Ole Miss

Parents Forum
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<p><<when ds1=“” went=“” to=“” bama,=“” he=“” didn’t=“” have=“” any=“” real=“” interest=“” in=“” college=“” football=“” (he’s=“” the=“” quiet=“” studious=“” type).=“” but…it=“” take=“” him=“” long=“” become=“” happily=“” addicted.=“” i’m=“” glad=“” has=“” that=“” entertainment=“” outlet.=“”>></when></p>

<p>Describes my son exactly. Never a sports fan. Spent years overseas playing trumpet on his own - no teacher, no band to play with. He just stuck with it and now has a wonderful outlet for his playing!!! Given all the trouble kids can get into these days - I am THRILLED to have him involved in such a great activity.</p>

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<p>Can someone help me out here, cause I’m kinda lost. “anti-Old Miss culture?” “more southern feel [than other southern schools]?” Is there some secret handshake that goes with these “in-crowd” social and cultural definitions?</p>

<p>It’s obvious to “outsiders” that MANY southern schools have made gigantic moves forward academically. I’m most familiar with U-SCarolina and UA-Birmingham, but other schools have growing reputations also. I guess it disturbs me to hear “SEC football” as the principal reason to consider these schools.</p>

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<p><<i guess=“” it=“” disturbs=“” me=“” to=“” hear=“” “sec=”" football"=“” as=“” the=“” principal=“” reason=“” consider=“” these=“” schools.=“”>></i></p><i guess=“” it=“” disturbs=“” me=“” to=“” hear=“” “sec=”" football"=“” as=“” the=“” principal=“” reason=“” consider=“” these=“” schools.=“”>

<p>For some people, it IS the ONLY reason to go to these schools. But it’s not the ONLY reason for going and I don’t think anyone here is saying that is IS the only reason. </p>

<p>However, it is an integral part of the school experience and it is something that you have to understand is important on the campus. If you can handle that - great. If you can ignore it - great. If it’s going to bother you - go elsewhere.</p>
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<p>I don’t doubt for an instant that there are wealthy, well-connected, intelligent, established old money families who send generations and generations to Ole Miss or similar schools, and that frankly those schools serve them just as well - if not even better - than degrees from fancy-schmancy NE schools. I totally buy that. That’s not in doubt for an instant.</p>

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<p>I agree with Grcxx3 that SEC football is not a reason that anyone I know went to an SEC school. Football is just such a strong element of the social culture at SEC schools that it must be taken into consideration when looking at attending an SEC school. Much like the football culture is a big part of the socializing at any Big 10, Pac 10, or Big 12 school. If MS’s son detests football, it might be hard for him to get into the social culture of Ole Miss. We just want to make sure MS really understands this. Just looking out for him.</p>

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<p>I just have to add here that anyone lookiing at any southern university should very carefully explore that school’s website. That “outsiders” think of southern schools as less than stellar is just plain, well, ignorant. Take a really good look at UF, for example. Some really amazing research is done there.</p>

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<p><<i don’t=“” doubt=“” for=“” an=“” instant=“” that=“” there=“” are=“” wealthy,=“” well-connected,=“” intelligent,=“” established=“” old=“” money=“” families=“” who=“” send=“” generations=“” and=“” to=“” ole=“” miss=“” or=“” similar=“” schools,=“” frankly=“” those=“” schools=“” serve=“” them=“” just=“” as=“” well=“” -=“” if=“” not=“” even=“” better=“” than=“” degrees=“” from=“” fancy-schmancy=“” ne=“” schools.=“” i=“” totally=“” buy=“” that.=“” that’s=“” in=“” instant.=“”>></i></p><i don’t=“” doubt=“” for=“” an=“” instant=“” that=“” there=“” are=“” wealthy,=“” well-connected,=“” intelligent,=“” established=“” old=“” money=“” families=“” who=“” send=“” generations=“” and=“” to=“” ole=“” miss=“” or=“” similar=“” schools,=“” frankly=“” those=“” schools=“” serve=“” them=“” just=“” as=“” well=“” -=“” if=“” not=“” even=“” better=“” than=“” degrees=“” from=“” fancy-schmancy=“” ne=“” schools.=“” i=“” totally=“” buy=“” that.=“” that’s=“” in=“” instant.=“”>

<p>The point being - just as many people purposely choose elite NE schools to allows them to socialize and get acquainted with the “elites” and just maybe make the social connections to get internships/jobs (not to mention husbands/wives) - many people in the south look at schools like Ole Miss, UA, Auburn, etc to do the exact same thing.</p>
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<p><a href=“NewHope”>quote</a> I guess it disturbs me to hear “SEC football” as the principal reason to consider these schools.</p>

<p>(Grcxx3) For some people, it IS the ONLY reason to go to these schools. But it’s not the ONLY reason for going and I don’t think anyone here is saying that is IS the only reason. </p>

<p>However, it is an integral part of the school experience and it is something that you have to understand is important on the campus. If you can handle that - great. If you can ignore it - great. If it’s going to bother you - go elsewhere.

