<p>motherdear, the only students I know that dress up like that at Wake or Chapel Hill for football are ones in the preppier frats/sororities---none of the common folk do ;).</p>
<p>Ah, the transition is weird. And some fraternities probably wouldn't fit your son too well (KA comes to mind). Its not a bad transition. The dress down here is different. Just make sure you send him down with plenty of polos, some top-siders, a camoflauge hat and some croakies. Everyone down here wears croakies.</p>
<p>I think the south-north "thing" (or east coast/west coast, for another example) is one of the many elements that make up that elusive quality we call "fit"...my S, a native of northern VA (DC suburbs) w/roots in the midwest (Chicago), didn't feel a "fit" at all at U VA or Duke. He articularted it as a "too southern feel" altho that's probably a bit of an oversimplification...he headed north...he feels very at home at Cornell.</p>
<p>So I would echo the other posters who encourage an overnight (or even a two-night weekend). I don't think east coasters can't fit in well on the west coast, or southerners in the north (or visa versa), but I do think those are factors that may contribute to (or detract from) that mystical "feeling of fit" that seems to be so important in choosing his/her school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The second thing my friend noticed is that religion is much more a part of ordinary life in the South.
[/quote]
I do know two people for whom this was the "issue" as a Northerner at a Southern school. I am not saying that <em>I</em> think it is an issue; just reporting the experience of a couple of people. One was a Jewish student at Wake Forest; she transferred after one year to Brown, just felt that she was out of her element at Wake (which was her first choice and I still remember the elated screams as she opened her mailbox on April 1st the year she was accepted). This is a sample of one; so don't take it as pervasive, but something to think about.</p>
<p>My S is a Northerner who absolutely loved Tulane. It is often spoken of as a school that is "in the South, but not OF the South." I think others are saying that there are a number of schools of that type. In the end, it all depends on the student and the individual school. Just realize it is possible to think on the basis of a short visit that you will be comfortable. And that it is conversely possible to overreact to stereotyping that well-meaning friends convey when reacting to your kid's possible schools.</p>
<p>Gosh...my d attends UNC-CH and joined Carolina Fever. I think they wear blue t-shirts to football games and possibly paint their exposed body parts blue. (She's a former cheerleader, she loves getting her face painted, etc... lol!)</p>
<p>haha I believe people wolnt feel outta place and to the sir and ma'am thing they say it to everyone one...I was in Asheville(YAH! blue ridge/smokies! sorry love that area) and im 16 and despite the fact that i look older i deffenitly do not look like 25...so i was at asheville regional gettin a soda b4 i left the airport doors to go to a adventure camp in the smokie/blue ridge mountains i went to get a coke and the woman said have a nice day ma'am after she handed me my coke and change i came back and told the person who picked me uP: that women said oo i say it a lot to its a southern thing...and if u go south tell ur son to expect to be called a yankee i was called one a lot</p>
<p>We live in in a Chicago suburb and my D goes to UVa. She loves it there.</p>
<p>She has made wonderful friends with people from VA, as well as CT, NY, GA, MI, TN and TX. </p>
<p>She felt the "fit" of the school the first time that she visited. I think that overnight visits are a great way to see a school. </p>
<p>She went to a football today and yes she wore a sundress.</p>
<p>We are Californians who have been living in the South for a few years. We've had no problems adjusting at all. I really think that those who "worry" about these things still think the South is some kind of third world nation. </p>
<p>As far as accents go.... I have visited many of the southern colleges that are on your son's list and a few more. Southerners who grew up near or in bigger cities hardly have any accent at all. Like everybody else, they have been heavily influence by television so it has diminished their accents. My encounters with strong accents are very rare. My encounters with slight accents are about 25/75. The rest of the time I'm dealing with people who have no accent at all!</p>
<p>Also, many of those who reside in the south are not natives. Many are "transplants" and they have brought their customs and ideas with them. The south is not monolithic. </p>
<p>Southerners are friendly and they are always serving food, "sweet tea," and whatever! The one thing that Northeasterners may find a bit odd is how friendly southerners are. Southerners talk to strangers. They'll strike up a conversation with you while waiting in grocery lines or wherever. Since, northeasterners are not used to that level of friendliness, they may find it odd... (My sister-in-law, a New Yorker, came to visit and she was shocked to find strangers wave to her and smile at her. She said that rarely happens where she lives. There, everyone just keeps to themselves -- unless she's walking her dog!!!! If she has her dog with her, then people will talk to her...about her dog!)</p>
