Deciding to rush Sophomore Year. Help Please?

[heartintexas]

Hi

I am currently attending a university in the state of Texas, and am a freshman. I rushed earlier this year, but after a couple days dropped from rushing. No one in my family is greek, so I didn't really know the ropes or anything about recs. I kinda went into rush blind having no idea what to expect, which I really regret doing. I listened to my rho chi and went back to all the houses I was invited back to, but decided that after skit night that I did feel at home at the two left.

I was just wondering how hard it is for a sophomore to rush and get a bid? and also how hard is it for a sophomore who has already rushed to get a bid? I really would like if all of you would be honest with me, I already went through disappointment once and would not want to put myself out there with no hope at all. So thank you for all the help and any advice??

all will be greatly accepted.
Thanks

[KSUViolet06]

The answer to this question probably varies depening on which school in Texas you're talking about. For example, a sophomore is probably more likely to get a bid at Texas State or UNT than they would be at UT-Austin.

As far as re-rushing and getting a bid, that will probably depend on the school as well (and the individual chapter's preferences).

[BadCat25]

It is going to be harder but that is not to say there is no hope at all. I know social rejection sucks big time but you are not in a sorority now and if you don't try again you never will be so you are going to have to be emotionally tough and run the risk it will not work out. There are some things you can do to improve your chances. Study hard and get good grades. You don't want to be cut for bad ones. Get recs for every chapter. Get involved in a student organization. Sororities like that. Be on your best behavior for the rest of this school year. They won't give a bid to a tramp.
During rush I wouldn't be the one to bring up the fact that you went through rush this fall. They probably won't remember but if they do say you signed up but dropped out to concentrate on your grades. Keep an open mind about the chapters. This is very important. Your choices will probably be more limited than if you were a freshman.
The last thing, and I will probably get all kinds of abuse from the GC gang for this, is your looks. If you need to take off some pounds you must do it. Fat is a total killer in rush. Learn how to put on makeup like a pro. It can make a huge difference. Get a pro haircut you can easily reproduce. A $9.95 mall job won't do. Keep your eyes open on how the sorority girls on your school dress and do as they do. You want them to imagine you are one of them. You know from your first rush what they will ask you so practice your answers.
I can't think of anything else but good luck to you.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by BadCat25

The last thing, and I will probably get all kinds of abuse from the GC gang for this, is your looks. If you need to take off some pounds you must do it. Fat is a total killer in rush. Learn how to put on makeup like a pro. It can make a huge difference. Get as pro haircut that you can easily reproduce. A $9.95 mall job won't do. Keep your eyes open on how the sorority girls on your school dress and do as they do. You want them to imagine you are one of them. You know from your first rush what they will ask you so practice your answers.

I just wanted to add that while it's great to present yourself well, be smart about it. If you feel that you need to lose weight (for your own personal health reasons), then do it. But I wouldn't recommend going crazy and starving yourself for the sake of recruitment. Be smart and healthy about it (eat well, go to the gym, etc).

I also feel the need to add that losing weight, dressing well, and looking good are all nice, but those things alone don't generally = a bid. There's got to be more to you than just that (as badcat pointed out). Some of the prettiest girls in recruitment get cut for having sub-par grades, lacking connections in chapters, or having problems making conversation. There's got to be a balance. For example, a $200 haircut doesn't help much if you can barely hold a conversation.

Something that I find to be more important for sophomores is having good friends in chapters. It can NEVER hurt to have girls who know and like you in chapters. It won't guarantee to you a spot, but it is good to have.

[LΩVE]

Rushing as a sophomore at some schools can be an advantage, but it does depend on your school. If you spend your freshman year concentrating on what's best for you, like making good grades, finding other organizations on campus to get involved in, and making friends, that could help you your next time around. They'll see that you can handle college and that you can be an asset to their organization.

Truthfully, your behavior, weight, etc. CAN have an effect on your recruitment, but that shouldn't be your FIRST concern. No matter what, just be confident. If sororities don't want to give you a bid because you're overweight, for instance, then they probably aren't very mature as a group, anyway, and you should find other people to hang out with. Have fun, but don't have sex on the pool table at the fraternity house. Be comfortable with your body, but dress it to its advantage. (If you're really tiny, find something that makes you stand out. If you're a little overweight, wear clothing that fits and isn't too tight...actually, no one should wear clothing that's too tight. If you have a bigger chest, save the cleavage for the club. Being able to dress your best shows confidence.).

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by heartintexas

I listened to my rho chi and went back to all the houses I was invited back to, but decided that after skit night that I did feel at home at the two left.

Another thing that should be emphasized is that you should keep an open mind and consider ALL chapters. I actually recommend going all the way through to preference night even if you are not 100% thrilled with the chapters you are invited back to.

