For this fall
 

Hi! Okay so I'm starting early. Anyway...

I don't know much about the Greek system at my school. It's a mid-size/small school and I'd say maybe 25/30 percent of people go Greek. My dad was Greek, and I have some cousins that were, but that really doesn't do me any good as far as legacies go (since I'm a girl.) But that doesn't really bother me. This is my situation.

At our school,first-semester freshmen can't rush. I got really sick toward the end of last semester (I'm a freshman) and am taking this semester off on doctor's orders. So, obviously I can't rush this semester. :( I'm kind of surprised as to how bummed I am about this, because I was very blah on the whole sorority issue before starting college. Now I know I want to go for it.

I noticed that not all the sororities were open to pledges and stuff in the fall. I guess because the big rush stuff is in the spring at my school. :confused: I'd really like to get involved this coming fall semester. However, since I'd only get to know 2 or 3 of the 8-ish sororities, would that be depriving myself (and the other groups) from getting to know each other, and finding the absolute best fit? I don't have my hopes set on any particular group, but I'd like to get to know them all. But I really want to get the most time out of my college years, sorority-wise.

As far as I know, we don't have houses on campus, by the way, and a lot of us are required to live on campus anyway.

I'm also concerned because people might ask why I didn't rush in the spring. Of course I'll be honest and say I was on medical leave. I'm also kind of scared about the new member period. I know nobody will admit it if their group hazes, and I just can't bring myself to listen to rumors around campus, because that is unfair to the sisters. I've heard stuff about forced silence, which is a no-no for me, because I have appointments to go to, and a doctor won't learn much from me through miming.

I'm worrying for no reason, aren't I? I guess I'm just venting. It stinks because I didn't go to parties and whatnot my first semester (we can't have cars on campus and I wasn't comfortable letting random frat boys drive me), and I was getting to know my floormates. I spoke to some girls in my classes who were Greek and they were so nice about it all. I'm really involved with other things on campus and I think I've made myself known in a good way. :) I know I want to be in a sorority because of how close I feel with my floormates. It's killing me to be home without them.

So basically, I'm gonna be ok, right? Nobody's going to hate me because I missed my first time to rush?

My 2¢
 

Your best bet is to talk to the Greek Life Advisor (Panhel Advisor, whatever that person is called on your campus) and get a feel for what goes on at your campus. We're great for advice, but we're not at your school, and don't know exactly what happens there - which is why people ask.

As for forced silence, that's just between Potential New Members (PNMs) and members of the sororities during Recruitment week, outside of the parties. Obviously, you wouldn't be rude if you saw a sister on campus, but you couldn't have a conversation with her as she'd be accused of possibly trying to sway your decision. You certainly don't become Marcel Marceaux for a week or so!

If first semester freshmen can't rush, the Fall recruitment will be all sophmores (or higher). They will be transfer students, women like you who didn't rush and those who did but didn't get bids.

If it's like my alma mater, the Fall is informal and very laid back.

I would think that your medical leave is a very valid reason for not going through spring recruitment and a group that would "hate you" over that doesn't seem worth joining.

Don't be worried about the whole medical leave thing!!! You'd be surprised how many girls have taken time off...whether for medical reasons, financial reasons, or just to take a break. I didn't know how common it was until I had to take time off for medical reasons, and people told me their stories..

Yeah, so, I wrote a novel. :D We don't have houses and whatever, but I'm hestitant to name my school. I haven't seen anyone from my school post here before, though, and I searched.

Hey futuregreek. At my school first semester freshmen aren't allowed to rush either so first semester rush is always smaller and more laid back because it's only sophomores and transfer students and not a lot of girls come. (Fall semester this year only 7 girls came out to rush!) As you could tell, Greek Life here is also very small. While I can't speak for any of the sororities on your campus, I can tell you that people here usually tend not to ask why you didn't rush your first semester. On the contrary, they are usually happy about the fact that you did decide to come out to rush. In terms of hazing, while no one here can speak for all groups, you can definitely see that there are a lot of groups out there that don't haze and don't condone hazing. You should wait and see which groups are doing rush first semester next year. If you want to get to know all of the girls, you might want to wait until 2nd semester. I doubt that this would be a big problem for you at all seeing as rush is underway at my school now and we have a handfull of second semester sophomores and even 2 juniors that are rushing! Good luck with whatever you decide to do and I hope that you get better soon! Pm me if you have any more questions, esp seeing as Greek Life in our schools seems to be very similar.

As far as not getting to know every group...

During formal recruitment, you often only get to meet 1-3 girls per chapter before making your first round of decisions. In a lot of cases, you aren't really getting a feel for the house unless you return for later rounds. The only houses you will really be deciding from for membership will be the 2-3 houses where you attend prefs. Even those of us who went through formal rush wonder sometimes...did I cut XYZ too early?

If you go to COB events, and you find a chapter where you are happy, go for it, and never look back!

AND if you don't find a house you think you could be happy in, then go through recruitment in the Spring!! If you go through informal recruitment, there is NO REASON you HAVE to accept a bid...then you can check the other houses out later - you'll just have a lot more information to go off of!

Don't worry about hazing...Panhellenic sororities have very strict rules against hazing - not to mention most states have laws against it!

Good luck hun!

**bump**

just wondering if anyone knows if futuregreek ever rushed. i think she posted something unrelated a few days ago and i remembered her story.

Hi! I forgot about this thread. :)

I am a proud new member of Sigma Sigma Sigma. :)

(I kind of don't want new member season to end.)

Congrats to you and Tri Sigma! What school?

Congrats on becoming a new sister of Tri-Sigma!!