Sarah - I got you beat! I didn't even have notes then and I can still remember the stuff now!!! (I rushed in January of 1995!
) OK, this might be long...
So I went through this wonderful thing called "Structured Informal Rush". I loved it! Much better than regular COB. Our Panhel set up times for parties - they started and ended at a certain time. You were responsible for getting yourself to the house (not a big deal cuz tons of people had cars and all the houses were within walking distance of the dorms). There were two days for Round 1, then Saturday all day you could return for Round 2 - 40 minute parties. Then you went and ranked the houses. The next day, Sunday, you picked up you invites for Pref. After pref you ranked and Sunday night was Bid Night! I went with 4 other girls. I was a sophomore, so I already knew a lot of girls in houses. I was on the dance team with 2 girls from #2 and 2 girls from #6. One of those #6 girls had taught dance camps with me the previous summer, too, and had been trying to get me to go through Formal. She knew I was on the fence about trying informal.
So, we decided to forgo Thursday parties b/c we knew we did not want to hit all 11 houses. We skipped the 2 smallest, the "jock" house, and the "typical sorority girl" house. Trust me, I KNEW none of those 4 houses were for me!!!
Round 1 (AXO, AOPi, AZD, XO, DZ, DG)
#1 - I got picked up by a girl who was just initiated. She was nice, but didn't have a lot to say. She wasn't very exctied. She stayed with me the whole time and other people would stop by and say hi, but no one seemed to want to get to know you. They were also very "girly" and I'm not into that.
#2 - Two girls from the dance team in this house. I was picked up by a nice girl, but then one of the dance team girls came over. I really liked her and she introduced me to one of her good friends who I also really liked. Their house was an old private house they had converted and was very homey. After a while the other dance team girl came over and she was complaining to me about how she was so tired and didn't feel like talking. I can't say I liked that. Show some enthusiasm!!!
#3 - We didn't intend to go here. We parked in their paring lot b/c it was next to #4 and they didn't have parking. But they saw us sitting there so we figured we might as well go in. One girl took me through the whole time. She was SO sweet and I really liked her, but the rest of the girls were a little "rough" I guess. I just didn't get a sisterly vibe. There was also a girl I saw from one of my dance classes who gave me a HUGE hug even though I'd barely said two words to her. Creepy!
#4 - My roomie was a member here. I loved my roomie so I thought I would love them. It was ok, but a little boring, and the other girls didn't seem as fun as my roomie. If it wasn't for her, I probably would not want to go back for a second visit.
#5 - A very popular house. I had a friend from high school in this house. I thought I should like them a lot, but I was pretty bored. None of the girls stuck out to me, although their accomplishments and lnvolvement were great.
#6 - I was greeted by the nicest girl who wrote out my nametag. Then I looked up and saw my friend from dance team coming down the stairs to greet rushees. She saw my, got this huge smile on her face and grabbed me. She took me around and introduced me to what seemed like every girl in the house. Every one of them seemed so excited and friendly and full of smiles and really happy to be there. I loved this house!
Round 2 - I went back to 4 houses - remember, we picked where we went back to (AXO, AZD, XO, DG)
#2 - I got picked up be some really sweet girls who knew who I was from the day before even though I hadn't met them - that made me feel good. They were super nice but the convo did drag a bit. I got a house tour and it was nice, but I did notice that I'd have to share the bathroom with about 10 girls. That wasn't cool...but overall I really liked the girls here.
#4 - I went back for my rommie's sake. I was still bored. I had the same conversation with every girl - about curling irons! I wanted to like them, and they were nice, but I was just bored!
#5 - This time I got picked up by my friend from high school. We sat on a couch looking at a scrapbook and talking. Girls would come up and talk to us, but again, none stood out. However, I still thought I should really like them especially because of my friend who was super cool.
#6 - I again felt so welcomed at this house. I had tons of girls come up to me and know my name and stuff about me. And I was really impressed by the different types of girls in the house. And how I could be having a conversation with 2 girls totally opposite from me and each other, but it just flowed.
So we went to the union and I ranked: 6, 5, 2, 4
Sunday I got my schedule for Pref: 2, 6. I was bummed b/c I got cut by 5, but I realized that I really did click with the girls in 2 a LOT more.
Pref (XO, AZD)
#2 - I got picked up by my dance team friend (not the complainer) and her friend. We go some food and went upstairs to a room. They gave me a letter they had written about how great I was, how much 2 meant to them, how I would be a great fit. Honestly, I was a bit freaked out by it. I didn't finish the letter b/c it made me uncomfortable. They also talked to me about how they knew I was probably going to 6 for my other pref, and it was a great house, too, but that the 2 girls loved me. Then we went down for a video which was cute, then we got in a circle and had a little ceremony. The sisters cried and I teared up a bit b/c I realized they had a great sisterhood, but I wanted that feeling with the girls of #6. I left thinking they were great girls, but that I couldn't wait to get to #6.
#6 - I was picked up by my dance team friends. They got me some food and talked about how happy they were I was there. How they wanted me to rush so bad and are glad I did. Then they did their ceremony and it was beautiful. One of my friends had a part and she looked right at me and said "You are the future of #6". It made me smile and I knew I wanted to be that. After the ceremony I talked to some other girls and we just laughed and joked and I felt at home.
I went to the union and put 6 first. I toyed with the idea of suiciding, but decided that the girls in 2 were great, and I'm sure I'd be happy there. It wasn't until about an hour before opening bids that I got nervous b/c I realized I ONLY wanted to be a 6!!! But when I opened my bid I had no more worries - there was my X and horseshoe and I ran over to my new home!!!
P.S Of the group of 5 I rushed with we had
2 - XO
2- AOPi
1- AXO
Phew, how's THAT for a memory!!!
