If you're thinking about joining a sorority and you're nervous (you will be), I hope that this article will settle your nerves. I am a new member in a sorority at my school and I haven't been initiated yet. I went through recruitment the first week school started and it was mind blowing. I couldn't even tell you how many girls I talked to! Now that I am almost initiated into my new home, I want to give some advice to those who are thinking about rushing as well.
As you go through recruitment, you won't know what sorority your Gamma Chi is in, their job is strictly to help you find a home that you belong to, and they really do want to help you. During chapter days, you will be shown all the sororities on campus. Your group will be escorted into their suite, and there will be lots of smiling and singing and loud talking. You'll get paired with a person and you two will just talk, about anything! You want to make sure you're comfortable and see which sororities you felt like you liked the most and got along with whoever you talked to. You'll will talk to about one hundred girls those two days, but don't be afraid, it's never that bad again! When talking to the members, just try to be yourself and talk about things that you find important in a chapter and what kind of chapter you want to be in. As long as you are yourself, you will definitely find where you are really meant to be!
During philantropy day, you will get asked back by chapters that felt like they had a good connection with you too and could see you being in their chapter. A lot of the time if you feel like you're connecting with someone, they feel the same, so don't stress! Just remember to be yourself. You'll only go to those chapters that asked you back which for some, could be 5 and for some it could be 1, and that's okay! When a chapter preferences you, it's because they really like you! They would not ask for you back if they didn't want you. This is a chance for you to learn more about their philanthropies and what they do together as a chapter and on campus.
On my philanthropy day, I got asked back three chapters, two I really liked and one I hated. So then once we got to the last day, preference day, I only got asked back by one. And it was the one I hated. I kept thinking to myself, "what am I going to do? I think these girls are weird, I can't see myself there." I talked to my gamma chi about it, and I gave it a chance. I told myself, "they would not have preferenced me if they did not really want me back. I should at least try. It could turn out to be amazing."
Luckily for me, it was the latter. I thought there was no way I would like my chapter and I would never get along with the girls. Now, I can't see myself anywhere else in any other chapter. These girls are really amazing and I'm very happy I decided to just try. So my number 1 piece of advice to all of you is just to give it a shot! The worst that could happen is that you drop. Even if you don't get a bid from the chapter you want, I encourage you to get to know the people.
Sororities are really great organizations. I have made a lot of friends and gotten way more involved on campus because of it! I have played in tons of sand volleyball tournaments and done a lot of fundraising for the community. And no matter what you're doing, you always have a sister by your side. A lot of what you do is giving back to your community by interacting with all the other chapters and people on campus and there is just so many more fun events during the year! Homecoming would not be the same for me if I wasn't involved with my chapter, and I'm so glad that I get to participate because it's so much fun!
if you are thinking about rushing, I highly highly HIGHLY recommend it. You won't regret it, no matter what happens.
