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My Storybook Rush
Here is my Rush story. I wrote most of it during rush, but saved it until now for privacy. I am naming the sororities after characters from books that I loved when I was little.
Fern Pippi Junie Amelia Corduroy Annie Winnie Ramona Ferdinand Sal Ducklings Madeline Horton Stuart Alice Claudia Matilda I was pretty prepared for Rush. My mom was in a sorority at a different school and she had done a good job of helping me get ready without putting any pressure on me to pledge her sorority or any sorority at all. I had cute dresses and fun jewelry. The only fashion item that I drew the line at was Jack Rogers sandals because they seemed unbelievably expensive and uncomfortable, too. I was pretty sure that as soon as Rush was over, I’d never wear them again. My GPA is high and I had a good bit of high school activities and awards plus I’m very involved in some unique activities outside of school. I had recs (at least one) for every sorority and am a legacy for two sororities on campus. So, overall I felt pretty ready even though a lot of friends kept telling me I wasn’t the “sorority type” because I’m pretty outdoorsy and “natural”. |
Pippalotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackerel Mint Ephraim's Daughter Longstocking!!!!
I'll take Useless Trivia That Keeps Me Awake at 4AM for $600, Alex. |
I love all the books you chose for your story. Can't wait to read all about it!
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Round #1 – Open House
Round One is split over two days. My first surprise was that there were PNMs on my hall who spent the night with their mothers in their hotel room so their moms could help them get ready in the morning! My first house was Fern. As I stood outside nervously talking to some girls I was shocked to hear all of this yelling and banging coming from inside the Fern house! I was so surprised! We got off to a great start and I loved the girls that I talked to. Everyone was so excited and bubbly and the time flew by! I couldn’t believe how much energy there was and was excited to see if every house was like this. My next house was Pippi and it was not at all the same experience. It just seemed sort of flat. I am a legacy at Pippi and didn’t know what to expect, but after the electricity at Fern, this just felt dull. The girl who rushed seemed really nervous and that made me nervous and uncomfortable for both of us. I will definitely give them another look but this wasn’t a great first impression. The next house was way back up there on the energy meter! The Junies were loud and the girl who rushed me was really talkative and easy to chat with. I talked about all sorts of odd things at this house and they definitely didn’t seem to stick to a script. I did notice that I was stuck in a corner the whole time though so I don’t think they were too excited about me. Amelia was next and is another house where I am a legacy. The girls were very pretty and sweet. The conversation was super comfortable and almost calm and relaxing. I liked this house a lot! (Are you getting tired yet? I was….) Corduroy was next and I was getting sort of tired of all of the smiling and chatting. The girl who rushed me seemed to feel the same way and we laughed about how tiring it is to be so nice! This was a very easy party afterall and I’d love to be invited back here. The girls seemed very laid back and not too wound up in being “perfect”. Winnie was my next house. I felt like I didn’t fit in here at all. These girls are very, very pretty. They were nice and sweet, but I just didn’t feel like this would be my sort of place at all. It’s not you, it’s me… My next party was at Ramona (somewhere in this process we took a lunch break I guess). Fatigue was seriously setting in and that early morning start seemed like a long time ago. These girls were nice and there was a lot of fun energy, but I can’t really remember much else. Ferdinand was my next party and again, I don’t really remember many of the details. The girl who took me around was super bubbly and really seemed to enjoy her sorority and sisters. At one point she helped out another sister who was clearly having a hard time getting a conversation going with her PNM. It wasn’t an official bump, it was more like an assist. I thought that was really sweet and perceptive of her. I liked the Ferdinands even though I was really ready for this day to be over. The last party of the day was Sal. This was another very polished group of girls. They weren’t all incredibly beautiful, but they all seemed very confident and really good at Rush, if that makes sense. I don’t remember a lot of details from this party and my notes were getting worse and worse as the day went on! I called my mom that night and she kept telling me to think for myself and not to listen to other girls. That is pretty easy for me and I felt like everything was going well and much,much more fun that I thought it would have been. I was still a little awed by some of the PNMs preparations, but overall was having a blast. |
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Loving this story so far!
