Why are Northern Kids Flocking to Southern Universities?

[Anonymous]

This trend (or non-trend, to the deniers) taps in to some deep-seated & very personal biases, including geography, clothing, economic class, religion, & even music.

So if your social circle is upper middle class in the NYC area, & you mention that your kid is considering Alabama, Tennessee, & LSU, your friends likely WON’T think “Oh, fun schools with competent faculty where you can learn as much as you want to.” Your friends’ minds are probably going to be swimming with images of toothless Baptist hillbillies in bib overalls dancing around to fiddle music. Because they likely have never visited these states & seen that these universities are significant & serious, & if you go to them wanting to learn about anthropology, chemistry, or electrical engineering, you can learn a heck of a lot about anthropology, chemistry, & electrical engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This trend (or non-trend, to the deniers) taps in to some deep-seated & very personal biases, including geography, clothing, economic class, religion, & even music.

So if your social circle is upper middle class in the NYC area, & you mention that your kid is considering Alabama, Tennessee, & LSU, your friends likely WON’T think “Oh, fun schools with competent faculty where you can learn as much as you want to.” Your friends’ minds are probably going to be swimming with images of toothless Baptist hillbillies in bib overalls dancing around to fiddle music. Because they likely have never visited these states & seen that these universities are significant & serious, & if you go to them wanting to learn about anthropology, chemistry, or electrical engineering, you can learn a heck of a lot about anthropology, chemistry, & electrical engineering.

2025 is a whole different ballgame

You want to risk your kid being on a dunbass red state with Stephen Miller in charge of the country

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This trend (or non-trend, to the deniers) taps in to some deep-seated & very personal biases, including geography, clothing, economic class, religion, & even music.

So if your social circle is upper middle class in the NYC area, & you mention that your kid is considering Alabama, Tennessee, & LSU, your friends likely WON’T think “Oh, fun schools with competent faculty where you can learn as much as you want to.” Your friends’ minds are probably going to be swimming with images of toothless Baptist hillbillies in bib overalls dancing around to fiddle music. Because they likely have never visited these states & seen that these universities are significant & serious, & if you go to them wanting to learn about anthropology, chemistry, or electrical engineering, you can learn a heck of a lot about anthropology, chemistry, & electrical engineering.

2025 is a whole different ballgame

You want to risk your kid being on a dunbass red state with Stephen Miller in charge of the country

I rest my case.

[Anonymous]

I see kids in our Jewish community definitely thinking twice about elite liberal arts schools run amok in antisemitism, and looking at alternatives including in the south, Tulane, Emory, Vanderbilt etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they can get in!

+1

[Anonymous]

Misleading title - they’re not.

[Anonymous]

Interesting that NYU is setting up shop in Tulsa. NYC is a grimy city with more rats than people. So maybe some 20 something will find that having more cows than people and less rats is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Country seems a lot smaller with smart phones and social media. And when you’re a rich teen you can go anywhere you want. Why would you go to a cold weather college? Let alone cold in the miserable rust belt. The average outgoing teen is going to beeline for the sun belt. If they’re high stats smart, Duke or Vandy, maybe USC. If they’re dime a dozen “smart” one of the fun SEC schools or Clemson.

No. Lots of outgoing teens are also going to Big 10 schools. I get it that you're enamored by warm weather, but plenty of teens don't really mind cold winters and know that they can have as much fun at Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, etc. than in the SEC.

[Anonymous]

I see a ton of the frat and sorority type kids from wealthy Maryland going to Bama, South Carolina, Georgia, Tulane. I figure they’re looking for a party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see a ton of the frat and sorority type kids from wealthy Maryland going to Bama, South Carolina, Georgia, Tulane. I figure they’re looking for a party.

Cause Wisconsin and Ohio aren't party schools? Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Country seems a lot smaller with smart phones and social media. And when you’re a rich teen you can go anywhere you want. Why would you go to a cold weather college? Let alone cold in the miserable rust belt. The average outgoing teen is going to beeline for the sun belt. If they’re high stats smart, Duke or Vandy, maybe USC. If they’re dime a dozen “smart” one of the fun SEC schools or Clemson.

No. Lots of outgoing teens are also going to Big 10 schools. I get it that you're enamored by warm weather, but plenty of teens don't really mind cold winters and know that they can have as much fun at Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, etc. than in the SEC.

Warm weather makes for better parties. Hard to have a pool party when it’s snowing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not seeing this trend (NYC parent and not suburbs). Saw this chain and looked a t kids schools Instagram to confirm. There are a few acceptances from southern schools (Vanderbilt, Emory and Tulane) but not many kids (6.3% of admits so far who posted) and all top schools. I am from the South and went to school in the South and seeing absolutely no trend to have kids look in South. If it is a trend I think it is just how hard it is to get into schools and people have expanded their lists.

DC parent, agree. I was about to say, "Are they?" to OP.

I also agree with the PP that the ones who do go to schools in the south do so primarily for financial reasons. Maybe weather.

Don’t agree that for many it is for financial reasons. My DD and many of his friends applied to a bunch of southern state schools and none did it for money. As everyone is saying, spirit, weather, fraternities. Anti wokeness

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Country seems a lot smaller with smart phones and social media. And when you’re a rich teen you can go anywhere you want. Why would you go to a cold weather college? Let alone cold in the miserable rust belt. The average outgoing teen is going to beeline for the sun belt. If they’re high stats smart, Duke or Vandy, maybe USC. If they’re dime a dozen “smart” one of the fun SEC schools or Clemson.

No. Lots of outgoing teens are also going to Big 10 schools. I get it that you're enamored by warm weather, but plenty of teens don't really mind cold winters and know that they can have as much fun at Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, etc. than in the SEC.

Warm weather makes for better parties. Hard to have a pool party when it’s snowing.

+1. Agree. Most (all?) of the kids I know who attend Florida colleges did so as a last minute decision, and are definitely partiers. A couple have switched to more serious schools not in the south, because the partying (including emphasis on Greek life and sports) was just too much. It depends on the kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Country seems a lot smaller with smart phones and social media. And when you’re a rich teen you can go anywhere you want. Why would you go to a cold weather college? Let alone cold in the miserable rust belt. The average outgoing teen is going to beeline for the sun belt. If they’re high stats smart, Duke or Vandy, maybe USC. If they’re dime a dozen “smart” one of the fun SEC schools or Clemson.

No. Lots of outgoing teens are also going to Big 10 schools. I get it that you're enamored by warm weather, but plenty of teens don't really mind cold winters and know that they can have as much fun at Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, etc. than in the SEC.

Warm weather makes for better parties. Hard to have a pool party when it’s snowing.

+1. Agree. Most (all?) of the kids I know who attend Florida colleges did so as a last minute decision, and are definitely partiers. A couple have switched to more serious schools not in the south, because the partying (including emphasis on Greek life and sports) was just too much. It depends on the kid.

Where do they switch to? Ohio UMD Wisconsin Indiana are huge party schools. Maybe it was a social issue

[Anonymous]

Covid made a lot of people flock south w the vaccine mandates for kids and online school. Etc.