Rush Ideas
 

I am asking for anyone who could help with RUSH/Recruitment for the upcoming semester. We are a smaller chapter, and we are trying to compete with larger chapters.


Does anyone have ideas on what a smaller chapter could do to stand out?? Thank you for any input!! :)

Sell the benefits of being in a smaller chapter. Smaller Chapters provide instant opportunities for leadership. You probably have offices that haven't been filled yet, etc...

Also smaller chapters tend to have less cliques and are a little tighter (I've seen my chapter in the last 2 years go from 12 to 40 so I've experienced the spectrum!)

When you're in a smaller chapter there's so much more opportunity to have a voice and make a difference. SO I'd say there are plenty of good reasons to go with your chapter.

Most of all sell high committment and don't settle for people that say they "don't have a lot of time right now" etc.. You'll get the best people if you do that. Show you're having a good time, etc. You'll do fine!

Best of luck!

I think that is a good Idea and Tips. I have just started a new colony at my school where we will be the first soroity. Kepp us posted on your progress

Welp we're getting our charter this Saturday at around 2PM CST :D :D :D :D :D

hey! the way i like to think is..remind all of your sisters to be themselves. there is no need to act false during recruitment. don't disillusion girls into thinking you are one thing then being another. wear your letters in the weeks before rush. try to have what we call "letters lunch" in the main center on campus. being in a small chapter offers instant friendship b/c you get to know sisters instnatly and tons of leadership opportunites. and remember...never ever talk poorly about any other chapters during recruitment (or otherwise). but definately be sure to talk up phi sig and all of its great opportunities for leadership, friendship and service!!!

p.s -> you can pm if you want to chat more!!!
meghan

phi sigma sigma
gamma pi

Everyone has given great ideas. Try to do the lunches, going to the student center, campus activities etc in groups and in letters, so everyone will know you're there.

Ask your friends who you never thought would go Greek to come to open rush parties - it might not be Greek life they dislike, but formal rush. If you are able to COB before the end of this semester it will give you a good head start.

Most importantly, do not get down on yourselves because you are smaller in size. There are lots of women out there who would prefer a smaller chapter - not everyone wants to be a number.

When I rushed my chapter, we had a fairly small sisterhood, but my pledge class doubled the chapter. Now we're at total and one of the biggest houses on our campus. I think what drew so many girls was that it was really stressed that my chapter didn't expect anyone to change to become something they're not, that hazing absolutely didn't happen and that they'd have time to still be involved in a lot of other things because it wasn't expected of them to make Kappa Delta their entire lives. I think those are 3 big fears that a lot of prospective new members have and stressing that to them would draw them in I think. Cool rush skits to break the formality of rush would really help too. I think the key is making prospective new members feel as comfortable and at home as you can. Good luck!

Good things come in small packages
 

Hey there! I was always part of one of the smallest sororities on campus and now we're right in the middle range of group size. Hold your head high and be proud to be who you are. It can be tough competing with groups that are double your size, but the kind of women that you want as sisters will see the benefits of a smaller group and want to be a part of you. Good luck!
Jen Gardner
Kappa Delta
Eta Gamma Chapter

Thank you all for your help! :)

Any help is greatly appreciated!!! We also have problems with "freaky" people sometimes during recruitment... anyone have that problem???

Oh Yeah!!! A story that is infamous on our campus is "Diana - The Cell Phone Girl." She walked into every party with an attitude (I think she was a legacy to more than one sorority) and spent half the party time ignoring the sisters, making and receiving calls on her cell phone. Then she wondered why she was dropped...go figure!

When dealing with smaller chapter size during rush, always rememeber that its much easier to know your sisters in a smaller chapter.

If you are trying to make your chapter appear bigger during rush, I would suggest day one shirts that are identical, but in like three different colors. You know, half the girls wear teal, half wear purple, etc. This gives the visual perception that the chapter is larger.

-Lil Snakey K

When I pledged Fijis this year they only had 24 members, and our pledge class was 23. So we doubled the house size, and boy o boy did they sure make the presence known when we went though jump(bid day). Matching shirts, chants, banners, the whole shabang sure makes your presence known. Also starting a tradition for the rush chairs is fun, the current members and new pledges for our house always dunks the rush chairs into a fountain on campus... I mean, they've worked all summer, time to cool off a little :) Little things like that make it fun!

I was a member of the smallest sorority on campus - total was 80 and we typically had around 25 sisters. Like it or not, rushees will remember your small chapter size, and possibly cut your sorority for that reason.

We invited alums back for formal rush, held rush in the smallest of the available function rooms in the student center, used lots of balloons, and set up furniture so that it took up space (refreshment table catercorner in a corner of the room rather than flush against the wall, etc). In addition to that, you need the same things larger chapters need - a strong sisterhood, a good display of your philanthropy and social events, and a catchy tune that will stick in the rushees' heads when they leave your party. :) Apparently that worked for my chapter last year - they got 12 new members. :)

Oh yes, we had our share of freaks! We had a girl come through rush one year who was *obsessed* with joining a sorority. She thought for sure that we would invite her back to pref because we needed numbers. Well, we needed numbers all right, but we sure didn't need her! She was sooo pissed off when we cut her, but we really wouldn't have wanted her for a sister. Apparently, she had a huge crying fit when she found out that every sorority had cut her.