As this year’s sorority recruitment quickly approaches, actives and potential new members alike are anxiously getting ready for this year’s rush week. I can’t believe it’s been a year since I was going through recruitment as a PNM and am now getting to experience the excitement on the other side. So, in the spirit of this week’s sorority recruitment, I have compiled a list of nine pieces of completely honest, unbiased, heartfelt advice I wish someone had told me last year while I was going through rush:
1. Give Greek life a chance.
Even if you are not sure if being in a sorority is for you or not, I would strongly encourage any girl considering it to go through recruitment. Deciding to go through recruitment does not mean you have to be in a sorority. If you decide you don’t like it later on you can drop; that’s what pledge season is for. However, it is so much easier to rush and then decide later it isn’t for you than it is to not rush and kick yourself because you wish you had. And chances are, if you are even considering being in a sorority now, you are more than likely going to love it later on.
2. You will get cut from houses.
That’s just how the process works. You have no idea the reason for getting cut, so you can’t take it personally. More often than not, the cuts have more to do with numbers and the computer system than they do with somebody wanting or not wanting you, anyway. Just try to remember that everyone ends up where they’re meant to be, so when houses cut you, you’re just one step closer to finding your forever home.
3. Don’t go through recruitment with your heart set on one specific house.
It’s best to go through recruitment with an open mind. Yes, you’re obviously going to like some houses better than others, and that’s great! But going through with your heart set on only one from the start may keep you from seeing that another house is even more perfect for you.
4. Be yourself.
A lot of girls go through recruitment thinking they have to act a certain way to fit in with the mold. Chapters are searching for girls that will be a good fit for their sisterhood, but what they are looking for and what you think they want may be two totally separate things. It’s better to just be yourself from the start, no matter how crazy, shy, or weird that may be, and have your future house choose you because they love who you really are, not who you’re pretending to be.
5. It doesn’t matter what you wear.
I cannot stress this enough. Actives are looking for girls to be their sisters. They are paying attention to the things you talk about, your values, and your interests. At the end of the day after having talked to 15 or more girls, they probably won’t even remember what you were wearing. They’ll remember if you made them laugh or if they felt like they connected with you on a deeper level.
6. Don’t stress about every little yhing.
Every chapter holds their rush differently. So, worrying about where you sat, when they called your name, or how many girls talked to you isn’t going to help you, because it means something different for every house you visit. It’s best to just not even think about those things and focus on the chapter you are visiting and the active you are talking to.
7. Forget about the stereotypes.
We all know about the sorority stereotypes, about how some chapters are “partiers,” some are “geeks,” and some are “snobby.” Try to completely wipe those stereotypes from your mind while going through rush. It doesn’t matter which house has the most money or the best grades, or who is top or bottom tier. The only factor that should influence your decision is if you feel at home in that chapter and if you can picture those girls as your sisters.
8. Ask questions.
If there is something you are unsure of about a house, whether it be about their chapter size, the dues, their GPA, or the chapters diversity, ask the active you are talking to during the round! She is there to answer your questions, and she will be glad that you are showing an interest in her house.
9. Once you get your bid, give that chapter a chance, even if it wasn’t your first choice.
We all understand the disappointment of getting cut from our first choice house, but if a house offers you a bid, that means you were their first choice. There is a reason they wanted you to be their sister. Stick it out for a few weeks, go to events, and try to get to know some of the girls in your pledge class. The chapters are large enough and diverse enough that chances are you’ll find someone you really connect with. You have all of pledgeship to decide whether that house is really for you.
Most of all, try not to worry. This week is supposed to be fun, not stressful. And just think, on Sunday when it’s all over, you’ll have 300+ sisters waiting to welcome you with open arms into your new sisterhood.
