MelissaS's rush at URI
 

Well, it's getting to be that time! Rush starts for me on Saturday. It's only Monday, but I've been anxiously awaiting this for a long time and I'm sure nobody will mind if I start my rush thread a few days early. ;)

As I've posted before, I'm a sophomore at University of Rhode Island. I rushed last year and it didn't work out, so I'm trying again. The sororities at my school are:
Alpha Phi
Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Xi Delta
Chi Omega
Delta Zeta
Phi Sigma Sigma
Sigma Delta Tau
Sigma Kappa

Last year I dropped out after round 2 because I was severely cut. Reading this forum has really helped me see why that happened. I was really clueless about rush! Now I'm much more prepared. I also have a feel for what each house is like because I've seen them before, and I did form opinions on them last year. But for this rush I've decided not to think of what I already know, keep an open mind, and concentrate on how I feel when I go to each house. Who knows, maybe I'll end up loving a house I didn't like so much last year!

Well anyways, if anyone has any last-minute advice (particularly those of you who are familiar with URI), it would be greatly appreciated!!

MelissaS,
I think if you read the rush threads on this forum you will see that keeping an open mind and heart while going through recruitment is essential. Judge the sisterhoods on the feelings you get in the room and the conversations you have with the sisters.
Gossip and "reputations" are not worth anything when you need a trusted sister to talk to at 2am about something going on in your life.
Also, in my opinion you get out of Greek Life what you put into it. I always recommend that pnm considers if she would like working for and with the sisters of a certain house. Much of sorority life is about working to sustain the health of the organization. So therefore, could you see yourself chairing a committee, or serving as an officer?
As far as tips go, definitely keep a small journal and record your reactions to the houses, the things you loved and anything that might have made you less than comfortable. This will help if at the end you need to winnow down your Preference choices.
Also, did Panhellenic provide you with an entry form for Rush? If so, please take this document seriously, and provide as much information about yourself as possible, especially any and all leadership positions you have had in High School and at URI.
Okay, I think I've written quite enough, I'm sure the other GC women here will have even more helpful and substantive advice.
Go Greek!
violets

Best of luck to you this time! I hope you find a special place to call home!

Hey, good luck, girl! I'm personally pulling for Alpha Chi, just 'cuz I'm friends with several Lovely Ladies of the Lyre. Keep your eyes open; you just might surprise yourself.

Good luck sweetie! I'll be thinking happy thoughts for you :)

Another rush thread! How exciting! Good luck! :D :) :cool:

Mellisa, there is not a person on this whole site taht does not wish you the very best!:)

What was yesterday is no more! What is tomarrow is new!

You have our undieing support and the very bestest of wishes!:)

Good luck MelissaS!!! i can't wait to hear all your updates (you might guess who i'm pulling for, but as long as you're happy in the end, that's what matters!)

use what you've learned here, keep an open mind and heart, and have fun!!! i know you'll be great!

Melissa,
Just wanted to add my wishes of Good Luck to everyone elses. Use what you've learned here on GC and just follow your heart. And of course GF GRSSK ;)

Cant wait to read your rush thread,

Carolyn

Good luck and have fun :)

I wanted to add in with everyone else and wish you the best of luck this week.

Melissa, I hope it works out for you this year.

The best of luck to you!

XOXO,
Annie.

woo hoo!
 

Yay! Im pulling for alpha chi too!!!
We are ALL lovely ladies of the Lyre.....
Love
Ashley
:)
great comment by the way!( thanks kappakittycat)

Good luck :)

Thank you so much, everyone, for all of your support!

Only 3 days left!! :)

Good luck to you! :D :) :cool:

Go URI NPC Recruitment!
 

Melissa,
It's getting closer...can't wait to hear all the recruitment details from URI. It's so great to have a Northeastern Rush Thread on GC!
violets

Good luck! I don't know that much about URI, which is sad 'cause I only go to school 45 minutes away. But I will be there for the Bob Dylan show.

Go AXO! The girls from that chapter are really cool!

Good luck Melissa! I rushed as a freshman and was cut out of it all after round 2 then rushed as a sophmore and joined and am loving it! You sound like you know what your doing so good luck and keep us updated! we love these rush threads!

Hey Melissa! Kepp that positive attitude! it'll work wonders for ya! Sounds like you are prepared, so go get 'em tiger!

