I know I have already posted here, but I feel I have to again. A lot of advice is good on here, but with all due respect, the greek scene at U of I is a bit different than at any other school I have been associated with. Now, I was there a while back, so a lot may have changed too. When I was there, there was no "top house." There were really good houses and then there were good houses. The system as a whole was very, very strong. Even chapters that may not have been considered over-the-top desirable at U of I are probably considered one of that GLO's top national chapters. Most sororities have been on that campus for close to a hundred years and have had lots of time to build up great alumnae bases, reputations, and legacies. I honestly did not feel the pressure to pledge a certain GLO for its reputation. That is NOT the case at any of the schools here in Oklahoma where a select few GLOs dominate the greek scene. At U of I, the emphasis was more on the system than on the particular house. I felt like every house had a fair share of brainy girls, musical girls, hefty girls, skinny girls, beautiful girls. It just is not a cookie cutter system where if you don't have a particular resume you have no chance at certain houses. This is not to say that some rushees don't drop out when they are cut by houses THEY wanted, just that every rushee is not after the same few houses.
Also, unlike some campuses, it is EXTREMELY common for sophomores to rush. Many, many houses on campus routinely bid sophomores - lots of sophomores. So, being a junior isn't as far off target as in some places where even being a sophomore makes rush difficult.
Quote:
|
Also keep in mind that if being a social Greek doesn't work out in formal recruitment, give informal recruitment events a try, and/or look into joining a Greek lettered service or pre-professional organization.
|
I would throw out a word of caution here. When I was at U of I, I had never even heard of informal rush. I had no idea what it was or that any chapters participated in it. I realize now that some do, but as an earlier post mentioned, it would be very risky to hold out for this as your chances for getting a bid would be greatly diminished because very few houses would be participating, and they would be the same ones who would have no problem extending a bid to you in formal. To say that the emphasis at U of I is on formal rush would be a HUGE understatement.
Also, even the professional fraternities (in the school of business anyway) at U of I are EXTREMELY competitive and nearly impossible to get into. (Unless things have changed recently.) So, it isn't as easy as saying if you don't get into a social sorority just join a professional one.
Just to add again that like ZILLINI I was there in the late 80s so lots may have changed, but those are my impressions from my time there.
ILL!
INI!