Financial Aid Update – February 2024
We know our incoming students are excited about joining Pirate Nation and can’t wait to welcome them this fall. We also understand that the nationwide delays in financial aid may be cause for concern. Below is an important update on this situation.
Aid offers are delayed nationwide.
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is used to determine your financial aid based on financial need and eligibility. Your FAFSA information is typically transferred to schools when you complete the form. However, the U.S. Department of Education has delayed this process nationwide due to implementation of changes required by the FAFSA Simplification Act. Without your FAFSA information, universities across the nation, including East Carolina University, are currently unable to determine your aid offer.
What’s next?
We appreciate your patience as the U.S. Department of Education works through this delay. We anticipate receiving your information by mid-March. Our office is ready to process your information as soon as it is received and provide you with your financial aid award as quickly as possible — most likely in early April.
Deposit deadline update.
While our priority deposit deadline is May 1st, we encourage families to take the time they need to make an informed decision. Enrollment deposits will continue to be welcomed after May 1st.
We’re here to help.
We know going through the college decision process is stressful, and as part of our potential Pirate family, we want to let you know that we understand the weight of this delay and care about each one of you. Our Office of Student Financial Aid and Office of Undergraduate Admissions are here to help and ready to assist you on your journey to joining Pirate Nation. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, and continue to monitor your email regularly for further updates.
Sailing Smoothly Through Final Exams
Ahoy, Pirates! As we hoist the flag of finals and prepare to navigate the treacherous waters of exams, it’s time to muster our academic prowess and set sail toward success. The impending storm of exams may seem daunting, but fear not, for this guide will help you chart a course to conquer those finals with flying colors.
1. Plan Your Voyage
A wise pirate knows that no voyage should set sail without a plan. Create a study schedule, breaking down what you need to cover for each exam. Consider allocating more time for subjects you find challenging and less for those you already feel confident about. Prioritizing your tasks will make it easier to navigate through your studying.
2. Gather Your Crew
A captain onboard a ship is only as strong as their crew, and the same holds true for your academic journey. Form study groups with your fellow classmates and peers to collaborate, share knowledge, and motivate each other. Together you can tackle difficult subjects and clarify concepts. Consider meeting frequently rather than for long periods of time, as sleep is very important to your academic success additionally!
3. Navigate Your Resources
ECU offers a treasure trove of resources to aid you in your studies. Visit the library, seek assistance from professors during office hours, and utilize online resources and academic support services. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Visit the Pirate Academic Success Center to discover resources and tutoring assistance.
4. Steady the Ship with a Healthy Lifestyle
Maintaining a balanced lifestyle is crucial during this high-stress period. Ensure you’re getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising regularly. A healthy body supports a healthy mind, enhancing your ability to focus and retain information.
5. Chart Your Course with Effective Study Techniques
Explore different study techniques to determine what works best for you. Some students prefer flashcards and mnemonic devices, while others like summarizing their notes or teaching the material to someone else. Find your preferred method and use it to reinforce your understanding.
6. Plot Your Course with Past Exams
When navigating unfamiliar waters, it’s beneficial to consult your prior experience. Review past exams and sample questions when available to gain insights into the type of questions you may encounter. This will help you understand what to focus on and improve your test-taking strategy.
7. Weathering the Storm: Stress Management
Finals week can be a tempest of stress and anxiety. Combat this by practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. Take regular breaks, and don’t forget to reward yourself for your hard work. Stop into the student center for a treat with friends or go on a walk on the mall or along the Tar River Greenway at the Town Common!
8. Seek Clarity
If there’s a topic that you can’t quite grasp or a question that’s been troubling you, don’t hesitate to seek clarity from your professors or tutors. They are there to help you and can provide the guidance you need to conquer those difficult concepts. Once again, check out the Pirate Academic Success Center for additional assistance.
9. Heed the Code of Conduct
Maintain academic integrity and follow the university’s code of conduct throughout your exams. Avoid cheating or plagiarism at all costs, as the consequences can be severe and harm your academic reputation. Check it out here if you need a reminder!
10. Celebrate Your Victories!
Once you’ve successfully navigated the turbulent seas of final exams, it’s time to celebrate your victories. Reward yourself with a well-deserved break, an evening out with friends and family, or a day of relaxation. Acknowledge your hard work!
As an ECU Pirate, you possess the courage and determination to excel in your final exams. With proper planning and discipline, you’ll emerge victorious and ready to set sail on your next academic journey. So, hoist your flag high and sail toward success – the treasure of knowledge awaits!
