<p>I am a senior in Kansas trying to pick out a college. My friend suggested the University of Memphis. However, after a little research I became concerned about its reputation and academic strength. I am hoping to go to med school so I want to go to an undergraduate school that will open doors for me. </p>
<p>bio:
National merit semi-finalist
ACT 34
GPA 3.9, 4.4
Many activates</p>
<p>I have also applied to University of Kansas, University of Michigan, and Washington University in St. Louis. I do not think I will be able to afford Michigan or Washington though. </p>
<p>Can anyone out there tell me anything about Memphis?</p>
<p>The University of Memphis is primarily a commuter school. There are some students from Mississippi and Arkansas, but it does not attract students nationally. You are fortunate to have U. of Kansas as an option ....there are many students who leave Memphis to attend the Univ. of Kansas. Although I know many fine professors at the U. of Memphis, overall the student body is average (or below average). I would not recommend it to an out-of -state student.</p>
<p>Have you considered the University of Pittsburgh? It would be a great school for any student thinking about attending medical school in the future.</p>
<p>I have not looked into Pittsburgh. I imagine I will probably go to KU becuase it seems like a very solid school and should be pretty cheap because I am in in-state. I am going to need to save money for med school.</p>
<p>U Memphis isn't that bad. Then again, I'm an Egypt nut and they just discovered the first new tomb since Tutankhamun's. :p</p>
<p>Look into Kansas State, UIUC, U Minnesota, and U Missouri. Kansas State has produced more Goldwater Scholars (science/engineering) than any college except Princeton, Harvard, and Duke.</p>
<p>U Florida might be an excellent choice, and you should get LOTS of money for National Merit.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm a native Memphian and while U of M isn't as terrible as it might seem (it has some good programs; I've heard journalism and the arts aren't bad), if you're looking at med school there are many other National Merit Scholarships around at other, better state schools.</p>
<p>Sorry to say this, but as a native Memphian, except for Discrete Mathematics, U Memphis has a VERY BAD reputation. Its student body is mostly composed of locals who don't want to leave town due to family ties. Sad but true. With your ACT score, you could do MUCH better. for instance, any other state school. lol</p>
<p>To you other native Memphians, in the old days when the school was called Memphis State University, the unflattering nickname, referring to its lack of academic rigor, was Tiger High (team is called the Tigers)--is this still the case?</p>
<p>One of my company's chemists spent time at U of Memphis. His description of the place indicated that it was weak. Not awful, but weak. Therefore, my impression is that Kansas University, for example, is much stronger that UM.</p>
<p>I know this is old, but the U of M is a little strange. The dropout rate after freshman year is huge, but thats because the classes are just as good and ust as challenging as anywhere else, we just let anybody have a chance. I live on campus and im from arkasnas. I love it here, the campus is wonderful and the classes are great.</p>
The University of Memphis has a really improved over the last decade. Very supportive and helpful faculty. And the place is a bargain. Finally, there are some very noteworthy departments and faculty on campus. Math is strong, but psychology, Institute for Intelligent Systems, communication disorders, and computer science are great.
Instead of Tiger High, look at Rhodes College in Memphis; it is an excellent LAC and can provide you with a good foundation for medical school. Also look at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas.