Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for the Life of the Mind?

You will automatically be registered upon admittance to UT. You do not need to register yourself.

When will I know what section I'm supposed to attend?

Keep checking this site. We usually have schedules ready in July.

What if I cannot find my section with my NetID?

Check your NetID/password combination on your Tmail account and then try again. If you are still failing to get your section, please contact Holly Lucas at hlucas1@utk.edu.

What format should I use for the paper?

MLA format will be fine. Just make sure to cite page numbers if you
quote from the book. It's up to you whether you'd like to single- or double-space the text.

Can my paper be more than one page?

Sure. Just make sure it isn't too far over that (think two or three maximum).

What will my Life of the Mind session be like?

The discussion sessions will give you a chance to meet with a faculty member, and you'll also meet other students. This program will give
you a taste of what classroom life is like here at UTK. Each faculty member treats his or her Life of the Mind session differently, with the sessions
often revolving around discussion and other activities. However, you'll be surprised at how this experience boosts your comfort level here and eases your transition into college life.

Do I have to attend the Life of the Mind?

Yes. This program is mandatory for ALL incoming freshmen. Life of the
Mind gives you a jumpstart on your academic life here at UTK, it eases the transition into life here at the university, and it's only an hour! So enjoy and socialize--it's fun!

This year's selection:
The Glass Castle
by Jeannette Walls

 

“Sharing incredible, painful experiences in no-nonsense prose, Walls has, as The New York Times Book Review notes, ‘succeeded in doing what most writers set out to do—to write the kind of book they themselves most want to read.’” —Bookmarks Magazine

“Just read the first pages of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, and I defy you not to go on. It's funny and sad and quirky and loving. I was incredibly touched by it.” —Dominick Dunne, author of The Way We Lived Then: Recollections of a Well-Known Name Dropper

“Jeannette Walls has carved a story with precision and grace out of one of the most chaotic, heartbreaking childhoods ever to be set down on the page. This deeply affecting memoir is a triumph in every possible way, and it does what all good books should: it affirms our faith in the human spirit.” —Dani Shapiro, author of Family History