ECU students launch startup ideas for entrepreneurship challenge
More than 70 teams participated in the first round of the seventh annual Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge, competing for $170,000 in cash and in-kind prizes in the East Carolina University College of Business’ signature pitch competition.
Startup business ideas included waders with built-in flotation to prevent drowning for hunters and fishermen, a virtual reality rehabilitation app for injured athletes, an entertainment business designed to increase kids’ confidence by interacting with their favorite costume characters, and a multifunction home health care device and app for caregivers.
Round 1 launched Tuesday with an open-air expo on the ECU Mall. Visitors stopped by the tables to learn about each business idea and vote for their favorites. In addition to the popular vote, secret expert judges reviewed the proposed businesses and leaders from the Miller School of Entrepreneurship weighed in to determine the 12 teams that advanced to the second round, which will be held Feb. 6 in the Health Sciences Student Center.
The competitors included undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students representing 41 different majors in eight colleges, and more than 1,700 votes were cast during the opening round, said David Mayo, teaching instructor in the Miller School of Entrepreneurship and the event’s organizer.
The advancing teams include:
- Horizon Shield, a pedestrian safety system for intersection monitoring.
- Dude Trips, a travel agency centered on creating the trip of a lifetime for men and bachelor parties, as well as company retreats.
- Twist-n-Surf, surf wax in a twist up-down stick container (like deodorant) that is heat resistant and environmentally friendly.
- PALMQUATICS, a service-based business that works with boat dealerships and private owners to provide repair services specializing in fiberglass and gel coat repair.
- Crossfit Greenville Kids, a place of strength and empowerment for the area kids.
- Moon Grips, a novel universal pill bottle opener to ease the process of adhering to medication regimens.
- GRID, an all-in-one housing app for college students.
- Arnold and Curtis Education Design, educational kits for teachers to introduce students of all ages to STEM and simplify the teacher’s experience.
- Valet, a ride hailing service where a driver arrives and takes the customer home in the customer’s own car.
- Mental Ease Kit, a service to enhance mental well-being on campuses by providing items that promote mindfulness and provide resourses to help students navigate a stressful and anxious time, in the form of a gift box or subscription box.
- Limulus Biomedical, a company that will design, construct and maintain aquaculture systems for the American horseshoe crab with the purpose of sustainable hemolymph collection.
- Talkative, a virtual reality speaking environment to help speech language pathologists assist their stuttering patients with real-world situations.
“(Speech therapy patients) are able to immerse themselves within whatever environment, whether that’s in the drive-thru, doctor’s office, college lecture hall or ordering at Sup Dogs,” said Amber Faircloth, a doctoral student in rehabilitation sciences and a member of the Talkative team. “They are in a safe environment in the clinic room with their speech therapist, and they are immersed in something where they are able to practice their strategies to hopefully work on desensitizing some of that social anxiety.”
Chip Galusha, acting director of the Miller School of Entrepreneurship, said the first round provides a great opportunity for students to see other students pitching their business ideas.
“We do this one outside on purpose,” Galusha said, “so students can see their friends and see what they’re doing. There’s no idea that’s too new or too crazy. Just come out and pitch it and see what happens.”
Tyler Hodge, an entrepreneurship student and co-founder of Limulus Biomedical, said there is as much as a 30% mortality rate for wild-caught horseshoe crabs, whose blood contains a protein used in the medical industry to test for bacterial contamination in injectable drugs. Through aquaculture, he and his partner, Payton Cottrell, hope to reduce mortality and create a more stable supply of the vital protein.
Winning the competition, Hodge said, would provide seed money needed to expand the idea and make connections in the medical industry.
Following the second round in February, six finalists will be selected to advance to the final round, set for April 10 in the Main Campus Student Center.
ECU student receives $20k from MrBeast during campus walk
East Carolina University student Jack Costello had a good reason to hang up on his girlfriend — 20,000 of them to be exact.
“I told her, ‘I think that’s MrBeast. I’m gonna go.’ She thought I was joking. I didn’t call her back for like an hour,” he said.
Costello was simply walking across campus when MrBeast, the online content creator and philanthropist, popped out and gave him two silver briefcases that contained $20,000 for his college expenses.
“He walked up to me, and I got really nervous because I had seen this before and I really didn’t believe it was happening,” said Costello, a freshman mechanical design major. “… I haven’t even processed it fully. The whole thing lasted about five minutes, and then he like vanished.”
