at the expense of applications to strong northern universities.