Applications to colleges in the South have surged in recent years, fueled by students seeking alternatives to elite schools dominated by radical politics and political correctness, according to a report from Fortune.
The outlet spoke to parents and students and compiled data showing that applications to Southern schools have jumped 50 percent since 2019, compared to less than 30 percent for schools in New England and the Mid-Atlantic, which are traditionally viewed as elite.
A Wall Street Journal report also found that the number of northerners enrolling in Southern public schools has risen 84 percent over the past two decades, including a 30 percent increase from 2018 to 2022.
Students and parents are gravitating toward schools with civility, culture, and affordability in mind.
Trevor Traina, a San Francisco tech entrepreneur, told Fortune his son Robby avoided Ivy League schools altogether.
Despite having a 4.0 GPA and being a student athlete, he chose Wake Forest University in North Carolina over Princeton.
Traina said many students now see elite schools as “unfun, judgey and biased against white boys.”
He added that many of his son’s peers opted for Duke, Vanderbilt, and Tulane instead of Ivy League schools.
Other students and their families shared similar stories.
Is there a culture shift happening in high school students?
Ainsley Matteson, a University of Tennessee senior, described the sense of unity she found in Knoxville.
“If you’re wearing orange on game day, there’s this sense of belonging,” she told the outlet.
A high schooler named Cameron McManus, who lives in suburban Washington, D.C., is currently looking at where to head next year.
He said he is drawn to UNC Chapel Hill, Clemson, or the University of South Carolina.
Vanderbilt University has also become a major draw.
The school’s Chancellor Daniel Diermeier told Fortune that applications are surging from California and the Northeast.
Affordability is also a factor for many families when choosing a school.
Danielle Davis said she chose the University of Florida over the University of Virginia, which is in her home state.
More than one person told Fortune that traditionally elitist schools are being viewed by young Americans as places where they cannot be themselves, complete their studies, and balance a social life.
As one student put it, “I don’t want to go to college and focus only on studying. I want to have fun. That’s what Southern schools are all about.”
As for Traina, Fortune reported his son decided to “avoid a culture of radical politics and stifling political correctness” when he chose Wake Forest over his alma mater, Princeton.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
