My Midwestern Recruitment Tale
 

So, I love reading these and decided I wanted to share mine with you guys, especially because rush hasn't yet begun at my school.

I came into my freshman year of college without much knowledge of sororities. My neighbor, who is about 10 years older than me, was a Chi-O. She wrote me a rec, but I (not knowing anything about sororities) somehow thought that would work for all the chapters and didn't bother to get any others. I wasn't even sure I was going to rush and made the final decision at the last possible second (right before registration closed). I wasn't sure if I wanted to be in a sorority but decided I would give rush a try. (I had heard rush was a great way to meet people.)

At my school, we had eleven sororities, which I will name after sports, as the Olympics is currently taking place.:)

Cycling
Diving
Discus
Volleyball
Gymnastics
Rowing
Softball
Basketball
Swimming
Water Polo
Judo

So, I showed up to college and met several fabulous ladies before rush even began. One of them was going through rush. She knew SO much about it and made me very, very nervous. I was really unprepared! I hadn't bought special outfits! I hadn't got a pedicure!

Another girl (who became my best friend :)) who was considering going through recruitment (as recruitment takes place after move-in at my school, you could register for recruitment basically up until the day before) was scared off by this girl. We were talking about it the other day and she says she regrets not rushing to a degree. She loves her college experience but feels she's missing out. However, even though she wanted to be in a sorority, she wouldn't trade her experience for the world. Not being in a sorority has allowed her other opportunities.

So, Day 1 came and off I went, terrified by how little prepared I was.

Dang, we have never had this many recruitment stories from the Midwest. I think we hit the Retro Jackpot!

Yippie for a midwest story. I'm going to pull for "cycling" because those guys have the BEST legs!!!

So, on the first day we (all the PNMs) had to meet in an auditorium before we began first rounds. We were met at the door by a few nice ladies handing out nametags with our group number on them and information booklets. Very Knowledgable Neighbor (we were both in Group #7) whispered to me that they must be Rho Chis. I had no idea what in the world a Rho Chi was but wasn't about to let my ignorance show. Instead, I replied "Oh, I knew that" and walked with her to the auditorium door.

The hallway outside the auditorium was very quiet, but as we got closer we could hear music. Inside, it was overwhelming. There was loud music blasting, girls in costumes, and general craziness. I was slightly overwhelmed, but smiled and started having a good time. I don't remember exactly what we did in the auditorium, but our Rho Chis took us to another room after the presentations had ended. I looked around my group and was VERY glad I knew someone. The rest of the girls in the group were dressed far nicer than the information packets had suggested. I felt really out of place. I was so nervous during introductions. Our Rho Chis were terrific though and I really liked and clicked with all three of them. They explained the rules, answered questions, and gave out contact info and by then, it was time for our first party.

As we walked, I talked with the girls in my group. My mom's co-worker had rushed 6 years ago at a different school in the Midwest and dropped out because she didn't like the idea of a sorority. However, she made a lot of friends from her rush group and knew I could do the same! I started talking to the girls in my group.

Most of them were complete bi-atches. I can see that from my 18-year old perspective and now. I also see all the rush faux-pas they made. There was a girl dressed head to toe in Swimming Colors; another who was VERY vocal about going Discus-or-bust; two BFFs who assured us they would be getting the top-tiered house; another who said "Each one of you is threatening my spot in my future sorority"; another who was bored with the process as she "knew" where she was going; another tall, skinny blonde who was positive the fact her Dad was CEO of an important company would place her right in Gymnastics; and a brunette who was legacy to 3 houses, as well as a double in-house legacy.

There were other girls who may have been nice, and were just overshadowed by the awfulness of these girls. I'll could remember thinking as we walked towards our first house was how one of the only reasons I rushed was gone! I hated my group, felt dressed wrong, and just wanted to go back to my friends. I didn't want to do this at all. I was honestly thinking about leaving as we reached the first house: Softball.

What a way to start things out! Hopefully Softball turned things around for you.

More please!

Gooooooooooooooo Swimming!

I'll root for diving!

ROWING all the way! Yea! And I'm so happy to hear another MIDWEST thread.
GO ROWING!

I soo can't wait to hear how this ends.. i'm def. hooked (i'm still rooting for gymnastics though)

let's go...let's roll!

So, we get to Softball and are greeted with a loud cry as the door to the house opened and girls yelled their songs at the top of their lungs. I was so overwhelmed. I feel bad but I think I wrote off Softball completely because I had 100% no idea what was going on. I don't remember anything about the girls. I remember the house was beautiful.


