If you knew then what you know now...

[TriDeltaSallie]

I was reading a couple of the newer threads with women gearing up for fall recruitment and asking about recs, clothing, etc. I almost felt a little jealous of them having the excitement of going through recruitment and (hopefully) starting their Greek life.

Knowing what I know now, I definitely would have done some things differently. I knew next to nothing about sororities when I went to college, I knew no one in a sorority, and there was no Greek Chat. But knowing what I do now, I definitely would have tried formal rush. Not sure if I would have made it through with the same result, but even just having Greek Chat and the info here would have made a huge difference in my decision to do formal rather than informal.

I also think I would have done less with my sorority. I know that probably sounds strange, but I gave so much that I was seriously burned out at the end. I wish I had enjoyed myself more rather than working so hard. I enjoyed it, but I wish I had enjoyed it differently - without the stress!

If you had it to do over again knowing then what you know now, what would you do differently?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I'm not even sure I would have rushed as a freshman. In any case, I would have made a bigger effort to stay close with my "dorm friends".

During rush, I definitely would have kept my mouth shut about my family members' affiliations. I didn't realize that this could hurt me, but I think I screamed "joining XYZ!!!". I also would have been more guarded in conversations I had in front of my rho chis. I don't believe for one second that most rho chis keep certain things to themselves.

[aephi alum]

I would have skipped formal rush altogether and then gone straight to Sigma Iota Phi's informal rush.

[carnation]

I would have worked harder on grades and not extracurriculars and I would have been really scared of rushing at Auburn as a junior.

[KSUViolet06]

Not a thing.

I was a 2nd semester soph and I only attended COR at Sigma (because I knew a couple of them from class and I kept seeing their chalk and such on campus.) I got a bid.

I've heard peeps on GC who joined through COR say that they wished they could have gone through formal recruitment. That's not the case for me at all. I'm an introvert, and I think COR was the best fit for me. I doubt that FR would have gone well. lol.

[TPA85]

If I knew then what I knew now, I would have gotten into Greek life just a little bit earlier. I can't say I'd go back and rush as a freshman, though, because Theta Phi didn't exist on my campus then but I would have liked to be a chapter founder. I joined 1 year later.

[excelblue]

I wouldn't have signed up for an account on GreekChat.... :P

[33girl]

I wouldn't have worn a super heavy sweater to a packed pref party held in a tiny suite with tons of candles. LOL

[jnowak530]

I would have gotten more involved in Greek Life earlier and picked up my bid during my sophmore year instead of waiting another year.

[nittanygirl]

I would have told my boss to shove it and that he promised me FR off freshman year when I got a job there before school started, and I would have gone through freshman year instead of just saying "okay I guess I'll just not do it" when he scheduled me for work.

I love Sigma, but the path to get me here was a long one.
Although it makes me appreciate it even more I think.

[thetygerlily]

I wouldn't have dropped a chapter after first round. When there are only three chapters, declining an invitation* to one of those three on night one is pretty stupid.

Otherwise there are things I would have liked to change, but they were growing opportunities so I can rationalize "keeping" all of them.

*yes, that's how it worked there/then- you received invites and decided how many to accept each night.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by thetygerlily

Otherwise there are things I would have liked to change, but they were growing opportunities so I can rationalize "keeping" all of them.

Like!

I wouldn't have known what I know now if I hadn't made those mistakes, and furthermore there would have been a whole slew of new mistakes to be made if I had made different choices.

[Lafayette79]

Originally Posted by thetygerlily

Otherwise there are things I would have liked to change, but they were growing opportunities so I can rationalize "keeping" all of them.

Originally Posted by Gusteau

I wouldn't have known what I know now if I hadn't made those mistakes, and furthermore there would have been a whole slew of new mistakes to be made if I had made different choices.

A Grook by Piet Hein

A MAXIM FOR VIKINGS

Here is a fact
that should help you fight
a bit longer:
Things that don't actually
kill you outright
make you stronger.

[PhoenixAzul]

I would have kept my big mouth shut more, and taken recruitment a little more seriously

[BraveMaroon]

While I don't think the outcome would have changed, I wish I had gotten recs. I honestly had no clue.