Uf Rush
 

I am going to be a junior at UF and I am thinking about rushing in the Fall (2006).
Do I have a chance of pledging at all? Or is it not likely since I am a junior to get a bid??

Should I do it??

I am hesitant...
:confused:

Good luck in what ever you decide. There's been quite a few threads about UF recruitment. Search for them and read them all. If I recall correctly, it's not impossible but it can be a blow for the healthiest of egos.

socalgirl is right. do a search and read all the uf recruitment threads. it is possible to pledge as a junior, although you may not have as many choices as an incoming freshman. you won't pledge anything, however, if you do not give it a try. best wishes!!

Like everyone else said, it's not impossible but it is difficult.

Keep in mind that some groups will cut after the first round based on class standing alone. Also, a lot of groups will require a higher GPA from a Junior than they will from a Freshman, and just because the minimum GPA to go through rush is a 2.5 (for example) each group has their own minimum GPA which is probably higher.

Have you considered looking into the groups who participate in informal recruitment at UF?

I dont reallu know much about informal rush....I have like a 3.44 GPA......do you all think that is good enough??

Thanks so much for all the replies!!!:D

Informal recruitment is over for the year.

A 3.44 GPA is competitive. If you have a goodly amount of activties and volunteer work, you stand a good chance.

Contact the Greek Life office about signing up for Formal Recruitment. If tha doesn't work out, you can research the Information Recruitment options after Formal ends.

Go into recruitment with an open mind. You are going to get more heavily cut in the earlier rounds of recruitment because many sororities at UF place priority on recruiting freshman women. As posted earlier, it isn't impossible for an upperclassman to receive a bid to her dream sorority; it just means that you have to keep your options open.

As long as you go in prepared with the notion that you're going to have less invites than many of the freshmen you are rushing with, and keep a postitive attitude and again-- an open mind to the possibilities of any and all of the UF chapters-- you will be fine!

You never know unless you try, so register for fall formal recruitment and give it a go. Take the time pre-recruitment to keep your grades high, get involved in a meaningful activity or community service and keep a positive profile around campus, especially when you are out on the town or at a party. Also, you will need to get started now on getting alumnae recommendations. Contact the Alumnae Panhellenic in your hometown for details on recommendations or talk to sorority alumnae that you know.

do you have friends in the community already? that may help your chances.

If anything, there are plenty of opportunities at UF.

dale, if you are a junior new member, you will be treated no differently than a freshman new member. you will have no more or less requirements than any other new member.

as too the question are you too old-are you in your early 20's or are you 35? that will make a difference, and we really can't answer your question without knowing that.

is it just me, or do all the chapters at UF have ridiculously well done websites?

I agree with you..they all seem to be really well done and they look great.

I'm new to GC but I've spent the past two weeks reading the rush threads as I get more anxious to be on the other side of rush for the very first time. I decided to join today, because I'm so impressed by the unity and camaraderie of Greek women from all chapters, all across the country. I only wish I had found this site last year when I was a nervous PNM!

I also wanted to be able to comment on this thread. I rushed at UF as as sophomore, and my head was filled with all sorts of negative comments about my age and class status going into rush. I was cut heavily by houses that are adament about only taking freshman [there are several] but in the end, it worked out well and I'm in a house I know I belong in.

A very good friend of mine, who last year was a huge supporter of my decision to rush, was a junior when she joined her house. She had the same concerns and fears as you and I but she reassured me that the truth is that if a house has enough interest in you and wants you to be their sister, they will overlook something as petty as class status.

Being a junior and receiving a bid at UF is not unheard of and I encourage you to rush if you whole heartedly feel you want to be a part of a GLO. The Greek community at UF is very strong and a system to be a part of. In the past year alone, so many doors have been opened for me as the result of being Greek.

I hope that you'll follow your heart and give it all a try, I'm certain you are going to receive a lot of positive advice and support from the members of this community.

Best wishes

Welcome to GC! I'm sure one of the Pi Phis will direct you to their forum for introductions and all that, but I wanted to be the first to say hi!

:)

I received a bid at UF when I was a junior.. but that was in the 1980's. I don't know how things have changed over the years.

But no matter.. I'd say, go for it! The rush experience itself is really something not to be missed.. and as Penguin Trax said.. if you don't find a home during formal rush.. go for informal rush.

Go in with a positive attitude, smile, and be friendly. Don't find yourself apologizing for your age. I wouldn't even bring it up.

Some things that may help you: Read Dale Carnegie's classic, "How to Make Friends and Influence People." It should be the bible for all girls going through rush. It teaches you not only how to make new friends, but how to make conversation and to leave a good impression.

Think about how you can market yourself. I don't mean being fake; I mean letting the girls know who you are and why you're something special. Do you have an unusual hobby? Remember that at UF, there are a lot of girls going through rush, and you only have a short time to make yourself memorable.

I often wear an engraved gold bracelet my grandmother had bought for me when I was awarded my black belt in judo. It's a beautiful piece, and people always lean over to read what it says. I wore it at rush (not for that reason, but just because it's special to me) and it not only helped to be a great conversation starter for the girls rushing me, but I think it made me very easy to remember. How many black belts in judo do you know who went through rush??!!!

So, if you play rugby, or you paint.. do you have a charm you can wear that shows off your talent? It's a great conversation starter, and could make you stand out from the crowd.

Most of all, have fun.

oh, my heavens dale, you are not old!! your class standing will matter more to some chapters than your age. as others have said, most likely, some chapters will release you because you are an upperclass woman and they want only freshmen, but there are others to whom class standing matters less. give it your best shot, and see what happens. as i once told someone else, if you don't try, you won't pledge!!

