Questions from a senior rushing at NCSU

[Resevoir12]

Hello,
I'm planning on participating in formal sorority recruitment at North Carolina State University this fall. I will be a senior and have two semesters left at NCSU.

Why I waited to participate in recruitment...
I did not participate in rush during freshman year due to health problems which caused me to withdraw from classes.
During sophomore year I was participating in multiple internships. These internships conflicted with rush.
Junior year I became involved in a well known campus organization and their fall retreat conflicted with rush.

My current GPA is very high and I'm in the top 20% of my class. I know alot of girls who are members of the sororities on our campus from living with them in housing, classes where we were close together, or campus life and I feel that would not be detrimental (i.e. I don't have a bad reputation).

I want to participate in rush because I want to find the type of sisterhood and connection with other girls that's been missing in my life. I'm open minded about where I think I would fit in because I know many young women in different sororities. I waited until this year because it is free of any time conflicts and I know I will have the time to fully participate in sorority activities.

There are, however, a few things I have questions about:
I interned at the office of a prominent, elected government official, who is still in office, for over a year. Is this something that is okay to talk about or not?

During junior year I was an intern at NARAL Pro-Choice, a political action group for women's reproductive rights. While I understand that I should be careful to not bring up any kind of Roe v. Wade type of conversation, is this internship okay to put on my application for recruitment?

My grandmother and aunt were both members of sororities not located on our campus. Should I still list that I am a legacy?

On that same note, I have a cousin in an active sorority's chapter on another campus. Are recs important at NCSU recruitment? And should I try and obtain one from my aunt who was in a sorority not on our campus?

And, finally, are my explanations for why I deferred recruitment until now acceptable?

Thank you for taking the time to read this, I know it's a long post.

[AOII Angel]

There are, however, a few things I have questions about:
I interned at the office of a prominent, elected government official, who is still in office, for over a year. Is this something that is okay to talk about or not? I think it is okay to talk about this but maybe don't say who unless asked. Put it exactly like you did here so you don't get into a political discussion.

During junior year I was an intern at NARAL Pro-Choice, a political action group for women's reproductive rights. While I understand that I should be careful to not bring up any kind of Roe v. Wade type of conversation, is this internship okay to put on my application for recruitment? Hmmm...I am totally with you on this! You go girl. This may be a little too touchy for recruitment, though.

My grandmother and aunt were both members of sororities not located on our campus. Should I still list that I am a legacy? No. Anyway, very few orgs would let you be a legacy through your aunt. It is usually just grandmother, mother or sister. Some don't recognize granddaughters as legacies, though.

On that same note, I have a cousin in an active sorority's chapter on another campus. Are recs important at NCSU recruitment? And should I try and obtain one from my aunt who was in a sorority not on our campus? When in doubt get recs, especially in the south. I'll let someone from the NC area give you more info about this, but if your aunt's sorority is not on campus, she cannot send a rec for you. You have to get recs from alumnae of the chapters on your campus.

And, finally, are my explanations for why I deferred recruitment until now acceptable? Sure, but that doesn't mean that the chapters are going to be willing to take a senior. They aren't necessarily looking for good excuses. They are looking for good members and members who will be there for a long time. Be prepared for heavy cuts because of your senior status. Hopefully there will be a chapter that will give you a chance, because it sounds like you are a busy bee with something to offer them.

[Barbie's_Rush]

Originally Posted by Resevoir12

Hello,
I'm planning on participating in formal sorority recruitment at North Carolina State University this fall. I will be a senior and have two semesters left at NCSU.

Why I waited to participate in recruitment...
I did not participate in rush during freshman year due to health problems which caused me to withdraw from classes (more specifically, I was in the hospital for multi drug resistant infection for over a month).
During sophomore year I was participating in multiple internships; one in state level government and another at a law firm. These internships conflicted with rush because we had training during recruitment week. The internships were also for course credit and I could not leave them.
Junior year I became involved in a well known campus organization and their fall retreat conflicted with rush. Over the past year I became a leader within this organization and have been heavily involved in campus life.

