Billy quote:
Why would you assume that there is no difference between two certain regions when your experience shows that another two regions do have differences?
(bolding mine)
Billy, you're putting words in my post that aren't there......I did NOT say that there was "no difference" between the different regions, and therefore I'm not contradicting myself by suggesting a greater adjustment for a Calif kid going to school in the NE.
this is what I said...
There isn't a "big adjustment" going to a "southern school". These schools are run by people who are from various parts of the country. The profs are from various universities across the country. Many students are from OOS.
And, that is true...It is NOT a big adjustment. No one is going to spend their days scratching their heads and running into odd things that shock or confound them. Are there differences between various regions, yes. Is it a BIG adjustment? No.
Medium/large cities in the US are becoming more and more homogenous because of the influx of national companies and the relocation of Fortune 500 companies and Fortune 1000 industries.
When you're in southern good-sized cities, you're going to meet people from EVERYWHERE (even Europe, South America, and Africa). Many of the instate students are not native to the South (or their parents aren't native to the South) because their parents' high tech jobs have relocated them. Because the South is "business friendly," literally hundreds of major hi-tech companies have relocated there. There's a reason that Mercedes Benz built its only American plant in Tuscaloosa county. - (Ok...I'll give you this....It might be shocking seeing so many people driving around T-town in Mercedes Benzs...LOL) If you want access to internships and co-op opportunities, the South has those in spades.
Yes, there will be things that will be "different". I remember going to Texas years ago and seeing such an immense state pride that I've never seen before (and I'm from California!!). Even the waffles in the Lone Star State are in the shape of Texas!! LOL But was it "shocking"? NO. Would it have been a BIG adjustment to live there or go to school there? NO.
I remember visiting Bellingham, Washington and seeing people put vinegar on their fries....Odd? yes (to me), but not shocking or a reason to think..."I can't go to school here because they do some things differently here." A local guy told me that they don't bother with umbrellas in the PNW, so he finds it odd to see people using umbrellas elsewhere. My point is that just because some regions may do a few things differently, does not mean that there is some kind of huge adjustment when going to school there.
In the South, you'll see more BBQ restaurants than what you may be used to, but you'll also see many of the national chains that you're used to...Macaroni Grill, P.F.Changs, Cheesecake Factory, Red Lobster, Chilis, etc.
One thing that amuses me in the South is that nearly every corner has a Animal Hospital or a Pharmacy or a Bank. I've never seen so many within walking distance of each other!
And, yes, people do love their football here (it's contagious.) As a lifelong Trojan fan, it didn't take me long to catch Bama Fever. And, even those who haven't been football fans find themselves attracted. One of my NY (Long Island) friends sent her son to Bama this fall. He never had ANY interest in football.....(pre-med, musician)..but if you catch any Tide footage, there he is with no shirt on with his body painted cheering louder than anyone. LOL And, even the quiet, studious types like my DS1 found himself drawn to the games and becoming a big fan.
But, really, how odd is that? When I'm in Chicago, I see a similar pride/fun/rivalry with the White Sox and Cubbies fans....and elsewhere I see devoted Penn St, ND, and Michigan fans....and in NY, I see devoted Mets and Yankee fans, etc.
So, I stand by my statement...It won't be a "big adjustment" to go to Auburn or Bama or any other large National U in the south....especially if it's in a sizeable city and has a good number of OOS students. For instance, Tuscaloosa has population of about 100,000 people...certainly not rural. It's the state's 5th largest city. Bama has about 38% of OOS students (and this is growing). Southerners are known for their friendliness, helpfulness, and GOOD FOOD, so unless you find that shocking...
So yes, I do think whatever the adjustment is, it will be negligible....certainly nothing to worry about...and, yes, I do think the adjustment would be larger (not large) for a California native to adjust to going to school in the NE. I know that from my own extended family's experience. No, their experience wasn't "shocking"...but they had more things to get "used to," including the more formality and less friendliness of the people at large and the more extreme weather and the need to buy an entirely different wardrobe.
The education at these universities is not sub-par, either. I come from the UC system and my H comes from Big Ten schools. We believe that our kids are getting a better education than what we got. We are blown away by what they're learning at the undergrad level (stuff that we didn't learn until grad school.)
If you visited the Bama forum, you would see a thread where Bama families indicate where they are from. They're from everywhere, NE, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southwest, Calif, PNW, and (our thoughts are with today)...Hawai'i...and they love Bama and Tuscaloosa.
Thread detailing where Bama families are from...
What STATE is everybody from??? Roll Call!
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University of Alabama - College Confidential 
