xrachie's MAYBE recruitment, spring 08!
 

Hey all!
Won't lie, I've been lurking around here for a couple of weeks, mainly because I am interested in greek life, but also because you guys are quite entertaining! I accidentally stumbled upon GreekChat and I really am glad that I did.
I'm still deciding about whether I want to go through formal recruitment this upcoming spring as a sophomore, and after reading all the recruitment threads, I'm leaning towards yes. Last year, I was in a really in a bad mindset as I was terribly unhappy at my school (whose name I would like to keep under wraps until I make my decision and/or finish rush) and was treating rush as basically a last resort. I wound up being cut from all the houses and it stung, I was really enjoying myself and I thought I really had made connections with some of the girls, but my grades were way low (a result of the miserable outlook - I was a bit of an overachiever in high school so low grades were totally foreign to me), I was lying through my teeth saying how happy I was at school because I thought that was what the sisters wanted to hear. I know now (thanks to a lot of you guys) that that was an AWFUL way to approach something that can really be a rewarding experience. In the two semesters since, I decided that I would see if rushing is really what I want to do, and in the mean time, make the most of my time in college; I've found a peace of mind at my school, gotten involved in some other organizations, pulled my grades up, and decided that greek life may still be for me. If it doesn't work out this time around, it may still sting, but I don't think it will feel like such an "end of the world" smack in the face.
That's really the long and short of where I am and I would love to share my second time around rush experience! :)

Happy New Year, by the way!
rachel

i hope everything works out for you. keep us posted please!

you have spring formal recruitment right? and is your school competitive or not so much?

As long as you are prepared for the possible rejection, you have nothing to lose by participating in recruitment. Although you were cut by all chapters, if your GPA has improved since then, you will stand a better chance of receiving a bid. Good luck to you.

Thank you all, and Deepher, I'm actually not sure if we're competitive or not. I think certain houses are more competitive than others. And yes, it is spring formal recruitment, we're deferred so that's pretty much it.

Rush starts February 1, I believe, so I apologize for making y'all wait, I know you'll be on the edge of your seats for the next 3 weeks, waiting for my every update ;)

I for one, love a good recruitment story!!!! Please keep us updated!!! :)

Well, I am officially signed up for rush as of 5 minutes ago, I felt GC should be the first to know. I've gone back and forth the past 3 weeks, the last year, really, but I figure I don't have anything to lose, so I should just go for it! No turning back now!
I'm going to try my very, very hardest to put preconceived notions aside. Being here for a year and a half in addition to starting to rush last year, I have some lingering preferences, but I've changed in the past year. The houses I liked last year may seem entirely different to me now, so I am going in with the most open mind I can have. It should be noted that I've met girls from all of our houses outside of rush and at least one girl from every house was a sweet, kind, and all-around good person. I'm taking that as a good sign!;)
Now, the fun part!
We have 12 houses here. I have a really strange obsession with England and all things English and London is my favorite city in the world. I really hope I can call it my home one day. In honor of that, I chose different landmarks and attractions in the city to represent the houses.

Abbey Road
The London Eye
St. Paul's Cathedral
Covent Gardens
Westminster Abbey
Millennium Bridge
Tower of London
Piccadilly Circus
Buckingham Palace
Trafalgar Square
Big Ben
Tower Bridge

Just some candid, juicy details: In the back of my mind, I am rooting for Abbey Road and Piccadilly Circus (but I'm not focusing on them! promise!). I've loved every girl I've met from these houses. I've been told I'd fit in nicely at The London Eye and Covent Gardens, whose members ironically, I haven't met many of. The three "top" houses (in my opinion) are Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and St. Paul's Cathedral.

I should be receiving an email this week about a pre-rush meeting to meet our Rho Gammas and then Rush starts next friday night, February 1st! The next installment I suppose will be after the first meeting!

Exciting!

Good for you!! I'm really impressed with your tenacity and decisions to make the most of your college experience, with or without participating in a sorority.

Good luck and I'm excited to read about your experiences!!

good luck ! i'm a britophile too!

I'm cheering for Abbey Road and Big Ben!

Good for you - I'm glad you have settled in - and that your experience last year didn't deter you from recruitment again this year. Keep up the positive attitude! Best of luck!

