Stupid Rushee's not so stellar recruitment!

[Stupid Rushee]

I’ve posted here for years, but finally thought I had a point to make about recruitment to bother doing my own story. I talk about my opinions about recruitment quite frequently, but finally realized that my story illustrates my points pretty well. I’ve changed my name and disguised the chapters so you will have some investigation to keep you detectives out there interested! Keep in mind that I will be writing this like I’m still 17 and stupid!

First, I grew up near a prominent SEC school and swore all my life that I would be going to Big State University. My older sister, Katie, who is less than a year older than me went up north to Smaller State School for their nursing program from which our mother had graduated. I let everyone in my family know that I would rather die than attend that school, but after my sister had been gone for a few months, I really began to miss her. I got a full paid scholarship to Smaller State School and quickly decided that I would go there instead. (Of course, I told everyone that I decided to go there since they didn’t require Calculus for my major unlike Big State University, and I HATE math!)

Katie had gone to rush the week before school started her freshman year at the urging of our mother who had always wanted to be a Cherry at Smaller State School but didn’t have the money to join. Katie called home the night after prefs crying that she had made a big mistake. She’d put Strawberry first on her list but thought she should have put Cherry. I could hear her crying to my mother and just rolled my eyes. She ended up getting a bid from Cherry and loved the chapter from day one.

Katie, of course, gave me the scoop on all of the chapters on campus (not too hard considering there were only four!) Apple was the most desirable group. Katie had been cut by them after day 3. Strawberry and Cherry were nearly equal in status, though Cherry was probably a little behind. Watermelon was a struggling chapter. My little 17 year old mind decided that I would be an Apple. Cherry would be my back-up.

[Stupid Rushee]

Before school started, all freshman had to attend PREP, a type of orientation. My roommate for that weekend was a legacy to Apple through her sister. I’ll call her Natalie. Natalie was the only person I knew when I rolled into town the week before school started to go through rush. We stayed in a dorm on campus for the whole week. I came armed with my sister’s yearbook so I could figure out who all the Rho Chis were.
My Rho Chi was a Watermelon, so I quickly decided that she couldn’t help me. My roommate was a cute blonde named Suzie, and she was in my Rho Chi group. I guess they picked roommates for everyone by Rho Chi group.

Open House

The sorority dorm was the site for Open House. Each group had a wing in the dorm. Strawberry and Cherry had opposite wings on the first floor since they’d been on campus the longest. Apple was above Strawberry, and Watermelon was above Cherry. We were taken to the doors to each chapter’s hall before the party started. You could hear the sisters competing to scream louder than all of the other chapters, kicking and stomping and clapping, so you can imagine how loud things could get!

Apple- We entered Apple from the courtyard stairs. The sisters were dressed in polo shirts with Apple embroidered over the breast paired with khaki shorts and a weird apron tied around their waists. I couldn’t figure out the point of their outfits, but since I was going to be an Apple, I would get used to them! I was picked up by a very thin girl at the door and taken to the chapter room. The decorations were okay, but the couches were a little shabby. Small talk was really difficult with this chapter. We never got beyond majors/hometowns. I made sure to tell her that my sister was a Cherry. I wanted to make sure she knew that I was Greek material. Halfway through the party, they showed us a video with pictures from all of their parties. They looked like they had fun!

Watermelon- I immediately could see why this chapter was considered to be less desirable...the chapter room seemed empty compared to Apple’s even with all the rushees included. The chapter room itself made Apple’s look like a 5 star hotel! The girls seemed nice but pretty awkward. I chatted with a couple of sisters, watched their video then noted during their tour that none of their rooms were decorated in Watermelon memorabilia.

Strawberry- The door to Strawberry opened, and I immediately saw a HIDEOUS painting on their wall completely in my most hated color. Apparently it was Strawberry’s color since their couches were that color, as well as the carpet in their chapter room. I remember very little about this party since I was stunned by the ugliness!

