Rush Advice/Opinions..?

[collegegrl]

I enjoy reading the posts on GC and I have finally decided to post my first message...Hopefully I will get opinions or advice on my story: Should I Rush Again?

During my first year in college, I went through formal recruitment and continuted all the way to pref night. I was given a pref to one house so I was guaranteed a bid to that house. It seems that bids are guaranteed once you make it to pref night. But I decided not to join that house and discontinued rush after pref night. I felt that just starting college was overwhelming and I needed time to adjust to a new school.


During my second year in college, I went through formal recruitment for a second time. Almost all my friends were greek and my friends that were not greek were attending rush with me as sophomores. We helped each other pick outfits for rush and prepare. I had a great time during rush, I knew the houses and campus better.

Rush lasts for 5 days, on the 5th day bids are given out. The first 2 days were great, I got every house I wanted except one. I felt the conversations went well and there weren't awkward silences. That is why I was very surprised to find out...for the 3rd day I was cut from all the houses but one. I only went to one house on the 3rd day and I was not asked back.

I was really disappointed that rushing in the fall did not work out because I really wanted to join a sorority. My sophomore friends that rushed with me ended up joining different houses. They encouraged me to rush again in the spring. Since my friends were new members, they didn't know much about their sororities. Later I find out that their house was under quota and random freshman were given bids a few days after formal fall rush had ended. It confuses me that I was cut while some people still had opportunities to join after rush had ended.


The next opportunity for me was informal spring recruitment. Three houses were open, but I was only able to attend one because the times for activities conflicted with each other. My friend was in this house and informal rush lasted a few days. This was my 3rd rush and I did not get a bid.


After all this, I still feel that I want to join the greek community. But, I do not think I can go through formal rush again. I will be a junior and I feel I am too old. It is also disappointing to not receive a bid after rushing so many times. Why was I declined a bid? What advice/opinions/recommendations do you have for/against rushing again?