My Rush at UCI
 

Hey everyone!! I know I don't post here much but I read this board a lot. Rush starts Saturday for me, but I've already been to all the sorority booths and met a ton of girls at the Panhellenic picnic so I'd better get this started, to organize my own thoughts too!

Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Phi
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Gamma
Gamma Phi Beta
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Pi Beta Phi

I am using names of (random) Disney ladies to identify each hehehe:

Cinderella
Snow White
Jasmine
Ariel
Alice
Sleeping Beauty
Lilo
Belle

First impressions from the booths:

Snow White: Their shirts were really cute and they are all gorgeous. One of my staffers from summer orientation was there, I didn't even know she WAS a Snow White until I saw her at the booth! She's just great and if she's any indication of the rest of her chapter, I'm totally excited to meet more of them.

Lilo: They were really nice and what struck me was what a diverse group they were, which is something that I really liked about them. However, they didn't try as much as the others to make conversation and I don't really remember anything special that we talked about.

Jasmine: I LOVE them already. I talked to two girls whose names I still remember (when you meet soooo many people you feel really victorious to remember some names hahahah!). One was sooo sweet and we were talking for a really long time, and the other was hilarious. Also at the picnic, one of them came and said hi to me even though she had to leave just then. I thought that was so nice of her to remember me and just come and say hi even though she had to run.

Alice: These girls are SO beautiful. The girl at the booth was telling me about why she loved her sorority so much and about how much they supported her and was so proud of her, and she started tearing up! I thought that was so sweet. I talked to more of them at the picnic and one of them was giving me advice on my classes which was greatly appreciated too!! I really like them!

Cinderella: The girl we talked to at this booth was really pretty but kind of ditzy sounding. But she was talking about how she thought she'd never join a sorority but it was the best decision she'd made in college. She also said that her sisters really helped her balance the sorority and her schoolwork and helped her out with her classes. That was kind of nice to hear because I realllllly want to do well at UCI because I want to go to grad school at UCLA, so academics are pretty darn important to me.

Sleeping Beauty: I really liked these girls! I had a long involved conversation with them about how hard it is to straighten curly hair hahahahaha! They seemed really open and were really funny too, which is important to me because I laugh a LOT and I definetely want sisters who I can giggle with.

Ariel: At the picnic me and my two friends who are rushing with me sat down with like four of these girls and talked for two hours. I LOVEEE them. Their closeness and affection for each other was sooo evident in the way that they acted. Honestly, while our conversations were really awesome too, just observing how close they were with each other was really nice and made me want to get to know them better.

Okay that's all for now! I'm registering tomorrow and Saturday is the first day of rush. I'm SO excited, if nothing else to just meet more awesome people because I had soo much fun today.

Also, I am the last rush thread of a GCer! The other two that are left are a GCer's friend and cousin, I think. Thanks for reading this you guys! It even really helps sort out my mind to write it all down!!

Hey! Enjoy yourself. Gotta love those Disney gals:D

LM

go...go...go...
we know the disney women are strong...

Ohhh, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this Disney theme! I love all the houses already too! Best of luck to you this week!

Wow it sounds like your picnic went great! I can't wait to read your rush thread! :)

YAY for Disney and that DG is a part of the very last GC PNM rush thread! Good luck and keep us posted! ;)

Woohoo! Good luck! :D

Love the Disney theme!

Good luck in Rush

Good Luck Maroon5girl! I'm sending you good thoughts down the 405 freeway!

Good luck, sweetie, the "Disney" theme is a knockout!

Lots and lots of luck in recruitment!!!!

i have to agree with everyone in that the Disney theme is such a great idea :) supercute! anyways Im wishing you the best it seems like youre off to a great start! can't wait to hear more.


Nichole

Good luck!!!! :D

Finally the UC rush threads are starting, and the California rush threads will hopefully come pouring in soon enough!

Good luck Maya- you know we'll support you no matter what! Keep an open mind and have fun!

Carol

So, was there any group that you DIDN'T love! LOL! Sounds great so far, keep up your super open-minded attitdue...it will get you far!

aj

Good luck!

Wahey! Another rush thread, this time with the lovely Disney Princesses!

Good Luck!!

My favorite Disney girl is Sleeping Beauty(Aurora)!! I'm so psyched its out on DVD!

