U of Illinois Chicago

Mcr · #1 08-14-2011, 08:35 PM

Hi ladies!

Ive transfered from a school in Texas to U of Illinois Chicago. I'm just curious if anyone knows much about the competitive-ness, or anything in general about the GL up in Chicago. I'm extremely familiar with the Greek Life here in Texas as I have had many girlfriends involved in GL. Ive searched the greek life website for UIC and couldn't find much. So anything about Chicago in general is a great help!

DeltaBetaBaby · #2 08-14-2011, 08:42 PM

UIC has three NPC sororities, and a bunch of locals. The NPC groups will conduct a formal recruitment in the fall, but it is relatively low-frills. I believe there is an open round, then an interview round, and then an invitational round, but don't quote me on that.

lovespink88 · #3 08-14-2011, 08:46 PM

Not a UIC student, I have a cousin who was a sorority member at UIC, so I've heard just a little bit about their NPC chapters. There are 3 on campus--Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Phi Epsilon and Phi Sigma Sigma. From what I understand, recruitment is not competitive at all. My cousin joined as a senior (granted, she did attend school for 6 years due to a major change.) I don't believe Greek life is very big due to the commuter nature of the school. However, I do know that in recent years the school has been going through lots of changes to accommodate students who want to live at school. Maybe this will help Greek life? Another cousin will be attending in the fall and I believe she is living in one of the new dorms there.

I may be mis-reading your sentence, but if you have any questions about Chicago in general, feel free to PM me. I have lived here all my life!

Found a link. Not too much more info, but here's a schedule and a place to sign up:

http://www.cpcuic.com/recruitment.html

Looks like you're right, DBB. I wonder how that works? Do you sign up for interviews and the only invite event is preference? Or do you have to be invited to interview too? Maybe I could just ask my cousin, lol

xjust mari · #4 08-14-2011, 09:57 PM

I graduated from UIC in 2010 and am a member of an NPC sorority. NPC recruitment is not competitive, so you don't need recs. I wouldn't say there are a "bunch of locals"- maybe 2 that sort of compete with the NPCs, plus many national multicultural orgs that hold recruitment on their own a little later in the semester.

Before recruitment, PNMs are split into groups with 2 guides that you'll visit the sororities with. Getting to Know You and Philanthropy were separate nights while I was there, but I see they put them together. The sororities may have videos and slideshows and decorate the room with tshirts, paddles, all kinds of stuff to give you an idea of what it's like to be a member. You'll be introduced to the different philanthropies and probably do a craft at each sorority. UIC is the only school I've ever seen with an "Interview Night", but you'll talk about dues, time commitments, and other expectations of membership. Some sororities do this 1 on 1, some do it in groups. Pref night is the first invitational round, but you can be invited to Pref at all 3. In previous years, PNMs went to the Greek Life office Saturday between 9 and 12 to pick up their bids and accept/decline. There was a revealing ceremony for the recruitment guides, and then you ran to your new sisters. This year Bid Day is a Friday and I'm not sure if they've changed it so you all open your bids together. I believe they call if you aren't invited to pref, or don't get a bid.

UIC is still largely a commuter campus, but the students who are involved in Greek life are mostly the traditional student: 18-22, live on or near campus, have a lot of time to dedicate, etc. I believe total is 50, and quota was around 17 last year.

I hope this helps. I'm still so in love with my sorority, and I hope you find a home. As always, be yourself and keep an open mind.

honeychile · #5 08-14-2011, 10:19 PM

[tangent]
There's supposedly a plaque about children from ADPi on some building at UIC. Does anyone know which one? I keep wondering...
[/tangent]

xjust mari · #6 08-14-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeychile

[tangent]
There's supposedly a plaque about children from ADPi on some building at UIC. Does anyone know which one? I keep wondering...
[/tangent]

Hmm, never heard that before. Do you know anything else about it? UIC has a west campus which is where all the medical buildings are, maybe it's over there? I haven't seen anything like that on the east campus, where I lived and had classes for 4 years.

