<p>Two questions for the CC pep squad:</p>
<li><p>Let’s stereotype. How would an Asian socialist atheist girl fit in at Rhodes? I’m not preppy or hippie, I look/dress pretty normal, but just wait until I open my mouth. I know I will be in the minority at Rhodes–e.g. I visited and loved Oberlin–but just how much of a minority? In particular, I will not hide my faith or lack thereof. If someone asks me what church I go to, I’ll answer “None, I’m atheist,” and if the questioner is a friend, I’m liable to discuss the horrendous situation wrt church/state separation in the U.S. I don’t own any satiric anti-religion tees yet, but I’m certainly not opposed to wearing one. You get the idea.</p></li>
<li><p>What percentage of students at Rhodes rush? I understand it’s only allowed after freshman year? (Give me a 4-year percentage and I’ll recalculate it myself to exclude frosh.) I’ve never even traveled to the South, nor do I know very much about Greek organizations in general other than the stereotypes. I do not plan to drink in college or thereafter, as I’ve never seen the point or purpose in polluting my body in order to make a fool out of myself.</p></li>
<li><p>Okay, I lied. Three questions. How “Western”/traditional is the 3-course Search hum sequence? As a student, can I choose to make it less Western and more comparative/global? I am not particularly interested in the Judeo-Christian tradition–more into things like the paradoxical majority/minority situation of Chinese Singaporeans in the context of global racism.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>But after all that, I have heard a TON of positive things about Rhodes here on CC. And the merit aid program is one of the best I’ve seen anywhere.</p>
<h1>1: There’s nothing inherent about being an Asian socialist atheist girl that would prevent you from fitting in at Rhodes. We’re not Reed, so you won’t find a lot of other asian socialist atheists, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have a good time getting along with the non-asian socialist atheists. With respect to your ethnicity, there are about 75 Asian-American students at Rhodes, and probably another 30 Asian international students, mostly from China. Based on freshman and senior surveys, Rhodes students are very evenly distributed across the political spectrum, with the plurality self-identifying as moderates, though there are strong contingents of students self-identifying as “left” and “right”. Also on the freshman survey, about 20% of students answer “None” when asked their current religious preference. I suspect that lumps atheists, agnostics, and ambivalents into the same category, though.</h1>
<h1>2: We ask graduating students whether or not they rushed at any time during college, and 70% of those graduating did. The number of first year students rushing is probably closer to 55 or 60%. Most students go through rush in the fall of their first year, though there are always a few sophomores and juniors who go through the process as well. The stereotypes of Greek organizations don’t hold very well at Rhodes, though you’ll see that for yourself when you get here. One of the purposes of rush is to introduce you to the Greek system here so you can decide whether it’s worth your while or not. FWIW, I think you can comfortably be a non-drinker in a sorority here.</h1>
<h1>3: You can decide for yourself whether you’d be able to mold the Search program to your liking. I will say that Search is short for the Search for Values in the light of <em>Western</em> History and Religion. That said, go to <a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/images/content/College_Catalogue/Catalogue-2008-09.pdf[/url]”>http://www.rhodes.edu/images/content/College_Catalogue/Catalogue-2008-09.pdf</a> to view the College Catalog. The course descriptions indicate what degree requirements each course fulfills, and you’re looking for F1 courses. Religious Studies has a couple that are outside the Judeo-Christian context. There are also F1 courses in Philosophy, Greek & Roman Studies, History, and probably elsewhere. In situations where you have something very specific you’d like to study, you might be able to get a professor to sponsor a directed inquiry and get it approved for Search credit. I’d talk to Prof. Copper ([Rhodes</a> College | Faculty & Staff](<a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/academics/5645_5649.asp]Rhodes”>http://www.rhodes.edu/academics/5645_5649.asp)) when you get here about a DI on Chinese Singaporeans. Prof. Dagger (<a href=“mailto:daggerr@rhodes.edu”>daggerr@rhodes.edu</a>) is the chair of Search; I wouldn’t hesitate to contact him directly about Search-specific questions.</h1>
<p>Thanks for the detailed information! I am not particularly devoted to Chinese Singaporeans–just named it off the top of my head as a recent topic of interest.</p>
<p>Can anyone speak more specifically about the Greek presence at Rhodes?</p>
<p>K, the Greek numbers look astoundingly large. The reality on the ground? Not so much. My previously anti-sorority D rushed and enjoys her “sisters” a great deal. Thing is, her best friends and roomies are either not members of her sorority or not members of the Greek system at all. Her soph year she roomed with an un-repentant card-carrying GDI and the President of a rival sorority. Not having residential houses, officially or un-officially, does a lot to change the flavor of Rhodes Greek system from other more exclusive arrangements. </p>
<p>As far as religion, Rhodes kids believe in community service. It is a common thread that binds. As far as politics you’ll find there is a kid beating every conceivable drum. While not Wesleyan, Bard, Reed, or even Hendrix, it is decidedly not a bastion of conservativism.</p>
<p>On the Rhodes website , spend some time looking at the Faces of Rhodes and the Faces of Rhodes archive. In CC vernacular, I’m sure you’ll find a few likely members of your “tribe”.</p>
