<p>Son wants to be a doctor, interested in small-to-medium college, private, likely to stay in the south/southeast/perhaps lower midwest. Heard good things about Rhodes. Any info about attending Rhodes and then getting into med school would be appreciated. Also, I've visited Memphis couple of times -- know it has a few sketchy areas but also some pretty nice sections -- not entirely sure where the campus fits in, so any info on that issue would also be appreciated.</p>
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<p>@curmudgeon 's daughter went to Rhodes and is now in med school. You might want to PM him your questions.</p>
<p>that said, a school doesn’t “get a student into med school”. That is up to the student to do so with top grades, strong MCAT, etc. </p>
<p>personally, I like a good deal about Rhodes. It does have some Greek life that could get in the way of med school, but so many other things can get in the way of med school that it’s hardly worth worrying about a part of the school in which your D may not partake. It seems to have a social life outside the frats, but she should check into how much of a life. They offer some merit; that’s one thing about it that got my attention. You can run the net price calculators on the financial aid page and get an idea of what Rhodes might cost you. But in fact it doesn’t matter to the MED SCHOOLS where your D goes. All that matters to them is her high GPA, which she can earn anywhere. That’s what mom2 was saying. So don’t break the bank for an education she can get at almost any 4 yr college.</p>
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Rhodes is in Midtown, the best part of Memphis. It’s right across the street from the zoo, art museum, and Overton Park. You can hear the animals from campus sometimes.</p>
<p>The immediate area of the college is a bit sleepy and residential, however, so to get to the best shopping and eating places in Midtown like Cooper-Young, it’s really helpful to have a car or a friend with one. Public transit in Memphis is rapidly improving but still pretty hit-or-miss.</p>
<p>North of campus is pretty sketchy. Rhodes students don’t have any reason to head that way. </p>
<p>The campus itself is fully fenced and carefully monitored with gates; it’s a miniature fortress. I think the security precautions are going a bit overboard, but you certainly feel extremely safe both on campus and in the surrounding area. </p>
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Greek life at Rhodes is non-residential and low-key, though they do have little cottages and sometimes host parties. I know of some students who rushed as late as senior year and others who didn’t rush at all. I don’t think Greek life, at Rhodes at least, should be a concern for a pre-med.</p>
<p>Depending on the student and his/her mood, a Friday night could consist of anything from partying to playing video games with friends to seeing a play in Memphis – there’s lots of social options available. </p>
<p>The sciences are strong at Rhodes. Biochemistry in particular is popular. The labs are adequate if not amazing, and the students get really involved in some pretty interesting research. I haven’t checked in the last couple of years, but biology and biochemistry majors had pretty good outcomes when I was last at Rhodes. (They keep track of the outcomes on a poster in the science building.) </p>
<p>Pre-med students often volunteer at St. Jude, and the zoo has some very interesting internship opportunities for life science students (e.g. embryonic development studies).</p>
<p>A friend’s child went to Rhodes because most affordable option, I assumed merit money was available, and student had a an embarrassment of riches when it came to med school admissions. Student had great grades and scores, but also research opportunities and recs, and had done all the right things for med school acceptance. Rhodes certainly was a superb place for them. </p>
<p>Student enjoyed Rhodes and Memphis, we heard that the administration is very proactive when it comes to student safety, almost ridiculously so, but it makes the students and families feel more comfortable. Student often went to hear music in town, and would simply take cab back to campus. </p>
<p>S is just starting pre-med at Rhodes. In addition to the above opportunities, I’ve also been impressed with their extensive Health Professions advising program, which is currently citing a nearly 90% acceptance into med school. The students we spoke on our visits invariably said that their pre-med classes were manageable and didn’t feel like “weed out” classes, as they might at some schools, and that the faculty was very overwhelmingly supportive and available to help. </p>
<p>The school seems very safe, as did the parts of Memphis we visited, and while rush does seem to take some time away from studies, hopefully the (non-residential) Greek life won’t after this initial flurry of activities are done.</p>
<p>@julesgr @warblersrule My D is considering Rhodes for biology/premed. I’ve heard the St. Judes research opportunity is very competitive. Any idea what percentage of Rhodes students that apply for this program make it into the program? One more question if may. I know the med school admission rate for Rhodes is very impressive. Do you know the percentage of freshman declared premed majors actually apply to med school come senior year… lots of weeding out happening by that time? Thanks!</p>
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Do you know the percentage of freshman declared premed majors actually apply to med school come senior year… lots of weeding out happening by that time? Thanks!</p>
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<p>I don’t know what Rhodes’ numbers are, but I doubt that they are any different than the other univs across the country…which is why “acceptance rates” can be meaningless to prospective students. My kids’ undergrad has a 85% acceptance rate and of course there is weeding! Every school weeds…either intentionally or unintentionally. There is no way around that. </p>
<p>The fact that some students didn’t feel that the premed classes are “weed out” shouldn’t make one think that they aren’t. I highly doubt that the school is handing out a bunch of A’s in those classes, and even if they have helpful profs, many premeds are in over their heads and will get weeded out. The school can’t have a 90% acceptance rate without weeding…that is just common sense. Plus, many students end up choosing another career because they’ve changed their minds.</p>
<p>At many/most univs in this country, only about 25% of the freshman premeds every apply to med school. So, if there were 400 premed freshman, then only about 100 end up applying to med school. </p>
<p>If you visit the premed forums here on CC (or on other sites), you will see the same numbers over and over again. Schools can’t control which freshmen come in with ideas of going to med school. And, so many “A students” have been told by others that “you should become a doctor,” so they enter college as premeds. Then reality hits.</p>
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While they do give that number, they do note it is for well-qualified students. Really any school could say the same thing.
From the very informative FAQ at <a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/hpa/15890.asp”>http://www.rhodes.edu/hpa/15890.asp</a> They also have a nice writeup in the PreMed Essentials link on the left side of that page.</p>
<p>It does sound like a great program for the kid looking for a smaller college. I am especially impressed that they don’t stop kids from applying via wielding the committee letter, the way some schools do (looking at you, Holy Cross).</p>
<p>@mikemac Thanks for the great information and the link. Much appreciated.</p>
<p>Other than Holy Cross, what other top schools even have a committee? When looking with D last year for her pre-med school, we found most top schools were willing to work with anyone, though as mentioned above, there is certainly plenty of self-weeding and/or strongly suggestions you go in another direction.</p>
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Plenty do, the real question is do they summarize the information requested for any med school applicant that asks or do they do their own “in-house” screening? The latter have high admit rates, because they in effect block anyone they think might drag down their average from applying.
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<p>Thanks. Georgetown I’d put in the top school category, VCU is the sort that I figured it would be common at, your Big State U.</p>