Tips for Fall Open House
Mark your calendars for October 16th because East Carolina University’s annual Fall Open House is an event you’re not going to want to miss! Open House is a great opportunity for prospective freshman, transfer students and their families to tour campus, visit residence halls, learn about student life, visit academic departments, and get all your admissions questions answered. East Carolina University is expecting more than 3,000 guests this Saturday, October 16, for Open House! Below are a few tips and reminders to help you plan your visit to ECU.
Arrive On Time
Open house events go by fast. Make sure you start the day early so you can see and do everything on your list and really make the most out of your time. Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m.
Parking
All Open House attendees will park in the Gold Parking Lot, located next to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The address is 1 Ficklen Drive, Greenville, NC 27858. ECU Transit will provide shuttle bus transportation between the Gold Parking Lot and the Eakin Student Recreation Center on Main Campus throughout the day. There is no charge for parking or shuttle service.
Plan Your Day & Wear Comfortable Shoes
We expect campus to be buzzing with activity on Saturday so being prepared will help you from feeling overwhelmed. Spend time looking at the schedule of events beforehand and prioritize the sessions and activities that are most important to you. There are lots of options and many concurrent activities so planning ahead will allow you to get the most out of your day with us. It’s also going to be a day full of walking and exploring so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes and clothes.
Try the Food
College life often means eating out, or at least eating on campus. Whether it’s getting lunch between classes, or grabbing a quick study snack, you’re going to end up eating on campus a lot! While you’re at ECU don’t miss the opportunity to dine in our dining halls and other on-campus eateries. You can save time by pre-purchasing tickets to eat at West End Dining Hall (limited number of tickets available due to COVID protocols). Please print your receipt directly from the website as proof of purchase.
In addition to the dining hall, a selection of our other campus eateries will be open throughout the day, including Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, Au Bon Pain, Panda Express, Starbucks, 1907 Grill, the Confectionary & Sweet Shop, and two food trucks.
Visit a Residence Hall Room
Make a promise to yourself that you won’t leave ECU without checking out the residence halls. You should certainly visit the library, the dining hall, and any other place on campus you would frequent as well. However, students typically spend more time in their dorm rooms than anywhere else (after all, it is their living quarters), so visiting a residence hall room should be at the top of your list. Meet at the tent in West End from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Talk to Current Students
Take advantage of this day! There will be many student volunteers on hand at Open House – look for the “Ask a Pirate” signs! If you’re unsure about a program, want to learn more about what you can do outside of your studies, or want to know where the best places to get food are, ask our students!
Talk To Faculty
During your visit to ECU, you can talk to faculty and staff from multiple departments to learn more about ECU and your future major. This is the perfect opportunity to ask any questions about the department, college classes, internship opportunities, and the experiences that you will have if you attend ECU.
Explore Greenville
Greenville is full of exciting things to do and delicious places to eat. After you’ve taken full advantage of all the things Open House has to offer, make your way to Uptown Greenville and explore our charming college town. Uptown Greenville has tons of fun, unique places to shop and eat.
Social Media
We encourage you to stay tuned on social media and follow #ECUOpenHouse for live updates and announcements throughout the event! Also, don’t forget to take a selfie at the ECU Student letters or with PeeDee the Pirate! We encourage you to share your own photos using #ECUOpenHouse during your visit. Be on the lookout for our Snapchat filter, and ECU Open House gifs.
We hope you have an incredible day here in Pirate Nation!