Greek life at ECU

[ECUKaitlyn]

Hi...I was just wondering if anyone could give me insiders information of Greek Life at East Carolina University. I will be attending in the fall as a freshman and my mom is encouraging me to rush. I know ECU is a big party school, and from what I see on TV and stuff it seems that being in a sorority would encourage me to party extra hard, but from what I've read on this board, it will give me a well rounded college experience. SO what is it really like?

I have heard from people that I went to high school with that the greek world at ECU is very exclusive...meaning they only hang out with each other, and I have also heard that there are a few outcast sororities that no one likes! Why?

Also, I have read that rush is really competitive in the south...is this true for ECU?

I need to know the real deal before I sign up for rush...could someone from ECU please give me some info! Thanks!

[VT Tri-D]

x

[AZ-AlphaXi]

If you haven't already done so, you might want to check out the panhellenic web page at ECU. Here's the link:

http://www.ecu.edu/studentlife/greek...anhellenic.htm

According to the web page, recruitment starts August 19.

[LexiKD]

Have fun at ECU!

I graduated in 2000 from the refounding class of KD there and cannot say enough about ECU!

Recruitment: Not like a big school recruitment. It is August 19-25, during school and will be tons of fun. All 9 chapters offer a great place to call home. And Greeks don't just hang out with Greeks. They are only 10%, if that high and they are not that scary!

I suggest getting recs if possible for any group you would be interested in.

Keep us posted & Good Luck!

[binks]

I went to ECU from 1998 to 2000 and now i have transferred. But i had a get time. I went through Rush my first year and i dind't really like Formal Rush so i dropped, but i still hung out with my friends i made in my Rho Chi Group. theY Almost convince me to Rush their sororities, but i had went to Gamma Sigma Sigma it's a service sorority at ECU. I loved it!! We did everythign a social sorority did and more some. I was sad to transferred, and i never thought i would go social greek! BUT, i found a sorority at my new school full of girls like me. Just hte girls next dooor who liked to party and also we all share the same value and my nationals is awesome!! When i met some of my new sisters, i never thought they would be greek, but they were!! and i got a bid 2 weeks later and have not looked back since!! i'm getting off the point!! BUt i recommend going greek, even if it's not social!! my fave houses are AOPi and Zeta, but that is just me and that was two years ago.. GO IN WITH AN OPEN MIND!!! And go where you are HAPPY, it doesn't matter if the houses are the "UNCOOL ONES" many houses get that rep for no good reason, like a sister or two wouldn't hook-up with a "fratboy" All the houses are good at ECU, just find the one that you don't hav3e to be anyone else but yourself!!! that is what i had and i am a member in two awesome sororities! (P.S.-- i jsut want to explain the reason that i can be in a social after being in a service is that GSS was not in NPC, like my social sorority)

greek lovin'
mary

[ECUKaitlyn]

Thanks for giving me the info guys it was really helpful! I checked out the panhellenic website and rush sounds fun so I think I am going to sign up. I might wait until after orientation to sign up though because hopefully they will have some more info on greek life when I go! Even if I go thru rush that doesn't mean I'm obligated to join one right? So what do I have to lose! I can't wait til I get to visit Greenville and check out the houses!

VT Tri-D.. that is so cool that your sister is going to ECU too! When is she going to orientation? MAybe we will eventually end up as sisters! How ironic would that be!?

I have one other problem though. My bestest friend, who I'm rooming with, is thinking about going thru Rush too. What if we go to different houses? Will that strain our friendship?

Also, are service sororities involved in rush too?

Thanks again for your help!

[ECUKaitlyn]

one last question...how would I go about getting recs? and do I need a seperate one for each sorority? Should I get one for ALL the groups?

Thanks!
Kaitlyn

[VT Tri-D]

x

[AZ-AlphaXi]

Originally posted by ECUKaitlyn
one last question...how would I go about getting recs? and do I need a seperate one for each sorority? Should I get one for ALL the groups?