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I love that your mother told you to think for yourself. That is always good advice!
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Loving this so far! I'm rooting for Amelia!! Good luck :)
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:) More stories, more stories!
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First Round Continued
Day 2 of First Round started at Annie. The girl who took me around shared a lot of my same interests and we had a lot to talk about. She kept calling me by the wrong name though and I wasn’t sure if I should correct her. I had on a nametag, of course, and maybe she just had the last girl’s name stuck in her head. I didn’t say anything about it and I don’t know if I handled that correctly or not. I really liked the Annies though! I love their philanthropy! Next was Ducklings. These girls were very pretty and excited and their house was so cute, but I didn’t get a great big warm feeling here at all. I was starting to figure out how different I could feel at different houses and this was not a favorite for me. That changed with the next house – Madeline. I really, really liked the girl who rushed me. She was so easy to talk to and we laughed about their silly songs. She had a bandaid on her big toe and we had a crazy conversation about the collective blister quotient at Rush. I hope they liked me as much as I liked them. Horton was next on my list and again, I was impressed with just how pretty a group of girls can be. However, the girl who took me around was not easy to talk to. For the first time, I really had to do all the work. She didn’t seem snobby, just really quiet and sort of awkward with the chit-chat. This is a really popular house so I’m not sure what to think.… Stuart was next. These girls were all dressed in the same color which made a very cohesive impression. They were very energetic and seemed to really have a tight sisterhood as that is most of what my conversations were about with the girls I met here. I liked this house a lot! My next house was Alice and I really liked it. The girls who I talked to seemed like they were all good friends and the conversations were easy. They seem to be very active with their philanthropy so I’d love to come back and hear more about it. Claudia – I loved this party and these girls. Yesterday at this point, I was tired and ready to be done, but today I had a lot more energy and Claudia was a lot of fun. The girl who rushed me was from my home town so we talked about some music festivals and stuff. She was really cute and I’d love to come back here. Matilda – Nothing special at all happened at Matilda. Again, I’m glad I took a few notes because by this point, I was sort of done for the day. Nice enough, but nothing special or negative. I was really trying to take my mom’s advice so I didn’t talk to anyone before I made my lists of top group and bottom rank. I knew from the “tent talk” that I was probably putting some “top” sororities on my bottom list, but I really went with what seemed right to me. Btw – there is a LOT of tent talk. Everyone has an opinion!!! I called my mom later after dinner and I think she was a little surprised about my rankings, but again, she just kept saying to listen to my own voice and told me to be confident in my choices. The order of the top 12 doesn’t matter, but here are the ones I put in my bottom five: Junie Horton Pippi Winnie Matilda |
Round 2 – House Tours
We could be invited back to 12 houses for this round and I was super happy to see 12 on my list! They are: Fern Pippi Junie Amelia Corduroy Annie Ramona Sal Madeline Horton Ducklings Ferdinand So I was not going back to: Winnie, Matilda, Stuart, Alice and Claudia My biggest disappointment was Alice. A relative was an Alice and she had talked them up so much that I was really excited about them before I came to Rush. I really liked them! Overall though, I knew I didn’t have anything to complain about and was soooooo happy to be in my panhellenic t-shirt and cute shorts! The first party was Annie. This was one of my favorites from First Round and today didn’t disappoint! I really have a big connection with their philanthropy and was so excited to be back. Unfortunately, the girl who rushed me didn’t seem quite as enthusiastic as I did and I worried that I might have been too eager seeming. Awkward. The next house was Pippi. Again, I am a legacy here and was very open minded and ready for this house to feel right to me, but it didn’t at all. The house was dark and formal looking and the girls didn’t seem very happy about much of it. Today doesn’t seem to be going very well. I don’t see myself coming back here but we’ll see. Next was Corduroy. This was much, much better! The girls who showed me around were funny and obviously enjoying themselves which makes the whole thing more fun for everyone. We had fun looking at pictures and they used every picture to sneak in a bit of information about socials, games and even school! I like these girls! Amelia – I loved their house and the girl who took me around was sweet. This was a fun party overall and I’d love to come back for more even though I don’t really remember many details. Ramona was nice, but again – nothing really stood out. Everyone