<p>I'm a student from Arizona looking to go to school in the south - Auburn, Clemson, and UNC Charlotte in particular. I've heard that southern people are very hospitable and welcoming, but not necessarily very accepting. I'm worried that I won't be able to adjust, or that I won't fit in. I'm also planning on joining a sorority, but I've been told that the girls tend to be cliquey and I'll struggle. I'd love some guidance, especially from current students at southern school. Thanks!</p>
<p>I live near Auburn, but I would never go. The South is too big into football for me to want to stay here- so if you’re not into that, I wouldn’t recommend an Alabama school. </p>
<p>My dads family is from South Carolina, and they have a family legacy of going to Clemson. Wouldn’t recommend that either haha.</p>
<p>I moved from NJ to Nashville, TN and have never been happier. I also had the same concerns, but have found the population in general to be much more easy going and so much more polite. But the south does have that football emphasis, and is big on traditions! That’s a plus for me, but may not be for everyone. Oh - I’ve also found down here people are much more into greek life then where I was from.</p>
<p>Auburn and Clemson are very similar, but UNC Charlotte is nothing like them. </p>
<p>Auburn will be tough to join a sorority without any connections/legacies.</p>
<p>You should be fine as long as you have a good attitude and don’t treat people who are from the South as “hicks” and “rednecks” (although I’ve found this is more of a problem when dealing with Northeasterners…not all Northeasterners, obviously…but a fair few). In general, I think people get excited to meet people from different places, particularly at a school like Auburn which attracts primarily AL/GA/FL/etc. </p>
<p>In terms of joining a sorority, if you don’t have recommendations or are not a legacy it will be hard (if not impossible) to get into some of the more exclusive ones (KKG, KD, DZ, DDD, DG, etc), but there are plenty of other sororities who are very accepting and more relaxed about their “standards.” </p>
<p>All in all, even if you don’t find that you fit in with the majority of the school’s culture, all the schools you named are big enough so that you will be able to find kindred spirits and still have a wonderful college experience.</p>
<p>I go to Auburn, and I like it a lot. I’m a sophomore, not in a sorority, half black and korean, and have moved around the states/overseas quite a bit. So I’d say I wouldn’t necessarily fit into the stereotype people have about the south or southern schools. Auburn (or any other school you listed) is a big place, and you’re bound to find people you’ll fit in with. But you’ll also run into your typical southern person who isn’t as accepting as the next. Or a northerner who isn’t accepting. It isn’t just limited to where someone is from. Anywhere you go you’ll find some negative type of person, you’ve just got to learn to be above it or move on. </p>
<p>As far as sororities, half of my friends are in one, and a couple were legacies, the others were just…normal. Or whatever. Some are in DZ, Alpha chi O, Tri-delt, and so on. I’d say just rush and get a feel, they’re not all bad. I’m not a big fan of greek life, but give it a try. Here at Auburn, Greek life feels big but it isn’t that bad. Once you find a niche, you’ll feel it lessen.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your input! I’m definitely worried about going to southern school where Greek life is huge, especially if I have slim chances of getting into a sorority. My mom was in Alpha Gamma Delta and I can get letters of rec from Arizonan alumni, but still. Can anyone elaborate more on what to expect from your social life if you’re not Greek?</p>
<p>I go to Carolina, so even though it’s not a school on your list, it’s very much representative of those.</p>
<p>I’m not greek. My roommate isn’t greek. My suitemates aren’t greek. My friends down the hall aren’t greek. Honestly, I know way more non-greeks than greeks. And within the greek scene, you have the major partiers and the Bible thumpers and it’s the same outside of the greeks. If you want a social life, you definitely don’t have to go greek, but if you want it, it’s there.</p>
<p>Your social life is what you make of it. If you want to have one, then you have to put in the effort to join clubs, meet people who you’re living with, and talk to people in your classes.</p>
<p>For my out-of-state friends, the majority of them really enjoy school down here and it isn’t uncommon to hear someone say “People really are a lot nicer down here.” I have friends from Ohio, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, Michigan, California, and some other places… and they all seem to like it here very much.</p>