Next we went to Cycling. The same thing happened again! I was slightly more ready this time. I at least got an impression from these girls.... but it wasn't a good one. They were very snobby. The girl who was rushing me (in retrospect, it MUST have been her first time) talked the whole time. There were some questions, but not many beyond "what's your name?". She talked about her LV suitcase, past trip to France, her dad's job, etc. I just sort of nodded. I realized as I walked out that THAT was an example of a house you would cut.


Judo- These girls were without a house. They did an excellent job of explaining it and making it an asset, not a flaw. However, you could tell they were trying to become top tier. They double sat us, which IMHO isn't a problem. However, I (a dark brunette who was not a size two by any means) recieved very little attention compaired to skinny blond triple legacy who was sitting with me.


By this point I was getting worried. I was never going to find a place where I fit. I was seriously considering dropping out, especially as I had a class conflict. I talked to my Rho Chi on the way to the next house and she said that they could accomodate me and do half-parties for the Day 2 of Round I. I was skeptical.


We arrived at Swimming and finally! I felt a click. The house was gorgeous, the girls I talked to were nice, pretty, vivacious, and interesting. I loved it! I was excited because I felt I had finally found a place I might fit into. I was willing to keep going.

Diving and Discus really blended together. There wasn't anything remarkable or negative about either house. (By this point, I expected the cheers and smiled as they sang :) )


I headed home to share the excitement with my new friends, feeling much better about the rush experience. I thought maybe I would find the sorority for me!

(I'll post Day 2 of Round I later today I hope!)

I am hanging on every word....this is a retro thread, I presume?

Yes!

Sorry it's been so long since I've written! It's been a crazy week. Back to the tale!

So, I was slightly worried about fitting in, but things turned around after Swimming. So, I decided to continue on, even though I had a class schedule. I ended up doing half-parties. I LOVED this. One, I wasn't with my cruddy rush group, so their tent talk and negative attitudes couldn't impact. Plus, I got special attention from a lot of the houses because I was there only a short amount of time. (I wouldn't recommend doing it if you don't have to, obviously, but it isn't such a bad thing, PNMs.)

Volleyball was a beautiful house. The girl rushing me was so excited to be there! It really made me want to be a part of their sisterhood. She made me feel excited to become a Volleyball. I was sad to leave early.

Next was Gymnastics. I was in a seperate room from the other PNMs, which kinda made me feel awkward, but I was rushed by the President which made me feel special. We really got along well, too. They gave out GORGEOUS cookies here, which are one of two foods I remember from rush (besides all the Preference Party Cheesecake!)

LOVED Rowing. I loved the house, the girls, the idea, the location, the ideals, philanthropy, everything! Unfortunately, one of the girls rushing me seemed extremely bored by me. She twirled her hair, and was very monotone. I still loved the house anyways and could see myself there.

Basketball was pretty good, as well. (In retrospect, I know they are a top tier on our campus.) They were an excellent national organization with a stellar reputation. The girl who rushed me was actually my major so we got along very well. They were so huge, though! Over 100 girls! I was a little worried about being lost here, but they were so interesting.... I wanted to give them more time!

My last house was Water Polo. I don't remember much about them. They were completely unremarkable.

So, I went back to the commons to fill out our paperwork. I ranked:
1. Swimming
1. Rowing
1. Volleyball
1. Basketball
1. Gymnastics
1. Diving
1. Discus
1. Water Polo
2. Softball
3. Cycling
4. Judo

Then, I ran off to class....

Don't leave us waiting so long again!

LOOOVing this story!! update soon please :)

good story!!! :) continue...

Day 1 of Round 2 began with a BIT of a disturbance. I arrived to where my Rho Chi group met (I was back with them again, as my class schedule was not a problem. Tomorrow it was back to half-parties!) to find a girl screaming at a Rho Chi. She actually took her high heels off, chucked them at the building (thank god not at the Rho Chi! they were super pointy stilletos!) and stormed off with threats to "Call the NPC chairwoman! She'll tell you you're WRONG! She'll shut this whole CAMPUS down." I found out in a whisper from Friend Who Knew Everything that she had been dropped from recruitment. Not one house wanted her.
(I sincerely hope this girl is NOT on GC, because w/o a doubt she will know who she is.)
I broke out in a sweat. If she, she who knew everything about recruitment and had the cutest clothes and perfect makeup, was dropped, I didn't stand a chance!