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<p>I think NewHope has articulated it well. Look, while no one is doubting that there are highly intelligent people who go / have gone to Ole Miss, and plenty of people go to Ole Miss and do quite well in life, and that a top-notch education can be had there or anywhere by a well-motivated student, let’s face it - it’s historically suffered from the stereotype that it’s not exactly academically rigorous, and it’s more about socializing. And that’s what mantori.suzuki was trying to get at by his questioning, and so what did you all do? You fed him the precise stereotype that he was hoping wasn’t true. </p>

<p>And if anything, the fact that you’re all saying that SEC football isn’t just a fun addition to campus life, but an inescapable part of life at Ole Miss – and if you don’t like it, stay away – that’s really telling about “diversity.” Because a campus in which everyone is expected to like the same things and socialize in the same manner isn’t really “diverse,” no matter what the racial, ethnic, etc. makeup of that campus might be. That’s a red flag the way that, say, a campus being 80% Greek is a red flag. </p>

<p>I totally agree that part of the fun and value of going to college is trying new things, new experiences, etc. But part of that is also having the ability to “reject” those experiences if they don’t suit you, without penalty. Sounds like the kid who goes to Ole Miss and doesn’t get all swept up in the excitement of football is kind of out of luck, socially. And what you’re describing feels qualitatively different from the kind of enthusiasm at, say, Ohio State, Michigan or USC.</p>

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<p>Well, don’t look at me, I didn’t go to an elite NE school, LOL. I agree completely with your point. I don’t think that’s controversial at all.</p>

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<p>Pg - I guess it’s equivalent to the stereotype that only someone who is rich and into dining halls should attend Princeton. I’ve read on their CC pages that students who don’t have lots of bucks often feel left out when their classmates head off to fabulous vacations over breaks and they can’t afford to go. We can also read Michelle Obama’s thesis regarding the “outsider” feeling one can get attending Princeton.</p>

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<p><<because a=“” campus=“” in=“” which=“” everyone=“” is=“” expected=“” to=“” like=“” the=“” same=“” things=“” and=“” socialize=“” manner=“” isn’t=“” really=“” “diverse,”=“”>></because></p>

<p>No one is saying you HAVE to like it, but you just have to understand that it is an important part of the culture. There is no penalty for rejecting it - except that you might feel left out of what others consider fun. But as in any big environment - there are going to be others just like you (my mother - raised in Mississippi - would have been with the non-football folks).</p>

<p>And, no, I don’t think it’s different at other big football campuses. </p>

<p>We visited Penn State this past summer and there was a HUGE emphasis on the football stadium (how big it is), the football traditions (let’s talk Joe Paterno!), the tailgate parties taking over the end of the campus near the stadium, the ROTC guards that protect the “Nittany Lion” from foul play by other teams, the fight for tickets, the scarcity of hotel rooms on home-game weekends, etc. </p>

<p>Same as in the south - except you have to deal with snow!</p>

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<p>Somehow I suspect the % of students at Princeton who just go home or to “modest” places over spring break is probably pretty high, and it’s just a few high-rollers that people look at and assume that everyone lives like that!</p>

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<p>We live in Houston. Several of S’s friends, including those more academically inclined as well as those more disinclined, have gone to Ole Miss and all say they love it. Some are on NM scholarships and some are full pay OOS. Sure, Houston is a southern city but I do feel it is pretty diverse ethnically plus many are not native Houstonians and have relocated here because of work. So, Ole Miss has seemed like a decent regional alternative that has several strong academic programs as mentioned previously in this thread, and may include a more diverse crowd than some may think. </p>

<p>Second, I must say that the SEC is not the only conference that values football. I went to Michigan (albeit a few years ago :slight_smile: and believe that most students loved the football tradition as much as the academics, and the two were not necessarily mutually exclusive. I had season tickets throughout undergrad and grad years and on those few Saturdays when I had to miss football games due to academic demands, the libraries were very lonely places-- suggesting that much of the student body enjoyed the games. </p>

<p>Perhaps the main difference between the SEC and other conferences is that the SEC actually produces winning football teams anNd has decent talent to watch in the games. This may make for more enthusiastic fans!</p>

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<p>University of Mississippi
U.S. News rank: Tier 3
Peer Assessment Rating: 2.7
Fall 2008 acceptance rate: 83.4%
Average freshman retention rate: 79.8%
6-year graduation rate: 56.0%
ACT 25th-75th percentile: 20-26
Percent with ACT scores in the 18-23 range: 52%
SAT CR+M 25th-75th percentile: 910-1160
Percent with SAT CR scores 700+: 4%
Percent with SAT M scores 700+: 3%
Percent of undergraduate students whose financial need was fully met: 13%</p>

