University of Alabama rush!!
 

well.. i haven't posted on this site in quite a while. i didn't get accepted to the university of florida :( but i did get into Alabama and am very much considering it. i have never been to Alabama before though and would be interested in what people think of the state, campus, and of coarse... their greek system! :)

thanks!!

Lord allmighty girl, and you're from Ohio? That's a mighty big drive. But last year I went on a trip during spring break from Columbus OH to Civil Rights sites in the south (Atlanta, Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham, Nashville, Memphis, Cincinnati and then home). But I will say that I met the NICEST, most welcoming people in the south. It's a completely different world from the North. People you don't even know will smile and shake your hands and people actually tip their hats! People took time out of their day to sit and talk to us (I was with a group of 9 people from my school) about what it was like during that time period, and how things have changed and haven't changed. We stayed in churches every night, and the congregations let us use their showers and cooked us food and opened their doors to us. (What is more first class accomidation than God's house? we joked).

But at any rate! Alabama is absolutely beautiful. Gorgeous. There are awesome small towns, fields, large cities...it's fantastic. Montgomery is beautiful, I'm trying to land a job at the Southern Poverty Law Center there when I graduate. It's surprising how much slower life seems to move down there, even during a weekday.

thanks so much! i actually live in cincinnati, so half the people here are southern and the other half are northern. your information was very helpful. it's great to know that chivalry still exists somewhere! =)

PM me if you have specific questions about UA! I highly recommend a campus visit, if you haven't done that already.

gosh, how can you consider a school you've never even visited? especially when it's not a local school, or a school that you know lots of people at. It's a school that's very far away and in a very different part of the country from what you're used to.

Honestly, I would worry more about finding the right school for you than I would about rushing right now.

Hrm...I was about to say the same thing.

What other schools are you considering?

I know people who have applied or are applying to colleges that they never visited. They contacted those schools and interviewed with local alumni. They are applying to colleges based on their reputation and the suggestions of their guidance counselors.

I do think that it's a good idea to visit colleges before you apply if that's an option.

I have to agree, visit a school but for deciding to go there. Trust me transferring is no fun!!!

We can all sit here and say wonderful things about different schools but noone can say if a school is right for you, but yourself. You need to be happy, wherever you end up. Because if you are not happy, nothing else is going to matter.

I agree, don't worry about the greek system right now, focus on finding the school that is right for you. Don't let anyone pressure you to go to a certain school, it needs to be the perfect for you, nobody else.

I applied to schools before I visited (except U. Florida). Junior and Senior years are becoming busier and busier for these kids--the spring, after acceptances and when schools have accepted student weekends, is often a better time; this is especially true when kids are applying to 7 or 8 schools all over the country.

I know that red flags came up when I read this post, not because she hadn't visited the schools, because it appeared she was more concerned with the Greek systems at each school. I honestly didn't think about Greek Life at any of the schools I applied to until after I was accepted to colleges and when our local Panhel held a presentation for us about rush applications.

well these are the schools i've applied to and visited. unfortunately, i haven't been able to visit all of them b/c i've applied to so many.

Ohio State University (application pending, visited)
Ohio University (accepted, not visited)
Miami of Ohio (application pending, visited)
University of Alabama (accepted, not visited)
University of Florida (regected :( , visited)
Florida State University (application pending, not visited)
California Polytechnic University (application pending, not visited)
University of South Carolina (application pending, visited)

i didn't visit ohio university b/c it was more of a saftey school and i don't really have any intentions of going there. so, i visited 4/8 universities i applied to. i was thinking i would see what other schools accept me and visit them if i have the time and money.

also... i'm interested in the greek system b/c it's a part of college i want to belong in. i posted this on another thread.. but i became interested in joining a sorority after reading "Pledged." I saw that www.greekchat.com was under one of her references and decided to go to it to see how bad sororities really were. once i got here i realized most sororities are not as bad as she made them sound. they're more of a supporting system and that's what i want to have if i'm going to be hours away from my family: sisters. :)

I'm a senior at Alabama and I can answer any, and I mean, any questions you may have about the University and greek life here. Just Private Message me with whatever questions you may have! Also, I know of several students here from the Cincinatti area, so you wouldn't be alone!

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to know about a campus' greek system. I knew in high school that I wanted to be in a sorority, so I was always happy when I took the tours and the guide mentioned greek life. Knowing what you want in a school makes the decision a lot easier.