Okay, today was the first day of rush. I am so tired right now I cannot even express in words, but I'm sure you all remember how it felt. I'm not going to post my impressions of every single house, but I will say that I ranked them as following:

1. Ariel
1. Snow White
1. Jasmine
1. Alice
1. Cinderella
2. Belle
3. Sleeping Beauty
4. Lilo

Ariel, because all four girls that I previously met at the picnic SURROUNDED me and hugged me and made me feel SO at home. They really seemed genuinely happy to see me and they just seem so happy together and I love them

I liked Snow White because they were soooo outgoing and hyper even though it was pretty late by the time I got to them, which was really impressive. I got so excited when I was talking to one girl that we both started giggling and jumping up and down like little girls. It was great. The girl I talked to hugged me like four times hahahah!

Jasmine becaue again, all the girls I previously had talked to came up to me and said hello and seemed really genuinely happy that I was there. After like three of them came up to me, the girl who was rushing me said, "Wow you are so popular here!" and I had to say, "No, I'm really not, I only met these girls two days ago!!" But I already feel like I could be at home here.

Alice, sigh...I want to be like these girls because they are so incredibly gorgeous and really smart too. One girl that I met at the booth who I already kind of look up to, was there and she is apparently the president! I totally did not suspect that at all. She also made me feel at home by coming and saying hi while I was talking to another girl. I really liked the girls here so much. I think I feel the most conflicted towards this house, because I want it soooo much but I don't know if it's right for me.

Those are really my top four. Cinderella seemed like the type of girl I would be friends with, but really am not like that myself. Belle and Sleeping Beauty were cool but blend together a bit in my mind. And Lilo, I already am pretty sure is not for me. Okay, I'm glad I posted this because now I feel more mentally organized and ready for tomorrow. Thanks for your support you guys!

congrats on day one...
now keep your heart and your eyes open and see what happens. bestest luck.

Sounds like you had a good day :) I cant wait to hear more about the disney girls :D Good Luck sweetie!


Nichole

Just as kind of a tangent, you said that in sleeping beauty you talked about how hard it is to straighten curly hair. I talked about that too- with the chapter im now pledging! Coincidence?

Good luck with rush- no matter what happens! I hope you find your home!

Sounds like you're having a blast and making a great impression.
Glad you are getting such good vibes! Best of Luck! :)

Yesterday was Philanthropy Day and I am already conflicted. I was invited back to 5 houses and decided my choice is basically between Alice and Ariel.

Ariel, again I just love this house because every time I'm there about four or five girls come over and absolutely bombard me with hugs and wish me good luck and ask about my day and genuinely CARE about my answers to their questions! There was no forced conversation here, and they are all SO hilarious. I could fit in with them quite easily I think, and I already know which girl I would want for my big sis if I joined this sorority! I talked to them not only about sorority things but also about life things, about classes and my boyfriend issues and found that they had been in similar situations and were totally willing to help me out. What I thought was the sweetest thing was that some of the girls made plans to hang out with me like, a week or two from now, meaning that no matter what house (if any) I end up in, they still wanted to be friends and that means a lot.

I was SO surprised and sort of honored when Alice invited me back, because these girls are all so beautiful and so intelligent, and I was so surprised that they would even consider me, but they did and I am SO glad because I felt REALLY comfortable there last night. It was my last party, and I went in feeling very tired and emotionally drained (I only ate once yesterday, which was a stupid thing to do!!!), but when I left their house, I felt oddly energized and happy for no particular reason! I was so surprised at how much 45 min of just chilling with these girls turned my whole mood around. And it really didn't feel job-interview-y here...it felt like I was just hanging out with friends. Not only do I feel comfortable here, but there are also so many girls that I look up to and admire so much.

After that, there's Jasmine and Cinderella, and I really like the girls here but can't see myself so much being a part of them. So yesterday's rankings looked like:

1. Alice
1. Ariel
2. Jasmine
3. Cinderella
4. Lilo
5. Snow White
6. Sleeping Beauty
7. Belle

I could NOT sleep last night because I am so nervous about Alice and Ariel inviting me back tomorrow (when we visit up to 2 houses.) Honestly...if both organizations don't invite me back I don't think I will continue with rush. I really want to join a group that is special in my heart rather than choose any group that takes me for the sake of being in the Greek system. Well, what do you guys think about that? Some advice would be great....Although, I guess that's a personal decision for each woman to make on her own in the end. I'm hoping Pref night will make this easier. Everyone has been telling me that it was the 2nd day or Pref night that made the decision for them.