Mcr · #7 08-14-2011, 10:32 PM

Thank you all! Im excited enough to go to Chicago already as it is the city I have always dreamed of living in since I was young and greek life has always been something I've wanted to participate in. I am a bit older than the traditional student and will be making a smaller commute.. well walk, however it is a bit encouraging to hear that its less competitive than the big 12 school I attend. With that said how many girls generally go through recruitment?

DeltaBetaBaby · #8 08-14-2011, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mcr

Thank you all! Im excited enough to go to Chicago already as it is the city I have always dreamed of living in since I was young and greek life has always been something I've wanted to participate in. I am a bit older than the traditional student and will be making a smaller commute.. well walk, however it is a bit encouraging to hear that its less competitive than the big 12 school I attend. With that said how many girls generally go through recruitment?

If quota is 17, I'd guess the number of women is about three times that. Just to be clear, though, being Greek at UIC is going to be a very different experience than at a Big 12 school. There are no sorority/fraternity houses (though some groups may have unofficial off-campus housing), for starters. All three NPC sororities are great groups and you can have an awesome time in a UIC chapter, but you may have to un-learn some of your existing notions of Greek life.

xjust mari · #9 08-14-2011, 10:43 PM

You have a much better shot at getting a bid as an upperclassmen at UIC than at a Big 12 school. Juniors who make strong connections with a sorority routinely get bids.

I think around 100 will start rush. I had said quota was ~18, but it's because a lot of girls drop out and decide it isn't for them. I don't have a figure, but there are not many girls who are released by all 3 sororities. Keeping an open mind is important to ensure that doesn't happen though.

xjust mari · #10 08-14-2011, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

If quota is 17, I'd guess the number of women is about three times that. Just to be clear, though, being Greek at UIC is going to be a very different experience than at a Big 12 school. There are no sorority/fraternity houses (though some groups may have unofficial off-campus housing), for starters. All three NPC sororities are great groups and you can have an awesome time in a UIC chapter, but you may have to un-learn some of your existing notions of Greek life.

Phi Sigma Sigma has a house and live-in requirements.

honeychile · #11 08-14-2011, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mcr

Thank you all! Im excited enough to go to Chicago already as it is the city I have always dreamed of living in since I was young and greek life has always been something I've wanted to participate in. I am a bit older than the traditional student and will be making a smaller commute.. well walk, however it is a bit encouraging to hear that its less competitive than the big 12 school I attend. With that said how many girls generally go through recruitment?

Keep in touch with Greek Chatters - there's a lot of them in or around Chicago. I'll be one of them in a few months!

I've seen pictures of the plaque, but could never find out which building. All of my greek books are packed, so I can't check - but I will at some time!

Mcr · #12 08-14-2011, 10:51 PM

Speaking for myself only, I feel like I would get the experience better suited for me personally at UIC compared to my big 12 school. With 100 plus actives in a chapter at my current school, I feel like the smaller chapter size could add a level of intimacy (? for lack of a better word) that I would enjoy out of my chapter. I don't need the big fancy houses or anything that most non-greeks generally stereotype. I want to join a sorority for sisterhood and philanthropy and from what I've read UIC can really offer that.

I will keep in touch! Thanks everyone again!

DeltaBetaBaby · #13 08-29-2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xjust mari

Phi Sigma Sigma has a house and live-in requirements.

Thanks for the correction. Their website does not mention this at all.

OP, I saw chalk on the quad today that said the info meeting is September 6 in SCE. I don't recall the room number, though.

xjust mari · #14 08-29-2011, 03:47 PM

There's an ice cream social on Thursday 4pm-7pm in Room 613 in SCE. That's kind of strange about the chalk on the quad though- September 6th is listed as the first day of recruitment by the CPC website, so I'm not sure why it says it's an informational meeting. I wouldn't recommend missing it either way.

Mcr · #15 08-29-2011, 05:19 PM

If a certain house has live in requirements, how does that work if say you have already signed a lease and have dogs. Does it discount you from that house as a pnm?