UF Rush

UF56 · #1 05-16-2002, 02:15 PM

I am rushing at UF this Fall and am a junior. Based on what all I have read from this website I am very scared now!!! I read the stories from the girls last year, and all I can say is WOW!! Are UF's sororities that hard to get in? I am making this "thread" for everyone rushing UF. Also how does one go about getting "recs" if they really dont know that many people who are alums of sororities? Thanks!!

AOIIBrandi · #2 05-16-2002, 03:50 PM

UF56,

UF has a VERY competitive rush, and is especially hard on upper classmen. I did not attend UF, but can tell you my sister's experience w/ rushing at UF as a junior.

She was/is a legacy to two houses at UF. She was dropped from one of those houses after the first round along with several other houses. This is probably due mostly to the practice of dropping anyone over Sophomore status on the first day regardless of how much they like you. A lot of women go through rush at UF and they generally start w/ cuts based on year in school, GPA, or something like that. The rest of rush was fine, she still had the other house she was a legacy too, but only really felt like she could be happy in one of the houses that was left (she wasn't a legacy to it). She preffed 3 houses the one she loved, and 2 she didn't see herself with. I explained to her that if she DEFINITELY wouldn't be happy in any other house she should only place the one she loved on her bid card (suicide), but her Rho Chi (Rush Counselor) told her different. She ended up getting a bid to the house that she placed 2nd(she was a legacy at it) and not accepting the bid. The problem was that she could then not go through Informal Rush, or get a snap bid from the house she loved because she was tied for 1 year to the house that she declined, by then she would be a senior and it really wasn't worth it to her.

Anyway, I think that it is great that you are going through rush. It is a great experience, and I can promise that if nothing else you will make some wonderful friends. I am not trying to scare you off, but just want to let you know that it may not be easy. You should be familiar with all the NPC rules on what can happen if you don't get a bid, drop out, or decline a bid. Also remember that just because they pass you up in formal rush (like for class standing or grades) doesn't mean they may not pick you up in informal.

If you do not know many sorority alums you may want to get in touch with your local alumnae panhellenic council (check with the Greek Life office at UF). They will be able to direct you on how to get recs for each of the houses.

Sorry so long. Just wanted to help. I know that there are many women on this board that attend(ed) UF and can help more...

blueyes · #3 05-16-2002, 04:07 PM

I go to a large SEC school that also has large Greek system and rush is very competitive there, too. If you are a jr. you may already have a pretty good idea where you want to go. If so, I suppose you also know some of the actives in that house. That may be your best chance of getting into one of the larger sororities. I know at my school its difficult to get a bid as a soph much less as a jr.

EM1843 · #4 05-16-2002, 04:10 PM

Being in a fraternity at UF I can't comment too much on sorority rush, but at least consider any house you get a bid at, even if it's not the "Most Popular." I'd rather hang out with fun girls than the ones that think they're to good for everyone....

Skchickie · #5 05-16-2002, 07:19 PM

I would definetly have to say that yes, RUsh is very competitive, but I like to think of it this way - if they don't want me then they just don't know me :-) Each house is good in its own way, and you are bound to fit into one, regardless of year or GPA or anything like that. Have fun during rush, and good luck!

theta sig agd · #6 05-16-2002, 07:22 PM

I was under the impression that you arent tied to a group unless you SIGN the bid card you get. Is that wrong?

SigKapSweetie · #7 05-16-2002, 08:17 PM

UF56~

Yes, UF Panhellenic rush is competitive, but if you go into it with a positive outlook and give everything a chance, I'm sure you'll do well and make some new friends. (I'm not going to tell you you'll have fun; it's too hot in August to have fun outside

)

If a sorority wants a recommendation, it is their responsibility to get one for you. That said, if there are groups you know or think you know you're interested in, ask around this summer and find some alumna in your community to write you recs for those orgs. You can go to those orgs' national websites and find an alumna group near you, or just ask around; lots of women are alumna of sororities, but will never mention it to you unless you ask them outright.

I'll be on the other side of the rush floor this fall; if you have any specific rush questions you want answers to, PM me or post them here. You can ask me general ones too, but I'm not around here as much as I used to be

, so it's probably easier to get the answer from someone else on the boards. Keep posting, and I'm rooting for you this fall!

theta sig agd~

Quote:

I was under the impression that you arent tied to a group unless you SIGN the bid card you get. Is that wrong?

At UF, when you sign your preference card (a scantron with your top 3 choices bubbled in), it is considered the same thing as signing a bid card (as far as I know).