I opened my envelope with shaking hands. I found:
*Swimming
*Volleyball
*Gymnastics
*Basketball
*Cycling

I was thrilled! Not only had ONE house wanted to see me again, but FIVE had. I was a little sad not to see Rowing: they had been my favorite, but didn't care! I thought I liked all the others. Cycling was the only one not happy to see. But I would give them another try.;)

When Miss Dressed-in-Head-to-toe-With Swimming's Colors asked me about how many invites I got and I told her, she snickered and said "Poor Child." I didn't know it sucked to be under the 7 estimated. She seemed even more irritated when she found out WHO had invited me back.

I realized why when I saw her the next day. No more Swimming Colors for her....

Im rooting for volleyball just because I love it!! :)
Cant wait to hear more!

Im rooting for gymnastics since its an old pastime of mine :D

I know they were not your favoirte but I'm still hoping for cycling ... gotta love those muscular legs!

GO SWIMMING!

I went to Swimming and found... I was not as thrilled with them as I had been the day before. Maybe it was because it was so early in the morning and they had been up late the night before, but they seemed bored with us and not as excited as yesterday. The skit was cute, but lacked pizzaz. (I had nothing to base this off of and I could tell!) The conversation dragged. The house tour was cute, but the sister taking me around didn't really talk. She just pointed stuff out. Plus, the food for the round was McDonald's French Fries. I know it was no frills rush, but compared to Gymnastic's cookies, they seemed really blah. I missed the house from yesterday!

Cycling was much better today! The skit was adorable, the conversation enjoyable, and the songs filled with life. This house reminded me how important it is to give every house another chance. The house was gorgeous, old, and filled with beautiful things. It was like being in a palace. No wonder Louis Vuitton Girl could live here....

Volleyball didn't have a house, so for house tours they showed a really cute slide show. The girl who I was being rushed with was super dismissive towards the whole presentation and didn't at all listen to the Volleyball Sister who was talking to us. I didn't understand why. The slide show was really cute and once again made me want to be a Volleyball. The conversation went so easily! When we were outside, the girl remarked to me "That house was a waste of time!". I asked her why and she replied, "They're not NPC!".
I didn't know what the NPC was but didn't want to appear stupid.

Thankfully, I had a break (due to a not full party schedule) and asked my Rho Chi what NPC was. She told me, told me why Volleyball was not apart of the NPC and why they were still in the Panhellenic and why they went through recruitment. My conversation with her made me think she was a Volleyball! (She wasn't: she was in Swimming.)

I went to Basketball next and was wowed with a gorgeous house, funny skit, and beautiful women. The tour was nice and I really liked Basketball. I could see myself fitting in here very easily.

Go Basketball!

I had an empty slot the next morning, so I slept in and went for breakfast with my (soon-to-be) best friend. I found out from her that Very Knowledgable Neighbor had thrown a fit when she had returned yesterday. She had been dropped by all her favorite houses. She was considering dropping.

"I don't get it," my friend said, "I thought the choice was more to Be Greek or Not Greek, not to drop after you were dropped by a few people. How do you even know? You're there like 20 whole minutes."

When I was a Rho Chi, I reminded the girls who were going to drop of this.

After we made plans to go see a movie when I got back, I went to my first and only house of the day: Gymnastics.

I was wowed by them, without a doubt! They were amazing! The skit was spot on, the house was beautiful and the and they were very self-assured. They were also an organization I had heard about before rush, so I knew they were well-known. After that I really wanted to be a Gymnastics!

I ranked my bid card right after this. As we were allowed to keep 5, I put all 5 as number one.

The Next Day Came and I looked at my list:
*Cycling
*Swimming
* Basketball
* Volleyball.

I was semi-crushed. After being at Gymnastics yesterday, I was in love with them! And they had dropped me!

I tried to re-coup. After all, I still had four houses which was four more than many girls. And, I really liked 3/4 of my houses, and was going to give Swimming another chance.

That was my first house. It was philanthropy day and I can't say what we did for swimming because it would give the sorority away. It was really cool though. However, that house was just too big for me! There were way too many girls and I didn't feel a connection either with any of them or between them. I think I decided right then and there that I didn't want to be a Swimming. (Although Michael Phelps is pretty terrific.)

