Recruitment Advice
 

Hi. I'm a freshman at University of Illinois Champaign and I just got done with rush. I had been so excited for rush and couldn't wait to join a sorority. It seemed like the perfect way to make friends in a town where I knew no one on move in day. Apparently, I was a little naive about the process and didn't realize how competitive it was. I ended up dropping out of rush but it's tough when I still want to be in a sorority. Now, it's greek week and I'm so bummed I can't participate in all the awesome events. I feel like I'm missing out on so much. I plan on rushing again next year as a sophomore (even though I'm worried now since I realize that dont offer bids to very many sophomores). Any advice?

IlliniGirly1989

Ask your Greek Life office about COR opportunities or if any sororities are participating in Spring Informal. Being that Formal Recruitment just ended, they might not have that information right now.

Read the stickied threads at the top of the recruitment forums.

Try to make friends with women in your classes who are in a sorority.

Secure recommendations.

How many chapters did you have left when you dropped out? Would you be willing to give any of those a shot next year?

I know of two sophomores who got bids at Illinois---the president of my alumnae chapter joined Sigma Kappa as a sophomore and her younger sister just began pledging Alpha Delta Pi as a sophomore.

I only had 2 left and they were my bottom two. I just really didn't click with the girls I talked to (I went back twice and it just wasn't working out). I couldn't see myself living at the house and I would've felt wrong joining a house I didn't love just so I could be in any sorority. I felt like it would've been unfair both to the girls in those sororities and the other girls who maybe really really wanted to be in that sorority (not to mention myself)

IlliniGirly1989

Did Alpha Xi Delta begin their colonization events yet?

My only other advice would be to be honest with yourself and speculate why you may have been cut and try to remedy that problem.

It isn't impossible to get a bid as a sophomore at Illinois. Some chapters are more open to them than others though. Get to know people in the chapters and be active on campus.

Don't give up. If you really want to do this again, then take advantage of this school year to meet a lot of people in all the different houses. Get good grades, join a lot of organizations, and when you come back next fall, you'll be ready to try this a second time. I know of one sophomore who went through this year and had her pick of the houses. She could have been in one of the most sought-after houses (though I hate to talk in such terms-all the houses at Illinois are great!) but she chose the one she felt the most at home in, and she's super thrilled.

One of my closest friends went through at Illinois as a freshman, just didn't think her choices were what she wanted, and then as a sophomore, went through again. She ended up in none of the houses she "thought" she wanted as a freshman, and chose the house she knew was really right for her. By then, she knew a lot of other women in the house and it clicked. It can happen and there are opportunities.

http://www.illinois.alphaxidelta.org...tment_schedule

According to their site, their recruitment just ended on the 25th.

at UIUC
 

try getting in touch with chapters you might be interested in directly next semester or ask people you're friends with in those sororities if they're doing infomal. I know when I emailed the greek life office about informal last year they told me only a couple of the chapters were doing informal and yet my friend ended up going through informal at a chapter that wasn't on the list (she was friends with a girl in the house and found out that way). I don't know if the houses aren't good about letting greek life know or what the deal was...

The chapter might have had only a very few spots open and already had an idea of who they wanted to fill them.

Recruitment Advice
 

Alpha Xi's recruitment events ended on Thursday. Friday and Sat are the interviews. If they do not meet their quota, then they will continue recruiting (COB). There was only one sorority in formal rush that did not meet quota. They can start COB on Sunday, I think. I would check back at AXD's website in a few weeks to see if they end up having new recruitment activities: http://www.illinois.alphaxidelta.org/. If the other sorority does COB then there will probably be an ad in the Daily Illini. If this doesn't work then I would get to know other girls and make friends in and out of the greek world. That way when you rush next year, you will already be one step above.

Is there not a moratorium on COB (for the other chapters) until Alpha Xi has reached their quota? That is sometimes the case with extension.

That's what happened at Alabama. COB bids couldn't be handed out until after Alpha Phi finished Pref.

There's a two week moratorium that ends Sunday or Monday.