For example, if the two chapters that you were invited back to and did not feel at home at were the two "least popular" chapters on your campus, they may possibly also be the chapters that would give the most consideration to a sophomore rushee. I recommend that you at least consider the possibility of joining one of these chapters. Many, many women on GC and in the NPC more broadly were not totally thrilled with the chapters they attended preference at or even the chapter they pledged, and they grew to love it over the course of their new member period.

[LadyLonghorn]

It will all depend on the school. If it is one of the schools with a competitive recruitment, your chances will be significantly lowered with sophomore status. You could very well end up with the same chapters you had during your first recruitment, or even fewer choices. You will never know unless you try again.

[srmom]

If you are at UT, it will be tougher, but not impossible.

A true story from this year - one of my son's friends from highschool did not rush last year because she was worried about academics and pledging. She regretted it when she saw all the fun the girls were having who did pledge. This fall she rushed; she had her recs, she had many friends in houses, she is a great girl (not trampy), but she is a sophomore. After the first couple of rounds she was cut harshly, but decided to keep going. She ended up pledging one of the smaller chapters and is having an absolute BALL! She has met some wonderful girls in the group and she feels a great sense of sisterhood.

So, moral of the story, don't give up, don't drop because the "big" houses have cut you, you could be missing out on the sisterhood and fun that you are seeking.

Best of luck to you!

[AuburnMom08]

I think recruitment here is probably on the same competitiveness level as that of any Texas school. My daughter rushed in the fall as a sophomore and dropped out before preference day because she didn't feel "at home" with the houses she had left but every other sophomore girl she knew at Auburn (dozens) who stuck it out until bid day all got a bid. My daughter was disappointed it didn't work out for her but the Monday following rush week she went to the greek org office and registered for COB and just a few weeks later she got a bid from her #1 house from rush week.

I'm not saying it will work out that well for everyone but if you truly want to be a part of a GLO then don't let being a sophomore at a competitive school hold you back. My daughter wasn't a legacy and she didn't have a rec from the house she ultimately joined. She did have good grades (3.6ish), a decent amount of hs and JC activities, and a friend in the house who had pledged as a sophomore during fall rush.

Do you have friends in sororities? Ask if their chapters are participating in COB now. Best of luck!

[Just interested]

Since we don't know where you are going to school it's a little hard to know where you will stand as a sophomore. Get references, that's a no brainer in Texas, meet as many girls in chapters as possible, get involved, keep an open mind and one thing no one has mentioned but as a House Corp member, I will, traditionally, if your school has chapter housing, in Texas, they are usually filled each year with the previous years new member class. Make sure the chapters know you would be willing to live in the house as a junior. They tend to limit sophomores for economic reasons. 1 less year to participate and pay dues, parlor fees etc. In other words they want to know a sophomore will fulfill their obligations to the chapter from a financial point of view. It seems a little harsh but it is a reality.
As everyone has said, however, most sophomores with an open mind will find a place.

[heartintexas]

Thank you guys for all your support, and advice. I go to a pretty big college in Texas, just to let you all know. I also don't know that many sorority women, right now or alum. I have asked many family friends, also can cousins who are currently attending college at another university write recs for another school?Also any advice to get rec letters? Thanks for all the support, as of now I think I am going to rush again.

Thanks

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by heartintexas

Thank you guys for all your support, and advice. I go to a pretty big college in Texas, just to let you all know. I also don't know that many sorority women, right now or alum. I have asked many family friends, also can cousins who are currently attending college at another university write recs for another school?Also any advice to get rec letters? Thanks for all the support, as of now I think I am going to rush again.

Thanks

We have a couple of threads about recs:

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...ecommendations
http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=53908

Yes, they're long but there is alot of info in them about how to get recs.

Also, every sorority has a different policy about who can write recs. Some sororities allow active collegians to write them, and others do not. This thread lists some of the groups who do allow actives (girls currently in college) to write recs.

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...ght=collegians

[SophieCat]

Try to find out your school's policy for non freshman. At my school, non freshman were not included in quota. So a sorority could take as many sophomores, juniors, and seniors as it wanted, whether that was none of them or all of them or somewhere in between. In almost all cases, non freshman who received no bid were released because of grades. Also, if you are re-rushing at the same university, I cannot stress how important it is to get to know (and make a good impression on) as many sorority women as you can.

[FSUZeta]

keep you eyes and ears open on greekchat and in your local newspaper(the town in which you attend school and your hometown,too) for notice that the local alumnae panhellenic is holding a recruitment information session. these usually are held in the early spring.

they will offer valid information particular to many of the texas colleges as well as detailed info. on how to secure recommendations, what is the appropriate dress for recruitment, topics of conversation, etc.

you can also try to find a website for your local alumnae panhellenic association-they should have contact info. and will probably post a notice of their recruitment information event.

[PenguinTrax]

Specific membership selection information should not be posted to Greekchat.
Thank you.