Reading Applications and Daydreaming About BBQ

Written by Andre McKenzie, Senior Assistant Director, Admissions

This is the time of year when admissions counselors are knee-deep in reading applications and trying to make difficult decisions about the future of our school. As I read applications of students representing Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, I cannot help but think about barbecue, Hot Browns, spicy fried chicken, and cheese curds.

As I traveled in these areas this fall, I made a concentrated effort to sample the regional cuisine, and I must admit that the standout meals were in Memphis, TN, at Charlie Vergos Rendezvous and Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. Rendezvous, quite simply, had the best barbecue ribs I have ever tasted and the chicken at Gus’s had the best combination of spice and crunch. Although those were the standouts, this takes nothing away from Oklahoma Joes in Kansas City, the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Prince’s in Nashville, Pappy’s Smokehouse in St. Louis, or AJ Bombers in Milwaukee.

Of course, the best part of my fall travels were interacting with students who are interested in the University of Rochester, and now I get to match those personal interactions with the applications. I am looking forward to reviewing all of those applications and seeing all that everyone has to offer. But please forgive me if I am taking a long time getting through the applications; I’m just daydreaming of barbecue ribs and spicy fried chicken!