OH man, the past two days have been nuts. Superfun and superexciting, but supernuts.
First round started last night and continued today with 5 last night (in really great weather. no seriously. sleety rainy snowy hail is awesome to schlep around campus in.) and 7 today. No use writing extra words, I'll just get right down to the visits!
Friday Night
Piccadilly Circus - First house of the night! I had to miss the pre-round meeting and the "kick off" ceremony due to some emergency circumstances, so I didn't have little name slips to give to each house or my name pin. When I walked in I told the girl who was collecting the slips and she jokingly said I wasn't allowed in and we both laughed. I like a good sense of humor so this was a kinda nice way to start the evening. I went in and had a pretty decent conversations with the girls. Nothing spectacular, but nothing awful. No awkward pauses or anything, I just wasn't thrilled.
Westminster Abbey - This house's greeting song will be stuck in my head for the rest of my life! They even had choreographed arm movements to go along with it. All three of the girls I spoke to were so easygoing and relaxed and the conversation really just flowed. I felt more comfortable than I expected I would - the house looks very museum like and pristine (and beautiful) so I expected I would walk in and feel cautious about even breathing the wrong way, but the girls really put me at ease and I had a great time.
Big Ben - This house was decorated for Valentine's day, it was so cute. It has lots of balloons with paper hearts that were handing from the balloon strings, it was like walking into love. This chapter is a bit smaller, though I know it's a pretty big organization on other campuses. Because of this, there were a lot of 2 PNMs to 1 sister, one of which I was a part of. The girls we spoke to kept talking about going out and one of them kept swearing. I laid low during the going out talk as I just didn't feel comfortable talking about that and I try to avoid cursing when I can. The other girls I spoke to, I just couldn't really conect with them, awkward pauses and smiling and nodding. Not my favorite.
Millenium Bridge - This was my surprise of the night. I know 2 girls in this house who are complete opposites of eachother. I also remember feeling really uncomfortable this house last year. While I shouldn't be thinking about last year, its kind of hard to avoid. But the girl I met at the door was the only girl I spoke to the whole time and it literally felt like I had known her for years. We had great conversation about music and Massachusetts (random, I know). Considering the two girls I know in this house (one of whom I'm friends with, the other was my next door neighbor last year) and this one, I can only come to the conclusion that the house is really diverse and I would like to see more!
Tower of London - Last house of the night and it ended of a pretty indifferent note. Another song that will never leave my brain, if nothing else. The girls were all really sweet, but I just couldn't see myself there, I don't think. Some of them were kind of shy and I'm more outgoing. A couple of them were more enthusiastic but, eh, I just didn't feel a sincere connection with them. I left the house to go back to my room thinking more about how stunned I was that I was actually happy at Millenium Bridge.

I have to go check flight times, how conveniently timed that I just finished typing this. ha. anyhoooo I'll update with today's as soon as this flight thing is taken care of.

flight home booked!
now, on with the houses!
Saturday, ie. today.