He called his parents right away, a conversation that went smoothly because Costello had told them previously about MrBeast.
“I don’t think there would have been a reasonable way to explain to them that a random person on the street just gave me $20,000 for college and it’s not a scam. There’s no way,” he said. “So they already knew about him, and they were very excited.”
MrBeast dropped the video of the gift on TikTok last week, turning Costello into a mini celebrity on campus.
“I’m definitely the MrBeast guy,” Costello said. “I’ve had more than 100 people come up to me. A lot of people are saying they’re happy it happened to me and that I deserve it, which is really odd because I don’t know a lot of people here, but it’s also from people back home, which is wonderful to hear.”
Costello said though his parents saved money to help pay for his college expenses, the $20,000 gift means a lot.
“We do have some of my tuition saved up but not all of it. This is going to cover the rest of it,” he said. “We’ll put it in some sort of fund to grow it before we have to use it, so maybe I’ll have a little bit extra when I graduate to start life after college, but it’s mainly going to go for tuition in the future. It is a chance to graduate debt free. This is very helpful.”
Costello attended an early college in his hometown of Indian Trail and was accepted at several universities.
“I toured all of them and ECU seemed really cool. It was the first place that accepted me,” he said. “… No one talks about all the cool stuff that is going on here. I think we’re the only school in North Carolina with a particle accelerator. We have the brand new life sciences building and all the things that are offered in there. I was really impressed during the tour and all the stuff that I saw.”
He decided to major in mechanical design in the Department of Technology Systems during Admitted Students Day.
“We went to the SciTech building and they had a full lecture on a bunch of different programs, and mechanical design seemed really interesting and cool,” Costello said.
Costello said he walked across campus simply to get out of his room after playing a video game, not knowing what would happen on the late afternoon stroll. He said now that the video is out, people have congratulated him and asked him one question.
“A lot of people have asked me if the briefcase is real,” Costello said. “The briefcase is real and it did have real money in it, but I didn’t get to keep it. They didn’t want me to take it home and have it get robbed, but I did hold that amount of money in my hand. That was crazy.”
ECU and MrBeast are in an exclusive partnership that aims to develop a credentialing program to solve the growing demand for a skilled workforce in the creator industry.
ECU remains a top college in 2024 U.S. News rankings
East Carolina University is a top five school in North Carolina in best public schools and top 10 in the state in all national university categories in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Colleges rankings released on Monday.
Among national universities, ECU was No. 195 out of 436 institutions ranked. ECU was No. 106 out of 227 ranked in the Top Public Schools — National Universities.
ECU placed third in the UNC System as a Best Value School and was recognized as a top performer on social mobility. ECU was No. 71 nationally in Best Value Schools, which are those that, according to U.S. News, are above average academically and cost considerably less than many other schools when financial aid, scholarships and grants are considered. The social mobility ranking assesses how well schools graduate economically disadvantaged students. ECU was No. 93 out of 435 national universities for social mobility.
Additionally, ECU was a Best College for Veterans at No. 137 nationally. To achieve this recognition, schools must be ranked in the top half in a Best College category, must be certified for the GI Bill, and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program or be a public institution. The ranking is based on enrollment and benefits for veterans and active-duty service members.
U.S. News changed its methodology this year to focus more on social mobility and graduation outcomes, according to U.S. News’ website. New factors added include first-generation graduation rates, first-generation graduation performance, college graduates earning more than high school graduates, and four factors related to faculty research: citations per publication, field weighted citation impact, share of publications cited in the top 5% of the most cited journals, and share of publications cited in the top 25% of the most cited journals.
Other factors — borrower debt, faculty salaries and financial resources — were modified. Because of the changes, weights were adjusted either up or down on several metrics including graduation rates, first-year retention rates, graduation rate performance, Pell graduation performance and rates, borrower debt, faculty salaries, full-time faculty and financial resources.
Several factors were dropped from the 2024 ranking formula. Alumni giving, class size, high school class standing, faculty with terminal degrees, and the proportion of graduates with federal loans were not considered. These factors had accounted for 16% of the ranking formula.
“More than 50% of an institution’s rank now comprises varying outcome measures related to success in enrolling and graduating students from all backgrounds with manageable debt and post-graduate success,” U.S. News reported.