Thank you so much for the encouragement, I'm so nervous I really need it right now!!!!!

Ahh! Don't even think about the "what-ifs"!! Stay positive. You seem to have a good impression of all the sororities, so I'm going to come right out and discourage you from dropping out. I dropped a chapter at my school for a totally stupid reason, and now I'm pursuing AI for that organization! So, do whatever you can to avoid the regret that will certainly come from not following the journey to its true end. Of course, you don't have to join a group if you don't like, but try not to set up fences for yourself already.

Have fun!!!

LM:D

Oh, I hope you'll continue rush if you even get one of your favorites! That will go a long way towards opening any future doors!

Besides, who among us can't afford an extra friend or two? :)

dear maroon, it sounds like you have a great attitude and have had exciting and fun days so far! i hope that you get the house of your dreams. good wishes and best of luck to you. lisa

WOW! Im so happy that you had a good time! Think positive!! Im sure youre going to end up in a great place :) *keeping my fingers and toesies crossed for you*


Nichole

I totally concur with LouisaMay -- couldn't have said it any better myself!

:)

You want a chapter that is special in your heart, and I think that you need to go to prefs to really understand that. I know this advice is premature, but if your favorites do not invite you back, give the other chapters a chance to show you what they really are.

DON'T GIVE UP!!! Five invites from a total of 8 houses is awesome, especially since you have such a positive attitude and you seem to love every house regardless of whether you would fit in!

Good luck, keep us informed and have fun!

Carol

i echo the others in that you should stay the path and finish it. there are always options out there. don't jump prematurely, just play it all out. you come across as a bright warm girl and who knows...
if i could predict such stuff 100 percent, i'd be in vegas not teaching school.
smile...

Okay guys....Pref was probably the most emotional night I've had since my boyfriend left for college. I spent at least 45 minutes, it could have been an hour, sitting out on the blacktop thinking about what I had to do. I was invited back by both Alice and Ariel because I guess I am just incredibly lucky.

At Alice, I felt so special and honored to be there, and I saw so many friendly, familiar faces and felt sort of tingly the whole hour. I am so comfortable here and I really had to stop myself from crying when one of the seniors talked about when her father died, how her sisters drove her to and from the airport and supported her and everything that they did for her. That's exactly what I'm looking for in a sorority and what she said truly touched me. I left feeling so happy and honestly, I knew in my heart when I left that I wanted them.

Then I went to Ariel, and the girl who was preffing me was soooo sweet that in the beginning it just broke my heart to think I'd have to say no to her and her sisters. I really, really feel at home here TOO!!! Is that possible, to feel totally at home in two different houses?! She told me how much she thought that I totally fit in with them already, how much they were (supposedly) "fighting" over who got to pref me!! I was so flattered and at the end of the night I just started bawling...but I think that my tears and overall emotional state were products of not eating anything for the past two days AND guilt in my heart, because I think I knew deep down that I preferred Alice.

So after my 45 minutes of deliberation and talks with my recruitment counselor, I listed them as Alice first, and Ariel second. Honestly, even as I'm typing this I'm still not sure I did the right thing. They are two different groups of girls who suit different sides of my personality. And the president of Alice (who I love and adore hahahahaha) said quite clearly, "We don't want you to come in and be like us...we want you to come in and be who you are." That was so comforting to me. And even if Alice ends up cutting me, and I get Ariel, I know I will still be happy because I love those girls too. I hope, in whatever organization I end up joining, I keep the friends that I've made these last three days. Big sigh.

Okay I'm going to go do my (ughhh) homework now. THANK YOU SO MUCH just for being here. It helps so immensely to write it all down. I hope I get some more sleep tonight than I did last night!!

Sounds like you had a WONDERFUL pref night! Good luck on Bid Day!! I know that you will be excited no matter where you end up! :)

congrats already...
it sounds like a major league win win situation.
have a wonderful day.

http://www.greek.villanova.edu/alpha...tinkerbell.gif
Good Luck on Bid Day!!!



(and please don't keep us hanging! :) )

What a wonderful account of your special night!! Thanks for sharing. It really sounds like you had the ultimate rush experience; I hope it has the Disney ending that is best for you:D

LM

Wow. This is just like reading a good book - I can't wait to see how it ends! Today is Bid Day, right?

Honeychile you are too cute with that tinkerbell!