girliegator's Fall 05 UF recruitment story!
 

I know it's a little bit early for me to be posting this thread, but I am SO EXCITED to be rushing this fall that I just couldn't wait!!

For anyone who's interested, there are 16 lovely NPC sororities at my school:
Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Epsilon Phi
Alpha Omicron Pi
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Gamma
Delta Phi Epsilon
Delta Zeta
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Delta
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Phi Mu
Pi Beta Phi
Sigma Kappa
Zeta Tau Alpha

I love going to college basketball games so I'm thinking about naming them after the schools in the Sweet 16 last year.

I'm a little nervous because I am rushing as a sophomore and I'm not a legacy, but I think at this point I'm more excited than nervous. I'm trying to work on getting my recs as soon as possible and I just plan on putting my best foot forward. I believe everything happens for a reason and I'm sure wherever I end up will be the right place for me! :)

I'll most definitely be updating this thread in the future - and good luck to all of you other PNMs as well!

yay!! I love UF rush stories! Good luck!

Good luck! I don't know anything about UF or its chapters (though I am of course biased towards a particular one). However, I'm sure you will do just fine, sophomore and all. Also, legacies count for less each year, it seems, as sororities care more about finding girls that "fit" with them.

I do recommend checking the chapters' websites if available, and the national orgs' sites if not! It'll help provide you with some background info that'll also help you keep the houses straight.

Anywho, relax, be yourself, and don't sweat the small stuff.

YAY -- I love college basketball!

Good luck and have fun with recruitment. (Since you're trying to maintain anonymity I'm sure this won't happen, but it would be great if Delta Gamma was Duke ;) )

Good luck to you! I rushed at UF many years ago. I'm so excited for you!

Don't worry about being a sophomore... I was a junior when I rushed, and, being from the north, hadn't a clue about sororities, so I didn't even know what a rec was!!!

I know you've heard it over and over again, but, just be yourself and enjoy the process. I can't wait to hear all about your experiences.

Wow, I miss UF. <sigh!>

I think a sophomore will be a better recruit in some ways then a freshman. Sophomores usually have better questions. Also, from your post it really looks like you are going in with an open mind.

You know I do have one piece of advice, that I never read mentioned. . . (and this would be good for any pnm) I don't know if it is against the rules, but I think if you are really interested in an organization, you should tell the sister that is recruiting you. Don't be afraid that they don't like you, because it is that sisters job to recruit, and if she knows you are interested then she will tell other sisters. I don't mean be "crazy" - "I LOVE YALL" interested I mean you can tell them that you really feel comfortable in their house/chapter room etc.

I, personally, like to hear that someone is interested in my specific organization. I mean if you were going to a "cattle call" job interview you wouldnt act uninterested in the business . . . you would tell them that you were interested in the postition. It seems to me that a pnm would do good to do the same during recrutiment. A sophomore would understand that a little better then a freshman because freshmen are bombarded with information that they don't understand, and sophomores already know "how things work" so to speak.

It may have been said before, but I think that would be a good thing for a recruit to know.

HAVE FUN. I cant wait to read your "rush thread"

get ready to have a ball...
get your recs, comfy but pretty shoes and have fun

Yay, I love UF!! Good luck, and I cant wait to hear your story!!

Good luck, from one PNM to another!:D

I second this piece of advice. I asked my Rho Chi when I went through how to make sure my favorite sorority knew I was really interested. She told me to compliment their party, tell them how much I loved their skit/video/girls etc. Of course, you must do this in a sincere way and can't do all of this on the first day, but as you move through the process, it's a good thing to let them know that you are very interested, want to be involved, and how much you like/love/respect etc. their chapter.

Best wishes!!

Another piece of advice for all PNMs out there...

Go to the library and read Dale Carnegie's book, "How to Make Friends and Influence People."

It is one of the basic books (and in my opinion one of the best) on how to make a good first impression, how to meet people, how to come out of your shell, how to attract people, and how to get to know them and let them get to know you. It should be the bible of rush! Definately useful skills for rush and for the rest of your life!

