We’ve all been there. Well, at least those thousands of us first-year girls who suffered through the long week of trying to find our way around the Rugby area in heels and dresses, trying to keep up small talk for 30 minutes while somehow still showing our personality, and huddling in warming centers to avoid getting hypothermia. It’s tough, to be quite honest, and everyone around you is likely just as lost as you are.

Logistics-wise, everything you really need to know is in that handy-dandy recruitment booklet of yours. But here are a few tips I’ve compiled of what they don’t tell you at recruitment, to hopefully make your recruitment process a little easier. So, I present to you, a first-year’s guide to surviving formal recruitment.

1. Keep an open mind.

I mean it. It’s OK to go into rush having certain sororities in mind that you like, but give every single house a chance, and don’t be stuck on those original few. Most girls I know did not end up rushing the sorority they thought they would prior to rush. Try not to listen to any stereotypes, predispositions, or rumors you hear about any of the houses, because chances are, they’re not true and, regardless, should not affect your opinions of each house.

2. Don’t talk about the weather.

The girls you’re going to be talking to are stuck inside their respective sorority houses the entire day, and when they’re talking to dozens of girls each day, they really do not want to hear, nor care, about how cold it is outside. You know it’s going to be a boring conversation if it starts out with, “Wow, it’s really chilly outside.” Last year, I had one girl who would not stop talking about the cold weather, despite my efforts to change the topic — it was awful.

3. Contrary to what they tell you, try not to bring a large tote bag the first few rounds of rush.

“There will be bins outside for you to put your stuff,” they said. Sure, they have bins, but from my experience, they only have so much space, and it got to the point where they just told everyone to carry their giant tote bags inside the house. You probably don’t want to be talking to girls inside a crowded house while carrying a huge bag. Take my advice and carry a small- or medium-size bag at best and only bring the essentials.

4. Speaking of essentials, here’s what you need to keep in your purse:

Mints: You barely have any time to chew a piece of gum between rounds, so I would stick to mints.

Deodorant: Despite the 35-degree weather, you might still be sweating under those thick layers, especially if you’re trying to run from Grandmarc to Madison.

Snacks: And easy-to-eat snacks, at that. You don’t want your stomach grumbling while trying to meet people.

Comfortable shoes: This is especially important for later rounds in which you may be wearing heels. Like I said, running from Grandmarc to Madison is not fun when you’re in heels.

Hand warmers: Keep these in your pockets. Trust me, they come in very handy. No pun intended.

5. If you talk about rounds with your friends, support each other and don’t talk bad about any of the houses.

OK, let’s be real, rarely any of us follow the rule of not talking about rounds at all until rush is completely over. Sometimes, you just need to talk it through with someone. The thing is, it’s great to share your positive experiences with your close friends, but if you had a negative experience anywhere, try to keep that to yourself. In the end, just because a house wasn’t right for you, doesn’t mean it’s not right for her.

6. Take notes after every round!

Yes, they do tell you this at rush actually, but I cannot emphasize this enough! I thought I would be able to remember girls' names and faces, but after 13 rounds in one day, I couldn’t remember which conversation I had at which house, and this all gets confusing when it comes to doing rankings. Jot down notes on your phone, and write down as much as you remember, even if it doesn’t seem important at the time! Write down things like names, descriptions, what you talked about, and how you felt during that round.

7. Make friends.

Make friends with your Pi Chi group, make friends with girls you’re waiting in line with, and make friends with the girls you meet at each house. These are the girls you’re going through rush with, and even though each girl in your group may end up in different sororities, or you may not end up rushing one particular house, it’s amazing to make these connections. It’s always nice to see familiar faces of girls you shared that hell week of rush with.

8. Stay in and treat yourself.

The rule about not being able to go out seems so strict and unfair at first, but trust me, you likely won’t have the energy nor desire to go out after rush, especially when you need to wake up at 8 a.m. again the next morning. After a long day of constantly talking to people, take the evening to yourself. Watch a movie, eat some ice cream, give yourself a facial, or go to the gym — whatever helps you relax and de-stress. You’ll want to be well-rested for another long round the next day.

9. Don’t think of being dropped as a bad thing.

I will be honest with you and tell you that rounds 2 and 3 of rush are probably the most painful rounds, because those are the rounds that most people are dropped from houses. In the end, everything happens for a reason, and being dropped just means that it wasn’t the right place for you anyway. This only gives you more time and effort to focus on the other houses that you did get called back to, and you'll be able to find the one that is right for you.

10. Remember, it’s all about you.

Rush is one of the few times in life that you get to be completely selfish. In the end, you need to chose whatever sorority works for you. You’re going to be spending the next three and a half years with this group of girls. Don’t let your friends, the people around you, or the rumors affect your personal opinion. In my group of close friends, we all ended up rushing different sororities, and that was because we each chose the one that was perfect for ourselves. However, even though your sorority will be your home, you are not confined to that. Many of my closest friends to this day are all in different sororities, or not in sororities at all.

Recruitment is just around the corner. Keep these few tips in mind, and good luck with rush!