To all who are from USC or the UC System Please r/o!

newbie · #1 03-22-2001, 11:06 PM

Hi! I was hoping someone could help me w/this! I am planning to go to one of the schools in the UC system or USC. Is anyone here from one of those schools? If so, I would greatly appreciate any advice you could give me regarding Greek Life!! How "important" is Greek Life at your campus, and how "Cutthroat" is Rush? Also, do I need recs, a resume, etc. etc..? Any tips on dress, as I know rush in the West is different than rush in the South (I have read southern_theta's rush tips).

I would love it if you could give me info about Greek life at your school...and actually, any tips in general for success (academic, social, etc...) at your school! THanks so much!

[This message has been edited by newbie (edited March 22, 2001).]

amycat412 · #2 03-23-2001, 04:33 AM

Newbie,

I went to USC. Email me w specific questions and I'll be happy to answer them...

In general, greek life is big and rush is competitive. Not like in the South, but for the West Coast, yes. Recs are not necessary but cannot hurt. Resumes, check with the panhellenic office at SC. I don't remember ever seeing any used--but Rush applications were widely circulated.

Like I said, email me. I am happy to help. It can be overwhelming going in with such a big greek system (I believe there are currently 12 sororities) but rush/recruitment can also be exciting and fun.

It is certainly possible to have a great experience at USC or, for that matter, UCLA without being in the Greek system. It all depends on where you find yourself gravitating. I had friends in the film school who did not go greek and didn't even notice. Others in other disciplines didn't have that kind of community to be a part of. For me, the greeks were so visible and so everywhere, I just knew I had to be one and I've never regretted it!

Amy

[This message has been edited by amycat412 (edited March 23, 2001).]

SoCalGirl · #3 03-23-2001, 12:48 PM

As far as UC's go, Amy's advice would probably hold true for UCLA.

But all the other UCs vary so much in terms of Greek life it's like night and day. Part of it really depends on how "social" the campus is overall. For instance, SB has a great greek system. But the whole campus is known for being "fun". I went to SD. Tiny greek life. But SD is all about studying. Were pretty much known for being an antisocial campus. The student activities office actually had to have a seminar on how to meet people!

And I mean like how to just break the ice w/ a new friend, not how to hook up!

The dedicated an entire day to getting the campus to just say hi to one another.

How sad!

persephone631 · #4 03-29-2001, 12:26 PM

I go to ucd, and our grek community is completely different from other greek communities, even UCB which is so close.
The greek system at UCD is very small, only about 10%, but I enjoyed being a part of it.
I came to school without knowing anyone, and formal recruitment, and joining a house helped me meet so many great people. I definatly recommend it.

PS: let us know where you decide to go

CAgal · #5 03-29-2001, 03:48 PM

persephone631,
I'm seriously considering transferring to UCD from a community college this fall. I was wondering how the greek system is there and how it is for transfer rushees. UCD is my first or second choice so I would really like to know if it is hard for transfer rushees or even if it matters at all. I know 1/3 of the incoming new students to UCD are transfers (I went to the UCD recuitment for accepted students), so do you get a lot of transfer rushees? Hope you can answer my questions. Thanks a bunch..

persephone631 · #6 03-29-2001, 11:53 PM

Half of the girls that go through recruitment are tranfers and it is no problem joining a sorority. I would recommend going through formal rush in september/October to get a look at all of the sororities on campus. their are eight panhellenic soroities. Recommondation letters help, but they arent required. Feel free to email me if you have any more questions, Id love to answer whatever I can.

newbie · #7 03-31-2001, 05:20 PM

Hi guys!

thanks so much for your replies

I'm so sorry that it has taken me so long to reply! I have been swamped by Midterms and papers...yuck! and plus AP testing is in May...so I have been studying my ass off LOL...

Isit OK to email you, Amycat, after April 7th? Then i have spring break, so I can finally relax some!

Thanks again everybody for all the info!! Persephone, and others, do you mind if I email you guys also? Thanks!!

