Now this brings up another question: what other movies can be connected with Rhodes College and Memphis, Tennessee?  Well, more recently you can see some of Memphis in Johnny Cash’s story Walk the Line.  You may remember the Grammy winning song from Hustle & Flow.  Fan of Tom Hanks?  Then you must remember the role of FedEx in Cast Away!  And who can forget The Client and The Firm?  Other titles include 21 Grams, Great Balls of Fire and Forty Shades of Blue.

So what do you think, any notable films I might have missed?  Now, these movies don’t even begin to include any notables related to the King, so maybe that will be a topic for a later post for the month of August around Elvis Week.  Leave a comment and let us know what other movies to include or your thoughts on the ones already listed!

- Timothy

I am looking forward to returning to my home state of Virginia to continue my work in college admissions.  If you are ever in Lexington, Virgina, then feel free to look me up and let me know what I can do to help with your college search process.  I am looking forward to being “back home” in some regards, but it will be very hard to leave such a special place.  Rest assured that the other counselors here in the admissions office will be posting throughout the summer, along with the current cohort of student bloggers, so we will be sure to keep you informed as to what’s happening around campus.

As always, all of us here at Rhodes hope that you will be able to visit the campus and possibly find the right match for your college choice right here in Memphis.  Best of luck with all of your endeavors and be sure to visit the Inside Rhodes Blog and the main Rhodes website often for updates on things on campus and throughout Memphis!  Oh yeah, and if you want the real inside scoop on the bluff city, check out Vance Lauderdales’ blog on local mysteries.  Be well and enjoy your summer!

- Robert

The Rhodes campus is always pretty quiet during the summer, as most of our students go abroad, do internships or return home during the summer months. We do our best during Discovery to provide time for prospective families to meet those current students who do remain on campus or in Memphis for the summer. We kicked off the program in the morning with summertime music as families checked in by the Lynx Lair. Our visitors mingled with current students, ate breakfast and toured the campus before the program “officially” began.

During the morning, parents and students separated to attend different sessions on Rhodes and the college search process. Students learned some great essay-writing tips from Caroline King, our resident Grammar Queen in the Admissions Office. They met with Robert Koch to get advice on how to really connect with colleges (i.e. what to do during a campus visit, what to expect from an interview, etc.). Parents received advice from Forrest Stuart, Director of Financial Aid, on how to pay for their child’s college education. Timothy Gibson had parents laughing as he explained the parent’s role in the college search process. We also had a panel of current students and faculty available for both parents and students to learn what life is really like at Rhodes.

The day ended just before it got really hot. Families had the option to meet with Athletics, take an afternoon tour or eat lunch on campus or at one of Memphis’ great restaurants.

Our Admissions Interns were a huge help the whole day! They helped give tours, worked the Check-In table, chatted with families and took pictures of the day. They created a Facebook group for students who have visited Rhodes called “Rhodes: Saw It, Loved It, I want More!.” That’s where they posted their pictures from Discovery, in case you want to check it out.

Everyone talks about how when a student decides to attend Rhodes, they immediately become part of the Rhodes family/community. Now, that may mean that you join a particular group on Facebook, but really what it means is that you know are a part of a group of people that are so willing to help out with anything imaginable! I have been so impressed with the support offered to current students and graduates from all over the world. Alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends of the college all are willing to lend a hand or offer advice or assistance with all kinds of projects and plans.

In fact, Bud had related a particularly telling story:

Charlie Cook (father of Becky ‘08 and David ‘12) provided Sean Evans ‘08 with an internship with the Cook Political Report in Washington, DC to support Sean’s interest in moving to DC. In addition to the valuable experiences Sean will have this summer, he will also be in a position to seek permanent employment through contact with other members of the Rhodes Community in DC.

- Robert

This also brings to mind all the other unique summer activities happening on campus in June, July and August.  We’ll be sure to talk about some of these later on in the summer, but as a preview, some of the things happening in the coming months include the Summer Writing Institute, St. Jude Summer Plus, Rhodes Institute for Regional Studies, Summer Service Fellows, and even some Teach For America training.  Teach For America started a chapter in Memphis a couple of years back and many Rhodes students become teachers in the program for two years after they graduate.  Each summer the new teachers come to Memphis before doing a larger training session in Atlanta, so we are happy to have everyone on campus!

