<p>Aggies ran out of time again :(</p>
<p>The SEC schools are all the same really academically, with Georgia and Florida a bit higher and Vanderbilt much higher (though Vandy is not at par with the rest of the SEC in terms of sports atmosphere- it also lacks the southern atmosphere). The ACC schools (with the exception of Florida State) are pretty much all good for a decent mix of academics and sports atmosphere.</p>
<p>According to "Us News Best Colleges 2006" Rollins College (located in Winter Park, which is right next to orlando) is #1 in the category Southern Universities-master's: Top Schools. I hope that helped
Heres the link:
<a href="http://www.rollins.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.rollins.edu/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ivies%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ivies</a></p>
<p>... Sums it all up.</p>
<p>I know most of these schools are much bigger, but Centre College in Danville, Kentucky is the second highest ranked Southern LAC by U.S. News & World Report (after Davidson) and is quite Southern culturally.</p>
<p>W&L in Virginia ranks higher than Centre.</p>
<p>Indeed it does... I stand corrected. Sorry about that, I was looking at the list online and totally missed that.</p>
<p>Tier One: Duke
Tier Two: Rice
Tier Three: Vandy, Wake, Davidson, Emory, UVA, W&M, UNC-CH, GT
Tier Four: Richmond, Florida, Texas</p>
<p>I just don't see a huge difference between the tier three schools.</p>
<p>Tier One: Duke
Tier Two: Rice, Vandy, Emory, UVA
... then the rest I agree with.</p>
<p>Blah...Wake is on a tier with UVA. I'd say for Undergrad Wake > UVA and it is as good as Vanderbilt. I'm probably biased though lol.</p>
<p>HSC must be on that list at lest a number 5 or 7.</p>
<p>
[quote]
So if I was looking for typical southern culture & environment, decent or better academics, and big sports (probably SEC or ACC), which schools would be a good fit?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>KFC4u, I would say, The University of Tennessee. Then again, I'm biast, because that is where I will be going come August. ;)</p>
<p>It has that friendly southern atmosphere with a tradition enriched environment. They have some really great academics, depending on what exactly your looking into. And as for sports, you can't go wrong. 10,000 plus people wearing orange packed into Neyland Stadium on a Saturday for football. It's such a fun experience.</p>
<p>Big schools with big reputations (Duke, Emory, UNC, UVA) are not necessarily better than elite LAC's (Davidson, W&L)</p>
<p>Take a look here. Look at places like Furman, Davidson, and W & L.</p>