The following ECU programs were rated by peer review only and among the best nationally:
- No. 69 in undergraduate engineering (non-doctorate);
- No. 112 in undergraduate nursing;
- No. 234 best undergraduate psychology;
- No. 240 in economics;
- No. 244 best undergraduate business.
ECU Institutional Planning, Assessment and Research contributed to this story.
Related
ECU remains a Best Bang for the Buck school in new ranking
ECU’s Brody School of Medicine leads the state in several U.S. News rankings
Free Application Week 2023
ECU is excited to offer a free application week October 16-20! Freshmen and transfers who apply via the ECU application, the Common App, or CFNC will automatically receive a waived application fee.
Free CFNC Application > Free Website Application > Free Common App Application >
Below is additional information regarding free app week:
When will free application week happen?
- Monday, October 16th through Friday, October 20th
- This opportunity will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20th.
How do I apply?
- Freshmen can apply using the ECU Application via their Navigator Portal or the Common App. North Carolina freshmen can also apply via CFNC.
- Transfer students should apply using the ECU Application via their Navigator Portal.
- ECU website application instructions:
- Create an account or log in if you already have an account with us. Then click “Start New Application” to begin your application.
- Common App instructions:
- Access Common App and then click “Apply for first-year”
- If you don’t already have an ECU Navigator account, click here to create an account so that you can track the progress of your application.
- Be sure to use the same email address on both your Common App and your Navigator account.
- CFNC instructions:
- Begin your college application with CFNC by first going to the Application Hub on CFNC.org.
- Select the button immediately to the right of the “Start an Application” paragraph.
- Once you have found and selected ECU from the college list, select the appropriate application and click the “Apply” button immediately to the right of the selected application name.
- Complete and submit the CFNC application.
- If you don’t already have an ECU Navigator account, click here to create an account so that you can track the progress of your application.
- Be sure to use the same email address on both your CFNC application and your Navigator account.
Do I need to submit a fee waiver?
- Your application fee will be waived automatically if you apply via our website, the Common App, or CFNC during the week of October 16th through October 20th. It’s on us!
When will I be notified of my admissions decision?
- Once all documents have been received for a student’s application, we will begin your application review. We ask that you be patient during this time as processing may take longer due to an increased number of applications. Turnaround time may be up to 6 weeks.
What applications are currently open?
- Freshmen:
- Spring 2024 and Fall 2024
- Transfers:
- Spring, Summer and Fall 2024
ECU Renovations Elevating Learning, Research & Campus Life
The beep-beep of loaders, the rumbles of diesel engines and the whir of power tools have been steady reminders during the summer of construction work going on at East Carolina University. And more will be coming this fall and next year.
One of the most visible projects has been the completion of the pedestrian pathway that started in front of the Rivers Building in about 2014 and is being finished in front of Mendenhall and the Student Recreation Center. The project should be done in August in time for students to walk it when the fall semester begins.
Inside Mendenhall, much of the former student center is being turned into office space. That’s happened to half of the basement. In November, the second phase of renovations will begin and will include removal of the bowling alley that operated from the mid 1970s to 2018. Admissions and graduate admissions offices will be moved to Mendenhall. The budget for the work is $10.5 million, and the work will take about 13 months. A couple of more phases will add more offices to Mendenhall. One of the goals is to move staff members from off-campus leased offices, said Bill Bagnell, associate vice chancellor for campus operations.
As part of the renovations, the large central stairway serving all three floors will be removed and replaced with a stairway from the first floor to the basement that meets modern codes for pedestrian and fire safety. The stairway to the top floor will be removed and the open area that’s left will be floored to create more office space, said Gina Shoemaker, director of engineering and architectural services.
Pedestrians and motorists on Fifth Street have seen the Leo Jenkins Fine Arts Center having its iconic dormer windows rebuilt to solve chronic leaks and replace rotted wood in their surrounding structure. Once completed, they’ll keep the same look as always, Shoemaker said.
Meanwhile, designers are being interviewed for renovations at Jones and Legacy halls. Work at Legacy Hall should start in May 2025 and at Jones in May 2026. The budget for both projects is $56 million.
“The piping has reached the end of its life. So the bathrooms get completely redone. In the process of doing that we’re using this opportunity to do other renovations such as new roofs, new windows and an elevator for Legacy, and a new ground-floor entrance,” said Shoemaker.
Whichard will also be renovated and most of the departments there now will move into Mendenhall once work there is complete. The rusty stairwell at the rear of Whichard will be replaced, the chilled water system, used for cooling, will be expanded, and crews will add an elevator. The offices of Allison Danell, dean of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, and the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature will move into Whichard once the work is complete.
