Rushing at UIUC!!
 

Hey guys,

I'm going to be attending the U of I the coming fall and I cannot wait! (a little nervous + very excited). I'm aware of the university's extensive greek life and I want to rush for a sorority in my freshmen year too...here's a little about me:

I'm an international student and I will be majoring in Advertising. I'm social and open-minded about people/opportunities. I love to write and also am into the visual arts (painting and sculpting!). I've traveled quite a bit and would like to do a study-abroad program in sophomore year maybe.

I'd like to join a sorority that includes girls who have similar interests but then again, I feel like this would be unlikely as there doesn't seem to be a sorority specifically for media/ad majors...(like there are for engineers, if I'm right?) In any case, I look forward to rush and hopefully, it'll be a good experience!

What are my prospects considering I'm an international student, who does not have any recommendations? Are there any sororities which a large population of Media/Advertising majors?

Also, I will be living in the Ike...will there be such a thing as a group or orientation for girls who are rushing from the same residence or area (I heard we are put in groups with a mentor..)?

Any other advice for me would be greatly appreciated! :)

The Ike? What is the Ike? You will be in a group with about 40ish other PNM's and 3 or 4 recruitment counselors, and you will meet them all a few days before you visit any of the chapters, so you can get all of your questions answered in advance.

Chapters at UIUC are in the 150-200 women range, so every chapter will have a diversity of majors, and you shouldn't worry about that. As for recs at UIUC...they are not critical, but your options may be more limited than women who have recs and/or already know a lot of women in chapters. It's not like a big SEC recruitment where you have to get recs to get to the second round, but it is still big, which means that women who don't know active collegians are at a slight disadvantage. That doesn't mean you won't get a bid...UIUC has a very very high placement rate for women who attend all the parties to which they are invited, etc., but it does mean that you have a very limited opportunity to make an impression on some of the stronger recruiting chapters who have to make heavy releases early on. That said, it's a great place to be Greek, and as someone who was in a weak recruiting chapter there, I still had an awesome experience.

I would be sure you emphasize that you are going to be there for all four years (assuming that's the case) and that you understand the housing and financial commitment that you are taking on. Also, shopping options in Champaign are somewhat limited, so I'd try to make sure you have appropriate outfits before you get down there.

Finally, you are easily identifiable from what you've posted thus far, which is fine, but be careful about anything else you post. Questions and stuff are fine; anything about which chapters you want or the like is not.

My recruitment story as a PNM at UIUC will turn up in a search, but it's 15 years old at this point, so take it with a shaker of salt.

Just as a word of advice, many students thought for sure they would love a particular subject, try out their majors and then later reconsider the major they chose. Being an international student, you may be more focused and set on your major (due to knowing that you have to meet extra financial and immigration obligations); however, do consider that you may end up changing majors. That would make your focus on sororities with your major somewhat irrelevant.

In the long run, while American sororities do support strong scholarship, specific major isn't a particular focus. I encourage you to simply seek out the group of women that you feel a personal connection with - those you could see being friends with because you enjoy their company.

Good luck!

There will be plenty of other groups on campus to join pertaining to your major. Joining a social sorority and talking about nothing but your major with others of your major who you will be living with would get irritating and boring quickly.

The main reason there's a sorority specifically for engineering majors is due to the above-average rigorous time demands of the engineering program and the challenges that women face in that field.