<p>Do I have to worry about getting this reputation if I come here next year? (I’m from Maine) I don’t fit any of those steryotypes and I dont wanna get treated like **** by instate kids just because of where I’m from.</p>
<p>I’ve been worried about this and it may be part of the the deciding factor.</p>
<p>No one will treat you like shi*t. People generally can’t tell where you’re from by your clothing anyway, and most don’t care. There will be a few people who take this seriously, yes, but that will happen anywhere you go. It’s mostly in jest. There’s truth to it, but not many people hate a person just because they’re a coastie.</p>
<p>If you’re a nice person, you’ll have no problems, trust me. ;]</p>
<p>No worries. My son is a freshman from Virginia and has had a blast. He loves it and has had no trouble at all. Most of his friends are from Wisconsin and the Chicago area. Son’s roomie is from NJ (a “typical” coastie state which I don’t think Maine would be considered anyway) - a few people have asked him, “Are you a coastie?” but it seems to be mostly in jest and he has had no problems either. Both have friends from “coastie” states and the midwest. I suppose anyone who acts “snootie” or with a negative attitude could have trouble making friends, but I don’t think that is based on where you are from. If you are friendly, you will be fine. IMO, shouldn’t be a deciding factor. :-)</p>
<p>Just don’t walk around saying “This place is a hell-hole, I wish I was in New York” and you’ll be fine. Plus Maine, although on the coast, isn’t really a “coastie” state. Those would be Mass, Connecticut, RI, NY, NJ, California, as well as the Chicago and Philly metro areas. People from Maine are usually pretty relaxed and chill so you should be fine, at least form what I’ve heard. I’ll be a freshman too next year and a number of kids I know that are a year or two older than me are there and they’ve filled me in quite well about the place.</p>
<p>Being a “coastie” is a snobby state of mind- feeling too good for the rest of the students. It is surprising that some people bother with a school with a student body they feel superior to - the academics must be that good. Or some are insecure and it comes off as snobbishness or they stick with those from familiar territory. Your attitude is what matters- not your clothes or background. The whole issue would lessen if people would ignore it. There are UW alumni all over the US.</p>
<p>I firmly believe there also is some reverse “snobbism” and envy of the money and stuff some OOS kids have, the fact that they don’t have to work part-time, etc. The same insecurities apply in the other direction-dismiss them before they dismiss me. A common human trait.</p>
<p>Overall I think this applies to a small portion of both Coasties and natives.</p>
<p>UW has a great reputation here on Long Island. Very popular destination. I have never heard a negative word about the school. Everyone seems to love it. Ridiculous to think students act inappropriately to one another based on home location.</p>
<p>Wisconsonites should be proud of their school, state, that so many from OOS are attending this school.</p>
<p>I haven’t looked at this site in a month and can’t believe this thread is still active. It’s almost impossible to describe how overblown this whole “coastie/sconnie” thing is. There are a thousand legitimate reasons someone could choose not to attend the great state University of Wisconsin (and two thousand legitimate reasons TO attend) but this is not one of them. Anyone who would decide not to go to this great University because of this silly little “issue” is making a huge mistake. When I attended UW one of the things I loved the most about it – and I didn’t know ANYone who felt differently – was the great geographic and cultural diversity of its student body. Very, very few great public Universities can match it in this regard.</p>
<p>The original poster’s disdain for coasties is unfounded and ridiculous.</p>
<p>I have a good friend of mine who I know who is from California and who is currently attending UW. She is an excellent student and an even better person, as are many of the students from the coasts who attend UW.</p>