While there are no summer classes in session at Rhodes, there always are at least some people around on campus.  If you are not able to make it for our large Discovery program on Friday the 13th, then we would welcome you to visit any other time to take a tour and meet with us in admissions.  Of course, there are always exciting things going on around the city of Memphis during the warmer months, so feel free to check out something unique on your visit!  Some of my favorite stuff happens around town over the summer (like Redbirds baseball, Orpheum movies and Live at the Garden concerts), so we’ll be sure to fill you in on the happenings in the coming months.

- Robert

I spent four nights about a month ago at Woodberry Forest, Richmond, DC and Baltimore to private school fairs.  While college fairs are normally the way admissions counselors get in touch with the greatest volume of students, we also spend time visiting high schools, hosting receptions, doing interviews and hosting things like coffee conversations.  During the day we try and take some time to relax, so stopping off a places with free wireless internet, like Panera Bread, is always a plus.

But I digress.  College fairs can either be very intimidating or very productive for students, parents and admissions counselors.  In my experience, the key to any college fair is preparation, so I’ve included a list below of some ideas to make your next college fair more productive.

College Fairs - You will have an opportunity to meet anywhere from 50 to 500 college representatives at different kinds of college fairs throughout the year.  We post our travel schedules online, but check out other resources like NACAC and Colleges That Change Lives.  Odds are your college counselor or guidance counselor will have some insights of when and where the important fairs take place in your area.

Research - College fairs are a great time to find out about all kinds of schools.  Before going to a college fair, try to take some time to get the basic information about the schools you are interested in, so you can ask more focused questions of the person behind the college fair table.  Finding out the basics like size, location, etc are relatively easy before the fact, so when you meet a representative at a college fair, you can ask more directed questions based on your interests.  While it is always good to have a question or two to ask of schools you know something about already, don’t be afraid to branch out an meet someone from a school you have never heard of before…you never know what you might find out!  Websites are great resources for the basics, so think about what makes you unique and how you want to connect with a particular school.

Cards - I know, those annoying inquiry cards on every college fair table are the bain of your existence.  Instead of spending time filling out a card at the table and not spending your time asking questions, consider just taking the card to fill out at home and drop it in the mail later.   If you simply MUST fill out the card right then and there, this is a great opportunity for parents to step in and help out by filling out the information while a student gets to ask his or her questions.  I have also seen in recent years students that bring stickers with their basic information to put directly on the card.  This may be a quick fix, but I would be sure and double-check that you filled out all the information that you could.  Oh, and don’t worry about bringing a resume or anything overly detailed to a college fair, we’ll get that kind of information when you choose to apply!

Cell Phones - Turn off your cell phone during a college fair; believe me, it is ok to disconnect every once in a while.  You are there to find out about different schools, so keep your focus on the admissions representatives in attendance.  Believe it or not, a student actually answered their phone while talking with a college representative a few tables down at one of the college fairs I attended last week…seriously bad!

Gum - Most people like to have fresh breath when meeting someone new, but make sure to get rid of your gum/mint/candy before going into a college fair.

Bags - Often times there is an organization at a college fair giving out free plastic bags, but why not plan ahead and bring a small bag for all the materials that you pick up during the fair?

Introductions - You only get one chance to make a good first impression, so why not start here?  Admissions counselors are always happy when a student walks up to our table, introduces themselves, offers a firm handshake and makes eye contact.  I always remember the students that are confident in themselves and do not just stare down at the table over our short interactions.

Questions NOT to Ask - One of the most common, misdirected question asked at college fairs by students is “What’s your best major/program?”  Simply put, admissions counselors are not going to say that one department is “better” than another, so why not ask a question like “What can you tell me about your __________ program?” or “What do students in __________ major do at your school?”

Clothing - Don’t worry about dressing up in a suit for a college fair.  We know high school students have busy schedules and might just be coming from some sort of practice or meeting.  Whatever you wear, be comfortable.  One girl at a college fair this past week was wearing this cool argyle sweater with stiched in skulls in place of the diamond pattern, very unique.  She wasn’t trying to make a statement, but she simply liked that sweater and was relaxed enough to ask some good questions.

Ultimately you are looking for the right fit for college and attending a fair is a good first step in checking out different schools.  Have fun going up to a table of a college you have never heard of before, because even though you may never apply to the school, the admissions officer may help you figure out what it is you are really looking for in your college experience.  There may be a table between you and an admissions counselor, but I guarantee you that we are people too and are here to help!

