Should I even bother because I'm so much older?
 

Hi! I'm new to GreekChat and have really enjoyed reading all of the forums, they all seem very helpful :) I've wanted to rush for so long, but I've been putting it off for so long from transferring schools, then changing majors I haven't really had the chance. Finally rush is coming and I REALLY want to participate, but I will be considered a senior next year. Although I'm a senior I'll have 2 more years left because I'm behind classes with my major. Should I still try or am I more likely to not get any bids? I just hope I haven't waited too long.

I agree with JocelynC. If you know of any ladies on GC that go to your school, you can pm them. Other than that, without knowing the school or type of greek system it is, we can't really give you any advice. At some schools, anyone who isn't a freshman has a pretty much slim to none chance of getting a bid. At my school, when I was a Rho Chi, one of the girls in my group was a first semester senior and got a bid.

Hey thanks for replying. I don't know anyone in a sorority at my school. Would it be helpful if i called the greek office?

Don't call the greek life office. I'm sure someone you know at East Carolina knows a junior/senior in a sorority. I'd scope it out first, usually southern schools arent too big on it, but ECU is a little different, so it might be more doable.

Not exactly your situation, but I go to UNC and a friend of mine said that her sorority took a few girls last year who had transferred and they were juniors. I know you'd be a senior, but since you'd have an extra year, it seems like you'd be on the same playing field.

I'm planning to rush as a Junior this fall, and so far, everyone here has been SO helpful. I'm sure you'll get great advice :)

Thank you again for replying.

If I do rush should I mention to the girls that I will have a few more years left? The classes I need to take for my major are going to keep me in school for a few more years!

Ditto


Definately tell them that credit wise you have 1-2 more years (after the 06-07 school year).

It depends on the college. Not your situation, but one of my friends rushed during formal recruitment which is held in the Spring and she was a senior. She didn't make it known she was staying another year and I thought she was graduating soon and she got a bid! A lot of juniors that I knew rushed and all got bids. If your college's recruitment is "year blind" then go through it but make sure that your year is not something that will hurt you during rush, i.e getting cut by some house or by all.

I'm sure you know someone in your year that's in a sorority, but did not fully realize it; just ask them and see if your year will affect your chances in getting a bid and they will tell right then and there.

I would say, "go for it." What have you got to lose? If you get a bid, you get a bid.. if you don't.. at least you tried. If you don't try, you might kick yourself years down the road.

I'm definitly going for it! I've kicked myself for the past for not, so I've signed up and committed to it. I'm really excited, but reading these forums has gotten me a little nervous but I at least need to try. A friend of mine is in a frat and he's encouraged me to do it and he told me that its not unusual for an upperclassman to rush, so I guess it's not too unheard of at my school (hopefully!). I'm not exactly friends with a lot of girls in sororities, but I do know some. I don't know them well enough to call them or anything though.

:D I'm excited!

Chellybelle84 - I'm so excited for you!! And just as encouragement, I went through informal recruitment at UGA and got a bid, even though I was/ am 22! Just be positive and excited during the whole thing. Whenever someone says, "oh, what year are you?" mention however much longer you're going to be there. I think I used to smile and say "Well, since I transferred school AND changed my major, I've practically started over! I'm definately going to be here a long time, but that's okay, I love it here!" You're going to feel like a broken record, but that's okay so long as the girls remember that you aren't going to leave in six months.
Also, you can't hear it enough - keep an open mind about each of the sororities. Keep going to as many parties for as long as you can. During my first round, I was so nervous at the first house that I all but ruled them out! I went back though and was so much more relaxed just because I remembered some faces, etc. I ended up there and couldn't be happier. Good luck and don't forget to post your story!

Go for it! What have you got to lose? If you don't rush, you will always wonder what "might have been" and probably regret it. If you decided it's not for you, or if that particular school's Panhellenic system is really strict on age, at least you won't wonder "what if?" for the rest of your life. Take a risk, be friendly, be yourself, and let the sisters know all the positive things about you! ;)

Hello,

I went to East Carolina and it is not unheard of for a upperclassman to get bid. Not a lot of upperclassmen rush there but several do tend to get bids. Heck I know someone who got a bid and graduated in May! They knew she was graduating and she wasn't cut too heavily. There may be a couple groups on campus who would cut based on your senior status but quite a few will not. And there are some really good groups there! I wish you the best of luck! Please let us know how things work out!!