Rushing again
 

Hey! I joined Greek Chat because I know that this is where I will get the straight up truth! I have searched online and on these forms and have gathered a lot of info but I wanted to ask you all specifically for my situation.

My school does formal rush in the spring. I rushed as a freshman but dropped on Preference night because I knew that the two sororities that asked me back were not at all for me. I am a Sophomore now and I would love to be a part of Greek life at my school. (My school is very small and competitive because of how many girls rush and how many are accepted into the Sororities). I would fall rush but I am studying abroad this semester (yes, as a sophomore).

I have a high GPA and my freshman year I was involved but not as much and I probably should have been. I am hoping to get letters of recommendations.

I am worried about these things:
1)I already rushed, does that look bad rushing again?
2)I am a sophomore rushing with the freshman
3)I cannot become involved at school the beginning of sophomore year because I am abroad so I may not stand out as much

Should I even rush? Do I have a chance?

Hopefully you all can lead me to make a good decision for myself.

I'm from a fraternity, but I'll give my perspective.

1. I'd say yes. I would look worse if you pledged and dropped. Then rerushed.. We've turned people down that have dropped other fraternities and rushed again, expectially after we gave them a bid the first time and they chose another. Maybe explain that you didn't pledge anyone.

2. Not a big deal at my campus. Freshman can be kind of risky. Young & dumb. Never pay dues, lower GPAs... so on.

3. I would see that being a problem. You'll do a lot after pledging and if you're not there for new member ed., you're not going to be initiated. Is there a smaller Spring rush? so that maybe you can do it in the Spring when you're back, rather than Fall and miss everything.

If you don't know anything about something (i.e. sorority recruitment), please don't offer advice.

Your response to No. 2 is totally off the mark for sorority recruitment at the majority of schools.

Would you drop out this time as well if you don't get the invites you want?

Just to clear it up, I would be rushing in the Spring not the Fall since i wont be at school.

There are only five sororities at my school and there are only three that I am interested in. If i get dropped by all three then yes, I would drop rush and then not do it again.

Those 3 didn't want you the first time around, why would they want you now? What has changed?

What is so wrong with the 2 sororities who were willing to give you a chance?

The other two have very nice girls but I was not as comfortable with them as the others-it like saying how did you know that the sorority you are in was perfect for you...how do you know that sorority was not perfect for you. You just know.

But yes, I understand the why would they want me now. What has changed is now my GPA is higher, I've done community service at my college and Ive met so many new girls and are friends with them who are now in the sororities that I would like to be a part of. Im just not sure if that is enough.

we don't know either. the best we can say is that if you really think you want to be in one of the 3 sororities that you liked your freshman year, sign up for formal recruitment and see what happens.

Is Spring informal, or formal? If it's informal, the number of sororities participating may vary.

sounds like formal is in the spring, with informal in the fall. she cant do informal because she'll be out of the country.

Did you actually go through pref round, and then not sign a bid card? Or did you drop out before going through pref?

If these girls you've met in the sororities are as close of friends as you believe, and they have spaces open, and your membership is something they want, THEY will come to YOU and ask if you're interested in membership...or they will bring you around to meet their other sisters. Have either of those things occurred?

If not, they're not your friends. They're acquaintances. And you probably won't have any better of a chance to get a bid, because there are going to be freshmen that have all the same things you do. And you're going to end up back at the same 2 sororities you didn't like the first time around. If you're lucky.

You seem like youre really interested in being in a sorority. If it's something of a big interest to you, I would suggest going ahead and doing it and see what happens. Since you have friends in the chapters you are interested in it MAY help you, or it may not. I have some good friends in chapters other than mine, but I would never fit into their chapter. So, it goes both ways.

But you certainly won't be getting a bid if you don't try. Really, all you have to lose is the money you have to pay to sign up for recruitment (if thats required) and not being in a sorority at all.

Good luck!

If you are on a competitive campus where the chapters usually take mostly freshmen, chances are you already had your best chance of getting a bid to a sorority that's "good enough" for you. Now you'll be away for an entire semester so you have no more opportunities to make a good impression and unless some of those sorority girls are now your besties, they won't care about you come formal. You will never know unless you actually go through recruitment, but my Magic Eight Ball predicts:

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/y...rush/8ball.jpg

I love that eight ball!!

It sounds like you've done what you can. Maybe your overseas campus will have activities available to you.

Keep in mind that chapters change. Also, you change as well, and you might feel differently about a chapter now than you did in the past. Membership is for a lifetime, and you won't lose your other friends by joining a GLO. Give all the chapters a fair chance.