loves their house but I didn’t get that excited about the looks of it. I kept telling myself that I’m not here to buy a house – that isn’t what this is all about. These girls do seem to all enjoy each other though. The Ducklings have a beautiful house and the girl who rushed me was very chatty and we had a good conversation, but when I looked around they just don’t seem like the kind of girls that I feel really comfortable with. Lots of really flashy jewelry and name brand everything. I know that shouldn’t matter so much but I felt like I was overdosing on it. After the stuck in the corner thing from First Round, I was sort of surprised to be invited back to Junie. These girls seem sort of loud and crazy. There is energy and then there is Hyper. I don’t know about this house. Aside from the craziness, I didn’t get much of an impression and certainly not much about sisterhood. I don't think I even know what their philanthropy is. They do have a nice house though. The Horton house is just as beautiful as the girls are. They really seem to love their house and have a close sisterly bond. Everyone loves this house and these girls! I am loving the Madeline house and girls. They seem very sincere about their sisterhood. The girl who took me around shared a lot about her other activities on campus and I was impressed that it wasn’t all Madeline all the time. I really hope they invite me back. My favorite house of the day was Sal. It just seemed like everything that a Southern sorority house should be. The girl who showed me around was so funny and wanted to talk about a zillion things. That was the easiest conversation that I’ve had all day. Fern – the girl who rushed me here and showed me the house was a senior and she seemed seriously bored by the whole thing. She told me that rush gets old after the first year on the other side but it has to be done. Whatever. I doubt they will invite me back and though I know she is just one girl, she wasn’t much of a rusher. Such a difference from the first round here! When I talked to my mom tonight she prepared me for big disappointments for tomorrow. She says these cuts are big and that it feels worse because you get thinking so far ahead and can really see yourself somewhere. There was lots more to the conversation but it was mostly about getting rest, drinking lots of water, using sunscreen and eating healthy…. Thanks Mom! We split our lists today and put six on the bottom ranking. My top six were (in NO order) Madeline Sal Fern Amelia Ramona Annie My bottom ranking was: Corduroy Horton Junie Ducklings Pippi Fern |
Fern is in both lists. other than that, impressed at how you kept everything straight.
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Oops - Fern was in the bottom list. The top list was supposed to contain Ferdinand. Darn cutting and pasting...
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We need more mothers to hear this. |
Great story...ready for the next day!
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I always loved the Madeline books.
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Me too. I bought the books and videos for my daughter and son. They used to dance around when the Madeline song would come on. My daughter would say she was Madeline and my son would say he was Chloe. So sweet!
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I am a little bummed that Corduroy is in the bottom list. I love Corduroy.
I am really enjoying your story and I appreciate it that you are keeping us posted on your mom's wisdom. You are fortunate to have such a supportive mom! Good luck! |
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Third Round – Skit
We could be invited back to six parties today and I had six on my list! They weren’t my top six, but I was really happy with a full schedule. My roommate only has two for today and another girl from my high school has dropped out because she only had one. Two girls on my hall have dropped out because they weren’t happy with who they have left. Funny thing is they have been VERY opinionated all along and seemed to know someone at every single sorority before Rush started. Lots of drama going on at that end of the hall. So the six that I am going back to today are: Pippi, Madeline, Ramona, Annie, Junie and Corduroy I am very, very disappointed to have not been invited back to Sal. I really thought that might be the one. I am a little sad to not see Amelia on the list, but I was a legacy there and knew that if I wasn’t the right girl for them that they would most likely drop me after this round. The only one I really am not interested in at all right now is Pippi and that just feels so awkward. I am soooooo excited about going back to Annie and Madeline! The first house I visited today was Annie! Their skit was funny and sharp and well-done. We talked a lot about the philanthropy again and as I said this is my favorite out of all of the philanthropies. I asked a lot of questions but tried to not be so gushy like I was yesterday. I really, really want this to be the one I think! Next was Pippi. This party was a little better. In fact the girl who took me around was really sweet and we had a connection with some activities that we both do that are not super common. I felt like she had been looking