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The REAL Edge Experience

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The Â鶹´«Ã½ Promise

Â鶹´«Ã½ promises that every student will have at least one of the following high-impact, hands-on learning opportunities:

  • Independent research, which allows you to explore a particular interest in depth under the mentorship of a Â鶹´«Ã½ professor
  • Fellowship or internship, which provides applied learning opportunities that support your skill development and professionalization
  • Study abroad, study away, or Â鶹´«Ã½-based learning experiences, which affords you the opportunity to engage with and contribute to global or local communities.

The REAL Edge

Rhodes Experiential and Applied Learning

When you think of coming to Â鶹´«Ã½, don’t picture years of sitting in a classroom. To be sure, our world-class professors inspire engaging conversations in the classroom, but everything about our academics drives us toward exploration in Memphis and beyond. 

The REAL Edge program enables you to soar to new heights while exploring new experiences. Here, you can go beyond study abroad and internships. At Â鶹´«Ã½, you can begin engaging in research initiatives in your first year on campus. We don't pressure you to choose your major right away; instead, we want you to find your own way and create your own path.

 

a young African American man takes notes on an experiment

Whether through independent study, honors research, directed inquiries, or as faculty research assistants, Â鶹´«Ã½ students conduct leading-edge research and creative activity that produces original intellectual or creative contributions in a wide range of fields. They also have the opportunity to work with researchers at cutting-edge organizations such as St. Jude Children's Hospital and the UT Health Sciences Center.

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Nearly 75% of our students gain real-world experience in internships or fellowships, applying their classroom knowledge to areas such as business, finance, health care, education, and nonprofits.  Our Career Services office has partnered with more than 100 organizations in Memphis for internships and Â鶹´«Ã½ offers paid fellowships each year through such programs as the Mike Curb Institute for Music, the Lynne and Henry Turley Memphis Center, and the Â鶹´«Ã½ Institute for Regional Studies.

Read more about experiential learning opportunities at Â鶹´«Ã½

Beyond the Quad

Almost 70% of our students study or work abroad or away during their time at Â鶹´«Ã½. We have nearly 800 approved international and domestic partners and also offer faculty-led Maymesters around the globe. 
 

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Service with a Purpose

Â鶹´«Ã½ students contribute thousands of service hours to the city of Memphis each year through fellowships and programs such as Kinney, Bonner, and the Clarence Day Scholars. 

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First-Year Research

You don't have to know where you are going to begin your journey. Non-biology majors in the BIOL 105: Everyday Evolution: Genes, Diversity, and Society course had the chance to participate in hands-on scientific research involving migratory birds. Some never would have experienced this type of research at many big name colleges or universities. At Â鶹´«Ã½, they were able to explore a new way of thinking and tap into first-year research opportunities. 

Biology professor Alix Matthews, a member of the Class of 2014, along with first-year student Alexandra Baroody (undeclared major) and seniors Ben Reynolds (English) and Soren Sijapati (international studies) recently took a trip to the Arkansas State Bird Observatory (ASBO) in Jonesboro, AR.

Fall migration has been underway for many migratory bird species, and students were able to observe the birds first-hand making their way to Central and South America.

 

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A Place Like No Other

Â鶹´«Ã½ is no ordinary college. Our combination of growth opportunities, a diverse and supportive Â鶹´«Ã½, and vibrant city backdrop give you an educational experience like no other.

Learn More and Connect With Us

Be sure to connect with us so we can answer any and all of your questions as you search for the right place for you.