The Sunbelt Alternative

College Search & Lists
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<p>The Sunbelt Alternative</p>

<p>Climate is often referenced on CC as an important factor in the selection of a college. Spring is just now breaking out (April 20th) in the Northeast and the Midwest and most schools have a month or less left in their school year. It has been a long winter and for those high school students who are not keen to spend their college years in cooler and darker climes, there are increasing numbers of high quality college alternatives located in the Sunbelt. </p>

<p>The Sunbelt, a region of the US generally considered to stretch across the South and the Southwest, roughly includes the following states and areas-North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California. This area continues to take population from all other regions of the country, especially the Northeast and Midwest, and its economies have shown tremendous growth over the past few decades. Politically, this region has great influence as every elected President since 1964 has come from the Sunbelt areas. Many areas in the Sunbelt are vibrant and growing and many colleges in the Sunbelt are among the most improved institutions in the country over the past decade. Student quality is rapidly improving and geographic and ethnic diversity at the Sunbelt colleges is expanding quickly as well. </p>

<p>There are many fine Sunbelt educational alternatives to the top colleges and universities of the Northeast and the Midwest. So if you are a competitive student and looking for a strong academic environment, but you also want warm weather, you might want to consider a few of the following schools. They have already been enjoying spring for 1-2 months or even more.</p>

<p>*** I have listed the OOS percentages for the public schools. This list is far from exhaustive. There are many other very good schools in the Sunbelt that I have missed here. </p>

<p>NORTH CAROLINA
Duke
U North Carolina (18% OOS students)
Wake Forest
Davidson College
Elon</p>

<p>SOUTH CAROLINA
Clemson
Furman </p>

<p>GEORGIA
Emory
Georgia Tech (31% OOS)
U Georgia (12% OOS)</p>

<p>TENNESSEE
Vanderbilt
Rhodes College
Sewanee (Univ of the South)</p>

<p>FLORIDA
U Florida (7% OOS)
U Miami
Rollins</p>

<p>LOUISIANA
Tulane</p>

<p>TEXAS
Rice
U Texas (5% OOS)
Texas A&M (6% OOS)
Southern Methodist
Baylor</p>

<p>SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Caltech
UC Berkeley (9% OOS)
USC
Pomona
Claremont McKenna
Harvey Mudd
Scripps
Occidental
UC San Diego (2% OOS)
UC Davis (3% OOS)
UC Santa Barbara (5% OOS)</p>

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<p>Berkeley is in the fogbelt, bot the sunbelt.</p>

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<p>Clemson is a Public School - 35% OOS</p>

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<p>Both Berkeley and Davis are considered NorCal, but the weather beats most of the country for most of the year anyway (even at Cal). Helpful list :)</p>

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<p>colorado college – located in colorado springs where we get sunshine almost everyday! we do have a winter – but we love that for skiing (downhill, nordic and telemark).</p>

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<p>A couple Texas schools: Austin College and Trinity University.</p>

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<p>Can anyone comment on how the state universities in the Sunbelt compare to their non-Sunbelt peers?</p>

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<p>All I can think of is: Hot. Hot. Hot. Sweaty. Hot. Humid. </p>

<p>I know it seems weird to my warm-weather friends on the board, but I just can’t imagine a place with no real winter…Chicago’s summer is hot, but not too long.</p>

<p>My father is from Texas, and he got his MArch from Rice, and we went to see it a few years ago over spring break (last week of March), and it was already, like, 85 and humid there. Permenantly. Ewww.</p>

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<p>Edit: There was a post above mine that disappeared! Oh well, the rest of this is still good. </p>

<p>I know we’re all fascinated by my weather issues, but I’ll try to bring it back on topic…there are definitely good options all over the south at several levels of selectivity. It was WAY too big for me, but weather/location wise, I would have been all over UT-Austin for my in-state safety if I was from Texas. Such a beautiful place…mild weather, too!</p>

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<p>You should include Virginia:</p>

<p>William & Mary
Washington & Lee
URichmond
UVirginia</p>

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<p>swish14,
Virginia is definitely full of great schools. All of those you list are terrific places. But I doubt that even Virginians would place it in the Sunbelt and frankly, I hesitate to even include North Carolina in the Sunbelt. </p>

<p>But your thought is a good one and supports an idea that I am trying to promote, namely that there are plenty of good educational alternatives outside of the Northeast. In late April, while places like Duke and Vanderbilt and Rice and Tulane and USC were enjoying their second month of spring, students in the Midwest or upstate NY or most of New England were getting a foot or more of snow. </p>

<p>Some folks like a long, cold winter (perhaps advantagious above), but others like short winters and prefer being in short pants and t-shirts from March 1 (or earlier) on throughout the rest of the collegiate school year which typically ends in early May. </p>

<p>Over the last decade, the Sunbelt schools have raised their academic standards, attracted a much stronger and more diverse (ethnically and geographically) group of students (they are major beneficiaries of the Echo Boom having to explore alternatives beyond the traditional NE), and are beginning to get the national recognition and respect that they deserve. For high schoolers looking for schools to apply to next year, I strongly suggest that you consider some of the schools on the list above.</p>

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<p>Don’t forget ASU and U of A. They’re not called the Phoenix Suns for nuttin…</p>

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<p>Where’s the love for The College of Charleston?!?!?</p>

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<p>hawkette-</p>

<p>Have you ever been in Va/NC during the summer? its 90 there today! That why both areas are some of the fastest growing retirement areas in America. Call it the Sunbelt with seasons.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I know it can get hot in Virginia and North Carolina in the summer, but so can almost everywhere else so that’s why I hesitate to call them Sunbelt states. It gets pretty hot in Chicago in the summer too, but no one would ever confuse the Windy City with the Sunbelt. </p>

<p>That said, for college selection purposes, I’m less concerned about summer weather than how it is from Thanksgiving to Easter. If it’s cold and possilbly snowy during that time period, I don’t think you can call the area Sunbelt, so even a Duke or a Davidson or a Vanderbilt is probably a stretch (at least for me and my skinny tail). :slight_smile: Anyway, I think some high school students don’t fully appreciate the differences between the academic calendars for high school and college and how the early close for summer really cuts off the spring at many, many northeastern and midwestern colleges. So again, if you like being in shorts and sandals for more than a short time in the spring, you might want to consider some of the schools listed above.</p>

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<p>Its just snow, people…grow up and deal with it!</p>

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<p>Nah. As someone whose life has been split between the best and the worst weather of the country (preeetty literally)–and don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved each in its own way, usually against all odds–it’s definitely not “just snow.” It depends on the person, of course, but I think that this can be a much more important factor than is often admitted.</p>

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<p>That’s right. In a study conducted, a significant percentage of the sample size actually suffered from something called “seasonal depression.” According to this study, there are hormonal receptors in our body that detect sunlight and release endorphins. Therefore, in the winter time, a generally shorter, darker day, can cause depression. That’s why people who mope around all day, never leave the house, and just watch TV aren’t necessarily healthy. </p>

<p>It’s just something I read. Take it with a grain of salt, but personally I find that it has some element of truth behind it.</p>

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<p>I lived in Cleveland for 7 looong winters. It is not always just snow. Due to the lake effect, the cloud cover moves in towards the end of Fall and the sun is hardly seen until May. Even without the clouds, it is snow, ice, freezing rain, slippery streets, heavy coats, high heating costs, snow tires,</p>

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<p>…hey don’t forget the MLB April snow postponements.</p>