Thanks!
Kaitlyn

Well, it never hurts to have a recommendation (rec). Some chapters call recommendations a letter of introduction. This gives the women in the chapter additional information about you. You get a recommendation from women who are alumnae of the sorority, so you'd want a different one for each NPC group on campus. However, technically, it is the responsibility of each chapter to secure the rec not yours. If you want to pursue getting recs, start by asking women you know (relatives, teachers, mothers of friends, women at church, friends of your mother) if they were in a sorority in college and if so, would they write a rec for you. Depending on how well the woman knows you, she may or may not want a resume from you. Having the information from a resume available helps the alumna to write a better rec for you.

Also, usually only NPC chapters participate in formal recruitment. Service sororitites, such as Gamma Sigma Sigma, usually have recruitment activites later in the semister and are usually much more informal.

Good luck! I know you'll have a wonderful time. Just keep an open mind and go where you feel at home.

[dzandiloo]

EXCELLENT advice VT Tri-D!

When I was a Chapter Consultant (10 years ago this Fall!), the first full rush I was assigned to was at ECU--what a trip that was, since I came from a school with only 3 sororities!!! From what I saw, the houses at ECU have very distinct personalities--all of them special in their own way.

Kaitlyn--no matter what, go with your heart, and keep an open mind! There are so many great groups at ECU-I hope you find a home that you will cherish forever!

[LexiKD]

Kaitlyn: You will be fine with or witout recs...they just help the chapter with more information on each member. It isn't like huge schools were there are more legacies coming in than there is quota...but they are positive!

DZandiloo, said it best. Each house is different! But go were you are happy and fit in.

Make sure to look polished everyday and make sure to talk and get as much info as possible out of the women at each house, you will want to have all the facts in when making a big choice!

Good Luck!

[rhochi2002]

Hi kaityln,
Rush is a great expirence especially for freshmen girls. I recomend coming with an open mind, and a positive attitude ( which can be hard after the 5th party in 100 degree weather)
Lexi has some excellent advice on the school specifics. When you go to orientation find the panhellic booth and ask any questions you have.
Also you and your roomie should try your best to get in different recruitment groups otherwise you'll be temped to pair up. which can hender you from getting the full effect of recruitment. Do not worry about going to different sororities. In fact it can actually improve your friendship because you'll both have new expirences to share with on another.
Although it is the sororities "job" to get the reference, it never hurts to come in prepared. find out the sororities at ECU and the ask your church ladies, school teachers, family members and in other communty connections for references... ie an alumnae panhellic council.
After you have done all that come to school get settled in and enjoy what could be one of the best expirences of your life. Worry about who you can see calling your family over the next four years!

[theta sig agd]

Hello! Just wanted to let you know that at my campus we hung out with non-greeks, greeks of other groups, and my own sisters. There was no pressure to stay within the org. Also on my campus a letter of introduction was a letter written by the person going through rush to introduce her to the chapters on campus. This didnt guarentee you a bid but it did look really good that you put the effort to give as much info about yourself as possible. Recs or what we called RIF's (Rush Information Forms) were done by Alum or other members of our group who had information about you. This would have to be done by each group though!

Is your mother greek?
I am not sure yet if my org has a chapter on your campus. I havent looked yet , but good luck in whatever you choose to do!

[ECUKaitlyn]

Thanks for the info! I think I understand the reccommendation letter thing better now. I talked to my mom about it and she said you had to have a rec in Texas. My mom was a Kappa Kappa Gamma in Texas, but they don't have them at ECU
Here are the sororities they have there:
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Omicron Pi
Alpha Phi
Alpha Xi Delta
Chi Omega
Delta Zeta
Kappa Delta
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Zeta Tau Alpha
My Mom said the Zeta's and Chi O's were good at her school, but she also said rush was totally different. I guess we shall see. I go to orientation at the end of June, so I'll keep ya'll updated.

Oh yeah..a side note..can you believe that only a few dorms at ECU have air conditioning!? It is so hot and humid there I don't see how you could live without it! Luckily my roommate got a doctors note for her alergies saying we had to have air!

Thanks again for all the help!

Originally posted by ECUKaitlyn
Oh yeah..a side note..can you believe that only a few dorms at ECU have air conditioning!? It is so hot and humid there I don't see how you could live without it! Luckily my roommate got a doctors note for her alergies saying we had to have air!

Heh...none of the dorms/apartments at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have air conditioning... It gets pretty hot and humid over here too.

Good luck Kaitlyn! We're looking forward to hearing about your recruitment experience!