- Robert

P.S. - We are hosting a college search workshop on campus on Friday, June 17th called College Discovery.  It is a great opportunity to learn about Rhodes, but also to attend sessions about connecting with colleges and writing your college essay.  Maybe we’ll see you on campus soon!

Since so many incoming freshman will be experiencing similar things from reading Open Rhodes, to attending one of the four summer orientation sessions and getting a chance to relax and have fun before starting a new chapter here in Memphis, Tennessee, we hope that her insights will be helpful in understanding what all really goes on in that often-mysterious time between when you put down your deposit to attend Rhodes College and when you start classes on August 27th.  She will be making her first post soon, so be sure to tune in to see what she is up to this summer!

On a side note, while we are looking forward to welcoming the Class of 2012 on campus, it is always hard to see the seniors leave.  The admissions office was in a retreat at the end of last week and we were talking about parents of current Rhodes students getting involved and I came across a great reflection on one student’s experience of her time at Rhodes, so I thought it might be of interest.

- Robert

Hello again!  As you may know, May is a wonderful time in Memphis.  Every weekend in May, Memphis holds a festival on the banks of the Mississippi River.  This weekend, was the World Championship Barbeque Competition (a.k.a. BBQ Fest.) 

This year, 256 teams competed at BBQ Fest for the title of: Miss Piggie (Grown Men dressed a pigs), Best Booth, Best T-Shirt, Beef, Poultry, Hot Wings, Exotic Meats, Anything but Pork, Baked Beans, Tomato Sauce, Mustard Sauce, Vinegar Sauce, Shoulder, People’s Choice, Whole Hog, Ribs, or Patio Porkers. 

Each team consists of between ten and forty members who spend the entire weekend at Tom Lee Park tending to the grill (or sitting around enjoying the weather!)  Often times, teams will hire a pit master from a BBQ restaurant out of town to cook for them at BBQ Fest. 

I have found that in order to really enjoy BBQ Fest there is only one thing you need to do: befriend someone who is on a team.  Because of health codes, BBQ teams can’t serve their food to the public, so the only way (other than People’s Choice) to stuff your face full of ribs is to be in one of the teams’ tents.  The only way to get inside a tent is to know someone.  This is easier than you think.  Often times you will know someone who knows someone who knows someone which is usually good enough for some free food.  For the past two years, I have gone to the “Born in the Que S A” tent which has lots of Rhodes alumni who are members.  They don’t really seem to be in the competition for the glory but rather to have a good time for the weekend. 

You can read all of the Commercial Appeal’s coverage of BBQ Fest here.

Of course, whenever you visit Memphis, in the month of May or not, you will have to be sure to sample some Memphis BBQ.  Everyone in Memphis has a favorite restaurant and I’m sure there will be many who disagree with me, but I will say that without a doubt, The Rendezvous has the best ribs in Memphis.  Some people would vote for Corky’s, Interstate, Central BBQ, Bar-BQ Shop, Cozy Corner, or Neely’s, but I think the Rendezvous is the best. 

Here are some pictures (borrowed for the MIM website) of BBQ Fest:

  Tents in Tom Lee Park

  Miss Piggie Contest!

–Caroline

This year’s schedule is different than last year’s because we saw a need to separate summer orientation from the fall. This year you will have several opportunities to meet with current students in small groups to figure out a typical day at Rhodes and how to get involved on campus. This will also give you a chance to ask any questions you have about college. Day one will end with an evening social with some activities provided by the Rhodes Activity Board (RAB).

The main purpose of Open Rhodes is to help you develop a schedule for the fall in a three-tiered process. You will begin the process by meeting with the academic department of your choosing, followed by a meeting with an adviser from that department in small groups, then have a 1 on 1 meeting with your summer adviser (your fall adviser will be different). All of these meetings will accumulate into your schedule for the fall semester. And to clear up any rumors, if you come to the last session, you will have the same chance of getting into a class as a person in the first session. We have been working with the registrar to make sure this is a fair process. In the meantime, if you want to look at some of the classes offered click here for the course catalog.

Finally, the second day will end with multiple mini-sessions for you and your parents to meet with staff from the Health Center, Student Involvement, Residence Life, Religious and Multicultural Affairs, etc. We hope that this schedule will help you transition better in the fall.

On a final note, don’t forget to register for Open Rhodes. If you have any questions call me at the office at 901.843.3815, email me at schda1@rhodes, or ask questions on the Facebook group “Rhodes Class of 2012.” I can’t wait to meet you all this summer and good luck with the final days of your senior year.

-Dan