<p>Excuse me, but what are we supposed to like about this school, apart from the fact that anyone with a pulse can get in and they can all go to SEC football games carrying a flask—and that fully half, even a bit more, will eventually graduate, but pretty much on their own nickel whether they can afford it or not? I rarely criticize a school, but all this waxing poetical about SEC football is a bit nauseating when you look at the actual level of academic achievement Ole Miss represents.</p>

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I speak from the extremely biased perspective of someone who hates most spectator sports, especially football, but that seems like a major “penalty” to me. Being “in the loop”/“fitting in” is important to most people’s college experiences.</p>

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<p><<i speak=“” from=“” the=“” extremely=“” biased=“” perspective=“” of=“” someone=“” who=“” hates=“” most=“” spectator=“” sports,=“” especially=“” football,=“” but=“” that=“” seems=“” like=“” a=“” major=“” “penalty”=“” to=“” me.=“” being=“” “in=”" loop"=“” “fitting=”" in"=“” is=“” important=“” people’s=“” college=“” experiences.=“”>></i></p><i speak=“” from=“” the=“” extremely=“” biased=“” perspective=“” of=“” someone=“” who=“” hates=“” most=“” spectator=“” sports,=“” especially=“” football,=“” but=“” that=“” seems=“” like=“” a=“” major=“” “penalty”=“” to=“” me.=“” being=“” “in=”" loop"=“” “fitting=”" in"=“” is=“” important=“” people’s=“” college=“” experiences.=“”>

<p>Football lasts from Aug-Dec (not counting bowl games). Games are only on 1 day a week, so you might have 2 days worth of frenzy. That’s it. So - as I said in an earlier post - “If you can handle that - great. If you can ignore it - great. If it’s going to bother you - go elsewhere.”</p>
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<p>Now that our son is a HS Junior parents are talking with each other about where they’re looking, etc. with their kids. One parent said, “It has to be an SEC school because our son LOVES football!” and I’d never heard applying somewhere because of that. Never. But here on the board it seems like I’m very much in the minority!</p>

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<p>Grcxx3, thing is that the season may be short and only once a week game played, but the TALK about it goes on 24/7. That’s what gets me. Plus then the hoops start up and that goes on and on. I guess its because I"m not a sports fan but there’s so much out there in the world that’s interesting to talk about and the whole SEC thing sort of takes over the culture. (Where I live, anyway). And if you say something like, “My school didn’t have a football team” people look at you like you have two heads! (womens college)</p>

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<p>From Pizzagirl:

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<p>From Grcxx3:

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<p>Don’t forget that UMich is finishing up their expansion of The Big House. Isn’t it now the biggest college stadium? And Okie State has a gorgeous new stadium thanks to T. Boone Pickens. </p>

<p>The conclusion for me is that you just have to carefully check out the academic programs at the schools you’re thinking about applying to and, you have to take into consideration the social culture.</p>

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<p><<plus then=“” the=“” hoops=“” start=“” up=“” and=“” that=“” goes=“” on=“”>></plus></p>

<p>LOL!!! My DH has his masters from Duke - so when Duke basketball is on, I know where to find him!</p>

<p>I’m not a big sports fan. Shoot, I only go to the HS football games to watch the half-time show. Then I leave (and go get a margarita!). As as a “Band Mom” - as far as I’m concerned, the football players are only there to warm up the field for the musicians!</p>

<p>But I’ve been to many college games (when I was in college and afterward) and the enthusiasm and excitement is infectious. Yes, there are people who live and breathe college football (not just the SEC), and that’s fine. It’s not me -but it doesn’t bother me.</p>

<p>My son will (fingers crossed) be in regular attendance at his future college football games as a member of the band. He’s looking forward to it. On the other hand, I can see my younger son going thru his entire college career without ever attending a game. He’s rather play golf. (I have to bribe him to come to the HS games to watch his brother). But - based on our recent conversations - he’s not planning on limiting his school choices based on whether the college is really “into” football.</p>

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<p>I’ve seen enough of these types of threads in my day to suspect that there IS quite a qualitative difference between college football boostership in the North and college football boostership in the South. Everything hawkette and you all have said upthread suggest that there is some truth to this humor piece:</p>

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Football: North vs South</p>

<p>Stadium size
North: College football stadiums hold 20,000.
South: High school football stadiums hold 20,000.</p>

<p>Fathers
North: Expect their daughters to understand Sylvia Plath.
South: Expect their daughters to understand pass interference.</p>

<p>Campus d</p>