On today’s episode, Tom Campbell (CEG’s Community Manager) hosts the first installment of a new series called Regional Spotlights, which will bring on college counseling experts who have deep history or knowledge of the exciting college options from (and cultural nuances of) a particular geographic region.

We’re kicking off this series with Colleges in The South. Our Southern specialist and special guest today is CEG’s very own Renee Ferrerio.

Renee began her career more than 30 years ago, first as a public-school counselor and more recently as the Director of College Counseling at The O’Neal School. She is Co-Chair for North Carolina’s State and Area Initiatives Committee and might be considered by some as a counselor-fly in connoisseur, having participated in dozens of visit programs at various colleges and universities across the country.

On the episode you’ll hear Tom and Renee discuss:

The myths and realities of going to college in The South
Admissions trends at Southern flagship public universities
How to make studying in The South more affordable, including special scholarship opportunities
Hidden gems and unique, specialized programs that you may not have heard of before

Our hope is that, for students and families, spotlighting some of these “little things” about studying in the South will help you see that there may even be bigger things in store for you there than you originally anticipated… beyond BBQ.

Play-by-Play

0:24 - Welcome & Introductions
2:57 - Why are we doing regional spotlights?
3:56 - Why should geography be a factor in a student’s list-making process?
7:26 - What are some cultural realities students should keep in mind as they're putting together a college list with Southern schools?
15:57 - What are some misconceptions about Greek Life?
24:03 - What should students applying to public flagships know?
31:06 - College affordability in the South
39:50 - Studying STEM in the South
47:51 - Rapid-fire Southern Spotlights
- 48:34 - Schools in Florida
- 55:02 - Schools in Georgia
- 59:16 - Schools in South Carolina
- 1:02:45 - Schools in North Carolina
- 1:08:31 - Schools in Tennessee
- 1:10:39 - Schools in Texas
- 1:12:01 - Schools in Virginia
1:16:26 - Wrap Up & Closing Thoughts

Resources

Scholarships in the South:

410: Regional Spotlights: Attending College in The South w/ Renee Ferrerio

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

410: Regional Spotlights: Attending College in The South w/ Renee Ferrerio