Rush at UofA

clairedelune · #1 05-08-2008, 09:50 PM

Well I hope my excuse is valid, lol. I'm coming with my parents from Orlando and it really is stupid to fly over for a day for orientation in July, then drive back in August for move-in week/Rush. So, we'll make one trip and arrive the 10th, the day before rush week starts. The 14th is the only orientation day in August, so it cuts right into recruitment, but logistically, it makes wayy more sense.

Basically, I only need to be at orientation to register for classes. I'm going Honors so the classes can't be totally horrid, and I'm coming in knowing exactly what I want to take for each semester and I'm not picky about class times.

I am aware that when you only get to meet with the girls for a few minutes a day, missing one day is a big deal. I'm thinking that if I just go to register and come back for recruitment it shouldn't interfere or that hopefully I won't miss anything? When do activities on philanthropy usually start?

KSUViolet06 · #2 05-08-2008, 11:22 PM

At a school like Bama, I'm going to guess that the parties start early and go all day. Zillini posted above that parties are typically from about 9:00am-6:30pm.

violetpretty · #3 05-09-2008, 12:52 AM

Is there any way you could register online? Maybe you could see your academic advisor and tell him/her what you plan to take (assuming those classes are open and everything fits) and you could just register yourself when you get to Tuscaloosa (or maybe before when you're still at home)?

If you can afford/are free that weekend to go to orientation in July, I would go. Orientation is fun! You meet so many people, become acquainted with the campus and its amenities and facilities, and of course, register for classes. Do you not spend the night? I thought orientation would be boring and stupid and pointless so I put off registering for it, but I had a great time at my orientation!

I'd call Panhellenic and your academic advisor about this and see if something can be resolved. I would not recommend missing any part of recruitment if you can avoid it. Your philanthropy round chapters can't guarantee you an invite (it would be unfair to the other PNMs), but there's no guarantee you'll be cut (unless Panhellenic considers it unexcused).

bamagirl09 · #4 05-09-2008, 01:02 AM

Unless things have changed since...oh, last week...orientation is 2 days. The orientation people are NOT lenient (sp?) about missing any parts of the day for recruitment. They have actually been annoyingly strict about it in the past...You may just have to bite the bullet and come during June or July or be ready to have fairly heavy cuts during BOTH philanthropy days because you will most likely be missing parties on both days...

AOIIRhoDelta · #5 05-09-2008, 06:48 AM

Not only is it not good to miss part of rush, but you will be basically screwed if you register that late. I know it seems silly as far as travel expenses, but get the earliest date possible. My best friend is a freshman at Bama who went to the tenth orientation (also honors) and her options were severely limited. she ended up only taking 12 hours that semester... including band and oboe lessons. she told me there weren't even any language classes left other than urdu...

FSUZeta · #6 05-09-2008, 08:02 AM

claire,

my daughter goes to samford(in birmingham) & we made two trips in the summer from naples-one for orientation in the early summer and one to move her into the dorm in august. we will making similar trips for our son this summer. it's worth it to do two trips.

orientation is important-it is at orientation that you will meet the kids you will be attending bama with for the next 4 years. believe it or not, in that short period of time you might make a good connection with someone you meet. you have one more chance to familiarize yourself with the campus and the town before classes begin. and i can promise you that the sorority members who are orientation leaders will be checking out all the pnms. they will do it discreetly, of course, but i know they will be letting their sisters know to be sure to "check out clairedelune from orlando-what a cutie!!"

more importantly, you register for classes, and as aopirhodelta pointed out, the pickings are going to be slim if you wait until right before school starts to register for classes-they don't hold spaces in classes open for late registrants.

there are enough pnms going thru recruitment at bama that the sororities don't need to cut pnms who miss a day any slack-and they won't. there are at least a dozen other pnms waiting to jump in your spot. your chances will be greatly minimized if you have to skip a day of recruitment.

33girl · #7 05-09-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

orientation is important-it is at orientation that you will meet the kids you will be attending bama with for the next 4 years. believe it or not, in that short period of time you might make a good connection with someone you meet.

Or you might develop a crush on someone that lasts for quite a while, until you see his picture many moons later and see that he got fat.

I'm sorry, did I make this about me?

At any rate...I forgot about the whole not getting classes concept if you don't go through the earliest orientation you can. I went to maybe the 6th out of 12, and there were already LOTS of classes that were full. Oh, and even for my teeny school, ours was 2 days long. I can't imagine a big school like Bama would have a 1 day orientation. I agree w/ everyone else - go to orientation/register in July, get it out of the way, and then you can concentrate on rush!