One large difference is the South tends to be more religious. However, Ohio might be closer to the South than it is to New York and Massachusetts in that regard.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/02/29/how-religious-is-your-state/
As a “Yankee” who moved south 24 yrs ago (who is married to a liberal gal from northern CA) who has sent his S to a southern school in NC, I would address the issue as follows:
- The students - are from everywhere. Major home states of incoming freshmen are: NC, Florida, NY, NJ, MA, GA, TX, CA, IL, TN, MD, VA (pretty evenly dispersed I might add). Point being, school is in NC and son's hall mates and best friends are from CA, IL, RI, VA, NC, NJ, MA. Doesn't feel stereotypical southern to him .
- The staff - Professors are from everywhere so that's a non issue. The school staff (Fin aid, admin, etc )are locals and are extremely supportive, friendly, responsive , polite. Every interaction has been positive and I leave the experience thinking , wow these people have their act together AND are so easy to deal with. (I like the southern accent but that's a personal taste thing)
- Community - Southern. Campus is a bubble. Then there's the town / city. Our experience (4 visits- info session / tour, admitted day, move in day, family weekend) has been great. Nice people. Southern charm (Is it sincere? I don't know and I don't really care. They're just nice and helpful). Definitely a slower pace than the northeast. I'm considered inpatient by many. Actually, I'm just used to efficiency. The pace takes some getting used to. Less religious diversity but I've been used to that for a long time. See tons of churches but nothing else. Probably less of an issue for kids than for adults.
I’m still waiting for someone to point to exactly where the southern bashing is happening on this thread, as has been requested multiple times to no avail.
@TooOld4School I am well aware of the political differences between the two regions. I don’t think this conversation is productive or going anywhere, but wanted to highlight that if you don’t like “south bashing”, you may want to look at your own comment closer.
And again, please do your research on your claims.
I am delighted no one mentioned grits yet!!!
“Funny how so many Californians and NE people move south for better jobs, weather, schools, homes and lower taxes.”
They don’t move to Alabama or Mississippi or any of the deep southern states, they go to NC and Texas, maybe Georgia (Atlanta) and they don’t go for better weather or better jobs or better schools, they go because the housing has become unaffordable.
Much of the South is far more diverse than the more homogenous states of Mass., or CT., for example. That may take some getting used to for kids from there.
I suppose another big difference is that, given the migration patterns, most of the kids in the South have lived in other places, as have their parents. Less likely to have the same generations who live in one area, than , say NJ.
@roycroftmom, Not sure where you’re getting this from. Alabama is 66% white, Connecticut is 67% white. The Southern states do have higher percentages of black residents than Connecticut or Massachusetts, but they have lower percentages of Hispanic and Asian residents.
Northern New England (ME, NH, VT) does have less diversity, with a white population of over 90%, but then so does West Virginia.
“homogenous states of Mass., or CT., for example”
LOL on this statement!
If you want less “southern”, head over to FSU, Florida, or Miami. Tons of kids from all over the place with different backgrounds. As a northerner I enjoyed my time there.
@PengsPhils , what do gun control laws enacted in the 19th century have to do with the situation today? Gun control laws make law abiding citizens subject to the whims of criminals. Poor, rural and middle class people don’t have their own security, nor is there a cop on every corner like in NYC. Since the average black person is poorer, blacks are disproportionately affected by those laws.
Of course the south was more racist 50 or 100 or 150 years ago. That is not the case now. Where is the largest population of middle and upper income blacks? It’s not in NYC or the NE. It’s in Atlanta. The New Republic is not exactly a neutral publication, try to consume more balanced media.
@TooOld4School Again, there are lots of flaws in your argument. You quite literally changed your argument about gun control between your last two posts. As to my source, I linked to one article of many I could have linked to. There are no unbiased sources as I’m sure you know - balance is achieved through hearing from many sources. Your arguments frankly don’t merit a research paper as a response. This is not the place to have this needless debate and try to start a political flame war here as you keep trying to do. Let’s focus on the OP’s question and not the imaginary south bashing you have yet to point to.
What is “Less Southern” @RightCoaster ??
Lay it all out for me please.
@veruca
“What is “Less Southern” @RightCoaster ??
Lay it all out for me please.”
I think he is just saying that if you’re interested in attending a southern school, but nervous about being the odd kid out, then consider choosing a southern school with more geographic diversity in the student population.
That way you won’t be the only student who thinks barbecue comes with barbecue sauce. Or who doesn’t know that you are supposed to dress up for a tailgater. 
I wish on this board we would start talking about specific schools. Not cultures. Specifically generalizations that aren’t true for an entire population. Actually I don’t think we do talk about other cultures very often. Just the south… hmm
Since the OP is from Ohio, and mentioned University of Alabama and University of Mississippi in the subject, perhaps a comparison of those schools and some in Ohio may be most relevant.
As a born abroad, NYC-raised kid who spent every summer in the deep south, with southern parentage on both sides going back many generations, I have to say I think this thread is funny.
Almost all the southern people I know are socially liberal and religious - SJWs - in belief and action.
“The South” is not filled with racist, confederate flag wavers, though they do get a lot of attention.
@PengsPhils , my point is totally consistent. I’m sorry you don’t see that, and if you lived anywhere but the west or NE you’d probably understand the difference in attitude. In any case, it’s unlikely that there will be much of a culture shock on college campuses for a young person, especially at the flagship universities of the south. From that perspective:
Politics are more neutral instead of left
Sports are a lot more important. A lot of social life is sports related, especially at the SEC and ACC schools.
Greek life is more prevalent at many southern universities
Classes are pretty much the same. So are students.
The weather is a lot warmer , which mean there are more outdoor activities (apart from snow related ones) and it is easier to stay in shape if you like to do so outside. The sports facilities for students, on average, are a bit nicer.
More land = larger campuses, so logistics of daily life are different
Housing is a lot cheaper generally. Food is slightly less.
BBQ & giant bugs.
Transport can be inconvenient/expensive without a car, unless located in a major city.
This thread is getting absurd. Georgia, Texas, and NC were all part of the Confederacy. Georgia was at the heart of the Cotton Belt and is and was part of the deep south by any reasonable definition. I think we’re entering No True Scotsman territory.
The same rural/urban city social/political patterns that exist in the north and west and midwest exist in the south.
Some rural southerners look at Atlanta with disdain and some Atlanta residents look on the rural areas with disdain.