Hi ladies! I've been looking around the forums since I decided to rush next Fall, and you've been helpful to a lot of the girls here... So I've decided to delurk and ask some questions of my own! Here's some background: I'm in kind of a unique situation - I used to go to a music conservatory, and am now "transferring" to Rider University, the school attached to the conservatory. Even though the campuses are completely separate and don't have much to do with each other, they consider this switching majors rather than really "transferring," so I'll have junior status next year (I'm 20, so this is normal for me). However, since I'm doing a double major in English/Philosophy, I'll most likely be there for three more years. Also, even though it was possible for me to rush when I was attending the conservatory, it wasn't exactly encouraged... Thus the reason why I waited until now to rush! Here are some questions for y'all...
I'll be living with my boyfriend (who just graduated college and has a job in NJ) in an apartment next year... Even though I'd LOVE to live in the chapter house if I got a bid, I've already made the commitment to my boyfriend. I'd only be living about five minutes from campus, and I definitely want to be involved in campus activities, but will it hurt me that I'll be living off-campus?
I know junior rushing can be kind of iffy (and really I don't know at Rider - the website says that juniors and even seniors are more than welcome to rush, but I don't know if they actually put this into practice), will it help to mention that I'll be in school for three more years rather than two because of my double major?
When is it appropriate to contact the office of Greek life? I have a few questions I'd like to ask (for instance, whether or not there's a requirement that initiates have to live in the chapter house), but I don't want to call them too early. The website has mostly outdated events, though, and the PHC chapters at Rider don't have websites, so there's really no other way for me to get information! Can I call them when the school year starts up again, or should I wait a while?
Thanks for your help ladies! PS: I know Rider is a small school, but if, by any chance anyone knows anything about its competitiveness vs. other schools, I'd love any information.
EDIT: Thanks for your help! I don't know how I missed that before... I've found the information on our website, and we do have COB in the Fall and formal recruitment in the Spring.
It seems so intimidating, though! I've been hearing that in COB, chapters really only recruit friends of current members, and because I'm a transfer, I feel like I'm out of luck there! I wonder if I should wait until the spring to rush, or if that would make my chances even worse... I know I'll have to be a big girl and expect cuts, but should I even bother to go to the COB events as a Junior transfer?