<p>As far as the Search course, it was (as taught by Byrne) a mind-blowing experience for my hillbilly kid. She loved it.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m terrified of Rhodes’ student body. (I’m atheist and socialist too.)</p>
<p>I might go to Hendrix instead just for that fact.</p>
<p>Thanks for chiming in, curm. The Greek numbers do look astoundingly, and frighteningly, high. Unfortunately I won’t be able to visit pre-application, so I need to decide through research whether Rhodes is worth the application cost and effort (free online app, but I still need to pay for 2 transcripts).</p>
<p>Hendrix has jumped on and off my consideration list, but I am very concerned that half the student body comes from Arkansas. Rhodes’s relatively national draw is a plus. See this link: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/5172267-post158.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/5172267-post158.html</a></p>
<p>Also, my CTCL book from 2000 (admittedly almost a decade ago) calls Rhodes’s student body “middle-of-the-road conservative.” Has this changed significantly since? Do conservatives outnumber liberals, when one disregards the moderate middle?</p>
<p>Hmm. I not only remember that poster in the link, I believe I counseled her to consider Hendrix. Please p.m. splashmom (if she’s still around) for another opinion. The Hendrix I saw on visits was old Volvos with canoe racks, more granola than edgy. </p>
<p>I went to a conservative religiously affiliated private college as a proud 10%'er (long-haired, hard partying, agnostic, very liberal ). I had a ball, didn’t lack for friends, found a couple or three severely mis-guided taste-challenged women to date, argued loudly with the YAF’s, loved most of my prof’s…but that scenario would not have worked for my D (who is more conservative than I but less conservative than the typical student at my UG). </p>
<p>Be true to yourself, keilexandra. Know your own mind. Own this process. You are going about this the right way. I’m proud of you. </p>
<p>That being said, keep doing what you are doing. You will have great choices. I feel it. ;)</p>
<p>^ Thanks!</p>
<p>I do think that I could be happy at a non-liberal school, but I might also wonder what it’d be like to live for four years in that kind of environment. A place like Oberlin–passionately liberal/quirky, in the specific social-justice sense that I love–is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Rhodes’s emphasis on community service is also a plus, although it’s not quite equivalent to social justice.</p>
<p>If anything, liberals slightly outnumber conservatives among the students. Among entering first year students in 2008, you’re looking at something like 34% liberal or far left versus 25% conservative or far right (the remainder “middle-of-the-road”).</p>
<p>You might also be interested to learn a little more about the Kinney program. There are a number of specific advocacy areas with a student leader coordinating deep involvement for volunteers in each area. Several advocacy areas revolve around social justice issues. See [Rhodes</a> College | Kinney Program](<a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/campuslife/1365.asp]Rhodes”>http://www.rhodes.edu/campuslife/1365.asp). </p>
<p>You might also be a good candidate for the Bonner Scholars program. “The Bonner Scholarship is for entering students who have a passion for service and social justice, and who require financial assistance in order to attend Rhodes.” See [Rhodes</a> College | Bonner Scholars](<a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/1695.asp]Rhodes”>http://www.rhodes.edu/1695.asp).</p>
<p>Also, if you can’t make it to campus in person, there’s a virtual tour online at [Tour</a> Rhodes Your Way](<a href=“http://connect.rhodes.edu/tour/]Tour”>http://connect.rhodes.edu/tour/).</p>
<p>Thanks for the information! I’ll check out the Kinney program. I don’t qualify financially for Bonners–I do have significant need, but not anywhere near the EFC=7.5k cutoff.</p>
<p>I am a soon-to-be graduated senior at Rhodes and over my four years here I have met so many different types of people with many different beliefs. Meeting people that have a vastly different world view than I do is what makes the experience at Rhodes so meaningful and engaging, at least for me. I have many friends who are devout Christians and Catholics, practicing Muslims, Jewish and atheist–and its no surprise to me that my friends of diverse religious beliefs get along together very well and are interested in sharing their views. The diversity of opinion, politically, religiously, and otherwise adds so much to the Rhodes community, and in my experiences, all students have been very accepting and friendly towards those that differ from them. </p>
<p>As for the Greek life at Rhodes, many people do join but it is certainly not a requirement. And you can rush no matter what year you are at Rhodes, which is an added benefit if your not sure Greek life is the right choice for you. I have been an active member in my sorority since freshman year and have really enjoyed the experience, but spend lots of time with my friends in other sororities as well as those that are not involved in any greek organization. </p>
<p>In terms of the Search course, there are several different tracks that you can choose to take after you complete your introductory semester. I had an amazing professor for my search class (Prof. Gray) who was so knowledgeable about the history of civilization and its progress. Although there is a focus on western history/philosophy, the search course does cover non-western thought as well–and the professors for search are so great at customizing the course to fit the needs and academic interests of their individual students that you should have no trouble finding topics that spark your interest. Good luck!
KO</p>