Abbey Road - Bright and early we started at this house where we stood for an excessively long amount of time. It was FREEZING as the house is up on a hill so the wind was nuts. Finally the singing started and we went in. Every girl I've met from this house I've loved so I had high expectations. The first girl I spoke to, the conversation was a bit stiff, but after that, all the girls were just so easy to talk to. I felt like I could really fit here. A few girls came over who somehow knew my name before I could introduce myself. They probably read my nametag, but it made me feel good anyway! Overall, I left really happy!
Tower Bridge - My experience at this house is proof that you really need to go into this thinking about whats best for you and not what everyone else is saying. I heard a lot of girls walking out of this house saying that the conversation was very one-sided and slow and awkward and I totally didn't have that experience at all! The girls were CRAZY spirited and played music for us to dance to before we got in the house. The girl I spoke to was the cutest girl and I loved talking to her. I spoke to her for most of the time until the very end where I spoke to another girl who wound up having to speak to me and the girl sitting next to me because the sister who was originally talking to the girl next to me accidentaly gave herself a paper cut and needed to go get a band-aid. But I totally liked this house and hope to see it again!
Covent Gardens - These girls were sooo sweet, there is honestly no other way to describe them. It was clear that they all really loved eachother and cared for one another and for their sisterhood. I think I could fit in here, but I don't know if I'm necessarily that peppy. I had some crazy conversation with a couple of the girls about getting jobs and apartments after college, even though we were all like WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THIS AUGH!, it was actually kind of funny. I really liked it here, don't know if its my favorite, though.
The London Eye - This house is fairly notorious for their cheering to be heard from blocks away, but I was underwhelmed. Even after that the girls I spoke to were a but underwhelming as well. The conversation didn't flow, I had to carry it with a couple of the girls I spoke to. One of them I was able to really talk to, but the others, not so much. I just left feeling like I had stated my major, hometown, job aspirations, residence, multiple times with very little else in between. I really liked their shirts and their theme though :)
Buckingham Palace - Let's just put it out there, that its quite the coincidence that this codename wound up being assigned to this house, because HOLY MOLY was their house GORGEOUS! Even the girls were gorgeous, I felt like I was walking into a J.Crew catalogue they were all so cute in their matching polos. While my conversations here were actually really great, I don't think I could be in this house, I just don't think I'm pretty enough, hahaha. One of the girls kept asking me about the houses I liked so far, so I tried my best not to name names and not say anything incriminating. These girls were also big on the cheering and the excitement, so I left happy but knowing that this one really wasn't for me.
Trafalgar Square - The first girl i spoke to wasn't very enthusiastic about much. She seemed to be just kind of...there. The next girl and I had a great conversation about Italy and event planning and then the next girl I talked to we talked about Perez Hilton, go figure. But I was comfortable with these girls, as I can talk about celebrity gossip and Europe for DAYS, they're two of my favorite subjects! This was another house I liked, but wasn't thrilled by.
St. Paul's Cathedral - I was surpised at how much energy these girls had, since it was nearly the end of the day. I was actually greeted by a girl I kinda sorta knew, as we had a class together last year. We bonded over some stories, as both of us kinda got ditched by friends for boyfriends. The next few girls are kind of a blur to me, as I was so tire I was pretty much delirious by this point. I remember liking them, but just thinking that I don't think we would ever actually click in real life. We were able to talk and laugh in this situation, but in any other, probably not so much.
THENNNN processing.
We could select 9 as our tops and 3 ranked. I had some trouble with mine, as I was debating about the placement of St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London and The London Eye. Eventually I did:

* Abbey Road
* Covent Gardens
* Piccadilly Circus
* Millenium Bridge
* Trafalgar Square
* Westminster Abbey
* Buckingham Palace
* Tower Bridge
* St. Paul's Cathedral

2. The London Eye
3. The Tower of London
4. Big Ben

I go get my list at 9:15 tomorrow morning and then have round two, the philanthropy round all day. Last year, house tours and philanthropy were switched, so that's kinda cool. This round I felt confident as I've done it before, but tomorrow will be a switch, since I'll be going in blind. It's the less formal of the two, which is kinda nice. I'll be wearing some khaki corrds and a nice top I got on Black Friday, most likely. This round was jeans and the tee-shirt they provided for us. I actually had to wear galloshes becuase it was so disgusting out. Luckily, my rain boots matched the shirt PERFECTLY. Tomorrow I don't know the shoe situation yet, I'll see how the ground looks. For now I'm going to find some food I think and get to bed!

Wishing you better recruitment weather, fantastic conversations turning into lifelong friendships, and the best of luck with your invitations, xrachie, from a fellow Anglophile! I just love your code names!

Round two, the philanthropy and video round, brought slightly better weather in that it wasn't snowing or raining or sleeting or anything. It was killer icy though, a few girls wiped out on the sidewalks. Luckily, I've gotten good at baby, flat footed steps that make getting to places take twice as long, but I avoid killing myself on the way to class, so I suppose its worth it :P
I was cut moderately heavily, which didn't surprise me. My heart really wasn't into it on the first night. I had just learned of some really devastating family news so it was hard for me to fake a smile. My father's been sick for about 7 months now and he finally decided on Friday night that he couldn't fight anymore. My mom thought that it would still be a good idea for me to go through rush, if nothing else, it's a worthwhile distraction. As a result of being a bit more raw than I think I would normally approach this though, I found that I got asked back to houses where I really didn't have to force a smile. The only house that I was disappointed about not seeing on my schedule was Abbey Road. I got my other top 2/3 though (Millenium Bridge and Tower Bridge), so I was happy. Considering everything else that's floating around in my head, I was just happy for the distraction.
The day started bright and early at 9:15 and was filled with surprises.