<p>My Boston-born, Red Sox-loving, hockey-playing, liberal daughter ended up at University of Georgia and loved her four years there. She found the area conservative and religious, but she also met so many wonderful people and has made many life-long friends. Let's face it...good people are everywhere. Although she was annoyed when a professor mentioned how they even let girls play hockey up north. She made a point to wear her hockey shirt to the next class. Plus, she has met so many transplants...in fact, she has become one, living now in Atlanta. There will be some culture shock, she decided not to pledge a sorority because she was turned off by the "sweetness", but she quickly found her niche. I think your main concern will be that they will like it so much they will make the area their new home.</p>
<p>Having read many posts on this forum expressing thinly veiled distaste by northerners for the south, I dispair. One would think that we live in two different countries! Honestly, we are not all that different down here. There are quite a few small liberal arts colleges where only the accents (and okay, the odd politeness) would give away the fact that you are not in the more desirable part of the country. My son would not like a "preppy" school north or south but applied to small liberal schools from north to south and east to west. Your son just needs to identify the type of school he would fit in the best, not the region. To rule out a huge portion of the country because of preconceived notions is way too limiting for the young.</p>
<p>But in terms of "fit", I know my son wouldn't be comfortable in a school where most students were quite religious and wore penny loafers and khakis to football games. </p>
<p>He is polite though, even as a purebred Yankee! ;)</p>
<p>JUst a note - the other day I called my daughter's cell phone and she was doing her class reading POOLSIDE at the beautiful new fitness center. Made me want to go back to college LOL . Another plus was we packed half as many suitcases for move-in - flip flops and tanks don't take up much room. </p>
<p>On a serious note - my daughter was interested in a little more conservative atmosphere and does enjoy participating in some religious youth group activities. Maybe that is one reason she feels comfortable. She is also in a dorm for Honor's and Capstone students - 50% of them are OOS students. So perhaps she is meeting many more OOS students than usual. </p>
<p>I also find it odd how so many people act like "the South" is some strange land. LOL</p>
<p>I may get booed off these boards for saying this: but to notherners (especially from the northeast) and to a lesser but still noticeable extent to Midwesterners, too, the South does seem very different...</p>
<p>One of my best friends is a southerner who refers to our friendship as the strange irony of southern charm meeting yankee speed. (To him, I'm a "dam yankee"--but, he says, it's "all part of the wonderfulness of me" and he loves me anyway)</p>
<p>I suppose it could be said in reverse, too...that those who are native (or natively transplanted) to the south find the north (especially the northeast) almost like a foreign country, too...</p>
<p>As for desireability: my guess is we all have a special fondness for "home"...northerners will (51% of the time, anyway) like the ambiance of the north, while souherners (to an equally non-unanimous extent) prefer their culture.</p>
<p>But it IS different. I travel quite a lot and have spent a fair amount of time in the south...I think Texas is considerably different from Arkansas, which is different from Georgia, Alabama, Florida, the southwest, the Carolinas--as each of them differs from the others...but "the south" does have a "feel" that transcends the "differentness" of each of its areas. And it's true in cosmopolitan Atlanta as well as in more rural Hot Springs, AR...</p>
<p>For many, many people these differences simply won't be relevant...they may be noticeable and likeable, or not particularly noticeable. But for some, they will cause discomfort. Which is why a kid interested in exploring a different part of the country would be well-served to "test out" whether the regional differences contribute to or detract from his/her feeling of "fit"...</p>
<p>I find this to be a very interesting topic as a NYer who just sent my son off to Clemson U in SC. I understand the trepidations of the OP. I also heard a few horror stories from well meaning friends & co-workers about some kid they knew who was ostrisized because he was a "yankee". I think it depends on the kid. (My younger daughter has declared that she would NOT enjoy going to college in the South).</p>
<p>I have to say... so far son is adjusting just fine. He is a "joiner", so he puts himself out there to make friends. I think he is actually enjoying the differences he is finding in the South. Some observations he has made:
1. People saying "ya-all" & "yes sir" & "no maam"
2. Everyone drinks "Sweet Tea" & loves "Chick Fila"
3. Students do seem to be more religious/church-going
4. Everyone seems very friendly
5. He is learning how to do the "Shag" (carolina dance)
6. Football is huge (he is in the marching band & it was quite the experience to perform for 80,000 people).</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. Clemson is on son's list. We loved the Tiger paw on the highway driving in! We could not get over the size of the football stadium at both Clemson and USC. At some of our schools, the college stadium isn't much bigger than the high school stadium.
