Sophomore rushing?
 

I will be a sophomore this coming fall at a huge southern school with a pretty hardcore, cut-throat greek system. I rushed this past fall as a freshman, and I dropped out after the first round. I got cut from most of my favorite houses, although i did get invited back to 1 or 2 that i liked, but still dropped out of rush because i was sooo hurt from getting cut from soo many that I seemed to like and that seemed to like me. A lot of my friends and other girls got invited back to all their top choices and I didn't... I didn't understand why either, I have an awesome GPA, I dressed nicely, I was myself, I thought I had good conversation, I'm a cute girl....I even got cut from houses that I got multiple recs for. Now, after a year of being here (don't get me wrong, I've had a blast!) I have realized that i really would like to be in a sorority, not just because they are so big here but because I feel like it would make my college experience much more fulfilling, I would make life-long friends, and not to mention all the fun socials and activities they get to do.. I just want to belong to something a little smaller and more personal than my school of 30,000+ students. In other words, I want to join a sorority for all the right reasons.

I guess my question is... should I even bother rushing as a sophomore? I have a ton of friends in a lot of the houses, but a lot of people say that sophomores get automatically cut, and plus I'm afraid I'll get rejected again and then I'll be completely distraught! Another promblem i have come across is that my pledge class will probably be mostly, if not all, freshman, so I might not feel as connected with girls a year younger than me...

I don't know what to do..... ? what do ya'll think? :confused:

If I do decide to rush, do you have any suggestions for sophomores going through rush?

If the cost of rush doesn't bother you and you can be kind of thick skinned, what's the harm?

Even if you don't like your results, you are no worse off having tried.

Have you gotten to know some sorority women this year? If you have strong connections in some of the groups, that could change your experience some.

If you don't have friends in the groups, you might experience the same cuts or maybe even worse because it is a little harder as a sophomore. But as long as you can handle it and are willing to stick with the groups that want you, you could end up with a bid at the end from a group you'd like.

If you feel so strongly about joining a sorority, do it. Don't worry about being a sophmore in a freshman pledge class... You'll have enough in common, trust me. Good luck!!

Hey, welcome to a new SK! Come introduce yourself over in our forum. I know you've been on GC for a while, but when did you pledge? :)

just remember to go in with an open mind. give everyone a fair shot, you should stick it out this time and go to all your parties, you won't know where you belong until bid day.
as a sophomore you should be prepared for heavy cuts, some houses just don't take girls unless they're freshmen.
good luck!

if you have any questions feel free to PM me, I know of some successful sophomore recruitment stories and can give you a heads up if you want.

Definitely go through recruitment. I rushed as a sophomore because I bought into sorority stereotypes as a freshman, I couldn't have made a better decision. Even if you don't get asked back to your top choice, don't sweat it. Everything happens for a reason. At least try, the worst that happens is you don't go greek.

You've got nothing to lose and a lot to gain. Good luck!

I went to UGA, too. I dropped out of recruitment as a freshman, too. I then rushed as a sophomore and pledged... so maybe you will, too!

Like others on this thread have said, it's important to keep your options open. You seem to be smart enough to expect heavy cuts as a sophomore, so as long as you enter recruitment with a positive attitude about all of the houses and give them all a try, you should be able to find a fit for you! There are several houses that have no problem pledging sophomores with excellent grades, involvement on campus, and other qualities they are looking for in new members.

As for being older than your pledge class, it's not so bad. I was 19 and my pledge sisters were 18... the only difference was that I had an apartment and everyone else had dorm rooms! There may be little differences between you and your pledge class, but once they get into the groove of things in college you will feel right at home with them.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions I can help with.

If you want it badly enough, don't let anyone discourage you. I had a really peculiar situation with recruitment and finally ended up joining as a junior. It can happen. A lot of the girls in my new member class were freshmen, but I still managed to connect with them. In fact, one of them became one of my closest friends and we're living together this year. Most of the sisters I'm close with are younger than me, but it doesn't make it any different. You'll make friends with girls of all ages. That's the beauty of being in a sorority-though there can be class divisions, you can really get to know people in all different years in college that you may have not otherwise had a chance to get to know.

Best of luck to you--what's meant to be will happen. Also, I know the cuts can be disheartening-crushing, even, but you'll end up where you're meant to be. I'm a firm believer in that. You may not see yourself somewhere at all, but it could click on Bid Day. Sometimes, it doesn't even happen then-it can take time-but it will all fall into place eventually and you'll understand why that was the only place for you.

PM me if you have any questions, need advice, etc. xoxo

I would rush again if I were you! Why not? It's a great way to meet new people. One of our best sisters rushed as a sophomore but dropped out...she rushed again as a junior and is now in our house as the Social Chair. (We have deferred rush - only sophomores can rush, not freshmen.) Some houses may cut you just because you're a sophmore, just warning you, but it is still an experience that may yield great results!

don't give up!
 

I would definitely give it another shot. But, if not, you can always check out the non-traditional sororities that may or may not be at your school. I didn't really want to join any of the mainstream or other cultural sororities at my school. So I started a chapter of TNX as a junior! You should definitely scope out your choices before you make a decision on a sorority you might not even be as passionate about. ;)

Quite a few women in my pledge class were sophomores. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

The sentiment is nice, but you don't go to UGA. UGA is notoriously competitive, and many sororities will not bid sophomores.

As much as I hope that ugablonde finds her sorority home during this upcoming recruitment, it would be unrealistic to say that she's not going to have a bit of an uphill battle against her.

I hope you do go through rush. Being in a sorority is about more than just your pledge class. Some of my best friends in AOII were in classes a year or two or even three years behind me. Age is just a number so don't put too much stock in it. As for whether or not you'll be cut, you will be...expect it and don't take it as a personal assault on you as a person. In big chapters many cuts are made for arbitrary reasons because the numbers have to be pared down. They won't all have time to get to know you so don't think that being cut means they didn't like you. Also, give the chapters a chance. If they keep you around, make an effort to get to know them. This means that even if the chapter is one you think you'd never want to pledge...give them a second chance, get to know the girls, research their national organizations. You may find plenty that you would enjoy and relate to. Unfortunately for sororities, from the outside many people only see who has the prettiest most popular girls. If you just check what's inside and pay less attention to the gossip, you may find an awesome group of girls that you'd be proud to call sisters. Good luck!

i pledged as a transfer and a lot of girls in my pledge class were freshman. but i was close to them and to the older actives in the chapter. so i wouldnt let the age thing bother you. but i pledged in a southwest college where rush isnt that competitive but good luck if you decide to rush again!!

OP,

What have you got to lose?
Sure it's hard if you don't get invited back places you'd like to go back to, and that can be hard on the old self esteem.

But if you go in knowing what to expect, the absolute worst case scenario is really no worse that your not having rushed: you don't join a group.

You ultimately don't have that much to lose and everything to gain.