Trafalgar Square - This time around brought the same results as the first time: I liked it, but didn't love it. I was comfortable, but the girls just seemed to be there. They weren't very enthusiastic. I got really into doing all the arts and crafts (im like, 7 at heart) especially at this house. The video was adorable, but I started crying smack in the middle. They played a song that just hit home and I was gone. The sisters probably thought I was crazy. I had to gether myself together really fast though because the end of the video signalled the time to shuffle out the door.
Big Ben - I wasn't pleased to be going back to this house, but I know its important to try to give everything a fair shot. I reapplied some makeup so I looked like a normal human being, and waited to be escorted into the house. I was again in a 2-1 PNM-sister group with a terribley awkward girl who didn't seem to be too thrilled to be doing this. I wasn't overly excited by their philanthropy mainly because they didn't seem to excited about it. I did talk to one really chill girl, but I fear that the rest of the chapter is not like her, since she is the first to not be terribly awkward feeling to me.
Tower Bridge - There was some sort of confusion with the time that we were supposed to enter the house so they were doing the entrance song for literally 10 minutes. Because of the confusion I wasn't greeted at the door by anyone and then it was another 2-1 house. The girls I spoke to today and I didn't click as much as the first girl from the last round and I did. I still liked them and loveddd their video (which made me tear up when they played "All You Need is Love") and all their spirit, but I think these girls might not be me. They're very outgoing and wacky and I'm a bit outgoing and quirky. I did sort of speak to a girl who I actually remember talking to last year and feeling awkward becuase she was very introverted and not a big talker. So I guess there's a bit of bth in this house, I would like to see more so I can get a more definitive feel.
The London Eye - The notoriously loud cheering made itself known during theese girls' video! They literally almost took the house down, it was actualy pretty amazing. I welled up but I wouldn't let myself bawl like I did in the first house, definitely had a few tears though.I felt so relaxed with these girls this time around. I spoke to one of the more quiet girls I ahd talked to first round, but the others I spoke to were really easy to talk to, we had some great conversation and their craft was so fun! My opinions totally flipflopped on this house. I could almost see myself there now. With another visit I think I could have a better idea of that.
Millenium Bridge - I had an amazing time here! Every girl I talk to I love and can really connect with. I'm still so shocked by that, as I never would have expected it. A girl that I'm friends with in the house always makes it a point to walk by and say hi, its a nice little friendly face moment. The girl I spoek to for most of the time loves J.Crew as much as I do. Trust me - thats really hard! I love this house's philanthropy, I have a real, personal connection to it, friends and family of mine are affected by the cause and I would love to do work with the organization. I won't take it as any sort of sign or omen, but it is a definite perk. We actually barely got to the craft (which was really easy) because we were so busy talking to eachother. I called my mom after this was over and couldn't stop taking about this house. I don't want to jinx anything, but I really can see myself here with these girls.

Since I had less than 9 houses I had to prefer all of mine, so processing was nice and easy for me. At this point last year, I had received my dreadful call, and I haven't received one yet. I won't say that I'm in the clear of that looming fear I've had, but I would like to think I'm safe. I would also like to think I have 4 houses in my next schedule for Friday. I went home this morning to spend some time with some of my family and grieve a bit in private. I'll be back at school next Friday for round 3 and I'm going to be aching to know for the next 4 days. Saturday is pref night, which is scheduled to end early and a couple of friends from home who go to school abouy an hour away from me may come in and have dinner with me. So there's lots to look forward to. For now, I'm exhausted, time for sleep!

