Conference Clash: Staffers debate if SEC schools are worth the craze

For years, SEC Southeastern Conference schools have been promoted as better than other colleges and universities on social media, but after visiting one I realized they're simply overrated.

Yes, I had fun visiting the University of Mississippi, but I was also overwhelmed for over half of the trip. A lot of the SEC’s reputation comes from its crazy football games, huge stadiums, loud crowds and lots of people. Along with crazy school spirit and largely populated schools being very competitive and rowdy. While this may sound exciting, it's definitely not for everyone. Being that rowdy for a full football game gets very tiring, and when I sat down, I just felt judged. 

The SEC is seen as the most “fun” conference on social media, which might be true, but when choosing a college it feels like SEC schools are pushed so aggressively at you, like you have to go to one. People don’t take into account that not everyone wants the huge game days that are always jam-packed. 

Don't get me wrong, the Ole Miss campus was beautiful, along with the grand sorority houses. On the game day, it felt like the entire world flew in for the game. Private jets at the airport dropping off families and neighborhoods of gigantic white houses filled with visiting families and friends. Traffic was backed up for hours, and don't even get me started on parking.This just doesn’t work for me, leaving two hours before needing to be there just to make sure you make it due to traffic. A mess. And yes, some people live for this but I just don’t think I am one of those people.  

I'm not saying all SEC schools are like this, but  Ole Miss is the blueprint for most, a big party school with very competitive fans. Instead, I'd prefer going to a gameday that's less stressful and just calmer.  And no, I'm not shaming anyone for going to one, I just don’t think being in the hot south, outside, for hours on a gameday is for me. 

And I don’t even know where to begin on trying to find an outfit. I know, first-world problems, but seriously, when everyone is dressed in $1000 outfits it’s hard not to compare. 

Yes, SEC schools can be fun, but no, I don’t think they should be preached as the peak of colleges.

“Where do you want to go to college?”

This is a question I still don’t know the answer to.

However, while my peers research hundreds of colleges and universities, my options have already been narrowed to just 16 schools. 

Attending an SEC school has always been a goal of mine. Ever since going to the University of Oklahoma football games with my dad for weekend trips, or seeing my cousins fall in love with the University of Arkansas from the day they arrived until they graduated, I’ve been planning my future at an SEC school since I was 10 years old. 

With traditions dating back to 1933, according to SEC Sports, all 16 schools are rooted in Greek life, robust sporting programs and strong school spirit. For me, that’s what I’m looking for in a college. 

I anticipate game days filled with matching outfits, tailgating and waiting to watch the heated game against a rival school.

I want to go through sorority rush, grinding through a week of meetings with hundreds of new girls from across the country. 

And what I really want is for people to stop judging me for things I’m looking for in a school, especially without even giving the SEC schools a chance of their own.

Just because you see a friend of a friend on Instagram, doing seemingly nothing but partying at an SEC school, doesn't mean you can make the same judgment for everyone wanting to attend one. 

And surprise, surprise, similar to many other campuses across the U.S., there will be preconceived notions about who and what goes on in these universities. 

But as someone who grew up around the various SEC schools' student life, I can confidently say that not only do people work hard to attend their classes and achieve good grades, but they also make connections that can lead to career and friendship opportunities. 

So yes, the constant eye-rolls I get at the mere mention of an SEC school are annoying, because I know these campuses can lead to a lifetime of success.