(oh yeah, go Phi Sig! :D )

Jen

Thank you all SO much!

I am getting really nervous, ahh! :eek:

Yay, another campus with DZ! Guess you know who I'm pulling for, but the most important thing is that you have a great time and I wish you lots of luck!

Good luck Melissa!
 

Have a great time! I'm really looking forward to reading your recruitment story b/c my husband is a URI alum. Even though he wasn't greek (and it was a while ago!) I always got the impression from him that the URI greek system is a good one!

Enjoy yourself, have lots of fun, make sure to eat well and take care of those feet ;)

Christin

At this time tomorrow I'll be at the PNM convocation. I'm getting more and more nervous!! I've had so many people tell me that being a sophomore won't affect me, but I can't help but worry about that. Also, I have this fear that the sisters will remember me from last year and I'll get cut--especially at one particular house which I COB'ed and didn't get a bid!!

Well, on a better note, I do have my outfits picked out for this round!! I'm not sure which day I'll be wearing each one, it all depends on the weather.

outfit 1- cream-colored, cap-sleeved, kind of ruffly top from Bebe, knee-length denim pencil skirt, brown belt (came with the skirt), brown sandals

outfit 2- white 3/4 sleeve top, khaki pants, brown belt, tan Steve Madden boots, my favorite new tan suede jacket

outfit 3- black cotton shirt with bell sleeves and a little bit of lace trim, red Express pants, black belt, black Steve Madden slides, and this ADORABLE red hat (it might sound weird to wear a hat, but this one is very cute and stylish and complements the outfit really well, plus I also figure it might help me stand out a little!)

I also bought a dress for prefs. It's pink and shimmery, with an asymmetrical hemline. I have matching shoes, too. It might be a LITTLE on the dressy side, but I would MUCH rather look a little too dressed up than underdressed!

Well anyways, I'll be sure to tell you all the details about the 3 parties I'm going to tomorrow. If it's like last year, I'll be going on tours of each house, watching videos or slide shows, and of course talking to the sisters! Any last minute conversation tips? :)

Don't worry about the sophomore thing-- TONS of sophomores rush everywhere! As for the girls remembering you from last year- so what if they do? it shows that you have courage and grace for going through with it again! Which should be commended, not held against you...esp. if you know any greeks now, they surely shouldn't hold it against you now.

so relax....they are just people wanting to get to know you!

echoing all the others
 

i know it's hard, but go in with an idea of having fun, meeting lots of people and following your heart. it generally hits the right time and place. your outfits sound wonderful.
keep us posted.
:cool:

Okay, I'm having second thoughts now. I don't know if I even want to go through with this anymore.

I just went to go grab something out of my drawer, and my dresser is right by my roommate's computer. One of her field hockey teammates did COB when I did, and she got in. And as I started to go back to my desk I happened to see my name out of the corner of my eye on her screen (my roommate has a huge font, so I wasn't looking intentionally but it was hard to miss). It was an instant message between her and her teammate and she had said "lol, Melissa is rushing again" and the other girl had said "hahahaha, oh jeez."

So needless to say that really hurt my feelings. Apparently it's funny that I want to be in a sorority. Well, I guess now that girl won't have to worry about me darkening the door of her house, or any house for that matter. :mad:

Oh, Melissa, I'm so sorry to hear that. Don't let those b*tches (sorry to be so blunt) ruin it for you!!! There are plenty of other houses for you to consider, with members who may actually see what a cool person you are and awesome sister you would be. Although I wouldn't blame you if you are soured to this particular house, please go through and give the others a chance. You are much too wonderful a person to let this get you down, girl!! :D

Good luck...dpn't let others drag you down
 

People like that always try to ruin good experiences for others. I know that you may be a bit in a tumble right now but you just have to seperate yourself from these two people; they are obviously not ones that you can call friends so they need to be kept at an arm's distance. I want to wish you the best of luck because I think that you really have determination inside of yourself...and that stands for a lot. Try to smile and think of what great qualities that you have that you can bring to a sorority and let the sororities know that. The other times you might have not given off whatever image you want to. This is your time....GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!

Re: Good luck...dpn't let others drag you down
 

Go and have fun in spite of those two! Don't let their meanness spoil your chance for you to connect with a group of women that will love you. I can't imagine that if they're talking like that before thngs have started that their house will have much success with hat type attitude. (and start looking for a new roomie!)

and her point is...
 

you are terrific...
you bring a ton to the table....
don't let the computer bs and table talk and tent talk (as the south calls it) bring you down.
you ready to go...this is what you want....go for it.
lol
:D

That which doesn't kill us just makes us stronger...
 

