<p>He is a Div. III level runner - would rather participate than watch! The top student from his class is at Duke, though.</p>
<p>as a northerner, southern colleges' preoccupation with Greek Life annoys me.</p>
<p>other than that, lets face it, America is pretty homogenous</p>
<p>I'm from Manhattan and am a freshman at northwestern...i'm not saying my experience is typical, but i'm looking to transfer out, and even thought about not going back for next quarter. i applied ed, so i definately came here with an open mind. there is definately a noticeable difference in political culture, though that might also have to do with coming from a very liberal private school. i haven't witnessed anything blatantly homophobic, but its still more present. also, being jewish (even though nu has a large jewish population) there might not be anti-semitism, but its definately considered a larger part of who i am.</p>
<p>i think even more than the switch from east coast to midwest, what i dislike the most is the switch from metropolitan to suburban.</p>
<p>note: i'm not saying don't come to the midwest or nu, but don't believe that this is one big homogeneous country either</p>
<p>For those thinking about coming to California, remember that there are two Californias--northern and southern and they can be pretty different--northern CA is generally more politically liberal whereas southern CA is generally more politically conservative (a generalization of course), among other differences. But overall, I think California is a pretty accepting environment overall. Life is pretty casual here and people love to be outdoors pretty much all year. Having grown up on the East Coast, the two things I miss the most are fall and great thunderstorms (which we rarely have here). You just don't get the same phenomenal combination of leaf colors (there are more evergreen trees here so it mutes the effect), and that crisp, cold snap in the air in late October that you get back East. But you also don't have the humidity when it's warm, temperatures year round are pretty moderate. I especially noticed the early and long springs when I first moved here--flowers start to bloom in February, the grass is green in the winter. If you're heading for Stanford, Palo Alto is a really nice community with a thriving downtown area.</p>
<p>One reason I think a lot of kids from CA go East is that if they want a smaller liberal arts institution, there just aren't that many places to get that in CA. CA education, along with many Western states is mostly large state universities. Obviously there are some notable exceptions--the Claremont Colleges, Whitman in Washington, Reed, Willamette, etc. For those kids who aren't interested in large universities and who can afford to forego the lower cost of a UC or state college education, the East Coast is pretty appealing with the various LACs you find there.</p>
<p>BK, I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad winter quarter. I too am a Jew from NY, though I'm from the suburbs. I'll give you that my being Jewish has become more recognized as a large part of who I am (I always strongly identified as Jewish, but coming from a town with a majority of Jews, my religion wasn't something that was noteworthy). Theres a noticeable difference in political culture from a highly liberal environment (such as my HS), but most students I've encountered are unlikely to broadcast their politics.</p>
<p>Thats `funny because I applied ED to Pomona.</p>
<p>I second the comment that not all bagels are good bagels. It is getting increasingly difficult to find good bagels, even in NY.</p>
<p>I think easterners are as provincial as southerners, midwesterners, southwesterners, westerners and northwesternes.</p>
<p>Some of us cling to what we know; others want to explore what is different. For some, adjustment is easy; for others difficult.</p>
<p>I think it depends on whether or not a student finds a group h/she relates well to. I know my kid could do better at USC than a school in NY where a lot of cliques remain from HS. I think the people determine fit and that geography is a factor sometimes and sometimes it is not.</p>
<p>Neither of my kids wanted to be far; they wanted to be able to have us drop them off at school and leave the same day. Maybe this was to limit our hanging around the place, but they have expressed the sentiment that they like the fact that we can visit any day we're free and still be home at a reasonable time.</p>
<p>So, my kids stayed east, but not from provincialism. They wanted to remain in the center of her life and not far away. </p>
<p>I don't think "foreign" colleges (LOL!) are inferior in any way.</p>
<p>people are really pathetic sometimes. "waa waa kids here dress different then they do where i'm from". good god. suck it up. anybody who can't cope with trivial bs like that is truly pathetic.</p>
<p>btw, in my experience, kids from the midwest wouldn't blend in out east, and easterners wouldn't fit in in the midwest. very different cultures. to the guy from northwestern, please leave and don't come back. you're just too esoteric for us simple farm folk.</p>
<p>I am really enjoying this topic. </p>
<p>As a senior in high school, i decided to make the cross country move, west coast to east coast. I felt like I wanted to get as far away from home as possible. I have lived in CA my entire life and wanted to try something new. I am a VERY adaptable/agreeable person. However, I found the east coast pretty hard for me. For one thing, I thought I could deal with the weather. I've been skiing, so I thought, no problem. WRONG. The winter was really rough for me. My mood is heavily affected by weather and I spent the winter pretty miserable. Also, I found the people at my school SO pretentious. Perhaps it was the school and not the east coast in general, but it was a little hard for me to take. I lasted the whole year, but I haven't gone back since. </p>
<p>Also I can't say it enough: Its so nice to be close to home again. I never have gotten along with my parents well, but there is just something about being able to take a weekend to go home and sleep in your own bed and play with the cats, etc. I love my home town and never want to live more than a day's drive from it again.</p>
<p>Whoops, just wanted to add....</p>
<p>I had a friend from my same town who went to the University of Alabama. She is SUPER liberal, anarchist, bi-sexual, vegan, and does not give a **** about her appearance. She was harassed out of her quad her freshman year because her suite mates called her "dirty" and "gross" for being attracted to girls. She is harassed when she walks around for the clothing she wears/way she looks. She stuck it out there for a while because she was going there for free (national merit finalist). She just came home for christmas and decided she can't go back.</p>
