Are you thinking about going Greek this fall? Rushing can be more intense than your first Anatomy exam; however, rushing can also be one of the best experiences you have as an undergraduate. Going through formal recruitment is a great way to meet people especially if you're new to campus! Although I waited until I was a sophomore to rush, I can honestly say that I've created a lifetime of friendships throughout the process. Today, I want to share with you some helpful tips to get you ready for rush week!
1. Don't Be Afraid To Talk To Your Rho Gamma
Honestly your Rho Gammas (RG's) love when you ask them questions...that's why they're RG's! If you can't decide on a dress or lipstick color, don't be scared to ask your RG's for their opinions. Besides, they've been in your shoes and understand how nerve-racking rounds can be.
2. Have A Black Dress Handy
There are two stages to recruitment: informal and formal. Informal recruitment is very casual. Typically you'll go from house to house meeting sisters from each chapter sharing a laugh or two. When formal recruitment starts, rounds get serious. At ONU, formal recruitment consists of three rounds: philanthropy, sisterhood, and preference. As the rounds get more formal, so does the attire; it doesn't hurt to have a black dress in the back of your closet. Let's be honest, you don't want to be that girl who shows up in jeans on preference night.
3. Stay Hydrated
No you aren't going to be running a 5k, even though it might feel like it at time! The whole point of recruitment is to get to know you! You will spend a portion of each night talking. By being hydrated, you'll be able to rock each round!
4. Be Prepared To Talk About Yourself
If you're like me, talking about yourself might not be a problem. Now that I've gone through recruitment, I'm pretty sure all the sisters have a complete profile on my little sister (she's just so adorable)! A big portion of each round will be spent on YOU. So be prepared to answer questions like, "What made you go through recruitment?", "Which chapter is your favorite so far?", and "What are you looking for out of greek life?". The reason why our sisters ask questions like these is to help you find your home.
5. Sleep Is Out The Question During Rounds
Between the amount of school work and excitement for Bid Day, you'll have to give somewhere, and typically this means sacrificing your sleep. I'm not sure about anyone else who's been through recruitment, but I know the night before bids were handed out, I could not fall asleep if my life depended on it!
6. Make Sure Your Phone Is Charged
I'm just as guilty as the next Instagram guru. If I take the time to put on lipstick, you better believe that there will be a selfie on social media to prove so! Being away at college is the one place where is it publicly acceptable to look like you rolled out of bed so you'll definitely want to capture the rare occasion when you don't have on leggings and an oversized t-shirt! You'll also meet tons of girls going through recruitment with you and now's the time to formulate some of those "long lasting friendships" we talked about. Who knows, you could potentially be talking with your soon-to-be sister!
7. Be True To Yourself
Each chapter has something that makes them unique. If you pretend to be someone you aren't, you are not going to find yourself loving your chapter as much as you thought you would. Don't be discouraged if you aren't invited back to your top choice during rounds. Our sisters are not trying to exclude you because they think you're weird or annoying. The reason why you are invited back to a certain number of houses is because a sister might see something in you that makes you a perfect fit for their chapter. Like I said, the whole point of recruitment is to help you find your home. At the end of the day sisterhood doesn't end after you graduate, sisterhood is a lifetime!
I hope these tips can help you survive rush week! At the end of the day the lack of sleep, stress, and abundance of makeup is worth it when you get your bid! I am very fortunate to have the opportunity of being inducted into Zeta Tau Alpha, and I cannot wait to create a lifetime of memories with all of my sister! Good luck finding your home and remember sisterhood is a lifetime!
