Hello Tara,
I don't think by any means that rushing would ever be a "waste of time". I realize that I had a complete different rushing experience because I am in a music sorority not a social sorority...still, I have friends in the social ones and they all have told me that some of their good friends at college include not only the girls in their sorority, but the other rushees she met. The way I look at it, even if you DO get cut, you still will have made some awesome friends, so it wouldn't be a total loss.
Let's say you do get cut...try exploring other options available at U of A. Are you involved in band/choir and plan to be at college? I know for a fact that U of A has Sigma Alpha Iota and Tau Beta Sigma. There may be other departmental GLOs too that I am not aware of that you could pledge.
I'm not saying that SAI and TBS are below social sororities; certainly not, as I am a sister of SAI.
They are different, and the rushing experience is completely different.
Tara, I truly hope that you do have a wonderful rush experience and get a bid from your first choice sorority. Being greek is truly something special.
Just take a deep breath, be yourself, and I'm sure all the groups will be fighting over you.
Best of luck!