out for me. This was the best that I’ve felt at this house all week. Corduroy was next and it was the oddest experience. Their skit was not funny at all, but all the sisters seemed to think it was. Maybe there were a lot of inside jokes or something. It was just a strange, weird experience. I don’t even remember the girl who took me around because I was so puzzled about the strange vibe. Junie followed that and was not a favorite either. Again, the skit was not great (Annie set the bar pretty high) and I didn’t know when to laugh or not. The snacks were great however! The girl I talked to was sweet and admitted that the skit was sort of dumb. I like these girls but don’t really seem them as sisters. Finally Ramona, A solid party – I was hungry and enjoyed their snacks! The girl who rushed me was a senior and she was polished and good at this, I could tell, but she didn’t seem bored with rush. The skit was good, but not great. I wish I had thought more about this house earlier. Madeline’s skit was sweetly funny. I really like Madeline! Again, the sisterhood bond came through in every conversation. Another long talk with Mom – she does more listening than talking so it is OK and I don’t feel like she is pushing me. My favorites are (in this order): Annie Madeline Ramona Junie Pippi Corduroy More advice from Mom: stay very, very open minded and thoughtful all the way through prefs and to not close my mind or heart to any of these on my list. I think she is maybe disappointed about Pippi, but she doesn’t want to make me feel bad. I’m really getting ready for this to be done. |
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Wise mother has raised a thoughtful and sweet daughter. Love your story and wishing you well!!
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In the interest of moving this along and getting me back to my English paper...
Prefs Oh no... I can’t believe this is happening. Pippi, Corduroy and Ramona I can’t believe it. I did not get invited back to Annie or Madeline. I text my mom and we have a long, long text chat. I really feel like dropping out. I can’t believe this – Annie just seemed like the one for me and Madeline would have been perfect too, but Annie is where I belong. I feel like I’m not being true to myself or anyone else to try to pretend that any of these others could work out. I promised that I would stay open minded and I guess now that just means that I will be open minded with the choices that have available to me, but I really just want to curl up and cry. I guess I will go to prefs at Pippi, Ramona and Corduroy and we’ll see how it goes, I really just want to go home. I feel so stupid for thinking that they liked me. I know that people will say that they did like me, they just liked other girls more or in a different way but it still feels crappy. And I feel like I’m the only unhappy person around here. Everyone else seems to be doing fine. How is that possible? |
Oh no!!!
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ETA: Just realized that this wasn't a real time story. Please forgive me. Leaving my response up anyway. |
I know you are disappointed, but don't write Pippa off yet. They assigned a girl to you last round with whom they hoped you would click. I believe they really like you. In most chapters, inviting a legacy to preference means they see her as a sister. So Pippa, Corduroy and Ramona did like you more than the women they didn't invite back! :-)
There are women on your campus who would love to have invitations to those chapters. Keep an open mind and go into those pref parties knowing that those women wanted you back. |
Deep breaths. You are NOT the only unhappy person, and everyone else is NOT doing fine. I'm assuming with this number of sororities they're decently large? If so, you have met a very small percentage of the chapter. I am 100% sure you are kind, mature, and interesting enough to find a great group of girls in any of these chapters that you click with. I know it feels crappy, and it's normal for you to react that way, but there are things you can do to make things better more quickly.
During recruitment, every single chapter has one goal: make you fall in love with us. Regardless of how we feel about each PNM, we want her to leave feeling totally comfortable and at home with our ladies. If it's a girl we're not necessarily interested in, maybe she has a friend or roommate we really like and we don't want her to have any negative impressions of us. Maybe we just want all the future NMs to have positive opinions of us. Some chapters are exceedingly good at this, but others just aren't. Once recruitment is over and the polish and shine goes away, many things change. At this point, the best thing you can do is pick yourself up, go into those pref parties like these are the only three chapters on campus, and truly commit to your new member education. Make a serious effort to bond with your pledge class and the older sisters. The way we do formal recruitment can be annoying and superficial at times, but it operates under the assumption that a bid from any chapter on campus is an honor. Cry it out if that's your thing, do some thinking, and when you realize this is true you'll have a great time on bid day. |
Go, Go, Go, to those Pref Parties!