My current GPA is 3.633 with a 4.0 in my major and I'm in the top 17% of my class. I know alot of girls who are members of the sororities on our campus from living with them in housing, classes where we were close together, or campus life and I feel that would not be detrimental (i.e. I don't have a bad reputation).

I want to participate in rush because I want to find the type of sisterhood and connection with other girls that's been missing in my life. I'm open minded about where I think I would fit in because I know many young women in different sororities. I waited until this year because it is free of any time conflicts and I know I will have the time to fully participate in sorority activities.

There are, however, a few things I have questions about:
I interned at the office of a prominent, elected government official, who is still in office, for over a year. Is this something that is okay to talk about or not?

During junior year I was an intern at NARAL Pro-Choice, a political action group for women's reproductive rights. While I understand that I should be careful to not bring up any kind of Roe v. Wade type of conversation, is this internship okay to put on my application for recruitment?

My grandmother and aunt were both members of sororities not located on our campus. Should I still list that I am a legacy?

On that same note, I have a cousin in an active sorority's chapter on another campus. Are recs important at NCSU recruitment? And should I try and obtain one from my aunt who was in a sorority not on our campus?

And, finally, are my explanations for why I deferred recruitment until now acceptable?

Thank you for taking the time to read this, I know it's a long post.

Originally Posted by Resevoir12

Hello, I'm trying to become a member of sorority XYZ on my campus and they have an informal recruitment in spring. What they do is interview the potential member and explain the new member program, financial responsibilities, etc. of being a member of XYZ.

Bid day is only two days away and despite the recruitment chair stating she would like to interview me she hasn't contacted me within the past five days since our last email correspondence.

What can I do to contact her before bid day without appearing too nagging?

Thank you.

Hmmm.

[FSUZeta]

Your aunt and grandmother are not able to write you letters of recommendation because their sororities do not have chapters at NCSU, and only members of sororities that have chapters on your campus may write recs. to the chapter there. for example, i can write a recommendation to any ZTA chapter anywhere, but I cannot write a rec. to another sorority, nor can I write a generic rec. to a panhellenic. maybe your aunt or grandmother know friends of their's who are members of sororities with chapters at NCSU. Your cousin may be another source of recs. Ask her if she had recs. for the chapters at her college-she may be able to hook you up with ladies who can help you out. If you have friends in NCSU sororities that you feel comfortable enough with to ask, ask them to help you find recs.

Ordinarily students at most colleges have a hard time going thru recruitment as seniors, I don't know how it is for NCSU. All you can do is try, but understand that you will not be viewed the same as a freshman who potentially has 4 years to give the collegiate chapter.

I will say this-my daughter's senior year in college, a senior went thru recruitment for the first time at my daughter's school, which has a competitive recruitment. This girl had been very involved on campus, had good grades and knew lots of girls in all the chapters. She received and accepted a bid and as far as I know was a good member, so stranger things can happen. Heads are still spinning over this, though.

Good sleuthing, Barbie's Rush.

[Resevoir12]

Originally Posted by Barbie's_Rush

Hmmm.

Informal rush wasn't organized that year. It was a matter of making contact with the sorority on part of the PNM and the interview process, like I had stated back then.

After the contact I had didn't respond I contacted another VP within the sorority who informed me that the contact I was in touch with had her father pass away that week.
I didn't want to be pushy and figured that it was a tough time for her and probably a logistical mess for their organization.

[victoriana]

You seem very polished and professional, as well as realistic in what you expect from recruitment. Getting a bid as a senior might be difficult, although your involvement will definitely work in your favor. I like you already, just from your post. I wish you the best of luck in your recruitment

[33girl]

If you have a high profile on campus, that might help you at some chapters. On the other side of the coin, some chapters might figure "she's so busy, she'll never be around, so what's the point?" You sound as though you have enough on the ball to pick up on which is which while you are going through recruitment and set your sights accordingly.