2008 Woodie Awards
UTC facilities, size attracts hundreds of students from Memphis area
Tiffany Stratton
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: News
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By Tiffany Stratton
Staff Reporter
UTC is home to students from across Tennessee and around the world, but it seems that Memphis makes its mark in the student census on campus.
Memphis is one of the largest cities in Tennessee, yet it is also more than five hours away on the other side of the state.
But for some students from Memphis, word of mouth was what really turned their attention to UTC.
"I heard about UTC from a friend," said Ramon Moses, a freshman from Memphis.
For other students, it was the college recruiter in front of the guidance office that pushed students to visit the campus.
In Memphis, however, the schools took it one step further by giving an annual college tour that visited Tennessee State University, Middle Tennessee State University, and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Martin.
Britnee Gillum, a freshman from Memphis, said, "Recruiters came to our school and talked to us about UTC, and they were also at a college fair, and then sent some of us up there for the weekend."
Some said their decision to come to UTC had to do with the affordability of tuition.
The cost of going to UTC is more than going to TSU, but it is less expensive than going to UTK.
The dorms also played a big part in the choice for some students.
"A lot of my friends like the fact that they got their own room," said Dominique Chaney, a freshman from Memphis.
"When I [visited] here everybody was so friendly and it was kind of a small school and everyone was so nice … When I went to UT Knox, it was just big," she added.
Memphis sophomore DeMarcus Boyce said: "Knox is just a real big school. I didn't want to go somewhere where I was just a number. Like here, the teachers really know who I am."
Because many people from Memphis came to UTC, most of them know each other and were able to adjust better to being away from home.
For some, however, it actually hindered meeting new people because of their friends.
"It seemed like the whole entire school came here. I would say about a fourth or less came here. It [has] kind of made it an easier transition because I already knew people. It can also be bad because we tend to clique up," said Gillum.
John Green, a Memphis senior, said: "I ended up coming because my friends came here, so I would not have to worry about meeting people. That, however, [ended up] hurting me in the long run."
In actuality, there are more students from Hamilton County than from the Memphis area, said Yancy Freeman, director of admissions.
"The thing about Memphis students is that they are here within the campus community whereas the students from Chattanooga, they may or may not live on campus," he said. "So it's harder to connect with them and see them as much as you would someone from Memphis."
Staff Reporter
UTC is home to students from across Tennessee and around the world, but it seems that Memphis makes its mark in the student census on campus.
Memphis is one of the largest cities in Tennessee, yet it is also more than five hours away on the other side of the state.
But for some students from Memphis, word of mouth was what really turned their attention to UTC.
"I heard about UTC from a friend," said Ramon Moses, a freshman from Memphis.
For other students, it was the college recruiter in front of the guidance office that pushed students to visit the campus.
In Memphis, however, the schools took it one step further by giving an annual college tour that visited Tennessee State University, Middle Tennessee State University, and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Martin.
Britnee Gillum, a freshman from Memphis, said, "Recruiters came to our school and talked to us about UTC, and they were also at a college fair, and then sent some of us up there for the weekend."
Some said their decision to come to UTC had to do with the affordability of tuition.
The cost of going to UTC is more than going to TSU, but it is less expensive than going to UTK.
The dorms also played a big part in the choice for some students.
"A lot of my friends like the fact that they got their own room," said Dominique Chaney, a freshman from Memphis.
"When I [visited] here everybody was so friendly and it was kind of a small school and everyone was so nice … When I went to UT Knox, it was just big," she added.
Memphis sophomore DeMarcus Boyce said: "Knox is just a real big school. I didn't want to go somewhere where I was just a number. Like here, the teachers really know who I am."
Because many people from Memphis came to UTC, most of them know each other and were able to adjust better to being away from home.
For some, however, it actually hindered meeting new people because of their friends.
"It seemed like the whole entire school came here. I would say about a fourth or less came here. It [has] kind of made it an easier transition because I already knew people. It can also be bad because we tend to clique up," said Gillum.
John Green, a Memphis senior, said: "I ended up coming because my friends came here, so I would not have to worry about meeting people. That, however, [ended up] hurting me in the long run."
In actuality, there are more students from Hamilton County than from the Memphis area, said Yancy Freeman, director of admissions.
"The thing about Memphis students is that they are here within the campus community whereas the students from Chattanooga, they may or may not live on campus," he said. "So it's harder to connect with them and see them as much as you would someone from Memphis."
