Should I rush in the Spring if I didn't get picked in the fall?

[bkdk21]

I went through rush last fall as a sophomore and when bid day came around I got the phone call from my PiChi who informed me that I didn't get a bid. As it turns out she is in the sorority that I realllllly wanted to be in. She told me that there was a large number of girls going through recruitment and that it would be in my best interest to go through spring rush because it's more relaxed. I just don't know if I can handle the rejection again. What should I do?

[AOEforme]

Originally Posted by bkdk21

I went through rush last fall as a sophomore and when bid day came around I got the phone call from my PiChi who informed me that I didn't get a bid. As it turns out she is in the sorority that I realllllly wanted to be in. She told me that there was a large number of girls going through recruitment and that it would be in my best interest to go through spring rush because it's more relaxed. I just don't know if I can handle the rejection again. What should I do?

If you really can't handle the rejection again, don't do it.

However, if you are willing to take the possibility that you could go without a bid again, you have nothing to lose. Make sure to visit ALL the houses doing spring recruitment, keep an open mind, and be relaxed and happy. If you are worrying about not getting a bid, it will show and hurt your recruitment.

[Alumiyum]

First, realize the rejection in recruitment is rarely personal (and by that I mean it's rarely because the actives do not like you). Though no one here can ever tell you why you were dropped, some common reasons include grades, being an upperclassman, falling through the cracks, or simply a competitive recruitment in which many, many personable and talented women do not get bids. More likely than not one or a combination of those reasons led to your being dropped. Rejection is a part of life, and this won't be the only time you'll face it.

You'll never know if you don't try. Think about it logically. Is it really the end of the world if you don't get a bid this time? I promise it's not. It will probably upset you, and that's reasonable, but it's not a reflection on you as a person. You can help yourself by having good grades, being active on campus, volunteering, showing genuine interest, and being friendly. Think about why you would be an asset to a sorority. What can you bring to the table? Let your Pi Chi friend know you're interested in joining and why. Put your best foot forward, and if for whatever reason you don't receive a bid, pick yourself up and find another group on campus that you can lend your talents and time to.

ETA: Be confident. Don't go into recruitment with a chip on your shoulder. As AOEforme says, that will show and it will hurt you.

[Splash]

Originally Posted by bkdk21

I went through rush last fall as a sophomore and when bid day came around I got the phone call from my PiChi who informed me that I didn't get a bid. As it turns out she is in the sorority that I realllllly wanted to be in. She told me that there was a large number of girls going through recruitment and that it would be in my best interest to go through spring rush because it's more relaxed. I just don't know if I can handle the rejection again. What should I do?

If you really want to be Greek and try again go for it! You might not get picked again (so prepare yourself for this possibility), but then again, you might. It's a risk. Is it worth it to you?

If you do decide to rush again, try to evaluate what went wrong the first time. Could you have presented yourself better (physically and the way you act)? Could you raise your GPA? Get involved in more activities? Befriend more sorority women? Etc.

[DubaiSis]

You really can't appreciate how different formal and informal recruitment are until you go through. Nobody can guarantee you'll get a bid, but it is so much less pressure (usually) that you should have an easier time of it, even if the outcome isn't great.

Conversation and friendship building are paramount. Spend some time thinking about your conversations. Did you think you were funny but your jokes fell flat? Did you think you'd be memorable by talking about something that made others feel uncomfortable? I'm not saying you WERE that girl, but make sure you aren't now. My brother has a phrase he used for his young son - turn up the cool. This is not to say change your personality, but you have choices in what to talk about. Choose things that will be widely acceptable.

If your issue was that you were very nervous and didn't know WHAT to talk about, you can be more prepared this time. As has been said here before, you should have 3 stories in your back pocket ready to pull out in a pinch. What's your major? Where are you from? What's your favorite movie, color, song? Why do you want to join a sorority? You should be able to answer all of these in paragraph form. And have a couple questions ready to ask them. There is nothing more awkward than "do you have any questions for me?" when you don't.

Give it another shot and go in with your head held high. If it doesn't work out, move on and find yourself a better niche. But you have every reason to believe it can go well. Good luck!

[IndianaSigKap]

I cannot emphasize enough what DubaiSis said enough. The difference between formal and informal is like night and day. At formal, you must stay in the chapter for a certain length of time, while during informal you can visit with the women much longer. My chapter always found gems during informal, usually girls who were quite shy and just needed time to warm up. We always made sure to invite informal rushees to our chapter house to lunch or to lunch/dinner on Sunday when the dorms didn't serve. It was more relaxed and you could actually get to know them. I encourage you to go through informal and just relax, enjoy getting to meet new people. No one can promise you a bid anywhere, but it's worth a shot.

[victoriana]

I agree with all the other ladies. I went through recruitment a second time after not getting a bid the first time around. I just had to accept that there was a chance I wouldn't get a bid going through again. I'd have to say it was definitely worth it. I'm now in a fabulous, amazing chapter. I know if I hadn't given it a second try, I would have regretted it. Just take all the advice these smart women give you and try to have a good time. My advice: be yourself!! Good luck!

[KSUViolet06]

It worth a shot.

If you don't try, you'll never know.

[violetpretty]

For putting this in "Introductions".

[bkdk21]

Thanks for all of the encouraging words! If there is a spring rush for XYZ I am going for it. I'll let you know how it turns out