I'd have to say I'm rooting for Millenium Bridge! :)

I'm so sorry to hear about the situation with your dad. You're very brave for continuing with recruitment in spite of a lot going on at home. Good luck with the rest of recruitment, and hang in there!

please let me add my sympathies. i am so glad that you have a break with your recruitment and were able to go home-there truly is no place like home, especially in a trying time.

i hope that you receive the invitations you are hoping for!! wishing all the best for you.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((xrachie)))))))))))) )))))))))))))))))

Please know that there will be many women praying for you & your family concerning your father. I do urge you to say something, if there's an opportunity to say so - even an "I've received bad news from home, I'm excited to be here, but I'm also not my usual bubbly self." We had a PNM in a similar situation, and she later said that it was the moment when she knew which sororities were sisterhoods, not just a group of people living together.

Good luck with this next round - if you need a shoulder to cry on, just let us know.

I am so sorry to hear of your difficult situation. I lost my wonderful 33 year old aunt to breast cancer as I was going through rush (recruitment). I broke into tears at one house - who then cut me - but it is true that you get a good feeling for the true sisterhood of the groups. But I echo honeychile - do let them know what is going on. Don't make a big deal, just a mention of the situation.

I would also mention it to your Pi Chi (Rho Chi, Rho Gamma, Recruitment Counselor -- whatever your campus may call them) if you feel comfortable. They may be able to be supportive to you during this time.

I'm praying for you and your father. Definitely tell your Recruitment Counselor about this.

agreed!! also agree with all the ladies who said to let your recruitment counselor know, too.

I'm sorry to hear about your father giving up his fight. One of my best friends lost her mother to ovarian cancer about 6-8 weeks after she accepted her bid to Alpha Delta Pi. We're from Maryland, and she goes to school in Alabama. She was so grateful for having a sisterhood to support her. My thoughts are with you and your family.

xrachie, I am sorry to hear about your father hon! Hugs coming at cha

Thank you for all your kind words. It's actually nice knwoing that there are a few faces out there that I've never seen who are thinking good thoughts about him. I'm sure you would have loved him.
While I was on a break during round 2, a good friend of mine came to visit me in the student center and I told him the news, whereupon I started crying and one of my RGs came over and offered to talk if I needed anything. I didn't have the heart or stomach to say the words again, but I frankly thought I scared her and the other two off, haha. I think I might go ahead and tell them during round 3, so I can explain my outbursts and whatnot. I was debating whether or not I should tell the girls I talk to in the houses. I don't want them to think I'm trying to play a sympathy card or soemthing. (Hell, I didn't even want to say it on here.) With a few of the girls I felt a slight connection with it was actually hard to fight the urge to just blurt out everything all at once. It's always somehow easier to tell complete strangers things (usually in gruesomely intimate detail) than people you actually know. I think I may take the concensus and tell at very least my RGs. While home I've been seeing people I love and who love me, so its nice - a well received break from the "speed-dating" cycle of rush. I'm excited to get back into it and the suspence of knowing which houses are on that schedule is killing me. I keep thinking about two houses in particular, telling stories of the girls I met to my mom, who seems fairly excited by the whole thing. She doesn't really understand the process, but she's very supportive and hopes I wind up where I would like to wind up. Whats kind of nice is that my dad has a front row seat to the whole thing, I know he'll be happy no matter what I do.
I've been out the whole day, its time for some WIll and Grace and sweatpants!

i will most def. be praying for you and your family....
LOVE! and HUGS!

i dont know if i would tell the sorority girls that your dad is that sick since they dont really know you, and probably would not know what to say and also, they might think you wont have the time for pledging if you dont have a bid. but its your decision and if you want to, then you really should.

i honestly hope everything works out for you, rush and family wise.

<3 i'll pray for you.

Round 3
I'm exhauted. There's no other way to put it - emotionally, physically, mentally, everything. Things didn't go as well as I would've liked them to and I had a total freakout on the phone with my mom during a break. I just feel like I should still be home. I feel guilty for even starting this process and I don't really know if I want to continue. I got asked back to two houses, one of which I really enjoyed, the other I just keep getting asked back to and I just don't fit there. I feel awkward and I can't join an organization to join an organization, its not me. I simply could not accept a bid from them. All of the girls are genuinely nice people, but nice isn't enough to build a sisterly bond on, for me.
Today I toured:
Trafalgar Square - I remember thinking last year that this house was where I could see myself the most. Out of my two options right now, I still think that. The girls I spoke to today were much more active in conversation and within the house itself. They were down to earth and really chill people. I felt more comfortable here than I have in the previous two rounds. The house was really nice, too, which was a plus. This was my third choice from the five of the last round, so I guess its not all that bad. I've heard things about the sisters not getting along well, but they all seemed very cohesive to me. I suppose thats part of rush though, even if it is forced. It didn't seem forced, at very least to me.
Big Ben - Nothing new here. More stunted, awkward conversation. Smiling and nodding. Pauses. At this point in the evening I was so fed up with everything I just didn't care anymore. As I stood waiting to go inside, I looked over at Millenium Bridge (which happens to be across the street from Big Ben), wishing I were there instead. The house was cute, but on the tour the sisters seemed so indifferent towards the house and towards eachother. I didn't feel welcomed, I didn't feel the love that I felt at Trafalgar Square. Even if I go to prefs here, one round can't change 3 previous ones of me feeling strange here.

