I think the big southern U’s with vibrant/successful sports programs will continue to do well, application-wise, no matter what the political landscape looks like.
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I tried to reason with my son to apply to Uni of Alabama and Uni of South Carolina and failed. He doesn’t want to study in South and doesn’t want to tell the reason(s).
Did they say how many were from OOS and how that compared to other years? Because if it’s mainly IS, then it could be due to UGA being less expensive in a shaky economy. If they’re drawing the same or more from OOS, then politics either don’t matter or people are drawn to it.
Where I live and work, finances reign for most students with their college picks.
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Is he part of the LGBTQ community? If so, that seems to add another misfit concern that students may have, in addition to being a visible minority and not into the big fraternity / sorority life or spectator sports that some of these schools are known for.
The info I have is from the admissions Twitter. Increases in all areas according to them (someone asked the same question) - in state higher, OOS higher, women higher, men higher. Finances may play a part but tuition is free/reduced for those who qualify in state due to a lottery funded scholarship (Zell MIller/Hope) and they are a top 15 public school so even before the financial downturn many Georgia kids applied. My thoughts are finances may play more of a part in yield - when people get their acceptances and financial packages and realize they can go to UGA with free tuition vs X at other schools, and folks see their investment accounts plummet, my guess is yield goes up.
Their selectivity continues to rise which always drives applications, plus winning the national championship last year helped. According to the admissions office, these jumps over the past several years (they went up 12k between 2019 and 2021) have been mostly OOS and the OOS applicants seem to be less qualified (don’t realize how difficult it is to get into UGA). It will be interesting to see how this plays out as I have a kid who applied!
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Anecdotally, and without any numerical data or graphs to support it, I’ve noticed that at my kids’ high school (in NC, so we’re already south) there’s been a steady increase in attendance each year to further south colleges such as UGA, Auburn, Alabama, FSU/UF/UCF/Miami, UofSC/Clemson (these 2 have always been popular because they’re relatively close but the numbers go up each year) and even UTK. In 2013 when my oldest graduated, other than UofSC/Clemson, there may have been 2-4 people who ventured to UGA, but the vast majority stayed in NC. Not many head up north for college.
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The problem with schools in the North is that they’re filled with northerners, and surrounded by communities full of northerners.
Sincerely,
A northerner
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Yes, you need to mix it up - my first haircut in TN, I was called a Yankee.
so there is some getting used to - and I came from CA although I spent my first 11 years in NJ.
In all fairness, in the 16 years I’ve been here, it seems like true Southerners (nice but very strong in their views) - they are less and less - as California, Chicago, NJ and other transplants come in.
I personally believe cost are driving people south - yes, football and big greek life and nice weather are nice to haves - but people see the merit scholarships and their eyes (and their parents eyes) get big.
Maybe they throw in an app just to see - since it’s so easy today to add another one or two - but once they get the net price - it’s hard not to at least do a double take.
The south isn’t just winning - but they’re doing a great job with “smart” students.
I will say though wealthy parents are sending their kids too (maybe wealth and distance are a winning combination). I see more Benz and BMW at Bama then any other car - and Bama, in one article I read, was accused of sending reps to “wealthy white school districts.” I know that charge has been labeled on other schools - but perhaps wealth = good schools = the kind of students schools looking to improve perception wise desire.
The topic isn’t are all students heading south but are more? While some northern schools like UVM are drawing more, in general I think the trend points south…reflecting society in many ways.
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When H moved to NC in elementary school he was called a Yankee. Where’d he move from? Richmond, VA - AKA Capital of the Confederacy.
Many in his area considered anyone coming from north of the county line to be Yankees.
With regards to southern schools, I think many before Covid were already choosing them due to lower cost (sometimes due to better merit aid), and nicer weather, esp over winter when college is in session.
I left NY to go to Va Tech way back in the '80s due to it having better weather and the cost, to me, was free.
Those trends aren’t due to politics at all.
What’s to be seen is if politics will significantly affect numbers. Considering the political split in the US, politics is as likely to be a draw as a turn off, so the specific applicants might change, but will the numbers? Time will tell.
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He’s not part of LBGTQ but he supports their rights. He’s not into Greek life or sports like Football (Does swimming, water polo though).