“The old ones are interesting,” Shoemaker said of buildings such as Whichard. Older buildings weren’t built to accommodate central heating and air, she said. “So you have no space above the ceiling to put infrastructure, so we’re having to be kind of creative. We also find some fairly interesting construction detail, like Whichard’s a steel building but the attic’s made of wood. So that provides a little bit of a challenge.”
Older buildings must also be rewired to meet building codes, she said.
Here’s other work going on now or beginning soon on Main Campus:
- Making steam repairs for Building 43 and on College Hill;
- Redoing the courtyard at Brewster;
- Replacing the roof on the Ragsdale annex;
- Upgrading HVAC and bathrooms in Fleming, budgeted at $6.1 million.
Health sciences and athletics
On the health sciences campus, the medical education building is in the design phase and will look much like the renderings that have been shown at ECU’s Board of Trustee meetings. The budget for designing and building the facility is $215 million. Seating in lecture halls in the Brody Medical Sciences Building is limited to about 90, so a new building was necessary to expand the class beyond that. Plans are to expand classes to 120, according to the school’s most recent strategic plan.
And for a building that will replace the educational role of the Brody Medical Sciences Building, aesthetics have been a goal all along.
“Something that is a destination that students will want to go to and has a living-learning environment associated with it,” Bagnell said.
The Brody Medical Sciences Building will still house offices and research facilities. “We’ll do some repurposing over time. Ultimately, the Brody Building itself needs a major renovation,” Bagnell said. “That’s not part of this project.”
At Clark-LeClair Stadium, seating will be added along with a deck with food and beverage service for Pirate Club members, a renovated locker room for players and larger offices for coaches. That is budgeted at $6.5 to $7 million.
Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum will receive upgraded lighting, and half of the floor-level bleachers will be replaced with bleachers that have chairbacks. That work will be about $1.3 million.
An indoor practice facility for all sports is planned for the turf field beside the football practice field on Charles Boulevard. Cost for that project is $25 million to $30 million.
Near campus, the city of Greenville has received a grant to extend the greenway, and ECU will grant the city an easement on its parking lots along Reade Street for that construction. A few parking spaces will be lost, Bagnell said. “As I remember, less than six,” he said.
Pack like a Pirate: 5 Packing Tips for Your First Semester at ECU
How to Make the Most of Your Summer Before ECU Fall 2023!
We are counting down the days until FDOC this August! But we can’t exactly speed up the calendar…so, whether you’re stuck inside with a bad sunburn or scouring the internet for all the college life-hacks, here are some tips and tricks from a student who has done it all – for you, a future ECU Pirate, to prepare yourself for your semester at East Carolina University!
1. Research (and register for!) your courses
At this point in the summer, incoming students are already able to register for their fall 2023 classes! Explore your registration portal, and even if you have not attended your orientation session yet, you can register for classes beforehand and confirm them when you meet with your advisor at orientation. This is a great way to plan ahead, as classes fill up fast. There are so many resources through PiratePort for students to explore classes, when and where they meet, who their professors will be, and so much more. Once you have your classes, you might even be able to reach out to some fellow pirates and discover if you have similar schedules, which leads us to our next point –>
2. Get to know your fellow Pirates
Social Media offers incoming students so many opportunities to find and meet fellow #piratenationbound friends! Follow @ecuadmissions for occasional story reposts from incoming students as well as other general admissions news. There are numerous Facebook groups as well for students to get to know each other. Many students post about their major, dorm and room assignment, interests, etc. This is a good way to reach out to people who pique your interest, or even people in your town whom you can meet prior to coming to campus!
Social media accounts also exist for numerous departments on campus, and a great opportunity for you to follow along and look back on the happenings of your intended major and department. Arriving on campus with knowledge and information about your major is a great way to be prepared – and you also will likely be able to recognize quite a few faces on campus. For those who want to go above and beyond, you can also reach out to professors of your courses or within your department to express your excitement about meeting them in the fall. Doing this also allows you to ask any questions you may have about your course as well. This is a great way to build connections before you even arrive in Pirate Nation.
