whether or not you have an advantage depends a ton on which school you go to. it sounds like you're going to be rushing as a sophomore (or older)?
at my college, where 95%+ of the rushees are freshmen, it is nearly impossible for an upperclassman to get a bid EVEN IF she is friends with girls in a house and they pull for her. there is a huge premium on being a freshman and a first-time rushee. if the houses you're rushing usually don't have a problem meeting quota, they may be reluctant to take an older pledge if only for financial reasons (they can take you, who will only be active for 3 or less years, or a freshman who will be paying dues for 4 full years. this is an important trade-off for a group that usually meets quota... they can't "have it both ways" because choosing an older girl means there is one less space for a freshman).
i hear it is a lot different at other schools where the rushees are a mix of classes. being older may not be a problem at all.
again, it will really depend on your college. ask your friends in sororities how many non-freshmen rushed last year, and how many actually got bids.
of course, knowing sisters helps a rushee no matter her age, but remember, less is expected of a freshman since she has had less time on campus to get to know people. it looks really bad if an older girl is rushing and she knows nobody since she's had plenty of time to meet people. there is not the same expectation on someone who's only been at school for a few months or less.
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