Rhodes College VS UW-Madison

TTG
Fri, 05 May 2017 14:51:24 +0000

Congratulations on the scholarship to Conn Coll! I’m more familiar with the schools than the cities, although I know them a little. Hopefully somebody with more local knowledge can weigh in. I think, though, it is fair to say that in both cases, and for Madison too, the college campuses/environments are safe. Probably most of the areas where students go are safe, but some surrounding areas will have higher crime rates, and students, especially female students, need to be cautious in the evening and at night.

In general, the greatest concern for college students, again especially females, comes from alcohol-fueled sexual harassment/assault on campus or at off-campus student parties, not street crime. If you will be new to the U.S., I advise being cautious about alcohol and at events where it is served while you’re familiarizing yourself with the college environment (or even if you are not new to the U.S.). Of course, the overwhelming majority of your fellow students will be wonderful and helpful. But alcohol overconsumption, which is a reality at almost every school, negatively impacts judgment and creates an opportune environment for harassment and assault. It’s a great idea to avoid overconsumption, make sure you have friends around, keep an eye on your friends, avoid being in an isolated situation with those you don’t know well, especially if alcohol is being consumed, and make sure you have a safe means of returning to your dorm/housing. Either school you attend will have programs addressing these issues, and you can learn quickly from friends. It might also be helpful to research the issue to find other helpful tips to protect against harassment/assault.

I agree with the above comments about Memphis and New London. Memphis is larger and will offer more local opportunities. New London would offer more opportunities to visit NYC, Boston, and the beaches and towns along Long Island Sound and in Rhode Island. Train travel can be fairly expensive in the Northeast. So you can think about whether you would be interested in weekend trips, etc. into these cities, or short trips to the beach. That would be a plus for Conn Coll. I note, though, the comment that Rhodes has business and Conn Coll does not. Good luck!