<p>My D was accepted to Rhodes about one year ago. I recall the decision making angst and all the last minute scurrying for one more overnight to her top choices. Here is a synopsis of her experiences one year later:</p>
<p>My D chose Rhodes and after one year she (and her father and I) could not be happier with that decision. The academic classroom experience has exceeded our expectations - she has found the content and instructor/professor caliber to be top notch. Extensive interactive classroom experience. Everyone knows your name - in a good way. This is one aspect that actually was a bit off-putting for my daughter having come from a large New Jersey HS where it was easy for her to remain anonymous and blend into the background. The small campus and prospect of one on one classroom interaction was a bit daunting. The first week of class was a shock - small classes and the professor knows your name on day one and everyone participates - every class. She loves it and can she that she really is learning the material at a level unknown before.</p>
<p>The quality and caliber of her classmates has also exceeded our expectations - an outstanding group of young men and women who study hard and play hard. It is what college should be.</p>
<p>D (Bio major) also really enjoys Memphis and frequently heads off campus with friends for the dining and entertainment offered. She feels totally safe on campus and traveling with friends nearby. She has never worked this hard academically before - nor has she every enjoyed it this much. </p>
<p>Just my two cents for all you decision makers</p>
<p>thanks for the info- we went to Open House back in October- D is a Junior and she loved it- we have looked at a few others but i think Rhodes is her Fav so far- we just aren’t sure if she can get in or not- Glad to hear about the great experience-I have not heard one bad thing ever about Rhodes!!</p>
<p>Riki, Thanks for your post. My D is considering Rhodes and we have been favorably impressed with the academics, both in terms of the professors and in terms of the top students having a peer group of very smart fellow students. I have to say that I have heard some bad (at least concerning to a parent) things about the administration, in particular the housing office. From what I have learned so far, there are a few dorms that are mostly freshman (one for women and one for men, I think) and the freshmen who do not fit in these dorms are scattered around campus, sometimes in converted basement kitchens or storage rooms. The fraternities and sororities have houses but students do not live in them, so what seems to happen is that a sorority will “claim” a certain hall, which can be alienating for the one or two rooms of freshmen who also end up on those halls. Substance-free housing is scattered across campus, with one or two rooms on a floor being substance-free and the rest not. Why don’t they at least put all of these rooms together?</p>
<p>These are just my impressions as we consider D’s options. Right now Rhodes is a top contender but the housing environemnt makes me nervous.</p>
<p>From what I know from my daughter and my visits to campus there are a few dorms mostly/all for freshman most with entire floors just for freshman. D does know of a few freshman who are not on freshman only floors - but there are always 3 or 4 freshman rooms close by on the floor where they live. No dorms are single sex this year, some dorms are single sex by floor, some floors are mixed but no mixed bathrooms. Most mixed floors have “suite” arrangements with two double rooms that share a bathroom that connects the two rooms. She knows of no one (freshman or otherwise) that has been housed in a converted basement, kitchen, storage room or study lounge (like my alma mater Rutgers use to do each year waiting for the freshman dropouts).</p>
<p>You are correct that Frats and Sororities do not live in their houses - and they, like any group of friends, try to get housing (Sophomore and up years) together based on their housing lottery number. And the substance-free rooms are scattered throughout a floor couldn’t tell you why, thought it was strange myself, but in the common suite arrangement I mentioned above both rooms would be substance-free.</p>
<p>Thanks for your post, rikitiki! It’s always gratifying to hear of good experiences like that. </p>
<p>@Amesie - You might encourage your D to call the residence life office and see if she can get some information directly from the source. That would not only give her some information, but just talking to the folks over there will give her a feel for the staff. The contact info is at [Rhodes</a> College | Staff & Resident Assistants](<a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/campuslife/1482.asp]Rhodes”>http://www.rhodes.edu/campuslife/1482.asp). For what it’s worth, a couple of my favorite people at Rhodes are in ResLife.</p>
<p>The only dorm I can think that has any resemblance to a “converted basement kitchen or storage rooms” would be Neely ([Rhodes</a> College | Neely Hall](<a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/campuslife/945.asp]Rhodes”>http://www.rhodes.edu/campuslife/945.asp)). It’s four upper-class rooms in the refectory above a formal dining room in what used to be the presidential residence.</p>
<p>We will be stopping by the residence life office when D returns for a visit later this month. I have heard (a “know someone who knows someone” situation, but the floor plans on the website seem to confirm) that the basement of Trezevent houses students in a converted kitchen/storage room.</p>
<p>Interesting…I had no idea those two rooms were there in Trezevant! I bet it was an old ADRL apartment that they split or something like that. It definitely wouldn’t have been a kitchen. If you find out the story behind those two rooms, I’d love to hear it.</p>