<p>After reading quite a few people discussing Sweet Briar and Hollins on this forum lately, I decided to look into them. I've never considered going to school in the South before so I was a little surprised to find that there was much to like about these schools: the small communities fostered there, the wacky and fun-sounding traditions, the accessible professors, and the fact that I could very likely get a great merit scholarship from them. </p>
<p>However, of course, there are stereotypes attached to a lot of Southern schools: conservatism, religiousness, lack of quirkiness, heteronormativity, et cetera. I fall on the opposite ends of these spectrums and want to be exposed to both opposite and like-minded people.</p>
<p>I don't usually like to buy into stereotypes, but from my experience at UCLA, I should have listened more to what people had stereotyped the student body as before choosing to attend, because it ended up being true. </p>
<p>So what is the reality at Southern colleges like these in regards to the culture? On college *******, Hollins is said to be very liberal and diverse, but I'd love to hear from actual students or alumni. </p>
<p>P.S. On another note, are these schools well-regarded at all outside of the South? I probably wouldn't be living there after graduation, and I fear that employers in California wouldn't regard them very highly.</p>
<p>Interesting question. I had some of the same concerns when my D fell in love with an LAC in South Carolina called Furman. Being from the Northeast, I had a concern about the same stereotypes that you raised. My D made several visits and felt right at home. She has become spoiled with the legenadary Southern Hospitality. </p>
<p>In general, the South may have a little more conservative tendancies but by no means is it the majority. My D has never felt left out of anything. She just finished her freshman year and loved it. My feeling is that it is usually the negative issues that become sterotypes. I always recommend a personal visit to judge for yourself. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>That’s great to hear, BobbyCT! Thanks for replying. And for reminding me about Southern hospitality…that is one Southern stereotype I would look forward to encountering. </p>
<p>Any info from people who have experience with Sweet Briar and Hollins in particular would be great to hear as well. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>there are tons of great schools in the south that are often overlooked by people in the north. They’re a lot cheaper and can provide a great education as well (and are slowly improving). I know in South Carolina that Clemson and Furman’s presidents are really committed to improving the education quality at those schools.</p>
<p>Conservatism, religiousness, lack of quirkiness, and heteronormativity is a pretty good characterization of Southern people and culture - not just Southern colleges. To the extent that Southern colleges draw from outside the region, you may find differences from those norms. Duke, Emory, Tulane and Miami for instance, are universities that are Southern by geography but not necessarily by student population or campus culture.</p>
<p>without listing all the schools in the south that do not fit the stereotype presented, the OP might be best to check out the most represented states in the freshman classes from the ones listed above (in gadad’s post) and others mentioned…</p>
<p>others at different selectivity quotients: Elon, Rollins, Vanderbilt (eh? south?), Wake…</p>
<p>It may be just me…but I wouldn’t consider VA to be “hard south”.</p>
<p>Plus with LACs and womens colleges at that, the mix of students may be varied. I think both of these schools have around 50% of students from out-of-state - it might be worth finding out from where. And, I would guess that a good majority of in-state students are not “traditionally southern”.</p>
<p>You may end up with the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses and other school suggestions so far, guys! I’ve looked up all the ones mentioned, and Hollins is still my favorite, even if it is less prestigious than the nationally-regarded Southern schools. The others seem a little too big for me in terms of student population, but Tulane and Furman look interesting. For some reason, I also feel like Sweet Briar has a distinctive charm about it that most schools I’ve researched seem to lack. Any other suggestions like these schools, or any info from current students/alumni? Thanks again!</p>
<p>Oh, and:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Furman does seem like a good college, and I’d like to find out more about it. What makes it distinctive and lovable to you?</p>
<p>Neither Sweet Briar (about 45 miles from Charlottesville), or Hollins (Roanoke) are in the deep south. Keep in mind that a large number of Virginia residents, specifically Northern Virginia, are transplants due to the vast number of federal employees and government contractors in that area. Although both schools are private (so no tuition break for instate residents) the schools are very well known by Virginia GCs and therefore Virginia students looking for a LAC education. So while the geographical location is south of the Mason-Dixion line, if your research tells you a lot of students are from Virginia don’t assume they are all natives.</p>
<p>You are certainly doing the right thing…asking questions, doing research, trying to make sure you find a school that fits you. When it comes down to a final decision try your best to tune out all other voices and really listen to your own voice. Everyone will have an opinion, and I do mean EVERYONE. Make sure yours is the one you listen to in the end.</p>
<p>A campus culture that strongly emphasizes friendliness and interpersonal relationships, a selective and talented student body, and a major emphasis on sustainability. Oh, and of course there’s . . .</p>
<p>It is not quite “South”, but it is in Texas, so you know its friendly!! Trinity University in San Antonio. They can be quite generous with merit aid.</p>
<p>Central Virginia certainly is very much southern IMHO having lived there and going there every year. Not sure how much more southern you can really get. Texas is far less “southern”.</p>
<p>ok here are the schools in the southeast definitely worth paying attention to! (aka what I think are the best)</p>
<p>Davidson College
Duke University
Emory University
Furman University
Berea College
Centre College
College Of William & Mary
Wesleyan College
Wofford College
University Of Richmond
University Of Virginia
Vanderbilt University
New College Of Florida
Randolph College
Rhodes College
Sewanee - The University Of The South
Sweet Briar College
Tulane University</p>
<p>feel free to refine/edit this list for the OP haha</p>
<p>I have lived in Charlottesville and Roanoke, and in many ways they are way more SOUTHERN than Florida. Central Virginia is not anything like northern Virginia. And I agree, if you like Hollins and Sweet Briar, consider Rollins.</p>
<p>if you are looking for a technical education or want to major in a professional field such as business, engineering, architecture, education or nursing etc… Clemson is an excellent choice then! </p>
<p>haha ok there’s my plug for Clemson.</p>
<p>By the way, at Clemson, if you are from southern Virginia, you are from the South. If you are from the Washington DC area/NOVA (Northern Virginia), you are NOT southern haha</p>
<p>Everyone is going to have an opinion on what part of the south is south. My point was Central Virginia is not Montgomery Alabama, Savannah GA, or Jackson MS. As both schools the OP mentioned are in Virginia many students who will statistically be from Virginia are actually transplants, originally from other areas. That’s all.</p>
And for reminding me about Southern hospitality…that is one Southern stereotype I would look forward to encountering. 
</p>
I’ve looked up all the ones mentioned, and Hollins is still my favorite, even if it is less prestigious than the nationally-regarded Southern schools. The others seem a little too big for me in terms of student population, but Tulane and Furman look interesting. For some reason, I also feel like Sweet Briar has a distinctive charm about it that most schools I’ve researched seem to lack. Any other suggestions like these schools, or any info from current students/alumni? Thanks again!</p>![http://hcap.artstor.org/collect/cic-hcap/index/assoc/p673.dir/Campus%20(Furman%20Mall%20fountains),%20Furman%20University-large.jpg[/url]](http://hcap.artstor.org/collect/cic-hcap/index/assoc/p673.dir/Campus%20(Furman%20Mall%20fountains),%20Furman%20University-large.jpg%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
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