You may be from the Great White North or have lived in the south all your life, but there's no denying the recent student trend to flock to Dixieland for higher education. The south has a certain charm to it that draws people in. If you go to a southern school, you understand these reasons why it's the best place in the world.

1. The food

From the gumbo of New Orleans to the peaches of Georgia, the south knows how to make everything taste better. James Madison University and Virginia Tech have boasted the best the best dining halls in the country. Coca-cola was invented in Atlanta, you can't get better oysters than in Charleston, and we all loved fried chicken from Kentucky before it was fast food.

2. People are nicer

Below the Mason-Dixon line, people are raised to say "Yes ma'am" and "No sir" within 24 hours of being born. People make eye contact and say hello to you on the street. It seems people are less high function, and more relational. Politeness is all part of that classic southern hospitality.

3. The weather

Once January rolls around you start laughing at your friends pictures of snow and comment something braggy like "It's 72 here today!"

4. Football

It doesn't matter if your college has a football team or not, you adamantly care about one side or the other, be it Auburn or Alabama, Carolina or Clemson, UGA or Georgia Tech.

5. You can always find someone to go to church with.

Faith is a big part of southern culture, which has permeated into college life as well.

6. Classic fashion

Every other girl has something on her that's monogrammed. Men and women alike rock the jeans and cowboy boots.

7. Patriotism

You see red, white, and blue everywhere, (and the occasional confederate flag). People are proud to be American in the south and you probably know someone who claims to be a descendant of Robert E. Lee.