Cherry- My last party was Cherry. More screaming could be heard through the Cherry door in the dorm lobby, but I was too tired to care. Smiling and making small talk had given me a horrendous tension headache. All I wanted to do was go home and sleep! (I can't imagine how people make it through 8 parties or more a day at big Greek schools!) When the door opened, we marched down the hall and were picked up by sisters who took us to the chapter room. I waved at my sister as I passed her in the hall. Cherry’s chapter room was better maintained than Apple’s. Yet again, the small talk was basic. I didn’t really click with the girl rushing me, though she identified herself as Katie’s adopted big sis, Mandy. We saw their video and then went from room to room so they could tell us about their finances, philanthropy, etc.

[loveandAOE]

I like honest rush stories, keep going!

[twinkle555]

Lovin it so far! More please!

[Stupid Rushee]

I almost just gave myself away posting under my real name! I make a terrible sock puppet! If you saw the post....shhhhhhhh!

First Skit Day

First thing in the morning, my Rho Chi group went down to get our invitations for the day. No one could cut girls after open house, so we all knew we’d be going back.
The rest of recruitment was held at various venues across campus which rotated each year between the chapters since one was clearly nicer than the others. The rushees didn’t know this, so Apple having the nicest room on campus just reinforced my conclusion that I should be an Apple.

Cherry- Cherry had a terrible party for first skit day. I remember my sister having her costume made over the summer, an Indian princess (er...Native American, but then again our college mascot was the Indian!) outfit. The theme was “Mardi Gras,” but Halloween would have been more appropriate with all the costumes. Seriously, one sister was dressed in a full Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume! I don’t think any of them knew what Mardi Gras was really like, but that party was not it! I remember them singing all of these stupid songs. I have always hated musicals...people breaking into song for no good reason gives me the creeps. I met lots of Cherries, but none of them stood out to me except for one sister who was a legacy who pledged when her sister was still in the chapter.

Apple- All I remember is their location. It was the Alumni Center. How could I forget this party?!

Watermelon- More singing and dancing. Gag! The Watermelon’s skit was “Watermelon over the decades” with sister dressed in different outfits based on the decade. It was actually fairly cute, but I am so NOT a cutesy girl. What I remember most from this party was sitting across the table from a girl that looked so masculine to me...I couldn’t stop staring. She dropped out of recruitment the next day because apparently her aunt was a prominent Apple and was pushing her to join, but she wanted to be a Cherry. (I, of course, didn’t know this until my sister told me later.)

Strawberry- Ack! They were all dressed in striped overall shorts in their color with a polka-dot ribbon around their waists. A few girls were wearing flapper dresses in this color for their skit. My God they liked their color! The girls were nice though, and I could see why my sister had liked them so much.

[carnation]

Good username. Whenever I look back at my retro recruitment thread, I realize that "Stupid Rushee" should have been my name, based on some rash decisions I made and I am soooo lucky that rush ended like I hoped.

Maybe a bunch of Greek women would look back on their rushes and think this too?

[lovespink88]

Originally Posted by Stupid Rushee

Cherry- Cherry had a terrible party for first skit day. I remember my sister having her costume made over the summer, an Indian princess (er...Native American, but then again our college mascot was the Indian!) outfit. The theme was “Mardi Gras,” but Halloween would have been more appropriate with all the costumes. Seriously, one sister was dressed in a full Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume! I don’t think any of them knew what Mardi Gras was really like, but that party was not it! I remember them singing all of these stupid songs. I have always hated musicals...people breaking into song for no good reason gives me the creeps. I met lots of Cherries, but none of them stood out to me except for one sister who was a legacy who pledged when her sister was still in the chapter.

Judging by this and your opinion of all the houses this round, sounds like skit round is not your favorite... lol

[angelove]

Originally Posted by carnation

Good username. Whenever I look back at my retro recruitment thread, I realize that "Stupid Rushee" should have been my name, based on some rash decisions I made and I am soooo lucky that rush ended like I hoped.

Maybe a bunch of Greek women would look back on their rushes and think this too?

Yes! As you say, everything turned out well, but I still cringe when I think of a couple of reasons why I cut some very good chapters.

I really like this thread because it seems to reflect accurately the thoughts of a new college freshman. Not that the others are inaccurate (well, some of them), but this one really captures that mindset.