3. Stock up on all your Pirate merchandise goodies
We hope you are enjoying your goodies that were sent to you when you submitted your deposit! Be sure to check out all that Dowdy Student Store has to offer when you come visit as well! You can find a plethora of game day attire, hats, stickers, accessories – the options are endless. Dowdy also has a downstairs area where you will pick up your textbooks at the beginning of the school year (don’t forget to order those!) as well as tons of other school supplies –>
4. Shop for all your school supplies and dorm needs
While Dowdy can be your one stop shop for your books, pens, notebooks, scantrons, calculators, lab coats, rulers, etc., plan ahead by purchasing your dorm necessities before your move-in. Come move-in week, the Target and Walmart in Greenville are a madhouse, not to mention usually out of the things you need most. Buy early so you can keep track of what you still need and you can prevent panic purchases. Some commonly forgotten items that are perfect for move-in day or just dorm living in general include: commands strips and hooks (lots of them!), a large toiletry tote, a doorstop, a key hanger for beside the door, curtains for your closet-area, and mini bedside fans.
We are SO thrilled to see you this August, and are so excited to grow Pirate Nation even more. #RollPirates!!
6 Ways to Make the Most Out of Pirates Aboard
Wondering how to make the most out of your visit to ECU during Pirates Aboard Admitted Student Day? Take a look at these 6 simple tips to make sure your day at Pirates Aboard prepares you for a successful transition to East Carolina University!
1. Plan Your Day Ahead of Time
There will be a lot to see and do at Pirates Aboard, so we encourage you to plan out the sessions and events you want to be sure to attend ahead of time. The best way to do that is with the Pirates Aboard planning guide available in the East Carolina University Guide app (free for both iOS and Android). The guide includes the ability to personalize your schedule, view event details and campus maps, and more.
Download the Pirates Aboard: Purple Planning Guide (8:30-2:30) >
Download the Pirates Aboard: Gold Planning Guide (10:30-4:30) >
2. Take a Tour
Explore the beautiful campus of East Carolina University without the pressure that rushingaround on the first week of classes may bring. Take a look at the multiple residence halls and get a feel for your preferred neighborhood. Do you value being within walking distance of our state-of-the-art Eakin Student Recreation Center? West End might be ideal for you. Is a short walk to class your highest priority? Central Campus is for you! Do you simply value a delicious coffee and breakfast sandwich each morning from Port City Java? The College Hill neighborhood has just that for you.
3. Get to Know Your Intended Major
The academic fair at Pirates Abroad is your one-stop-shop for all things academia. Whether you know your field of study yet or not, learn about all the degrees and majors ECU offers and you might just pick up a minor while you’re at it! Academic sessions will also be offered where you can talk directly with professors and faculty here on campus, as well as ask questions. With over 87 bachelor’s degrees and eight colleges to choose from, ECU is the premier choice for your higher education journey. Information sessions will also be offered at Pirates Aboard. These will seek to ease all your worries in relation to advising, orientation, housing, financial aid, transfer students, and much more. We are here for you, and answering all your questions is our priority!
4. Get to Know Your Fellow Pirates
There are hundreds of students around you at Pirates Aboard who also might be unsure where to go or what to do – make friends! Now more than ever is the chance to start forming bonds. Find common interests and you might just meet your new roommate. Discuss hobbies or intended majors and you might meet a friend or two to sit next to in class. Talk to your tour guide or other students on campus and find out what life looks like at ECU from someone who experiences it every day!
5. Check Out the Student Life Fair
ECU has a multitude of clubs and organizations for students to engage in. Have a leg up by getting to know them all prior to stepping foot on campus as a student. No matter your passion – whether it’s philanthropy, Greek life, college ministry, sustainability, health, cultural groups, sports, dance, or a cappella – there’s always a home for you here! Talk to representatives from tons of student groups at ECU at the Pirates Aboard’s Student Life Fair and you might just find your niche.
6. Explore Greenville
After Pirates Aboard, or during the lunch break, venture into the surrounding city to get a feel for all things G-ville! Pop around the city to one of the many wonderful parks and trails to get some fresh air. Walk alongside the tar river at Town Common Park and admire the locks along the fence. Need a bite to eat? Give Nash Chicken (writer’s favorite) or King’s Deli a shot if you are wanting to stay close to campus. Already had lunch in the dining hall? Go grab a coffee at Blackbeard Coffee Roasters or a miniature donut from Over the Top Sweet Shop. Not hungry or thirsty? Get some light shopping done at Catalog Connection or University Book Exchange to start your Pirate gear collection early. Visit https://www.greenvillenc.gov/our-city/things-to-do-in-greenville or https://www.visitgreenvillenc.com/restaurants/ for more options.