Melissa, please don't let anyone else stop you from what you want to do! It's not at all funny for you to want to be in a sorority. IMHO, it's darned rude of your roomie for not closing her IM program before leaving :eek: ! As for the teammate already in a sorority, well, she certainly didn't show much respect to you or her own sorority with such a comment :mad:.

There are a lot of sororities at URI to choose from. So what if you didn't get in via COB before? It happens. Sometimes in COB there's only a few spaces and a lot of girls, or whatever. But, formal recruitment works differently. At many schools, and hopefully this is true for URI, quota is set so that there is a space for every PNM somewhere. It may not be your first choice, and sometimes may not even be your second, but there's a space for every PNM somewhere. Just because you didn't get a bid in COB does not mean you won't get one in formal.

We're here for you. We may not know you, and we can't make promises that you will get a bid. However--we can listen, give advice based on our knowledge and experiences, encourage you and cheer you on. Your postings have shown a young woman who knew what she wanted to do and had done all she could to ensure her success. Don't let anyone stop you from your dreams. Anyone who would try to do such a thing truly isn't worth your time and effort.

Hugs,
Christin

Well said, AOPi alum! We had SEVERAL girls come through this year for the second year in a row, and all of them found a home. I think it takes great character to go through recruitment twice, and many people respect that in a girl! It shows that it is something that you really want to do, and I know many chapters would love to have a girl with that kind of dedication to greek life! I hope you will still give recruitment a chance!

These two girls (and I use the word girls because they aren't behaving like women) are just being bratty. Ignore what you read. I know people who have gone through rush a couple of times before they found the right fit. The mutual selection process can be brutal. Go into rush with a positive, confident attitude and an open mind. Don't allow these girls to affect the course of your life. I wish you a positive, enjoyable rush experience. :)

I went through formal my freshmen year and was cut before Pref. I went through COB the next fall and wasn't given a bid after the first party. It took a lot of guts but I was told they just wanted to meet me again so I went to their second party. The sister who came and delivered my bid became my Big and I have gained so much from the sorority. Don't let people get you down about doing something YOU want to do. I'm sure ppl were saying stuff about me when I went through AGAIN but by now I really don't care. Follow your heart and good luck!

Well, I decided I am going to go in the morning. My feelings were just really hurt, but now I'm more angry than anything. I mean, this particular sorority girl is someone I've spoken maybe 2 sentences to in my entire life, and I don't even talk to my roommate often because we're almost never in the room at the same time. I think it's really unfair of them to pass judgement like that. I'm also a little confused about why they'd say that. If I do say so myself, I think I would make a good addition to a sorority...I have good grades, I'm involved in dance and volunteer work, I'm fun-loving, and I'm a good friend. If XYZ doesn't want me for superficial reasons, that's their loss.

Thank you SO MUCH for all the replies. You're all so encouraging. I feel very lucky to have such supportive people behind me!

You go, Melissa! Don't let the bastards get you down! ;)

Ok, so obviously you are too cool to even be around these girls. don't sweat whatever they do, and if you do, when you see your roomate have the attitude "ill show them!". Plus, your roomate maybe jealous.
When I rushed and joined AZD, one of my good friends who didn't go through rush was a total bia*ch to me and would talk such shit about me all the time after i joined. people act strange when they are jealous.

I also vote for ignoring the silly girls and holding your head high through the rest of rush. Your roommate and her friend are most likely feeling threatened right now. Sadly there are a few (but much, much fewer than it is often assumed) young women who do use the fact that they're in a sorority as an excuse to look down upon women who for various reasons aren't involved in the sorority system.
Good luck with the rest of rush! I hope you find the best place for you!

Honey, girls like that only feel good about themselves when they put others down. There isn't enough substance in their own lives
so they have to stick thir noses into other people's business. It's really so sad, no, pathetic, but there are a ton of them and a few are bound to cross your path. You do what is right for YOU! Blow them off and think no more of them than you would a pile of dog $*&! on the sidewalk-step around it and keep on your way!

Well, I WAS going to edit this due to courseness............but I really like the descriptiveness and the accuracy.