<p>Rice University = Harvard of the South
Duke University = Ivy of the South (Dukie, Yalie, Brownie, just ‘Ivy’ in general)
Vanderbilt = another ‘Ivy’ of the South, though the reference is not as notorious for Vanderbilt as it is for the first two </p>
<p>Coming from the Mid-Atlantic myself, I would like to honestly think that I might not have any biases here. These are the references I have actually heard without interchange throughout my own high school up in the North.</p>
<p>Vandy–hands down.</p>
<p>While Duke most likely deserves the title ‘Ivy/Harvard of the South’, I’ve seen the term used more commonly with Vandy</p>
<p>I just read on wikipedia that USF (South Florida) used to refer to itself as the “Harvard of the South”. Yikes, bit presumptuous for a school that’s not even tops in its state.</p>
<p>Carleton has been referred to as the Harvard of the midwest apparently.</p>
<p>It’s definetly Duke. Rice and Vanderbilt are great schools, but they’re no Duke. LOL.</p>
<p>I know Harvard. Duke is no Harvard.</p>
<p>Only people on CC and southerners themselves have heard of Rice of Vanderbilt. They’re not very well known schools in the rest of the nation to the average joe. But everyone has heard of Duke. Everyone knows it’s down south. Everyone knows it’s a presitigious school. Thus, it is the Harvard of the South on name alone, if not merit.</p>
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That might be one of the stupidest statements I have ever seen on CC. Congratulations.</p>
<p>Of course there are people who have not heard of Rice or Vanderbilt. Same with Brown or Colgate. So what? Rice and Vanderbilt have D1 sports teams and Vandy (more so than Rice) is known as a result of being very strong in one sport and at least playing well-watched SEC teams in the others.<br>
I doubt many northerners with any education at all have not heard of Vanderbilt and the vast majority will have also heard of Rice.</p>
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<p>Heard of … more than probably.</p>
<p>However, they probably would fail this easy test I loved to use. </p>
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<p>^^^^LOL. So pathetically true.</p>
<p>Before Rice can be mentioned, you have to mention Emory… Unlike Harvard, Rice is mostly strong in undergraduate studies. Harvard is great for UG and grad. Emory, although not as good as Harvard, has great undergraduate and grad programs. Same with Vanderbilt. So I think Emory and Vandy are closest to being Harvards of the South.</p>
<p>I once had a roommate who had attended the University of Tampa. He swore up and down it was the “Harvard of the South”.</p>
<p>I don’t think any of the Southern schools WANTS to be a “Harvard”.</p>
<p>Harvard is the “Harvard of the South” of the North.</p>
<p>I think Vanderbilt is the true “Harvard of the South”. It is the quintessential prestigious southern school while Harvard is the quintessential prestigious northern school. Duke really doesn’t have a clear identity, Emory has a very Northern feel to it due to its location in liberal Atlanta and Rice is mostly kids from Texas i.e. doesn’t get a lot of representation from other Southern states like Vandy does.</p>
<p>Ok, so I was talking to someone today and they asked where my d was going next year…so said…pretty sure she decided on Tulane! They said “oh! Harvard of the South”!
it really brought back memories of when I was 25 (26 years ago) and I dated a guy who said he had gone to Tulane…harvard of the south… at the time I laughed because I wasn’t that familiar with colleges in the south and not really Ivy’s in the north except Harvard and Yale…Princeton. </p>
<p>Today when i heard this i had to go online and google "Ivy of the South)</p>
<p>Vanderbilt seems like the closet… My son’s school</p>
<p>the rest all close seconds but I would say the whole package at Tulane and Duke with all the top sports are the best!</p>
<p>Hendrix College = Harvard of the Ozarks. :)</p>
<p>^I would agree with that. My son is a freshman there. We just got off the phone and he told me how much his classes are kicking his @*$. He went to a very competitive high school, had good grades without much effort and great test scores without preparing, and he is (finally) having to work up to his potential. I love it! (And am glad he doesn’t visit this site. :))</p>
<p>"Rice is mostly kids from Texas "</p>
<p>2011 undergrad stats - 52% of the student body was non-Texan</p>