I wish I could help you out and give my opinion towards the schools where you applied, but unfortunately I've never been to any of them. I do have a friend at USC though, and she didn't visit before she decided to go there. She isn't crazy about it because she said everyone is just totally different from what she is used to back home. She does always say though how beautiful the campus is! When you go look at schools, I think it's just as important to check out the students as it is the buildings and dorms and stuff. You can get a good sense of if you think you'll fit in or not. Good luck!

Hey --

I just wanted to add that it was probably a good choice that you didn't visit every school that you applied to before the application deadlines. Especially since you applied to schools from all over the nation. Its like time management.

My brother just went through the application process last year, applying to schools up and down the east coast. With his fall and winter sports commitments, his summer job, and the fact that he was really trying to focus on keeping his GPA and SAT score status quo, he and my parents decided to rely on local presentations the schools made, impressions they got from marketing materials, and other people we know who went there, and he visited the schools after he got in. He knew what characteristics he wanted from a school - suburban placement, smaller school, preppy lifetsyle, strong business school, wanted to stay on the Eastern seaboard. Spring semester for seniors is usually pretty light on work, particularly in March and early April, before the stress from AP exams gets out of control.

He went to a school that he had never visited before the 'accepted students' weekend in April 2004. He's very happy now at Loyola of Maryland.

Have you seen local admission office's presentations about the schools you applied to? Or contacted alumni? Especially when moving to a different region, it can be helpful to talk to people who made the same move you're considering.

I'm applying to 14 law schools and I've only visited 2 of them. It's not exactly cheap to go flying all over the country.

I actually know quite a few girls who will be influenced by greek life while choosing a college. For instance one girl who is a freshman in college this year really liked Ole Miss, but since all the women in her family are ADPis and Ole Miss doesn't currently have an ADPi chapter she chose to go to Georgia instead and the guidance counselor at my school had strongly recommeded Auburn to another girl, but since they don't have sorority houses she didn't even apply. But then again, this is the south

oh and I wanted to add I'm going to Bama next year, so who knows, we might be going through recruitment together!!

Yeah, we've seen psycho bitches on GC who transfer schools just to become Greek, so it's no surprise that some college applicants will base their decision on a school's Greek life when choosing which school to attend. :rolleyes:

Let's just hope that she's asking just for clarification on the systems, and not that this is what she's basing her decision on. I didn't get the latter impression from her post. And while you all can be high and mighty about "Choose your college by the academics blah blah blah" -- that's NOT what it's all about. I chose my first school for things like the academic programs and experiences and then ended up hating my social life. When I transferred, I ended up passing up a school that has a very strong program in my field (Beloit College) for one that has just an okay program (Wisconsin). Why? Because I knew that the social life would be more what I wanted at the UW -- and part of that included Greek life. The UW's Greek system is much larger than Beloit's.

Let's face it -- college is NOT all about the academics. Granted, I am one of those people who is more in college for the social stuff and life-forming experiences than the classes. But I don't see the point of even looking at a school that has no Greek system if, for example, you know that you want to join a sorority in college. To me, that's just as stupid as going to school that has no architecture major if you know you want to major in architecture.

I was one of those people who was more concerned about the social aspects of going to college--I knew of the schools I was actually considering, I'd get a great academic experience.

I'm just saying, wait until you get in before you start making decisions based on Greek life. A lot might change between now and May.

Plus, a lot of these Southern rushes some GCers like to treat as if they're the best thing since sliced bread are extremely cutthroat for out-of-region girls.

This I definitely agree with. I recommend for everyone that you shouldn't have a dream school before you get in -- let's face it, the whole college application is so very arbitrary. You can love a school on paper and hate it when you get there. You can fall in love with a school and not get in. Feel free to collect information before April, but try not to get too set on any one school before that.

I visited Macalester in February of my senior year, after I'd gotten in (there, and at all the other schools I'd applied to). I'd already kind of decided on Minnesota, but when I visited Macalester I loved it. Unfortunately, as it worked out, I chose not to go there because I would go thousands of dollars in debt -- so I'm glad that I hadn't visited it early, fallen in love with it, spent several months of it being my "dream school" and then realizing that it wasn't practical for me to go there. I know somebody else who had the same thing happen to her (with Hampshire). Wait until you get in before you start making major decisions, kids!


