Northern vs. Southern Universities

<p>Do you think that there is much of a difference between the college experience one will find at a northern school compared with a southern school?</p>

<p>20-40 degrees.</p>

<p>you may hear the phrase "mason dixon line", tis has been my expierience with southerners. at first i thought i had misheard it, but such was not the case</p>

<p>of course theres gonna be a difference, but it depends on the school more than the fact that its in the north or the south</p>

<p>It's definitely school-by-school, and the difference is definitely more with the students than with the school itself.</p>

<p>Northerners don't say Mason-Dixon? I thought everyone know about that line.</p>

<p>so wouldnt cal tech, ucla, and usc technically qualify as southern universities since they are on the southern half of the US? jk, but okay, thats what i thought the thread would originally be about</p>

<p>well yes, heard it from studying american history, ever used it? no, it would never occur to me to use, but then again, ive gotten over the civil war</p>

<p>Here, in CT, the Mason-Dixon line is a term still sometimes heard, definitely understood.</p>

<p>Where is Georgetown relative to the line?</p>

<p>I can't believe the Mason-Dixon Line thing is a big deal. Being from the deep South I hear it all the time.</p>

<p>well ive never heard it and was in shock when i did. george town is in dc, its fairly above</p>

<p>if i believe, the mason dixon line is the states that suceeded in the great conflict</p>

<p>The Mason-Dixon line runs between Maryland and Pennsylvannia. That would put DC below the line, althought I definitely wouldn't call it the South.</p>

<p>no, definatly not, the mason dixon line is either below the compromise of 1850 or the states that seceeded, thats too north, dc is definatly above it</p>

<p><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa041999.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa041999.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
The Mason-Dixon line runs between Maryland and Pennsylvannia. That would put DC below the line, althought I definitely wouldn't call it the South.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>JFK: Wash is a bastion of Northern charm and Southern efficiency.</p>

<p>ian kavanagh</p>

<p>comments like:
"it would never occur to me to use, but then again, ive gotten over the civil war"</p>

<p>are reasons that some people think "northerners" are stuck up *******s.</p>

<p>Even if the line was where you claim it to be, between the states that joined the confederacy and those that did not, you would do well to look at a map and see that northern va stretches further northan than DC.</p>

<p>As has been stated, the Mason-Dixon line is the boarder between Pennsylvania and Maryland. DC is below the line, clearly. People in DC and the suburbs will tell you that they aren't the "south" the way people think when they use the term. VA, MD, DC, and maybe a few others, are proudly members of the Mid Atlantic.</p>

<p>alright, i may be stuck up, i might be a cliche "northener" with our arrogance, but in all honest, it wasnt a snipe at southern manerisms, i actually happen to like them. I was just saying in all bloody honesty, i wouldnt use that turn of speach, i would south as in virginia to north carolina, deep south for anything below it except florida, florida isnt really anything but a waste of life. im sorry if you took offense to it, but get over "it" and dont take s*** too personally</p>

<p>Ian: alternatively, you could either calm down your speech or not post on what otherwise could be a very productive and informative thread.</p>

<p>I grew up in New England and live in the South (not the deep South) now. I have to say that, for the most part, Northerners don't give Southerners much credit. I live in a small town, but it is not "backwards" or still reliving the Civil War. At least here, while there are a TON of Civil War monuments, tourist locales, you name it, it is very much history - in the same way that the Lexington and Concord green is history and the Gettysberg fields are history. The monuments aren't revered; no one is outright hateful of Northerners; everyone understands that the Civil War is over. </p>

<p>Some things certainly are different: there seems to be more church attendance, and more of a variety of religions (I grew up in a very Catholic area). </p>

<p>Sororities and fraternities are much bigger deal. They are also more respected. Up North, sorority girls were considered to be... ahem... bimbos. (Read between lines - you are not respected for being a sorority girl!) Down here - rush is a huge event, and belonging to a sorority and the "right" sorority is very important. I'm not sure that it's a shallow thing - theoretically, it could be a great experience to have such a group of friends. It's also something that, after graduation, you can use to network with girls from other schools. </p>

<p>(Someone once asked me if I was a Theta. My initial thought: "What kind of [lady of ill repute] do you think I am?!?" Next thought: "Oh, sorority girls are respected here. Ooops!")</p>

<p>It's warmer. A lot warmer. Like - I haven't worn a jacket since I was in New England warmer. </p>

<p>People are nicer - even in Maryland, I noticed it. I don't get flipped off, honked at, and run down when crossing a street in the crosswalk. It's nice. (My friends all think that I'm turning into a Southerner - a feminist/gay marriage supporting Southerner, but one nonetheless.) ;)</p>

<p>At some schools in the South, there is a much different focus on sports, especially football. In Tennessee, it's almost a religion. People will also dress up for the games (cocktail dresses for the girls, suits for the guys) and go with dates. Probably more of a social thing than a sports thing with some of that. </p>

<p>Could be me, but I think that schools down here tend to have more traditions. College of Charleston has everyone wear white at gradutation, and the women carry flowers (which they give to their moms, usually - graduation is on Mother's Day). A fair number of schools have honour codes. There also seem to be a fair number of all boys/all girls schools - and yes, situated quite close to each other. Hampden Sydney is one of the oldest schools in the country and is all-male; I think that there are five women's colleges surrounding it. </p>

<p>Best argument that I can make for going to school in the South is that you'll meet a lot of people who grew up differently than you did. It's often a good thing. Likewise, someone from the South could really learn a lot from going to school in New England.</p>

<p>im sorry, i didnt mean to be so mean, ive only met nice southerners, but being a new yorker, i would miss the weather/assholish treatment, im just saying, i prefere the north, but im just a joking man, not rambling, ironic</p>

<p>Let me tell you why I love the South. I went down to VA recently to see a college buddy get married. My friend and I got lost at in an outdoor pedestrian mall, and a stranger came up to us and asked us if we were lost. After telling her where we wanted to go, she proceeded to walk over to the reception. Then it started to rain, and she asked us if we wanted her umbrella. We said, "no," but she insisted that we take it. Her answer, "I have more at home." So, she waved us goodbye and walked home soaking wet. God bless the South. That would never happen in NYC.</p>