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This suggests that a school like University of Alabama with a large fraternity and sorority scene and spectator sports (football) scene in a place where political attitudes against LGBTQ and visible minorities could have meaningful negative impact on quality of life would not be a particularly good non-academic fit for your student.
Of course, students under tight cost constraints may have to put up with that (although other schools with different non-academic characteristics may also be available at a similar or lower net price), but students with less tight cost constraints may find other options more attractive even at higher net prices.
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But again one is assuming a university is a problem for an lgbtq because of the state. For what it’s worth the campus pride index at Bama is an amazing 4.5.
I think there are stereotypes which may or may not impact a student’s quality of life . I know some states pass laws.That’s up to each student to decide how it impacts them. An lgbtq student may very well agree with sports or bathroom laws, as an example.
But I don’t think we should blanket this state is out if I’m gay etc. or support certain things.
The school may still provide the environment they seek.
And even campuses with large sports and Greek followings have plenty that find their enjoyment in other ways. Large is typically a small overall percentage - 30% or less.
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We are in MA. S24 wants southern schools because he wants to try a “completely different place” for four years and experience a “completely different vibe than suburban Boston”. He also says he is tired of freezing cold winters that start in November and end in May. I can’t say I blame him. He likes the idea of a big school with tons of school spirit. I guess we will see where he ends up but he refuses to apply anyplace in the northeast or midwest.
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ASU’s honors college has an extra fee. $1000/semester. U of A is $475/semester.
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No first hand knowledge on my part but certainly worth reading the following to understand the current state of affairs through the eyes of the local UA LGBTQ community…
And the following for historical context…
Certainly shouldn’t generalize by geography or school but worth a deep dive as each student likely has different concerns, priorities and sensitivities.
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@sbinaz seriously? Schools charge to be in honors programs? What exactly is the fee getting the student? Do students have to be invited, qualify for honors? Or can anyone be in honors, as long as they pay for it?
Quite strange…
Not sure how many charge - but many do. But you find lots of extra fees at colleges.
You should check your specific college of interest to see.
Some schools also charge more for “higher earning” majors such as engineering.
Typically, one has to apply and be admitted to Honors. While you pay for the extras (smaller classes, speakers, etc.), you don’t get in without being deserved to do so.
Some schools also enhance scholarships though for Honors as well.
It’s really a school by school thing.
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@tsbna44 i have a current Senior in college, in Business Honors. No extra fee, no extra fees for any of the honors programs. Never heard of such a thing!
At Charleston, I don’t believe we pay.
At Purdue, for example (where my son almost went) it’s $200. Not sure about where my son attends - if there’s a charge it’s small.
Again, it’s school dependent - but when I look at my son’s bill at Bama, there’s lab fee this and athletic fee that…lots of fees.
I know when we looked at Purdue and Minnesota, they had an engineering fee.
Hence the need to research each school individually.
Good luck to you.
PS - hopefully if there’s a fee you get a scholarship to offset (if you have another headed to a school that charges). Certainly not all do and I don’t know the split, but perhaps most don’t.
Some Honors Colleges are more well known, etc. and perhaps that plays a part.
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At the 2 schools I mentioned previously, students have to submit an additional application in order to join the honors college. Requires 1 or 2 letters of rec, a separate personal statement, and an activities list/resume/whatever you call it. Then it goes through a “holistic review” and you’re notified later on of your honors college admissions status.
Remaining in the honors college requires maintaining a certain min GPA. Students also need to take a certain # of honors units by the time they graduate. Again, for the 2 colleges is mentioned, it also requires completion of a special senior project.
Honors students get priority registration, meaning they sign up for classes at same time the seniors do. ASU and UofA both have honors-only dorms with attached dining halls that only honors students can use (I take that back…reg ASU students can use the honors dining hall but it costs them extra).
Both honors complexes/dorms/buildings also have honors class professors’ offices on first floor. Plus some classrooms so a lot of freshman honors seminar classes are basically right downstairs from where you live. And the honors college admin and honors-only advisors are also on the first floor.
Both schools have additional special programs which only honors students can take advantage of, like special study abroad options, special access to internships and research with professors, etc.
Your mileage may vary at other schools, of course.
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