Honestly, at this point, if I am invited back to both I would suicide Trafalgar Square. Again, I'm not one of those people who can lukewarmly enter something. I go into things headfirst, balls out. Its actually something I got from my dad. He was a no bullshit kind of guy and I inherited that from him. I can't bullshit my way through a sisterhood. Its disrespectful to those who are in it for the real deal. If theres anything I learned from him, its that respect for others, no matter who they are or what you think of them, is always of the utmost importance. If I am put in the situation where my only possible choice is Big Ben, then I have to respectfully bow out.

I could so HUG you for this.

My late father was the same way, and I know I get that from him too!

Sending you good vibes for a Trafalgar Square bid card!

If you are invited to Pref both chapters, go to both. I typically wouldn't encourage suiciding, but if you really only seeing yourself in one, then go with your heart.

Hope things look up for you.

But do go to both prefs - give both groups a chance, and then do what you feel right when you sign your pref card.

hugs to you. i hope that you can keep on going. hang in there-it is stressful for everyone, even for the sorority members and not many(if any) are having to deal with what you are dealing with. best wishes for an invitation from trafalgar square!

You are going through what will be one of the most difficult things you'll ever experience so most of your feelings (about thinking you should be home, having your emotions bouncing all over the place, etc) are to be expected. I lost my mom in September and am just now starting to feel almost normal again. You are going to have freak outs when you least expect them and will have them even more when you're under stress. I can't even imagine going through recruitment during this time. Don't be hard on yourself. Do what feels right. Freak out when you need to freak out. It's all part of the process. Consider grief counseling if it feels overwhelming. I hope things work out in your favor.

<hugs>

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad :( I think I know what school youre rushing at. If I'm right I'm so excited! The weather descriptions brought back memories...lol hopefully I'm right.

The best of luck this weekend.

I must tell you all, I look positively lovely right now. I have decided, however, that I am not right for greek life right now. I was sitting in our meeting room today in my pretty dress, and I realized that I didn't know what I was doing there. I felt strange as the RGs talked about what would happen tomorrow on bid day and I was thinking to myself "jeez, I really don't want to do that tomorrow." Thats when I decided that I would withdraw from the process. They handed me back my schedule and the only house on it was Big Ben. Then I knew for certain.
I made the right choice for me, I think. I am super involved with a lot of other things on campus (if any of you current students have a SIFE organization on your campus, I highly recommend joining! That has been one of the most rewarding organizations I have joined on campus) and taking a pretty hard semester. While pledging would have been fun and rewarding as well, its simply not right for me right now. I've heard rumors about a recolonization of another sorority on campus, but we'll see about that.
I want to thank you all for your support with this and with my family situation, its been nice coming back from rounds to a small cheering section! Won't lie, I'll probably continue lurking around here. If any of you are curious about my school or the code, feel free to PM me, I'd be more than happy to tell. I don't think I said anything particularly nasty about any of the chapters and I happen to really love my school, so I don't have much of a problem answering any of those questions.
A friend of mine is in a play that I can now catch the matinee showing of! I'm off!

paix.

The best of luck to you in all of your endeavors! Of course you can lurk around here. There are non-greeks on this board too. <hugs> again.

Dee

Although that can be a hard decision, I'm proud of you for giving recruitment another try during such a hard time for you. I really hope that you stay happy with your other fabulous activities, and maybe get to be involved with the recolonization! Good luck!