Will be out of country for 2 weeks in November. Should I still Rush?
 

I really want to attend the fall recruitment on my campus, but I am going to Europe in November for 2 weeks. If I did receive a bid, would this force me to de-pledge or would I probably not receive a bid anyway based on my intended 2 week absence and should I just wait until spring?

I had my heart set on going through rush, but this is a chance of a lifetime opprtunity (read: I don't have to pay anything for it) that I don't want to give up.

Advice anyone??

Will you be out of the country during Recruitment or during your New Member period? If during Recruitment, then I'd wait until Spring. If during your New Member period, your chapter should be able to adjust the education period for you to insure you get initiated with your class.

No, Recruitment/Rush is in September.

I was just worried they wouldn't want to consider a PNM who will be away for a couple of weeks during pledging.

If recruitment is in September, the pledge period will likely (for most groups) be over or nearly over by November. My school rushed the end of September and my chapter initiated within the first two weeks of November.

One thing that may be of concern is that you MAY be gone for initiation. Because you'll be gone for two weeks, the chapter MAY possibly decide to hold you over and let you initiate the next semester. You wouldn't necessarily be a pledge all over again, but just be initiated then.

Another thing i'd be concerned about is your workload. Missing 2 weeks of college classes is no small thing, particularly if you have professors with attendence requirements. Trying to get back into the swing of classes and getting caught up (school IS more important) and then trying to get caught up with the sorority may be too much to handle.

A free trip to Europe is great, however, as the adage goes "there's no such thing as a free lunch." There is a price to pay, though it may not be monetary. You may not, personally, be able to handle being away for two weeks, catching up with your classes, AND pledging and whatever other responsibilities (i.e. work, family) you may have.

I don't think that it will necessarily affect your ability to get a bid (though I don't know if it's even necessary to bring up during recruitment), but I think that you should seriously consider if you can handle it all, particularly if you will be a freshman. 2 weeks out of classes in November, which is a crucial time when there are papers and tests, is a big deal.

Generally, bids are good for one year. I'm not sure about spesific campus rules, but you could probably go through fall rush and "sit on your bid" until Spring semester, and pledge with the Spring class (if that sorority does a spring pledge class). You can ask your Rho Chi about spesific rules for sororities on your campus, and she can probably find out for you. Or, contact the Greek life office, and they should be able to tell you.

I am a little worried about it, but I already emailed all my profs. 2 of them are fine with it because the focus of the trip actually relates to my major and the other 2 just asked that I not miss any other days and keep up on my work.

Thanks for the advice!

Make life easy on yourself. You don't need to mention this at all during recruitment. Provided you're not missing all of recruitment, you are eligible to receive a bid. You don't want to give any impression that you aren't a highly desireable PNM. Don't give them any reason to cut you if they're trying to decide between you and another PNM.

If you receive a sorority bid, then tell your new member coordinator of your travel plans and she will work with you to acccomodate you. They may have to schedule a separate initiation date for you.

Your sorority can initiate you when you return. It is not entirely uncommon to initiate 1-2 girls after the rest of the class for various reasons like a scheduling conflict. When I was in college, we had 2 new members who had to miss their initiation due to previous family committments-- a wedding and a reunion. They were initiated shortly thereafter and our recently initiated sisters got to participate on "the other side"-- very exciting for them and a good ritual review for the chapter.

Try to rush in SPRING instead
 

Most likely, the new member period will be 6-8 weeks at most. And no sorority would have a rule about no long distance travel before initiation. That's hazing, and they would get in trouble for that.

Do not even worry about it. DO NOT MENTION IT AT ALL! In all honesty, you are worrying about nothing.

If your recruitment is in September, (probably the first week or two?), you will be initiated by November. At my school, and probably any other school with NPC sororities, NMs have to be initiated no later than 8 weeks after bid day.

Good luck!! :)

I disagree with what you are saying. There could be a RULE. S/he doesn't know...they're not the Membership Chair. I don't think that's hazing. How are you bonding with your new sisters/brothers if you're another country and then coming back to find out you missed out on two weeks of assignments?

YES, most MIP programs are 6 - 8 weeks. If you're grades are in order and your MIP program starts early Sept., then you can risk it. You can ask to have your initation post poned once you are already a PLEDGE provided you're on your best behavior always (not missing meetings, not showing up late, doing all your responsbilities in a timely manner). But I would not mention this in the interview or phases before you receive the bid.

However, you may find that this is a lot to handle / accomplish and you might not be able to do it. So my advice is: enjoy your trip, save your grades AND then rush in the spring!

Member of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Incorporated since 2003.
Current grad (& former undergrad) Membership Chair
Study abroad alumna

The OP is participating in NPC recruitment. NPC sororities do consider rules like that to be hazing. That may not be the case in your sorority, but NPC ones do call that hazing, and would not allow it.

Ok so every sorority is different. My advice is still the same: "If your MIP starts early Sept. and your grades are on point, then you can have you can ask for your initation to be post-poned." BUT if it's not then make it easier for yourself and "ENJOY YOUR TRIP, SAVE YOUR GRADES AND RUSH IN THE SPRING".

Member of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Incorporated since FALL 2003.
Former undergrad chair and current grad membership chair

Except, if she's at a school where most chapters are at total, most chapters won't be recruiting in the Spring and her options will be very limited.

Which two weeks of November will you be gone and is it more or less than 8 weeks from bid day? That will give you a better idea whether you'll be in town for Initiation. NPC groups have some flexibility and if they want you as a sister, they will work with you. One of my sister-daughter's had to drop out of school in November because she broke her leg severely. We were able to initiate her as soon as we came back in January. Don't worry about it until after Recruitment is over and you get a calendar of events.

Not every sorority is different, but NPC handles thing a lot differently than other governing bodies, locals, etc. There are rules on everything, and the rules are strict.

To the OP, don't worry about your grades suffering during your "pledging." While you will have commitments to your house as a NM, there will be ample time to do schoolwork. Moreover, you will most likely have manadatory study hours to ensure that your grades don't slack. Most houses are adamant about having stellar GPAs. :)