And don't even get me started on the Southern rush worship . . . LOL. :p

Are we talking about applying or actually accepting? I mean, apply where you're interested and then once you get accepted, go visit. AFAIK you don't have to tell them the minute that you get your acceptance letter that is where you want to go. How much does it cost nowadays to apply anyway?

I think it's very important to choose a school with a strong Greek system if you're interested in that - just as it's important to choose a school with strong sports if you're interested in that or places that DON'T have those things if you don't want to participate in them. There's no sense in going to a school that has your dream major if it's heavily Greek and you want nothing to do with Greek life, unless you'll be happy being a hermit. By the same token, don't go to (example) Bama just for the Greek life if it doesn't have the major you want. There are so many colleges you can find one that suits you in everything if you try.

If you're looking for the southern recruitment experience without leaving Ohio, Miami of Ohio is the place to go.

(Not that it's southern- just fairly cutthroat.)

AMEN!!!


I didn't get that she wanted and was choosing her schools only by greek life or whatever. When choosing a school you have lots of options you want to fullfill. One of her options is greek life. This is greekchat. So most of her questions here would revolve around only greek related conversations.

I don't know... it makes sense to me.

Many women transfer so they can become Greek; it's not rare at all and most transfer to a school with their old major, so no big deal. Maybe the girl first chose a school that's huge and had a cutthroat rush and as a small-town or relatively unknown girl, she was at a disadvantage. Or I can think of a case in which a girl went to an intown school and the many Greek girls from her hometown had already decided ahead of time that since she was a "no-name" in high school, they didn't want her in their groups in college.

Too bad for them! She transferred and became a true leader at her new school--as well as president of her sorority.

Don't forget the girls whose mothers are psycho bitches and tell them that they won't pay tuition if they join a "non-elite" house!

God bless the south, right? :p

The real south or the pretend south?

Actually, I wouldn't know of any of those. Only of one who was lied about concerning said situation.

i know there is already a thread called "house pics" but i was wondering if any of you could post some university of alabama house pics. thx!

Oh man. The pretend south is my FAVORITE.

WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA. What are you smoking? And whatever it is, can I have some?

Bobby dont' steal her stash!! She'll need it for RUSH!:p

Ummm...paranoid much? :eek:

I wasn't talking about anything relating to anyone you know. I went to a high school that was a feeder not only to UF and FSU, but to Auburn, Bama, and Ole Miss. I have quite a few acquaintances and my mother has friends who admit to the fact that they didn't want their daughters to go to certain houses and pulled the money card.

Now...explain to me how sharing MY experiences growing up in the South can be construed as "lies."

Yeah, I thought so.

Moving on! :D

Here are a few that I found.

Alpha Chi Omega
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/21c88a76.bmp

Delta Zeta
http://www.deltazetabama.org/New%20I...DZ%20House.jpg

Gamma Phi Beta
http://www.uagammaphibeta.com/images/house.jpg

Don't rush., you may get hurt. Then again, you may not be a loser like me...

I went to Washington University (from WA State) and never visited before I accepted. My first step on campus was when I arrived at the beginning of school............

Ok.. I'm really not just trying to be a bitch, but you just registered today and already made 13 "I'm a loser feel sorry for me" posts. I think that's about enough. :rolleyes:

To echo a sentiment found earlier, college is not solely academics. Mostly, but not completely. I'll admit, I heavily considered Greek life when I chose a college. My 3 top schools were Auburn (was born bleeding orange and blue), Alabama (only an hour and a half from home), and South Alabama (two hours from home, knew Mobile, and mom was Greek there).

All three had good all-around academics, and no matter where I went I would know people already that I could hang out with to make the transition a bit easier. I wound up coming to Auburn because I fell in *love* with the campus on my first visit. But sorority-wise, it still was my first choice, because I wanted something with a large Greek system (USA has 6 sororities, I think) and and an easygoing one. I'd always heard that rush at UA was a bit more competitive than AU, and truth be told, it probably is. I just didn't think I could handle something quite like that, because Lord knows, it's hard enough here.

So here I am, and happy as a duck in water.

No Kent State? I'm insulted! (j/k) Just a warning: I thought I BELONGED at AB University, until I visited them and realized I just didn't fit it. I came to Kent and was like "Yeah, I see myself walking around, going to class here..." Finding the best university that fits you is like finding the best sorority that fits you- it feels like home.