<p>I was looking through schools in the south in my college book, and saw many that I would consider safeties. However, they seem very inexpensive and have high acceptance rates.
My questions: Are they not good schools? Is it a southern thing? or is it exclusive to the schools I read about?</p>
<p>ex) Elon, James Madison, etc.</p>
<ol>
<li>Just because the acceptance rate is high, does NOT mean the school is bad.</li>
<li>Good/bad is usually relative to particular programs in some cases…some schools are average at one thing but might be GREAT at something else. </li>
</ol>
<p>Not sure what you mean by “is it a southern thing?” What’s a southern thing? </p>
<p>What schools in particular are you looking at besides Elon and JMU? Don’t know much about Elon, but JMU is a pretty decent school, I’d say it’s somewhat underrated, and they have good programs in certain things.</p>
<p>By southern thing, do you mean “big deals in the south”? Then no.
The South’s big deals are.the same as the North’s.</p>
<p>By “southern thing” I was merely referring to my observation that some schools in the south are comparatively less expensive and easier to get into than schools in the north.</p>
<p>Well I’d say the north has more elite schools in general, like the Ivies, since way back when education was more of a focus in the north than south (when the first colleges were founded) (but that’s just my opinion), but there are definitely some selective schools in the south (like UVa, UNC, etc.).</p>
<p>Well yeah the north is a lot stronger academically speaking. But I’ve never heard of Elon being a big deal in the south.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt
Emory
UNC
Georgia Tech
Alabama (?)
Duke
Tulane
Wake Forest
Morehouse/Spellman
Howard
Hampton
FAMU (?)
Miami
Virginia</p>
<p>Are probably “big deal” southern schools
(yeah…Howard’s in DC. But it’s a big deal for people in the south looking for HBCUs)</p>
<p>[As</a> far as “high acceptance rate” goes…](<a href=“http://■■■■■■/maps/Bu5BB]As”>selective colleges - Google My Maps)</p>
<p>@TheAtlantic, as far as my experience goes, Auburn is more of a top southern school than Alabama, especially with its great programs in Engineering. University of Georgia probably should have made your list too, and University of Texas if you’re not just talking about the southeast. 
Just thought I’d add to your list!</p>
<p>UGA is a flagship, but it’s not really thought of prestigious, even here in GA. So I left that out.</p>
<p>But I didn’t know about the Auburn or Texas thing though, so cool.</p>
<p>Nationally speaking, I think Virginia, Duke, UNC, Vanderbilt, Emory, and maybe Georgia Tech are top schools, not just “southern famous” or whatever you want to call it. I mean, all the ones TheAtlantic listed are terrific, but I think as far as the big picture goes, those 5/6 are the top ones.</p>
<p>I was just naming the best schools that are located in the South. But yeah in the grand scheme of things those 5 or so are best</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies answering my questions, especially TheAtlantic with that list.</p>
<p>What’s your planned major?</p>
<p>I don’t have any definite plans, (I’m just finishing sophomore year) but I am interested in biology and law</p>
<p>Both Duke and UNC have great biology programs.</p>
<p>I will look into them. Thanks!</p>