Greek life at Vanderbilt?
 

i'm going there and am interested in the Greek system but i'm from NJ and not going to know a single soul in TN. i have heard that Greek life is very prevalent, and i'm definately interested in rushing, but i'm not sure how i'm going to fit in.

i've checked out the websites, and looked at pictures, and there is a definate lack of minorities such as asians. is it that asians choose not to rush, or that sororities usually dont pick them?

i feel that i will be a good candidate, and in all honesty i'm asian and very proud of that fact, but i dislike asians who only hang out with others who are *exactly* like them. i attend a very diverse high school and i hang out with lots of different nationalities. i know that Vanderbilt is predominantly caucasian, so i'm wondering if my nationality will affect me during rush.

also, is there anything i can do that will help my chances? (besides being myself)

also a non Greek related question:
i will be attending Peabody College (the school of education), and does that mean i will dorm differently than those at the other schools? and is the campus different and/or far away? and will that affect my participation in the Greek system?

First off, I went to school about an hour north of Vandy. Albeit it was a smaller school I am sure we have some similarities. Vandy has over 50% of the freshman woman in sororities, which is great!
As for being Asian, I am sure it will NOT hinder you. The problem we had at our school was that women of other races did not want to rush NPC groups. It was very difficult. Actually at our school because all of the chapters wanted more diversity in them it was usually a good thing. We usually had 400 women sign up for rush and maybe 1 or 2 of them were not white. So, if you look at the websites for the chapters at my school you would not see many faces that weren't white, but it wasn't because they were not wanted there!!!
Just be yourself!!! I am sure that you are excited and Vandy is a great school! They have so much going on in a great city! I look forward to hearing your rush story as it unfolds. If you need any help just PM or email me!

I recently met the DG recruitment chair from Vanderbilt at our Recruitment Workshop. I will email her with your questions and post them on here when I hear from her. I hope this will help you out.

The Greek Life website is... [URL=http://www.vanderbilt.edu/greek_life]


Check it out and get all the information you can there, and I will email Jen. :)

My suitemate's best friend is a KD at Vandy. I know that she likes it, but warns that it definatly has that kind of "big school formal Southern Rush" that gets discussed so often around here. I think that it probably is a pretty overwhelming experience, but can be soooo worth it in the end. if you're interested you should try it, in alot of cases sororities are looking for diversity. I hope it goes well:D

My older sister was in a sorority at Vanderbilt, so I'll do my best to answer your questions from what I remember about her experience, but she's much older than me.. so just keep that in mind.
From what I remember when visiting her, her sorority was diverse. In fact, her little sister was asian, so I do not think that will necessarily hinder you during recruitment.
Rush at Vanderbilt occurs in January, with one info part during the first semester. You will be assigned a Rho Chi during the first semester. Make sure you ask your Rho Chi any questions that come up. Rush at Vanderbilt is rather competitive, be sure to try to get a rec to every organization. Also, since you have defered rush, you will have a chance to get to know sisters first semester, and they will have the chance to see you before you go through rush. Usually being involved in other campus organizations makes them look favorably upon you, bacuse they know that you'll be an involved member. Also, as shallow as this may sound, don't do anything too stupid first semester..... everyone makes some mistakes when they first get to college, but your reputation is made the first several months, and you want it to be a good one when you go through rush.
About the campus in general. Vanderbilt is broken into two parts. Peabody college is farther from the center of campus than any other part of the campus, however, I don't think that Freshmen are required to live on that side of campus. Actually, My sister lived right across from the Beta house her freshmen year (right near the colesium). Sophomores who are not placed high in the housing lottery usually get the dorms near Peabody. I'm not sure if you can request those dorms, so you are closer to your classes, as a freshmen. The walk is still probably only 15 minutes from those dorms to Greek Housing..... tops! My sister didn't have a problem with it when she lived over there her sophomore year. If you have any more questions, just let me know.. I also have a friend from high school who's in a sorority at Vandy, so I can ask her the questions for you! Good luck!

I got a reply from our VP Membership at Vanderbilt and this is what she said.....

"Greek
life is
really prevalent at Vandy, but I don't think she'll have a problem
fitting in.
I think the reason that she sees a lack of minorities in sororities is
that our
campus has a lack of minorities in general. It's not that sororities
don't
want them...in fact we have several women of Asian descent in our house
and we
love them dearly. I would tell her not to worry at all and that we're
very
excited that she's coming to Vandy!!"


Sounds like you have nothing to worry about hun!! Just try it out and I'm sure that you'll find your home in a sorority at Vanderbilt!!
Best of luck!

what are the fraternities like at vandy ?

PinkBliss, I sent you a PM. Congrats on Vandy!

PinkBliss, I know an Asian woman who was a Chi Omega at Vanderbilt and had a very positive experience. She grew up in the Deep South, and felt very much at home at Vanderbilt.

Ivy

thanks
i was just about to say that there was an asian girl who was a chi o at vanderbilt


**editted to add

of course, there is another girl there now

Congratulations on Vanderbilt! :) I think that you should search the rush threads to see how other women have approached recruitment particularly in the South. I think that you should do your homework and get your letters of recommendation. Good luck! :)

trisigmaATL-What is the name of your roommate's KD friend? I know a handful of KD's.
Also, AGD, which sorority was your older sister in?

I'm an ADPi....we're one of the newer(chartered in '78), groups on campus, and smaller. It's funny, though, because I get the feeling that on other Southern campuses ADPi is bigger.

Every southern campus ive seen ADPi is very big...they are one of the top at my school....two of my best friends were ADPis here.

PinkBliss, did you get my PM? I tried to post and it timed out, and I wrote you an incredibly long PM but I'm not sure if you got it. I would have got to you earlier but I just joined recently!

PinkBliss (I love that name!) -

I would think that ethnicity is the one of the least problems during rush anymore! Read through a few rush "horror stories" and you'll see that you're sure to be an asset to whichever sorority you chose! And frankly, by reading a few of the horror stories, I think it will help you relax.

Enjoy recruitment. Make friends in many chapters, and in your Rho Chi (or whatever they're calling it) group, and have fun!

Most importantly, we want to know each and every detail! Be sure to let us know about the parties during each round, and how you come to make your decision - some of us live vicariously for that stuff! ;)

Best of luck to you -
honeychile