The next house was Volleyball. Volleyball had a much smaller group of girls (both of PNMs and active sisters) and it was extremely refreshing after feeling lost at Swimming. The Philanthropic Chair talked for a bit at the beginning about the local philanthropies they had chosen and the PNMs did two different crafts. I made buttons for one cause and made a quilt square for another. I really felt I fit in here. It was weird, because this was NOT a top tier house and I knew it. I knew if I joined this house my sorority experience would be different. I wasn't quite sure if that was what I wanted. However, I LOVED how I felt around both the PNMs (well, some of them) who had returned and the actives. I felt very at home.

I emerged from the Cycling House covered in paint, but in a really good mood. I'd had an excellent time. The sister I was with was really chatty and we got along really, really well. The craft they did requires knowing their philanthropy and that would just give it away, wouldn't it? ;)

Basketball was EXCELLENT. We made bookmarks for children and had a lot of time to talk about what they did with their philanthropies. The sister I was with was really excited about it and her excitement was contagious. I really liked this house and was seriously considering pleding Basketball.

I went home and ranked my card as follows (we were allowed three houses).

1. Basketball
1. Cycling
1. Volleyball
2. Swimming.

it was actually a pretty easy decision. My Rho Chi looked a little surprised when I handed her my card. Swimming was a top tier house and I was picking a bottom-tier and mid-tier over it. I just explained to her how lost I felt at Swimming and she nodded. "Good choice," she said and (knowing how it turned out) I know it was.

OMG this story is killing me!! love it! Go basketball!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Still hoping for cycling!!!

Oh come on ... we are nearing the end of the Olympic Games. Forget the gold medals, I really want to know what sport (chapter) wins your heart! Please update soon.

Pref night!

I got my list to find that I had been invited to my top three! I hadn't been cut! Very Knowledgable Neighbor had dropped out, disgruntled with the whole process. (I think she later COB'd a chapter she had written off on the first day as not good enough, and fell in love with them. She even became VP of recruitment!)

All of the houses had lovely, beautiful ceremonies. One of them for sure stood out more than the others. It brought tears to my eyes.

Most importantly, even though I had good conversations everywhere and could see myself being friends with girls in every house, I only felt like I was HOME in one place. I'd accept a bid from either of the other two houses, but my first choice stood out, clear as day.

As I was about to fill out my card, I pondered a little bit, thinking about the tent talk I'd heard and wondering if I shouldn't, if I should. After all, one of these houses was much more popular than the other two, a real top tier house. Yet, I hadn't felt home there and that was what I was looking for: a home.

So, I ranked my bid card and went home and SLEPT! I was exhausted and my feet were quite blistered.

Bid Day came and I was so excited! I put on the recommended jeans and a tank top (waiting excitedly for my new shirt!), and sat with Soon-to-be Best Friend nervously as we ate breakfast. By the time it was time to go, I hadn't gotten a call from a Rho Chi, so I assumed I had a bid. (I did jump all morning whenever my phone rang.)

We went down to the fieldhouse, watched the Rho Chi revealing (my Rho Chi was a Pi Phi and another that I had talked to turned out to be a Sigma Kappa!), and was handed my card by a Rho Chi, who smiled at me.

Most girls ripped the cards open immediately, so there was screaming, crying, hugging, and running. I stood with mine a little bit, worrying that I had made the wrong choice or that I had made the RIGHT choice with my number 1, but that they had dropped me.

Slowly I tore my envelope open....























and I began running to my new home and family as soon as I saw the words


VOLLEYBALL

I was a Volleyball, actually known as












Alpha Omega Epsilon!

I'm not sure how many of you have heard of this sorority, being Non-NPC (and its been a while since I've been in contact with my chapter. I don't even know if they do formal anymore!) but I loved every minute of my time there. It was quite different than some experiences, being a non-NPC sorority, but I felt my experience was much the same as my friends in Basketball (better known as Sigma Kappa), Cycling (A Chi O), and the others! I had many different components (and was sometimes jealous of my NPC friends), and these I thought made my experience. I loved every second of my Collegiate Experience and wouldn't trade it for the world. Alpha Omega Epsilon was my home!

Great story ... thanks for sharing!

You have no idea how excited I was to see you became an ALPHA EP!!!!!!!!

I never thought I'd read one of these and find another sister at the end!!!!

Congrats, Sister! A white calla lily for you!

P.S. If you feel comfortable, can you PM me with the university? I'm wondering what chapter you were in!

what a great story, I've been following this thread with anticipation. I love calla lillies!
ZTA72

This is definitely a great story - thanks so much for sharing!

It's great to hear something non-traditional. Thanks for the story and congratulations (belated)

woot engineering girls! :D

thanks, everyone!

I'm really glad you enjoyed my story! :)