Of course there are "prestigious" schools everywhere. In your case, the schools where you may have been encouraged to go to, happen to have stronger Greek systems. The schools that many kids in my area/school/system were encouraged (pushed) to go to happen to have weaker Greek systems.
There is also the difference in the sizes of the campuses. In the northeast, the on-campus populations are much smaller compared to some of the "regional" schools in the midwest and south.
Regarding Greek culture - Things like holding rush before school even begins (where girls might leave school before classes start because she didn't get her choice chapter), being a legacy and being groomed to a join particular GLO and/or GLO at a particular campus, having Greeks dominate high-profile student leadership positions ...these things are largely unheard of up here. The focus is mostly on "how strong" your major program is.
There are cultural differences between a school that is known for its academics vs. a school known for being a big Greek school. When students are applying to schools, more importance is put on the strength of their academic program than the strength of the Greek system. In some cases, it may be both, but as generalizations go, the difference is pretty evident, at least at first glance.
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Originally Posted by bowsandtoes
I'm not sure I agree with this. I also went to a rigorous private school in Texas and aside from the Ivys, there was just as much 'prestige' in going to Texas as there was for many of the NESCAC schools or other small school throughout the South. Given, most of the people who do go to Texas from there are in the honors program, but it is still looked favorably upon.
In a state where the state university does not have a very good reputation, I could see that happening. But there are several good state schools throughout the South that have very solid academics as well (UVA, Chapel Hill, Texas, just to name a few) as well as smaller liberal arts schools.
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