THE Right
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hen Rhodes parents say they love the college, believe it. They mean that, after a long search for the best college for their student, they’ve found the right “fit”—everything they were looking for—at Rhodes. The academics, personal relationships with faculty and newfound friends, extracurricular activities, the sheer beauty of the place, not to mention life outside the gates in the city of Memphis, are undeniable factors in their decision-making. As more than one parent will tell you, this “fit” makes it easy to love and become involved in the life of the college. Make no mistake—these aren’t “helicopter parents”; rather, they’re valued advisers, communicators and recruiters who believe in the college and its vision, and will take Rhodes’ message to the ends of the earth.
FINDING RHODES For many families, finding the right college for their student is like researching a dissertation. The topic is a given, but out of more than 2,000 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S., where do they begin? Most start with the basics. They seek the advice of alumni relatives and friends. They attend college fairs
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and schedule campus visits. Ultimately, many read the book Colleges That Change Lives. Written in 1996 by former New York Times education editor Loren Pope and most recently revised in 2012, it profi les 40 top liberal arts colleges, including Rhodes, that the author deemed superior to Ivy League institutions. “The phrase ‘Ivy League education’ is an oxymoron when compared to the benefactions to mind and soul the colleges in this book bestow,” Pope wrote. “Not only are they better, but they want you, and you will love them for making a new and better you. Your satisfaction will be lifelong.” Intrigued by their findings, many prospective Rhodes students and their families take the next step—a campus visit. At Rhodes, this is often the deal maker, and for more than a few, a chance meeting with President Bill Troutt during the tour is the icing on the cake. Says Maria Farahani who visited from Austin, TX, with her daughter Leila ’13, then a high school senior, “As we waited for our taxi to leave, a friendly and smiling gentleman who was unloading boxes from his car approached us. After some great conversation we were surprised to find out that we had been talking to the president, Dr. Troutt himself, who had gone the extra mile for us.”
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2/14/13 11:47 AM