MANDA! Call the Panhellenic Office at SMU right away, they may be able to give you the dates of the Dallas Rush Forum OR the Richardson/Plano Rush Forum held at the University of Texas at Dallas, which you could call as well. Try the Student Life office. Both are held usually in the month of February, so get moving!!!
I was the Rush Coordinator for Richardson Panhellenic for a few years back in the late 90's and we usually had over 400 girls and their moms attend.
There was a sign in/register process, with a general session for all the girls. Then you broke up into groups according to where you were going to school - UT, A&M, Texas Tech, TCU, as well as out of state schools like OU and LSU. Then there was a group for "far away" schools. The in-states had an active/RhoChi from their schools to answer questions.
One thing for sure - the sheets they filled out were copied, given to each Alumnae Chapter's Rush Chairman so that these girls could get their recs no matter where they were going. The girls were also given a list of each sorority's alumnae contacts/Sponsorship chairs to contact about rush questions, rec requirements, etc.
Texas schools are very specific about photos, etc. while some schools in the North and Midwest tell the freshmen they don't even need a rec.
I will tell you this, however. If it is 1 a.m. and they like you, you're from out of state but have no rec, and Mary Sue from in state has one and they like her too - they take the path of least resistance. I always told the rushees to get recs and many times their Mother would call me when rush was over and say "Oh, boy were you right!"
I think it is important to have as much info as you can get, and to see girls from different groups. Understand that group ABC at Texas is very different than ABC at say, Indiana. Throw out preconceived notions, keep your eyes open and have fun!
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