[libelle]

I remember being turned off my most of the skits when I went through. I am sure that I rolled my eyes and smirked at some. On a tangent - when I saw Mama Mia on Broadway I told a friend that I had seen sorority rush skits that matched the storyline and music better. ;-)

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by libelle

I remember being turned off my most of the skits when I went through. I am sure that I rolled my eyes and smirked at some. On a tangent - when I saw Mama Mia on Broadway I told a friend that I had seen sorority rush skits that matched the storyline and music better. ;-)

Mama Mia is pretty bad!

[Stupid Rushee]

On we go since I hate when these things drag on for days!


Second Skit Day- Oh yes...another day of singing and dancing!

As we had done the day before, my Rho Chi group headed downstairs to get our invites. When I opened my envelope, I was shocked to see that Apple AND Watermelon had cut me. There must be a mistake. Strawberry and Cherry had invited me back, but I didn’t even like them. AND Watermelon cut me...they were the rejects who took everyone! This whole rush thing was pretty stupid. The singing and dancing was so fake. I decided right then and there that I would just be a Cherry. If Cherry cut me, then I’d march to their dorm and kick my sister’s butt! My roommate had been cut by Apple and Strawberry and was pretty upset since she really wanted to be a Strawberry. Natalie still had invites to each party but declined Watermelon since we could only attend three parties.

Strawberry- Their skit today was Alice and Wonderland. It was cute, but there was too much singing, again. I really liked the girl I talked to and thought I’d made a good impression on her.

Cherry- The Cherries did “Cherry Christmas” since the feeling of being a Cherry was like Christmas everyday. How cheesy can you get?! They sang all of the standard Christmas carols with words changed to Cherry lyrics. At least I didn’t hate Christmas carols. Mandy was back to chat with me today. We just didn’t click, but I tried since she’d soon be my sister.

[Stupid Rushee]

Originally Posted by carnation

Good username. Whenever I look back at my retro recruitment thread, I realize that "Stupid Rushee" should have been my name, based on some rash decisions I made and I am soooo lucky that rush ended like I hoped.

Maybe a bunch of Greek women would look back on their rushes and think this too?

Ha! I thought it was apt!

[BabyPiNK_FL]

OMG! I would not have made it through recruitment at this school. I love music/plays/skits/dancing and all, but this sounds corny as hell!

[srmom]

I love music/plays/skits/dancing and all, but this sounds corny as hell!

haha too true! I was in the "singing group" during rush and also during the campus talent show and spring fling, and I can still remember those songs that were so corny, like how you change all the lyrics to your sorority's name, and make it all about sisterhood.

We changed that wedding song, There is Love, to reflect our house and sisterhood. I cannot go to a wedding and hear that song without inwardly cringing

[Stupid Rushee]

Preference Day

My invitation envelope was awfully light. Cherry was the only chapter to invite me back. I guess no one really thought I was Greek material after all. My roommate was cut from Cherry and only had Watermelon left. She was hysterical. I told her that our Rho Chi was a Watermelon. She decided to stick it out after talking with her for awhile. Natalie had been invited to Cherry, Strawberry and Apple. She picked Apple and Strawberry since she could only go back to two.

Preference parties were held off campus at the homes of alumnae. Alums would drive us in cars to the events. (Talk about a risk management nightmare.)

Cherry- I was picked up from the dorm with three other girls by a Cherry Alum driving a Camry. She was pretty young, and we all had fun chatting with her on the way to the party. The party was held at an old rich, alum's house with a huge garden and attached Bible Museum. We waited outside an iron gate until the president of Cherry walked out and escorted each of us inside separately. All of the Cherry sisters were lined up along a green lawn in matching dresses (they were tacky!! :P) The President introduced each of us and one sister would step out of line to take the rushee being presented back to her place in line. It was really cool looking, but the south in August was not the time to be outside in your nicest church dress. I was sweating and miserable. Mandy picked me up. So...I’d have a heart to heart with the girl that I never clicked with....great!
Mandy pressured me to tell her that I wanted Cherry. Since I didn’t have any other choice, I quickly assured her that I was planning to “suicide” Cherry. She was so excited...then again, she was Katie’s big, and I think Katie had been nervous all week.