[This message has been edited by newbie (edited March 31, 2001).]

persephone631 · #8 03-31-2001, 06:10 PM

feel free to email me with any questions, and i'll help as much as I can

amycat412 · #9 03-31-2001, 06:14 PM

Newbie, Email me anytime, I'll be happy to help answer any questions you have.

Amy

SoCalGirl · #10 03-31-2001, 07:05 PM

Email any questions, any time

newbie · #11 03-31-2001, 08:10 PM

Thanks persephone, Amycat, and SoCalGirl, you guys are the best!!!

Oh I hope you guys don't mind if it might be sorta long?

[This message has been edited by newbie (edited March 31, 2001).]

amycat412 · #12 04-01-2001, 04:57 AM

Don't mind long at all Newbie! Bring it on!

Amy

newbie · #13 04-01-2001, 09:06 PM

Cool! Thanks Amycat!!! Hehe, I might even go off on a tangent b/c I'll be so happy of spring Break! LOL

pbpck · #14 04-29-2001, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SoCalGirl:
As far as UC's go, Amy's advice would probably hold true for UCLA.

But all the other UCs vary so much in terms of Greek life it's like night and day. Part of it really depends on how "social" the campus is overall. For instance, SB has a great greek system. But the whole campus is known for being "fun". I went to SD. Tiny greek life. But SD is all about studying. Were pretty much known for being an antisocial campus. The student activities office actually had to have a seminar on how to meet people! And I mean like how to just break the ice w/ a new friend, not how to hook up! The dedicated an entire day to getting the campus to just say hi to one another. How sad!

How sad! What year did you graduate? I am a greek here at UCSD and I absolutely love it. The greek system here is growing seemingly exponentially each rush. My chapter was capped in fall rush! Before I came to college, I also expected to go greek and believed since I was born that I would go to USC like my parents did. But I came here and could not be happier. Rush is formal here...a very tiring but well worth it week. And while this campus does remain a very academic campus, our greek system is amazing. Our girls always joke about how it's nice to be here because you are guaranteed that all the hot surfer fraternity boys are intelligent if they are here! Our campus is beautiful, the teachers are amazing, and the beach is always open for random exchanges. The top houses are competitive like all other campuses. But we all have lives outside of the greek system. I have just returned from an event that included greeks from all over California and I was impressed with our girls for having so much class. And our guys for having fun but not being blatantly obnoxious idiots like at other "party" schools. Remember that you are at a university for 4 years...ask yourself what you want out of a sorority...if you can handle four years of the row, every weekend. Here our social life is diverse...a day at the beach, shopping downtown, bars in Pacific Beach, exchanges at rented out restaurants and bars, fraternity formals in Rosarito, and those infamous fraternity trips to TJ! Feel free to ask any questions about UCSD or our greek system! I am ecstatic to answer them!

josh8o · #15 04-29-2001, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pbpck:

How sad! What year did you graduate? I am a greek here at UCSD and I absolutely love it. The greek system here is growing seemingly exponentially each rush. My chapter was capped in fall rush! Before I came to college, I also expected to go greek and believed since I was born that I would go to USC like my parents did. But I came here and could not be happier. Rush is formal here...a very tiring but well worth it week. And while this campus does remain a very academic campus, our greek system is amazing. Our girls always joke about how it's nice to be here because you are guaranteed that all the hot surfer frat boys are intelligent if they are here! Our campus is beautiful, the teachers are amazing, and the beach is always open for random exchanges. The top houses are competitive like all other campuses. But we all have lives outside of the greek system. I have just returned from an event that included greeks from all over California and I was impressed with our girls for having so much class. And our guys for having fun but not being blatantly obnoxious idiots like at other "party" schools. Remember that you are at a university for 4 years...ask yourself what you want out of a sorority...if you can handle four years of the row, every weekend. Here our social life is diverse...a day at the beach, shopping downtown, bars in Pacific Beach, exchanges at rented out restaurants and bars, fraternity formals in Rosarito, and those infamous fraternity trips to TJ! Feel free to ask any questions about UCSD or our greek system! I am ecstatic to answer them!

is it true that fraternities at UCSD do not have houses because the campus is in La Jolla?