Thanks, I didn’t know that Brookings Museum had that. We were actually suppose to get in Memphis the day before Accepted Student Day early and go to that Museum, but our flight ended up being delayed 8 hours (the weekend of bad storms in the southern areas) so we missed it. I will have to let my DD know about it. The Classics chairman of Rhodes did send us some links for recent graduates. We did learn from @BooBooBear that she would have to do actual summer classes to catch up on the languages so the extra savings from her merit scholarship could be used for that. It is so hard for her to choose from such wonderful colleges.
Are you at all familiar with Sewanee-The University of the South? We have crossed Bucknell off our list, and we were down to two, but after reading again about the rigorous language course loads we have decided to take another look at Sewanee. My daughter was also accepted there with a merit scholarship and liked it along with the students and classes. They appear to have all the language she needs along with a joint travel program with Rhodes College, language houses (one of things we really liked about Oberlin), and hosts the Medieval Colloquium there. One of the reasons we didn’t have it on our top 3 was that nobody seems to know the college. There was quite a few potential students from the northeast east region at accepted student day there that were also accepted to Colby, Colgate, Hamilton and Bates. We were concerned that a school that did not seem to have a familar name might prevent her getting into a good graduate school but after our advice her on CC we are reviewing. If anyone is familiar with Sewanee please feel free to share your opinion.
I think of Sewanee and Rhodes as close peers in terms of academic rep. They have very different environments, of course.
I don’t know too much about their academic strengths but the campus and its environs are gorgeous. It’s very rural, like Colgate, but mountainous-rural. They get a lot of fog.
It has been talked about in multiple threads here through the years, so if you search for Sewanee, you’re sure to find more info on its academic and social vibe. It’s a fine school.
Here’s their page of topics:
We researched Sewanee because we know another student attending a few years older than my LAC kid, but did not make the trip to actually visit. Sewanee impressed me as a very academically focused community, with the tradition of academic robes for students who have reached a certain level etc. The mountain top campus looks gorgeous. Seems like a wonderful place for the right student (alas, not mine, who ran screaming from Gambier, Ohio, so did not want to consider a mountaintop somewhere). Another one of those schools which is known by people who really know LACs. Definitely worth a hard look!
Sewanee and Rhodes are direct competitors as upper-south LAC’s. Frankly, the largest difference is location–Rhodes has a beautiful campus, but it is an island in a nice part of Memphis. I like Memphis, but the city is not for everyone. Sewanee has a gorgeous, spread-out campus on a mountain in southern Tennessee. It is drop dead beautiful, but the rural location is not for everyone. Both Rhodes and Sewanee have strong southern, preppy roots, though both have academic atmospheres. If I were pre-med, I would lean towards Rhodes with the greater internship and research resources in Memphis. Sewanee has a very strong literary tradition and connections, and so I might lean there if a creative writer or literary type. I think the schools attract slightly different students, albeit often from a similar demographic.
FYI, I have visited both campuses (and visited Memphis MANY times), and both my wife and son have done summer programs at Sewanee, so I don’t have the perspective of a graduate but do have some experience.
No, she will not be using her Classics for medicine or law (too many graphic ER stories at dinner table and seeing her older sister in Law school, not for her). She is a creative, apolitical midwest kid who reads science, history and classics for fun. As someone who majored in Classics do you have any opinion of Sewanee’s Classics and Languages needed (such as the language houses?) After reading your very through approach to getting into a good Classics Graduate program, she wants to explore her two favorite merit giving schools (she would like to use that extra money for possible summer programs) . We have kept our only full pay school Colgate as a choice ,but realize that if these Tennessee schools are very good than we should strongly consider them.
Candidly, I do not have an opinion on either for Classics. Both seem to have sufficient resources for studying the subject, Rhodes perhaps a bit more, but then Sewanee has a graduate school of theology (Episcopal) which requires a certain minimum amount of support in ancient languages and culture such that you know there will always be administration support for the study of Classics. (I assume you are aware Sewanee was founded by, and is still heavily supported by, the Episcopal Church and has always had a huge reputation in Episcopalian circles. That may turn some people off who find any religious influence distasteful, though the modern Episcopal church is hardly a heavy-handed conservative organization.) I think either school is a fine option, and the bigger variable would be your daughter’s “fit” for each school from a location and student personality perspective.
I have heard good things about Sewanee, and I live in the Northeast. The only concern I would have is how easy is it to get to and from the airport.
Can I ask why you dropped Bucknell off the list? It’s a school my D was interested in. Thanks, and good luck!
@BooBooBear
Thank you for your input. I appreciate your advice and recommendations about majoring in Classics. It has made us think of different variables we need in considering a program and what we need to do to cover any language deficiencies. Yep we were aware of the Episcopal ties. My daughter has gone to Catholic schools since kindergarten so she is comfortable with any religion. Lucky for her she feels like she can fit in anywhere, must be the 4th kid outta 5. We are doing her pro/con list tomorrow for the final school choice.
She decided not to attend Bucknell for the following reasons. First Colgate and Bucknell are full pay for us, so Colgate is slightly cheaper. Colgate’s Classics program seems slightly stronger as their alumni network seems stronger too. She found Colgate’s study abroad program slightly better for her. She found students at both schools the same ( both smart and friendly) although the Bucknell students were slightly more outgoing. Both schools were equal in the Greek and party scene (not sure if she will go Greek but she is not opposed to it). She liked the towns and locations equally. Both schools classes were equal in quality. Therefore, Colgate seems the better choice of the two for her.
Why choose the two down south over Bucknell? The classes she attended were just good as the above schools, students were just as smart and friendly, both have good study abroad programs. Greek and party life the same as above. Southern campuses slightly nicer in appearance. The best reason is Rhodes is less than half of Bucknell and Sewanee is 28k less a year. This would allow her to attend additional summer travel and language programs without feeling too guilty of costing our family money as she would say. We would be happy to pay for any of these 4 fine schools.
We will seriously consider Bucknell for our youngest child as she is STEM orientated, and we were very impressed with their STEM programs. I wish both you and your D luck in your final decision. I hope this is helpful.
@5anddone Very helpful! Thank you. Good luck to your D. She has great options.
Colgate’s Professor Garland is at it again.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/59023749e4b06feec8ac9467
Go 'gate!
@markham
Thanks for the link, will have to show my DD before she makes her decision. It appears Colgate has a very active Classic professor.
Sewanee and Rhodes have a long athletic rivalry (one of the oldest in the south actually) and yet also have a wonderful relationship with shared programs as you noted. They could not be more different in terms of location, but each has a really strong academic focus - faculty are outstanding across the disciplines at both. As for Rhodes, check out this course series - one of two options it looks like for entering first year students:
https://www.rhodes.edu/humanities#Search - your D may love this as it ties directly to some of her passions - and even those who will not be Classics majors will have studied some of what is really important to her. Or so it seems. So to be able to have this debate and discussion with classmates beyond those who are just interested in the Classics would be very rewarding, I would hope.
Thanks for the link and the information. I will definitely show it to her when she gets home from work. We were very impressed that her Rhodes admissions counselor gave us a cellphone number to contact her during the weekend if we had any last minute questions.
Thank you to everyone who gave advice, directed us to links, and gave encouragement. You all were very helpful! My DD decided to go to Rhodes College because the college just seem to fit her best.
Congrats and Best of luck to your D!
Memphis Grizzlies games and Rendevouz BBQ. My favorite trip every year. Congrats to your daughter.