The Vibe: Practical, supportive, and highly focused on keeping STEM and healthcare students on track to graduate.

The University of Memphis (UofM) is one of only two research-intensive public universities in Tennessee and is classified as an R1 institution, enrolling more than 21,500 students. It is well-regarded for its nationally ranked online programs, strategic location near major corporate hubs such as FedExWorld

Headquarters (connecting students and faculty with world-renowned researchers to solve complex societal problems in technology, cybersecurity, and mobile health), and Division I athletic programs.

• Engineering Redshirt Program: For students who love engineering but need an extra boost or a foundational runway to handle the intense coursework, Memphis offers a unique “redshirt” style academic support track.

• Nursing Pathways: Highly flexible for future healthcare workers. Students can either apply through the traditional pre-nursing route or pursue highly coveted direct-admit nursing slots right out of high school.

College App Help Desk is not affiliated with any colleges we tour. As an Independent Educational Consultant, IECA, NACAC, and SACAC member in good standing, we adhere to the ethics and guidelines of good practice, including neither soliciting nor accepting compensation from universities/schools/programs for placing or attempting to place students with them. We do our best to provide accurate information; however, we are not affiliated with these schools, and things change quickly in college admissions. Students and parents are responsible for personally verifying all information.

• The Motto: “LOCd in for life.”

• The Financial Goal: Providing 4 years of excellent education with the absolute least to no debt possible. They even offer a Loan Repayment Assistance Program to ensure graduates hit the ground running.

• A Tight-Knit Culture: It’s a small school focused heavily on accountability, prioritization, and deep relationships. The campus features just one dorm, cementing a truly communal atmosphere.

• Memphis’s Economic Engine: LOC is deeply invested in supporting and fueling the local Memphis economy.

• A Neat Tradition: Incoming students write letters to their future selves to bookend their college journeys.

“There’s always an answer to a question you might have.”

LeMoyne-Owen College is a private, historically Black college (HBCU) in Memphis, Tennessee, with roots tracing back to 1862 when the American Missionary Association (AMA) opened a school for freedmen and runaway slaves. Established during the Civil War, the institution was rebuilt as Lincoln Chapel after being destroyed in the 1866 Memphis riots. LeMoyne College and Owen College merged in 1968 to form the current institution. Today, the college is a United Negro College Fund member, offering 22 majors while situated in Memphis' historic Soulsville district.

SACAC 2026 Sweet Tea Tour, LeMoyne-Owen College

College App Help Desk is not affiliated with any colleges we tour. As an Independent Educational Consultant, IECA, NACAC, and SACAC member in good standing, we adhere to the ethics and guidelines of good practice, including neither soliciting nor accepting compensation from universities/schools/programs for placing or attempting to place students with them. We do our best to provide accurate information; however, we are not affiliated with these schools, and things change quickly in college admissions. Students and parents are responsible for personally verifying all information.

The Vibe: Pre-professional powerhouse with a heavy emphasis on career launching and academic integrity.

• The Career Ecosystem: Rhodes is highly intentional about bridging the gap between college and the workforce. They have robust infrastructure for internships and study abroad.

• Built-In Guidance: Students aren’t left to navigate post-grad planning alone; the college features designated professional advisors specifically for law and medical school tracks.

• The Syllabus AI Clause: In a very modern move, Rhodes requires an AI clause in syllabi so students clearly understand exactly what is expected of them regarding generative artificial intelligence in their coursework.

According to Fiske, Rhodes goes “head-to-head with Sewanee for the top spot in the pecking order of mid-South liberal arts colleges, with Rhodes the more progressive of the two. While Sewanee has a gorgeous rural campus, Rhodes has Memphis and its red-hot music scene. Natural and social sciences head the list of solid programs, and undergraduate research opportunities are plentiful. Strong honor system.”

Throw in Memphis’s music scene, Beale Street, barbecue, the blues, biology, business, chemistry, economics, English, history, music business, and psychology, and there’s something for every student at Rhodes.