EM1843~

Quote:

I'd rather hang out with fun girls than the ones that think they're to good for everyone....

Amen! And which girls do you think make better sisters, fun girls or vapid, snotty girls? You definately hit that one on the head...and right back at you; the fun guys win the hang-out contest any day!

LIS,
Dale

EM1843 · #8 05-16-2002, 10:03 PM

I see alot of Sigma Kappa's replying...incidently I'm dating one of your sisters so I'm kinda biased on what house I prefer...

Skchickie · #9 05-16-2002, 10:19 PM

Incidently, you're dating my BIG! ahahaha.
Sorry.
:-)

ilovemyglo · #10 05-17-2002, 12:33 AM

you are tied to a chapter for one year if you sign your preference card and you match with a sorority. That is why some girls do choose to suicide, because if they get their second choice they are tied to them for a year and can't do informal rush.
Sarah

LexiKD · #11 05-17-2002, 11:40 AM

If I were going through, any house I was interested in I would get a rec. It is looked apon as a BIG positive and even if you send one, the chapter may still get their own as well.

Good Luck!

UF56 · #12 05-17-2002, 03:24 PM

Thanks for the advice so far. I know you guys said to look at websites for a list of alum but I am wondering if the alums on these websites will feel strange about writing me a rec and what not since they dont know me or if they will write something negative to a chapter because I have invaded their privacy by just looking them up without even knowing them and asking for a rec. I have spoken with the Panhellenic Council people here and they said that it is the "pnm's" (as you guys call it) responsibility to get recs and that the sororities do not it for you. So I am getting confused.

UFgatorgirl02 · #13 05-18-2002, 05:15 PM

I just attended UF's Preview (orientation) and I went to the presentation about sororities and fraternities at UF. I think all the Greek organizations did a great job of presenting sorority and fraternity life to the freshman. I especially liked the cute skit that the Panhellenic Council did about sorority life. The organizations also did a power point presentation with pictures from all the GLO's. I am so excited about coming up to Gainesville this summer and going through recruitment in the Fall. UF56, I know how you feel about being nervous because I am too. I read all those stories too, but I think we just need to go to recruitment with a positive attitude. Just out of curiousity, I was wondering why you decided to join a sorority your junior year? Also, are you currently friends with any girls in sororites? Maybe they could help you out with rec's, for example, if they are legacies their mothers or sisters could possibly write one for you. Just a thought.

dzsaigirl · #14 05-18-2002, 05:39 PM

I am also confused on the point of recs. At my school as well as the school I went to before (where my roommate rushed, so I knew the rules) the rushees themselves had to get recs. I have never at least heard of my group securing recs for people.

However, I know that one of the sororities has to cut people that don't have a rec, so they call and find anyone they can who knows the girl so that they can keep her!

dzandiloo · #15 05-18-2002, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dzsaigirl
I am also confused on the point of recs. At my school as well as the school I went to before (where my roommate rushed, so I knew the rules) the rushees themselves had to get recs. I have never at least heard of my group securing recs for people.

However, I know that one of the sororities has to cut people that don't have a rec, so they call and find anyone they can who knows the girl so that they can keep her!

I don't know if this has been said before, but I'll share my understanding. The rec requirement is not really consistent across the board, and usually depends on (a) what school you are going to and (b) what sorority you end up joining.

DZSAI-one reason you probably haven't heard much about recs is that DZ does not require them. They did when I was a pledge, but they were only required before initiation took place (not before pledging), and the chapter was indeed responsible for getting the rec. I believe that is the way most NPC sororities handle it now, although I have heard a couple still require recs before a woman can be given a bid (which can be a real shame in my opinion).

As for the school--recs may not factor heavily in at your campus, and don't at alot of campuses-but to give you an example that I think you will recognize, if you go through recruitment at say, UT, you will almost definitely get lost in the mix if you DON'T have a rec. Recs there are CRUCIAL...although I don't think they are a formal requirement.... So--on the point of PNM's being responsible for recs--at your previous school, as well as many others (usually large or competitive greek systems) if a girl wanted to compete, they were, indeed, responsible for getting recs themselves.

Even at schools where recs are not crucial, they can be very helpful--and I know it doesn't usually matter if you have a bunch. 1 rec from one Greek that is sent to all houses can be enough to draw attention to you...at my school, we regularly got rec's for PNM's from a local woman who was a Chi O....just seeing that rec made us work harder to get to know that PNM (and we did not have Chi O on our campus).... Anyway, just my 2 cents...I'm sure others have different perspectives/understandings.