<p>My D is almost set on attending Elon this fall. (Also deciding on Miami of Ohio, a 2nd choice.) I like the school a lot, but now am finding out the Greek life is more prevalent than she first thought. (Could it actually be stronger than Miami?!)</p>
<p>D will be Communications Fellow, so that helps w/ finding a "group" first year, but I'm concerned for the long run. She doesn't think she will be a drinker, and isn't sure Greek life is for her. (We are encouraging her to keep an open mind, as I think she would enjoy having "sisters.") Even though we are financially comfortable, she is not "showy" and not status driven, and is sensitive to the fact that many of her friends have fewer resources.</p>
<p>Is it really true that Greeks dominate the social scene? Are girls more affected by not being Greek than the boys? I'm really concerned that the small setting (Elon/ Burlington) coupled w/ Greek led social life will leave her feeling left out. </p>
<p>Can anyone give me the real scoop? Any current students out there?</p>
<p>I’m not a student-- but I’ve talked to quite a few. Here is what I’ve been told: Greek life is big, but if you choose not to join you will be fine. Check the other threads on Elon for more responses. I think it’s safe to assume too, that this is even more true if you’re a Fellow.</p>
<p>This was my concern too- big time. My d is almost set to go also to Elon. She is not a fellow so I worried even more than you. She is also not a drinker. Really, we have heard this is not a problem. All the girls who were greek said they have great friends outside of their sorority. I get the feeling they mixed up their friends with their activites. Elon students seem to have many activites so they have different sources for friendship. By the way I love Miami of Ohio but it was too big for my d. Elon’s campus reminds me a bit of Miami. I wish Elon’s town was more like Oxford but the students seem to manage. They have a good retention rate which is a good sign. My d thinks she will be able to find friends. She may not be in the majority but she thinks she will feel comfortable. Good luck!!</p>
<p>DS#2 will look at both Elon and Miami of Ohio next year–would you mind telling me which other schools your kids looked at? We’re still building our list. (And any thoughts/reactions you’d like to pass on would be greatly appreciated.)</p>
<p>I’m not involved in Greek life. I don’t drink. I’m happy.
It might help to join a learning community. I made a large group of friends within mine and I was absolutely terrified about the social scene before I came. We live in close proximity (same hall) and there was an almost instant bond that has strengthened over time. We’re all living on the hall together next year too :). </p>
<p>My advice would be to join organizations and clubs - just get around and meet lots of people. If typical Greek life isn’t for you, there is always the service fraternity and sorority. I have several friends in the service sorority and they love it - said it was one of the best things they ever did at Elon. I’m considering joining next year. </p>
<p>Elon’s size also helps in making friends. It’s large enough so that I’m always meeting new people, but it’s also small enough that I’m constantly seeing people who I know, wherever I go - people from my classes, clubs, organizations, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for posting. I’m happy to read the optimistic responses. I will continue to talk to her to see what she is really thinking. Sounds like it will work out fine. </p>
<p>1 Sky Pilot, it is especially good to hear of your experiences since I think you are a girl. It sounds like not being in a sorority hasn’t made you feel like your social life is DOA. I’m glad you are comfortable at Elon and have lots of friends. BTW, what’s the dating scene like? Enough boys to make it seem like dating is not a rarity? Might PM you sometime soon if I come up w/ more questions, if that’s ok.</p>
<p>MyLB: My D was accepted at Indiana U. also for Comm. and Business. They have a lovely campus, terrific college town, but huge student population. Dear friend’s D is very happy there. Also, UNC is great for this, but not what D wanted, hard for OOS apps, also. UGA, of course, but I am Ga Tech grad, so no go. Mizzou, Northwestern discarded. Sorry, I don’t have more but I have very picky D. Only about 5 states were worthy of consideration! :rolleyes: Good luck!</p>
<p>I didn’t go to Elon as a student, but I had several friends (mostly girls) that studied there. I was stationed on a military base about 3hrs east of Elon. My friends and I visited the college nearly every weekend. Greek life at Elon is big, hence this is why we visited often. They have huge sorority/fraternity houses that are part of the campus. With that said, in my experience the party scene was quite big for a small college like Elon. Back when I was down there btw 2003-05, I think the ratio from girls to guys was about 5 to 1. So I’m not sure how good dating and meeting new people will be. Maybe that is a better question for a girl who went there to answer.