I have plenty of friends who made it into "only freshman" houses at UF as juniors. As long as you have a good GPA and recs you should be okay. Feel free to PM if you have any UF rush questions!!

Hey ladies....

It has been so long since I have posted....but I have thought about it all summer and I am going to rush. Recruitment starts on friday, so I am trying to get ready! I had previously read on some threads that you should dress a little nicer than is suggested to. What do yall think about this? And for prefs.,I was planning on weraing a black cocktail dress, but should I get a colored one so I stand out, as some women suggested on GC?

Anyone have any more advice:D

With recruitment so close I don't know that you should necessarily stress yourself out trying to find a new dress. I'd personally recomment using some fabulous accessories with it that will set you apart - a colorful scarf (if you can pull off a scarf look, i personally think I look silly in them), a bold piece of jewelry or some awesome shoes. Someone memorable!

And while, yes, many sororities will wear black or red or blue or whatever for their prefs dressed and you've read some posts where we advised you, "Don't wear (fill in the color here) at prefs"-- just look cute and wear something flattering that suits the attire for the day. They'll remember you for your personality, not your clothes! Just make sure you feel good about what you're wearing and your confidence will reflect that. Have fun and best of luck!

Hey everyone....Ok I am keeping my black dress for prefs....and I have all my other outfits ready!! Our orientation meeting is Friday, so I will keep you posted!

Any last minute tips??

Oh yea---what is essential for me to have with me in my bag at rush?

:D

Hey all-

Our orientation was last nght and was great....my Pi Chis are awesome:)

Off to round one, hoping I dont pass out and melt in the florida heat:D

Good luck and have fun.

good luck gator! i know what you mean..its so hot..dont melt!

''

Why thank you GP. :)

Any updates? :)

I am thinking that since we are in the last stretches of September and she hasn't posted since August, that things did turn turn out positively for her. :(

Or she is too busy going to new member activities, classes, socials, football games, and having fun in Gainesville. I would love to know the outcome also!

UF had a much smaller rush in IFC/Panhellenic and it even flowed over into the non-traditional Fraternities like Kappa Chi (Christian).

I know for instance Panhellenic Quota was 51 when it usually is about 20 girls higher.

Some examples of smaller Fraternity class sizes were...

Kappa Sigma took 21

TKE took 22

Sigma Chi took 23

Lambda Chi took 16

these are some examples. my chapter took 15, we're also much smaller and non-traditional.

This has been attributed to:

*UF cut Freshman addmission from 6,500 to around 4,500 to 5,000.

*UF brought in a much more academically focused crowd that was less receptive to any type of Greek Life.

*The coinciding Rush Weeks. Panhellenic went August 18-25. IFC went August 21-25.

(Weather was great during Rush)

KYX:

http://photos-593.ak.facebook.com/ip...57593_5914.jpg

TKE:

http://photos-718.ak.facebook.com/ip...26718_9321.jpg

Last year Panhellenic's quota was 59 and the year before that it was 56.

This is the first year since I pledged (2001) that Panhel Recruitment coincided with the first week of class. According to our Recruitment Advisor, the number of women dropping out of recruitment increased noticeably this year, and it was probably at least partially attributable to this.

And what was that about the weather being nice? Because I drove up to help out on Friday, and I actually got hailed on outside of G-ville. In August!

I don't know where I heard this, but freshman admission to UF is up this year. I don't think that was the reason for lower membership. The weather was pretty awful... it rained EVERY DAY!! It was hot and because of the rain (and the fact that we live in a swamp) we were eaten alive by mosquitos. Just a yucky rush in general.

hmm....i seriously remember the weather being nice the whole week but then again, it was rush week and it was all pretty much a blur of names and faces.

i'm almost positive that freshman numbers were down this year. i'm looking for verification in the alligator.

lol the alligator.
I'm a junior. The sophomore class behind me was GIGANTIC. The new freshman class is bigger than my class for sure, but I don't know if it's as huge as the sophomore class. UF keeps giving away less and less acceptance letters, but a higher percentage of the acceptance letters are enrolling. Basically UF needs to start keeping it's enrollment under control.
I don't know anything about fraternity rush, but we sit outside in tents ALL DAY LONG. I got the feeling that most fraternity events were in the houses and at night.
Weren't several fraternities coming back onto campus this year as well? My bf is rushing to help recolonize FIJI and I think Sigma Nu and KA are back as well. Maybe that's why the new member classes were smaller.

UF Panhellenic quota has never been in the 70s, nor has it been below 50 in the 21 years that I've been involved.

The highest quota was maybe in the low to mid 60s, but never more than that.

For many years, UCF has had higher quotas than UF and FSU. I believe that has to do with keeping the houses at total.

But this is a thread about UF. Please start another thread if you want to discuss UCF.

:)

I wasn't trying to turn this thread into a UCF thread, I was just stating facts. I didn't know that UCF has had higher quotas in the past.
I was actually in Gainesville for the last part of rush and although I don't remember what the weather was, its Florida and usually rains in the afternoon.

i guess my question then is it normal for people to complain about smaller classes and less selection each year? it just seemed to me as far as the pc side of things go that they complained after each round that the girls just werent the same as they usually are and I've never heard that before.

Update....Delta Tau Delta has 18 here. Another smaller class. Usually though with the recolonization, Chi Phi recolonized last fall and that didnt effect numbers as did Sigma Nu.

Sure.

Ever hear any of your friends say, "I went by our old high school last week. Man, that school has gone down ever since we graduated/we were the best class ever/yaddayaddayadda." ??

It happens in college too, under different circumstances.