<p>northern CA is generally more politically liberal whereas southern CA is generally more politically conservative (a generalization of course)</p>
<p>I would say San Diego is more politically conservative. Los Angeles is die hard liberal for sure.</p>
<p>See this is where you see the difference in regional environments.... I'm reading Banana's post and while she ends in a pretty kind note:</p>
<p><<<she just="" came="" home="" for="" christmas="" and="" decided="" she="" can't="" go="" back.="">>></she></p>
<p>I (from the South) was reading through it and thinking: "Jesus" at the descriptions of her friend. lol. So obviously while some would read through that and be appalled at the treatment her friend is receiving, some others (generally from other regions of the country) would be apalled at her friend's character. </p>
<p>So yah. It's pretty obvious that there is a strong diff. Anyway, like many mentioned, adaptation does depend mainly on the individual.</p>
<p>killerforhire: I'd say Orange County is more conservative than SD.</p>
<p>I read banana's post about her friend who went to the University of Alabama with interest as I am from the south and also attended U of A. </p>
<p>I am pretty sure that many people would have a hard time with a roommate who had personal hygiene issues, was "attracted to girls" (obviously an issue with female roommates) and, I am extrapolating a bit here, an "in your face" attitude about how different she is (AKA :better than all of you people).</p>
<p>I am pretty sure someone like that would have issues almost anywhere.</p>
<p>All I know is I am sick of NYC. People here are so pompous. People who have biglaw jobs in Manhattan think they are better than everyone. Everything is pretty expensive. crowded, dirty. Everyone is in such a rush and have no concern about who they'll step on (figuratively and literally)</p>
<p>Consolation, we HAVE lived in upstate Vermont and Western Massachusetts as well. After living in TX for several years, we found the people very unfriendly. Everyone there told us it takes ten years for people to not consider you an outsider. Sorry, I am sure that there are nice people too, but just not as welcoming as that cake at the door on move-in day in the Midwest. And yes, I am talking about suburban vs. urban because St. Louis and Dallas just can't match NYC and Boston. I love both, but to raise kids in the "large" cities of the Midwest(other than Chicago, of course!) is vastly different than the big cities of the East. As I said, it is Different, not better....</p>
<p>I'm from California, and I'm saddened by the treatment banana's friend got at her school in the south. And I wish I could say I was surprised, but I'm not. There are advantages and disadvantages to being raised in California. The advantage is if you tend toward extremes, in California you tend to either be accepted, or in the worst case, ignored. The downside is when you leave the cocoon that my roommate (many, many years ago) described as "the best of the best of all possible worlds" you possibly move into much less accepting places.</p>
<p>I'm not sure how "doesn't give a **** about her appearance" turned into "personal hygiene issues". Nor am I sure about the extrapolating an attitude. I have met young people that meet all the criteria of banana's description (Except perhaps sexual orientation, as in general that's not all that obvious...) who are shy, polite teens. They may be dressed funny, and okay, that may be scary to some people, but they aren't hostile.</p>
<p>As for the "attracted to girls" in a roommate situation, are you kidding me? How is that "obviously an issue"? I think it takes an unwieldy amount of self confidence to make the assumption if someone (male or female) is attracted to females at all they would be attracted to you specifically. I really doubt she was hitting on, or even considered hitting on her roommates. In the south is being gay a "don't ask, don't tell" thing even in college? That's just sad.</p>
<p>And I suppose that is the big difference between living in the liberal SF bay area of California and living in the south. Just as churchmusicmom can't believe it wouldn't be an issue almost anywhere I'm amazed it's still an issue somewhere.</p>
<p>I'm from Boston area headed out to Northwestern next year-- it'll still be a suburb of a big city, which I like. I've lived in NE my whole life and don't really know what about me is typically new england-y-- I don't think I have an accent, can probably adjust to what people have mentioned as Midwestern friendliness... But I forget sometimes that the rest of the country is really only 2% Jewish, as opposed to my town, where it's a commonplace thing. Curious to see if northeastern me will be noticeably more cynical, liberal, etc than my midwestern classmates.</p>
<p>I'm a native Oregonian, and we spent a summer in Boston about 10 years ago while H was working on a project at MIT. It was quite a culture shock for me, with the accents, the hustle and bustle of the "big city," the drivers seemed more aggressive, and the fact that everything is old and with so much history behind it. Very different than what I was used to. Even little things like the grocery stores felt different to me. I think for a college student, it would be fun to live someplace completely different for 4 years. I never had the opportunity to do that, but my son will.</p>
<p>hmmm I've been thinking about the "friendliness" issue and I feel like I can see why people might think that nyc isn't as "friendly" as smaller midwestern towns---I never really understood it before, haha, I think people in ny are plenty friendly.
I think its definitely more of the lifestyle than the actual personality of people. No, the person at the McDonalds counter probably won't be making small talk with you--but that's because 1) there are probbaly 10 people on the line behind you and 2) most people would be annoyed with small talk because they really just wanted a quick meal so they can be on their way to their next meeting or something
and it might be wierd to some people that when you're walking down the street, nobody is paying attn to you. nearly 3/4 of the people are listening to their ipods as they walk.
I personally like that. Everyone minds their own business, and when you actually get ot know them they are friendly, great people to talk to. I think it would be wierd, though, to be super-friendly with everyone you meet. it just seems so....fake.
but then I realize the other way around I guess that's why people that come here think it's less friendly
it really isn't....it's just a change from what we're used to
haha, well there you go. differences in lifetsyles.</p>