Insane to consider U of Memphis? (Jackson, Germantown: neighborhoods, theater, school)

[fearfulmom]

Yes, fall of '09 is the date. Thanks to all who have replied so far. She is our first to go off to college and Memphis was not brought up until a few weeks ago. We actually had a great visit at TN Tech and UNA, so you can see the contrast/compare. We have scheduled a campus visit, will stay overnight, and hope to drive around and check out the campus and surrounding areas, good and bad. Continued posts/advice thoroughly appreciated. Thanks again, all.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by fearfulmom

Yes, fall of '09 is the date. Thanks to all who have replied so far. She is our first to go off to college and Memphis was not brought up until a few weeks ago. We actually had a great visit at TN Tech and UNA, so you can see the contrast/compare. We have scheduled a campus visit, will stay overnight, and hope to drive around and check out the campus and surrounding areas, good and bad. Continued posts/advice thoroughly appreciated. Thanks again, all.

I used to live a couple of blocks from the U of Memphis on Douglass Ave. While I absolutely love Memphis, I finally moved away because of the crime. In 18 months my home was broken into 4 times (twice after I installed a Brinks burglar alarm), my mail was stolen from my mailbox once, my car was broken into twice while sitting in my driveway, and my car was eventually stolen from out of my driveway.

My neighbor on one side of me came home for lunch and surprised a couple of teenagers who had broken into her house and were eating a pizza from out of her fridge, and my neighbor on the other side of me had her storage shed broken into and all her gardening equipment stolen.

If you're really, really concerned about campus crime, the safest public universities in the state are probably UT-Martin and Tennessee Tech. But if your daughter is just dying to have an urban experience, the U of M is definitely an urban environment. The vast majority of students at the U of M don't experience any crime whatsoever, and it's highly unlikely that anything will happen to her, either.

There's a lot to be said for going to school at a place like Memphis. I've had students here at UTK who hated it here because they wanted a real, honest-to-God urban experience and didn't get it here. Every one of them eventually transferred to the U of M and did fine.

[mzloolue]

The only thing I would worry about is walking alone around campus in the dark and parking lots in the dark.

And maybe you could somehow provide your daughter with a bit of big city savvy. I had a friend who moved here from a rural area and she did not even know to keep her car doors locked while driving. It never occurred to her that someone might try to get in her car at a stop light.
Not to terrify the child, but just to wise her up a bit.

I believe that you can get an escort on campus from security after dark, but you know a kid is just not going to do that...

[strumpeace]

Academically, the U of M is not recognized as a 'great school' typically. However, there are individual departments and programs that are absolutely astounding.

I spent two weeks at the U of M as an undergraduate and hated it.

I returned a few years later to get a graduate degree there and loved it. When my two-year grad program was over, I was very sad. I was in a great department with great professors and great friends.

Your daughter probably needs to sit down and figure out what her career objectives are, then find a school that can best prepare her for those objectives. Tennessee has plenty of good schools with good programs.

[fearfulmom]

Thanks for your post. In your experience, what programs are outstanding? (she is most likely pre-dental, either major in biology or chemistry with minor in business)

[Pearlbob]

Is the UT dental school here or in Knoxville? Their med school is here, but not sure about dental. I would think that where ever the med/dental school is located would be a good city to be pre-med/pre-dental. She could get some experience at the school as an undergrad maybe. Just a thought to look into.

[fearfulmom]

Yes, Dental school in Memphis along with med school. One of her arguments exactly. Get in Memphis, stay in Memphis. Learn the town, do's and don'ts. She is a smart girl, sometimes a little too smart, as all parents of teens will appreciate.

[Pearlbob]

It is a smart thought on her part, although it's also nice to experience new places from time to time. 4 years as an undergrad, then years of dental school may prove to be too much time in Memphis But I definitely see her point.

Like someone mentioned earlier, living in Memphis for undergrad vs grad school would be night and day.

[mzloolue]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

It is a smart thought on her part, although it's also nice to experience new places from time to time. 4 years as an undergrad, then years of dental school may prove to be too much time in Memphis But I definitely see her point.

Like someone mentioned earlier, living in Memphis for undergrad vs grad school would be night and day.

Actually it might be night and day.
It might be day and day.

Some of us actually do like Memphis...

And someone said that they spent two weeks at Memphis as an undergraduate.
Some kind of intersession?
Dropped out?

I have direct experience with U of M, UT-K, and Southwest, as either a student or parent of a student.
And I have played "go here, go there" with all of them.
I kind of think, based on my experience, that wherever one goes to school there is probably going to be a certain amount of bureaucratic bs.

And it's good to let kids learn their own way, but sometimes the powers that be are much more helpful if a parent calls.
Some folks will take advantage of the kids.
Be suspicious when anyone tells the kid to wait for something to straighten itself out or come back next week.
Don't believe any information that comes from student workers answering the phones!
Double check!
The kid does not have to know that you called someone.

I have three kids and I have had to step in for each of them, not often, but necessary.

It sounds like the opener's kid is fairly savvy already.

My advice based on what I wish that someone had told me follows.
Get to know the folks in your department, hang around some, be helpful but not obnoxious.
Go see the profs during their office hours, even if you don't really need help with something, go ask anyway as you want them to know you and understand that you are serious about learning and willing to work hard.
***Look for a good mentor!!!***
Network with other students.
Get to class early and talk to people.
If a different section of the same class meets right before your class, get there early and hang around.
Casually say hi and speak to them.
They have just been where you are going and they may have very helpful information.
Try to get an internship.

[Pearlbob]

My comment had nothing to do with liking Memphis or not. It was regarding the experiences of a student at a more "college town" school versus an urban setting like Memphis. Being an undergrad and being a grad student are 2 totally different experiences. I love my undergrad town, but I wouldn't have wanted to do my grad studies there.

Originally Posted by mzloolue

Actually it might be night and day.
It might be day and day.

Some of us actually do like Memphis...

And someone said that they spent two weeks at Memphis as an undergraduate.
Some kind of intersession?
Dropped out?

I have direct experience with U of M, UT-K, and Southwest, as either a student or parent of a student.
And I have played "go here, go there" with all of them.
I kind of think, based on my experience, that wherever one goes to school there is probably going to be a certain amount of bureaucratic bs.

And it's good to let kids learn their own way, but sometimes the powers that be are much more helpful if a parent calls.
Some folks will take advantage of the kids.
Be suspicious when anyone tells the kid to wait for something to straighten itself out or come back next week.
Don't believe any information that comes from student workers answering the phones!
Double check!
The kid does not have to know that you called someone.

I have three kids and I have had to step in for each of them, not often, but necessary.

It sounds like the opener's kid is fairly savvy already.

My advice based on what I wish that someone had told me follows.
Get to know the folks in your department, hang around some, be helpful but not obnoxious.
Go see the profs during their office hours, even if you don't really need help with something, go ask anyway as you want them to know you and understand that you are serious about learning and willing to work hard.
***Look for a good mentor!!!***
Network with other students.
Get to class early and talk to people.
If a different section of the same class meets right before your class, get there early and hang around.
Casually say hi and speak to them.
They have just been where you are going and they may have very helpful information.
Try to get an internship.