Ditto

That is a great "self help" book to read and it is easy to get the information.

Also, the basic thing I learned from that book is - EVERYONE likes to talk about themselves, so good listeners with follow-up questions make for the best conversations.

Thank you all for the awesome advice. I'll definitely have to remember that the sisters can't read my mind, and to make sure to let them know when I am interested in their particular organization. I'm planning on checking the Dale Carnegie book out of the library sometime this week. A friend recommended that to me a while ago and it sounds like a really good thing to read!

Just posting because of some exciting news (at least for me) - my parents aren't Greek and I was worried that my mom wouldn't be too happy to hear that I'm rushing. She's a wonderful lady and she supports me in everything because she's my mom, but there have definitely been times when we disagree about things. Well, I shouldn't have worried at all, because I told her this weekend and she's almost as excited as I am! She wants to hear all about the recruitment process and go shopping with me for rush outfits. I'm just thrilled that she's so interested in it and that she wants to be a part of this part of my life, and I wanted to share it with you all. :)

It's always nice to have parental support!

THAT IS GREAT to hear about your mom. My mom didn't care one way or the other. She was never a fan of anything that had the possibility of taking me away from "my studies." So, I couldn't "share" the event with her, but . . .

ADPi and I am sure alot of other sororities have a special place for mothers. In fact, we have a pin and other things that we do for our mothers. So, if she does want to get involved with you and your sorority then I am sure there will be a place for her if you are interested in sharing that part of your life with her.

Wow, I am getting excited for you and all of the "rushees." I love recruitment stories.

Keep us updated on every little thing.

YAY!! A SEC RUSH!!!

Good luck girlie!!! Let us know all the good details!!

Good luck with rush. Even though I have no freakin' idea what house is going to be what school, I have to say, go Michigan State...haha...

But seriously, have a great rush. Have fun and enjoy it. Every now and then, I kind of wish I could do it all again.

Good luck!
 

Although my sorority is currently going through the expansion process, and I don't know what rush is like I just wanted to wish you the best of luck with your rush experience. I hope it is a positive one! :)

-Emily

I have added you to this thread:
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...threadid=64668

Good luck with recruitment.

I can't wait to hear more.

I'm also a sophomore rushing at UF this fall. I'm so excited and can't wait!

I will have to check back and see how rush went for you. Good Luck!

Whoo hoo! Another fellow Gator! Please start a thread, I'd love to hear all about your rush experiences as well. And.. btw.. I was a junior when I rushed at UF!

Good luck to you! GO GATORS!!!

Aww, I'm glad to see so many fellow Floridians and especially Gators here!!

gatorgirl, I hope rush goes well for both of us. I know it is going to be so much fun but I'm really nervous (and excited)! Good luck to you as well! And blueangel, that is really encouraging to me that you rushed as a junior - I keep on hearing stuff about how tough it is to get a bid as a sophomore or junior, so I am glad there's someone who made it through all right. :)

Good luck from a fellow Fall 2005 rushee to another! lol. Hope everything goes well for you!

How exciting! I hope you have a really great rush!

Thank you all for your good luck wishes!!! Just wanted to give a quick update - a couple of nights ago I met with some members of the alumnae Panhellenic in my area. They were such wonderful, friendly ladies and they really reaffirmed all my reasons for wanting to join a national sorority. We even practiced a typical rush conversation and they gave me some hints about what I can say/do to present myself better. I am going to have a lot of thank you notes to write when recruitment is over!

I have almost all of my clothes now but I am still in search of the perfect pref dress! One of the women who met with me last night suggested a new store that just opened not too far from my house. I will have to check that out this weekend!

We had orientation last night - a girl who was in one of my classes last year is in my rush group, so it was nice to see a familiar face! I met a lot of new people and my Pi Chis are really sweet ladies.

Unfortunately the internet in my room is not working yet so I can't give you the update that I would like - but I promise to let you know what's happening as soon as I can! I'm loving it. :)

Good luck! I'll be cheering for you:)

LM

So what happened??? Inquiring minds want to know. :D