College App Help Desk is not affiliated with any colleges we tour. As an Independent Educational Consultant, IECA, NACAC, and SACAC member in good standing, we adhere to the ethics and guidelines of good practice, including neither soliciting nor accepting compensation from universities/schools/programs for placing or attempting to place students with them. We do our best to provide accurate information; however, we are not affiliated with these schools, and things change quickly in college admissions. Students and parents are responsible for personally verifying all information.

I’d set my alarm with plenty of time. I’d planned ahead for coffee and coordinated a shower with my suitemates (six women, two showers, two sinks, one toilet — no small task!) Coffee and breakfast before the long bus ride went swimmingly.

I returned to my dorm room to put the final touches on my travel gear.

Confidently packed and organized, I stepped out into the hallway to meet my ~30 high school and college counselors peers as we embarked on our first full day of a whirlwind weeklong 10-college tour.

Only — nobody else was there.

I stood with my luggage in the hallway. Alone.

Did I miss the bus?

I adjusted my carry-on strap to cross-body and ran with my roller bag toward the street.

Thankfully, the bus hadn’t yet pulled away. Ted (as I came to know the driver’s name during the week) gave me both a fist-bump and a hard time for being late. (He jokingly did this for the rest of the trip. Ted was The. Best.)

I boarded the bus to face the same scrutiny and apprehension as if I were the last to board an aircraft: Please don’t sit by me. Please don’t sit by me. Please don’t sit by me. Nobody wanted to share a seat.

The very last row in the bus, still empty, called out to me. As it turns out, it was perfect. I could lie flat with somewhere to brace my feet, and I had a window to the world all my own. I could sit up during the drive and engage with others, or I could comfortably retreat into my own space. I’m an Aquarius, so I need both; the back seat got me.

Midway through the week, the back seat of the bus became the most dangerous. (Spoiler: I’m fine.) As we toured a college, landscapers outside blew the back window of the bus out with a weed-eater. Apparently, my beloved seat was the worst casualty, scattered with a large shard of glass and a gazillion tiny pieces.

As we waited for our replacement bus, the school that was expecting us dispatched its own private vehicles to pick us up. People helping people. Things happen. Life is messy. We do what we can to flex and help one another. College shows us how to find the best version of ourselves through social and academic growth, but it also shows us how to step up and serve those in need.

My wish for all of my students has always been that when the worst thing happens, they find that a door closed opens other doors. It happens more often than we know, and the universe is shockingly intuitive. The college application process is ripe with examples.

My personal project last week was to take photos on campus that speak to me — not necessarily the ones that land in a glossy campus brochure. I have the equipment, credentials, and knowledge to take those brochure photos — but that’s not what I was looking to do this trip. I wanted to show students that every campus speaks to each of us differently. I faced many constraints: I couldn’t alter the image, I couldn’t use artificial lighting (strobe or flash), and I couldn’t delay or hold up the tour to get the shot.

I hope you enjoy seeing the week through my lens.

In the weeks ahead, I’ll post all my campus visits, notes that I took, and images I captured. I learned: there are so many great colleges and universities out there! It’s amazing how each one offers students something different. Last week, I toured 10; there are more than 6,000 in the U.S.

Whether you are looking for a tight-knit HBCU family, a massive SEC research powerhouse, or a liberal arts hidden gem that will fully fund your summer travels, the recent slate of college tours delivered a little bit of everything.

If you have a high schooler plotting their next move—or you just love a good look inside modern campus life—stay tuned for the raw, honest breakdown of what makes each of these institutions stand out for me.

You be the judge. Find what speaks to you.

Stay tuned for images from Hendrix College, Lemoyne-Owen College, Mississippi State University, Philander Smith University, Rhodes College, University of Arkansas, University of Central Arkansas, University of Memphis, University of Mississippi, and University of the Ozarks.