I saw you mentioned UNC. I’m assuming you mean the Chapel Hill campus. That is a great school. I would recommend your d going there instead. Better school, has greek life; but also enough students who are not involved with greek life b/c of a larger student population.</p>
<p>I’m don’t know if you remember the campus correctly, VINGA84. Elon has small Greek houses at the back end of campus. My understanding is that only a dozen or so students can live there. They are little cottages. </p>
<p>Anyone else know about military men visiting the campus to party?</p>
<p>Rookie: according to the freshman girl my daughter had lunch with at Elon a couple of weeks ago, only 8-10 girls live in whatever houses there are on campus…and not every sorority has a house…and she also said that her closest friends did not even rush…not sure what above poster is referring to (and it is possible that alot has changed since then)</p>
<p>not sure how valid VINGA 84 comments are as a visitor. Elon has never been 5 to 1 girls…maybe thats what it felt like to him, but i can assure you its not. </p>
<p>My daughter is currently at Elon and just finished rushing, loves Elon, loves greek life. To her it is “big” as it has been the center of her focus these last few months (rush & pledging are done late Jan into the spring of freshman year). She is rooming with 2 girls from all different sororities next year off campus, yes greek houses only hold 8-10 students. Shes currently volunteering, signed up for a 5k and participating in a 24 hour dance marathon…and hopefully studying ;). Last weekend Third Eye Blind had a concert there (ask you daughter she’ll know who they are!). I don’t think you need to worry about the town being “too small” as theres a ton to do on campus. As a matter of fact theres a new magazine out in the supermarket aisle (US news special edition? not sure) ELON was voted “the school least likely to be bored at” wow…very impressive considering all the great schools out there.</p>
<p>As far as the “showy” thing…I can assure you that few students are running around with gold Amx cards. She, her friends and her “sisters” are all concerned with how to save $ and get the most from their spending $. Selling books to friends, sharing clothes, pooling $ for gas, looking for free dinners on campus and shopping at WAl-mart for clothes which she never did at home! I too, worried my daughter would feel the other kids had more. She never has.</p>
<p>My theory, right or wrong, is that your kid will find students similar to her and not similar to her. Left out? No, it will be up to her to engage in activities that peak her interest…greek or no greek…I think she’ll be very happy there.</p>
<p>It has been more than 5yrs since I’ve been around that area. But back then it was about a 5:1 ratio girls to guys; that I know for a fact. I spent lots a time around that campus and had many friends attending there, and one who worked in admissions part time. To me the frat houses were big, but maybe that is b/c I lived in small housing in a big city and small military housing most of my life. But yes, only about ten girls actually live in the house. But don’t be so naive people, visitors do sometimes stay at the houses even though they’re not suppose to. Its college and I’m sure that aspect still remains the same. Just trying to give a concerned parent something to think about.</p>
<p>Haha…don’t worry your daughters are safe. Not many military guys venture that far off in NC to socialize at a college. Most either go to the NC state/Raleigh area or Wilmington.</p>
<p>Regardless, it certainly appears some things have changed about Elon. It’s a good college and a nice clean environment. Best of luck in choosing a college.</p>
<p>Yup, I am a girl :). Feel free to pm me or ask whatever questions :). </p>
<p>I know absolutely nothing about military men coming to campus, though there are a handful of nice (and nice looking) ROTC boys here :). </p>
<p>As for the dating scene… girls are at a disadvantage because of the uneven gender ratio, but many girls who I’m friends with already have boyfriends at other colleges. If dating is a priority, then it will definitely be a possibility for your daughter. One of my female friends has been out on a few dates (for the first time ever yay! :)) and one of my male friends is about to ask a girl out (naturally, our entire group knows about it lol). It was a concern for me, but I’m realizing now that I don’t have the emotional capacity to deal with dating on top of everything else that I have to worry about. It’s a completely personal decision ;). Can be difficult to get some of the boys off their video games and outside their dorm rooms though lol. </p>
<p>More on Greek life… some people do live in the Greek houses, but most live elsewhere.</p>
<p>^ I might as well also mention that my cousin (already graduated) met his girlfriend at Elon and there is a very likely chance that they will be getting married soon. :p</p>
<p>And Elon is trying to attract more boys. They added the Varsity dining hall (sports themed) for this reason (or so I’m told). I think Elon would do better to fix up its engineering and technical programs (and back off the liberal arts emphasis) if it truly wants to get more boys here…for engineering, students have to transfer to another college after three years, which is really inconvenient.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who’ve posted. I feel so much better than earlier this week when a few statistics put me in a parental frenzy! </p>
<p>I think it’s will all work out if she attends Elon. It’s evident that the Greek community will not be a deal breaker. </p>
<p>It’s funny, I think of Miami Univ as having a better college town set-up because Oxford is within walking distance, but she views it as having only 2 streets of mostly bars and a Wal-Mart up the road. To her, Burlington has more to offer because of the many restaurants and the 2 shopping areas.</p>
<p>Hi! I just went through recruitment this January. Coming to Elon I didn’t really plan to because of the typical sorority stereotypes that you see in movies or from rumors. However, it was the best decision I made at college. I’ve made so many new friends, girls and boys, and I feel much more involved at Elon and more a part of the school. I know many people who did not go through recruitment, though, and do not feel like they are missing out on anything. Fraternities are mainly the only people who host parties, but getting on the guest list isn’t hard and they rarely restrict them to only affiliated students (and if you’re a girl you really won’t have a problem). But back to the part about your daughter being left out- myself and many of my affiliated friends still spend a lot of time with people who aren’t affiliated. I will say though, during the new member period (pledging), girls are very busy with their sororities and maintaining friendships with anyone, including non-Greeks, becomes extremely stressful.
Getting involved with other things on campus, like clubs, sports, fellows, or volunteering, can really help a new student feel connected to campus. My first semester I didn’t really make much of an effort to get involved, and I didn’t enjoy it very much. But since I’ve gone through recruitment and gotten more involved I have loved my college experience so much more!</p>
<p>A recent article the The Pendulum cites:
“Greek Life at Elon University will grow with the addition of three organizations in the upcoming year. Currently, 43 percent of women and 25 percent of men are involved in Greek Life on the campus.”</p>
<p>Mel and her friends are devastated over the fact that they have to graduate in a few weeks. She never ever said she wished she had gone somewhere else, even though she was over 500 miles from home. She is in a sorority, and I know they indeed had fun, but she also had friends that weren’t that she had fun with also. Best thing I ever did by suggesting she look at the school!</p>
Mizzou, Northwestern discarded. Sorry, I don’t have more but I have very picky D. Only about 5 states were worthy of consideration! :rolleyes: Good luck!</p>