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Dying to know what happens. Which lucky chapter will have you as a new sister?
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Even though this all took place weeks ago, reading my journal and writing this all out makes it seem like it is really happening right now. I am a pretty calm and centered person with really good support (as you can tell) but Rush kicked my butt! I sort of wish I had done this "live" because it might have been helpful to have y'all's help!
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So... bid day? :D
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Prefs
I would like to say that I got it together and bounced back and had a great Pref day, but it wasn't quite that smooth. When I tell people where I am going for prefs everyone thinks I have an odd group of parties as the three sororities have such different reputations. This isn’t making me feel better. How is one of these supposed to be the right one? What if none of them are the right one? Who knows at this point - I decide to go to prefs and see if something starts to make sense. My first pref is at Pippi. I cried through most of it but the girl who is preffing me (from second round) is really sweet and I think she thinks that I am getting emotional about them. I really just want to not be here and I need more time to get over feeling so awful. It was a pretty ceremony and was the best that Pippi has looked all week. They get better and better with each round but I just don’t see myself here. The next party is Corduroy. This is a “top tier” sorority, but it is not my sorority. I don’t see a genuine sense of sisterhood here. These girls seem like a lot of fun and I’d love to hang out with some of them, but I don’t see them being part of my growing as a college student or the next four years or even for a lifetime of sisterhood. Tent talk says they are partiers and I guess I see that, even though I know that there is no way they are all partiers and that many of them seem like really nice girls and the girl who preffed me seemed really genuine. My last party is Ramona. Like Pippi, this one got better as the week went along. The girl who preffed me was the senior who rushed me yesterday. She told me that they like me because I’m not “cookie cutter”. That might be the first real thing that anyone has said about me in days. I leave there unsure of what to do. We get on the bus and are supposed to not talk, but I text my mom. I’m still so upset about Annie that it is hard to think through what has gone on all morning. My mom just keeps telling me to trust myself and absolutely not to talk to anyone else. I feel like she wants me to put Pippi first, but I’m not sure and she obviously wont’ say anything. So without thinking about it anymore, I list them in this order Ramona Corduroy Pippi And head back to my room. I immediately regret the order. I absolutely can’t see myself as a Corduroy. I know that everyone thinks they are a “better” sorority than Pippi but I am not a party girl and I’m not sure why they think I am. I feel like this is the one time that I listened to what other people were saying and now I seriously regret it. All this worrying about the order of #2 and #3 though makes me realize that I don’t have any regrets for putting Ramona first. This is the first time all day that I have been the least bit excited and let myself look forward to bid day. I’m still very disappointed about Annie, but when I’m not hating on myself about the order of Pippi and Corduroy am beginning to let myself get excited about the possibility of a bid from Ramona. |
Yes, there are multiple moments of self-doubt in life - whether we make emotional, intuitive, irrational or rational choices.
So please tell us about bid day! |
Yikes.....I am running out of nails to bite!
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looking forward to bid day!
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Bid Day
(Also known as the first day of class? Who thought this was a good idea?) As the day wears on, I get really, really, really nervous. I just want Ramona. I don’t want another huge disappointment. Please don’t let me open that envelope and see Corduroy. I don’t know what I’ll do and I really don’t want to go through another blow like that again. Why is this so hard for me? My floor is crazy with girls running around in their white dresses. I wish I was as excited as everyone else is. We all get herded into the auditorium and after the Gamma Chi reveals (mine was a Tri Delt) we are given our bids and….. Ramona!!! I’m happy. Or relieved. Or something, but definitely not crying!!! Maybe not crazy excited, but happy enough. I’m glad I didn’t drop out. I’m glad I stayed open minded and listened to my own thoughts and not other people’s and I’m really glad that I had my mom to talk to. Oh – wait – I bet you want to know that Ramona is Alpha Gamma Delta!!! |
In case that didn't show up well on the last post it says Alpha Gamma Delta!!!
And a month or so later, I can def say I am a HAPPY one! Thanks for reading! |
Congratulations!
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Loved this story and congratulations!
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