Never got to try a Chik Fila,but every campus had one. I am sure if we head back that way we will sample one .
Did try the sweet tea though and they weren't kidding about it being sweet. I added more ice cubes to water it down a bit.</p>
<p>I didn't realize Chick Fil A was a Southern thing LOL Everybody in Pennsylvania loves it too!
septembermom - I know what you mean about the stadiums. My husband went for a jog when we were at campus and he went into the stadium and was very impressed. He felt like he was in a pro stadium. Sadly the Gamecocks lost their first home game last night.</p>
<p>to the OP
My S is at the same university in South Carolina as PAMom's D.He is a native New Yorker (NYC suburb).Half Irish,half Jewish,non religious.Pretty liberal in his politics.Extremely tolerant of all views however.
He's had no trouble adjusting.His dormmates (he's in the hOnors College freshman dorm) are half OOS,half instaters.There is a more preppy overtone,lots of collared polos and khakis for guys and I do wonder if he bought those Croakies yet (they hold your sunglasses around your neck,every guy wears them).There is a religious presence that you might not find on Northeastern campuses.kids do wake up on Sunday to go to churches,and the various denominations presence during freshman welcome week was noticeable.
He has chosen not to go the frat route,at least not yet.The campus has a frat presence,with a beautiful frat house area, but it is not overwhelming.The frat party atmosphere of northern schools is not present as the parties are not open to non members.It also seems there are many more sororities than fraternities,almost a 3 to 1 ratio.
People are unfailingly polite to each other.We parents had a harder time with this than S did.Its weird,simply put, for a NY'er to get on an elevator and have everyone say good morning to you.But we wound up liking it.As another poster put it,everyone engages you in conversation and a NY'er is suspect of this!
Im sure S is already saying y'all,yesmam and yessir.He already was holding doors open for women.
He will need to slow down his speech rate and quit mumbling so much..hes already gotten chided for that..people say they don't understand him!
We were lucky enough to attend a very intensive scholarship interview weekend there, with the ability to interact with many faculty and administrators. Many of them were from "the North" and unfailingly they told us they enjoyed living,working and teaching at the University.They very much enjoyed the quality of life they had.This did help us tremendously in helping S make his decision to attend.
He has already started to learn to "shag" (from the interview weekend) as he loves to dance.So far, hates the sweet tea,but loves the ever present lemonade.really loves the availability of meat and threes.Went last night to that first football game, and got the chance to experience tailgating,southern style.LOVED IT!!!Misses a real NY bagel,although theres an Einsteins Bagels on campus.Rates the pizza a B- but he'll live!</p>
<p>Thanks cathymee and everyone for replies to this thread. You have reassured us that overall kids are kids and are very willing to make all feel welcome. After our tours, H and I want to go back to school. I will now be able to say to those nay sayers that we have heard only positive things about kid from North attending schools in South.</p>
<p>the confederate flag is an anachronism like debutante balls. In this day and age some people feel secure in holding onto old traditions that no longer have any value for most people living in the real world.</p>
<p>if that's what someone needs to survive today's challenges, then so be it.</p>
<p>I live in a city that some people live and die by what high school a child attended. A stupid custom that drives out of towners out of their minds, when asked "what school did you go to?"--and it isn't college. It's what some people need to survive to all the changes going on around them.</p>
<p>I am unhappy with the pervasive talk of Northerners being cold and unfriendly. I think that most of us (okay, in my small town) are warm and friendly but perhaps more reserved about talking to people we don't know. I do have to say that when we moved into our neighborhood here we were immediately greeted by neighbors who brought their whole families over to meet us- and brought food! And this did not happen when we moved into a house in Virginia with a baby. </p>
<p>One of the funny things that happened to us in regards to dress at colleges was when our son called us after he was done with a week long outdoor orientation at his new school. We were going to come down the next day with his stuff for the official move in and I was asking if there was anything else he needed that he had not packed and he said he needed some button down shirts. He said that most of the guys were wearing collared shirts! He had been wearing them for church but had not packed the bulk of them for college. When we got there I couldn't help but notice that his (very nice) roommate had a dozen ties. Ties!</p>