Are there certain properties around campus that are popular for Sophomores that didn’t go Greek? Interested in finding location that has a lot of active, social students that just didn’t choose to do Sorority or Fraternity.
Try the co-ops. Otherwise properties around Ann Arbor are too diverse.
My daughter is in the same situation right now. I’m sure she’d like a social, active area with classmates next year who are not Greek. I was a Greek on a small campus, so not being in a sorority or having guaranteed housing is tough for me to consider. As the other poster said, AA is very diverse, and outside of a MLC, Co-Op or dorm, or Greek house, the traditional college experience isn’t the same. Her academic load is pretty heavy for a freshman (as I’m sure is the case for many), so she felt balancing the time requirements of Greek Life might be tough. Also her roommates did not Rush. That, I’m sure, had a significant influence as they were already talking about getting an apartment. I’m wondering why more sophomores don’t opt for another year in a dorm? I’d sure rather not have to grocery shop, cook, and clean early in my college experience!
SwimMomRuns… our daughters sound like they are in exactly the same situation. My daughters challenge has been that she lives out at Oxford (which is also not a common “dorm” experience). There are only 15 girls in her building and about half went greek including her roommate so she hasn’t gotten the opportunity to meet many girls for housing. Not sure how she networks to find some girls that would be a good match up. If you daughter is looking for a few more roomies - pass her name and I can introduce through fb. If anyone knows of other sites to post/look for roommates please advise. Thanks!
Can someone also explain the co-ops a little more? Can you go there with friends or is it like random?
It can be both. I lived in a co-op at Michigan and it was great. They are generally co-ed houses. Ours had doubles & singles, furnished. There are common areas – ours had a dining/common area and a tv room. There was a large commercial-type kitchen, used by the residents cooking dinner for the co-op or making breakfast or ouch yourself (food basics provided by the co-op). Location was on Washtenaw. The house wasn’t the newest, but student housing near campus isn’t going to be.
You signed up a semester at a time for a job of some kind. You could help cook dinner a certain night of the week, do cleaning tasks (no janitor, just us), be treasurer, plan and order food, etc.
We had a mixture of lots of different types of students. There happened to be quite a few engineering students in our co-op, business majors (I think we had at least 1 MBA student, too), along with a mix of liberal arts majors. I think some people think “hippy” when they hear co-op. Ours didn’t really have that flavor.
It was a pretty tight and friendly community. We have a Facebook group 30 years later to keep in touch. I’d encourage my own kids to check it out if they went to a college with co-op housing. I had some friends who moved in the year before I did, but the two of them didn’t know anyone else when they moved in.
Here is a link to the campus co-op website (not set up for mobile, though):
Thank you so much for the suggestion and details. I feel as if my D will be scrambling for housing with her roommate (and a few other friends made in the first 30 days of college), and we parents have no say in the matter…even though we are the “bank.” Am I crazy to be disappointed she essentially chose not to join a sorority? (She withdrew after the FINAL “pref round” of parties. I was so surprised. She did ask for advice–wasn’t 100% sold on sorority life, and the small group of friends in her MLC didn’t rush–but I said she had to choose her path. Now I’m wondering if I shouldn’t have told her to please stay in the (Greek) game? Greek Life pushes stats of better grades and “life outcomes” being better than non-Greek. Her dad and I were Greeks, but in small campuses. We never once considered not living in our house or didn’t have guaranteed housing on campus.
Thank you, jrr801summer. I am HOPING to finally talk to her today or tomorrow . I’ve been walking on eggshells all month since we dropped her off because of rush stress on top of academics. She claims to never have the time to talk or even text. It’s been really hard on me. Our firstborn is 15 hours away (she’s 1/5 of the distance), and we feel far more connected. I think it’s the “first year” thing and exerting her independence, but I’m going nuts. Rush is now done, for good, I guess, so I’m going to be firm on a regular update talk once a week–her choice of day & time. She claims her academic work on top of the Rush schedule and time away for back-to-back football games (finally skipped last weekend’s to study on Saturday knowing she had Sunday Pref Round) was keeping her up until nearly 4 am many nights to write papers and study, and then has 8 am classes each day. On top of that, she’s in an MLC, so she had even more time commitments and obligations.
I agree Oxford Houses would be a difficult first year experience. My D hoped for a “sure thing” (dorm and like the focus of the MLC) by applying to an MLC–she’s happy with it, but they truly frown on Greek Life and make it more difficult to Rush (had to miss some parties which certainly didn’t help her secure invitations back). Greek Life cannot come before the MLC, and that was made clear in the contract. This was a big influence on her final choice to drop Greek Life in the 11th hour. She was concerned how she’d manage the time conflicts. I think the MLC is great, but I wish they would offer continued “community” housing in subsequent years since they frown on simultaneous Greek participation freshman year. She gave up a four-year experience and then lifelong connections for a one-year experience. I’m not sure it was the best decision, unless I’m giving far too much credit to Greek Life and she dodged a bullet in some ways. I will try to talk to her and will certainly pass her name to you (is there a way to do that here off the public grid…sorry I’m new to this) if she gives me “permission.” (See, I’ve now grown accustomed to Michigan’s way of having my kid “be in charge.” Different times for certain!
swimmomruns - we seem to be having very similar experiences in many ways! let’s do this…if your daughter has interst in meeting another who dropped out of rush etc. let’s connect off the global circut. I have a garbage email - erfeir@yahoo.com that I use for all junk mail. So how about sending me an email for us to connect one and one and share info vs. public forum.
BTW I too am growing accustomed to the michigan way lol… I have not gotten involved at all in her decisions or plans and just have just been investigating to ease my concerns and give her some suggestions. Its a huge adjustment for sure!
Only 21% of Michigan students are involved in Greek life. It isn’t for everyone, and sounds like she has made her decision. I, too, dropped out of rush there in the final round. And had plenty of friends and activities over the next few years. Pretty sure I would have been embarrassed if my mom had tried to link me up with someone else who decided not to join Greek life. It is the norm to NOT be Greek there – both kids already likely know tons of students with no interest in it.