Informal rush as a senior?

lilpadfoot · #1 02-08-2009, 10:30 PM

I don't mean to keep pestering and asking a lot of questions, and I may be jumping ahead of myself a little, but I was wondering what sort of chances I'd have rushing as a senior? I just went through formal recruitment and got cut before preference and ended up being one of two girls who didn't get a bid at all. I don't believe my school is very competitive, it's very small and only has three sororities whose total is 50 each.

I'm waiting to hear back from the Greek Advisor tomorrow because my roommate and I were very upset today after finding out we were the only two who went bidless besides the girl who declined her bid and I'll be asking if there are any openings for COB, but I have a feeling there aren't any. The eight other girls who got cut before preference all got snap bids.

I'm also concerned that if I were to successfully rush in the fall, that there would not be much time to have a full experience in a sorority. I don't want to sound petty or anything, I do realize that I should have tried earlier, but it wasn't until last semester that someone showed me what being Greek did for him. It's a sort of long story and very personal, but it led to me wanting this very much.

Are there any sorority members out there that successfully rushed as a senior and would like to share any advice?

OPhiAGinger · #2 02-08-2009, 10:35 PM

I'm sorry, Lilpadfoot, that I can't address your question about rushing as a senior. But I have to wonder... were the other women going through recruitment freshmen and sophomores? I know you are searching for reasons why you and your roommate were the only ones who didn't receive bids. Perhaps your upperclassmen status had something to do with it... unless a significant number of juniors and seniors in this recruitment received bids.

If that's the case, that your junior status worked against you this time, you will have even less of a chance next year.

LoggerTheta · #3 02-08-2009, 10:42 PM

I have two stories to tell you. In my experience, I've had two sisters who joined their senior years (different years). The first was wonderful, but didn't really participate to the fullest of her ability. She came to chapter, and some other events, but that was about it. We all loved her, but didn't really feel close to her.

The other (who was the same year as me) was like SUPER THETA right out of the gate, and by graduation it was like she'd been a member all four years with us. I guess the moral of the story is that if you're serious about joining a sisterhood and are willing to put 110% of your energy into building relationships and getting involved, then by all means if you can... you should.

Addressing the "Should I try to join again" question: I guess that's all up to you. If you're fully aware that you may not get a bid due to your class standing, and you're ready for that, then it's the worst that can happen.

lilpadfoot · #4 02-08-2009, 10:53 PM

Yeah, mostly freshman and sophomores. My roommate is a sophomore. There was one other junior and she got a bid. I was also told by a number of members of each sorority that they had or knew girls that had pledged as juniors. When I was told I wasn't invited back to preference, they told me I could try again in the fall.

tld221 · #5 02-08-2009, 10:56 PM

I'm not going to be much help, as I'm lane-swerving. But I did join my sorority as a senior. I can understand the "not seeing greek life for what it is" until later in college life. At the same time, from what I gather from these boards, I agree that if being a junior hurt your chances, being a senior isn't going to work in your favor.

Doesn't mean you shouldn't try again, who knows whatll happen.

lilpadfoot · #6 02-08-2009, 11:04 PM

I'm very serious about joining a sorority. I have a huge fear of talking to people I don't know and worked hard to try to get over it to talk to so many people during recruitment. I'd work even harder if I got in to make friends and be very committed. This is something that's very important to me and it hurt seeing girls that didn't care get their bids today.

I went in with a really open mind and I actually yelled at my roommate every time she tried to tell me about stereotypes and how I shouldn't go xyz. I would have been more than happy to join any of the sororities. All of those women were wonderful during recruitment.

If I find out tomorrow there's no chance of an open spot, then I'll be working hard this semester to meet girls so I have a better chance in the fall.

TriDeltaSallie · #7 02-08-2009, 11:14 PM

I would encourage you to try again. Yes, being a senior is a big strike against you. But I would rather go through life knowing I gave it my best shot than always wonder "What if?" If it doesn't work out, then you'll know it wasn't meant to be. But at least you won't have to wonder (coulda, woulda, shoulda...)

KSUViolet06 · #8 02-09-2009, 02:37 AM

It would really depend on how your school is.

There are some schools where seniors getting bids is pretty normal. There are others where it's unheard of.

I can't tell you not to try. Just be aware that some chapters don't see the point in taking a senior who is going to graduate (instead of freshman or sophomore).

Also, be aware that some chapters also are not going to take someone via COB that they dropped during formal.

ASTalumna06 · #9 02-09-2009, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

It would really depend on how your school is.

There are some schools where seniors getting bids is pretty normal. There are others where it's unheard of.

I can't tell you not to try. Just be aware that some chapters don't see the point in taking a senior who is going to graduate (instead of freshman or sophomore).

Ditto.

My school sounds similar to yours in that we have 3 chapters and total is at 40. We only do COB, though. In the past 5 years, my chapter has bid 2 second semester seniors (one of which is a new member right now). But we are also able to do that because we have such a small chapter and we aren't anywhere near total right now. If we were, it might be a different story. As for the other two sororities, I've never heard of them doing this, but I don't know if they'd be completely against taking a senior, either.

Definitely make an effort to get to know as many sorority women as possible. If you became close to anyone in your recruitment group, stay in touch with them. Ask them questions about their experiences and try to hang out with them. If you become a good friend of theirs, they'll probably help you out when it comes time to decide on new members. Keep in mind, though, that nothing's guaranteed.

lilpadfoot · #10 02-09-2009, 12:22 PM

I forgot to mention that in the fall, rush is only for upperclass women, so I wouldn't have to compete against freshman. However, I don't even know if it's going to be possible anyways. There's some weird things going on right now and I'm starting to doubt I was wanted in the first place. This is something I've really wanted and now it doesn't seem worth it anymore after getting hurt.

ASTalumna06 · #11 02-09-2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilpadfoot

I forgot to mention that in the fall, rush is only for upperclass women, so I wouldn't have to compete against freshman. However, I don't even know if it's going to be possible anyways. There's some weird things going on right now and I'm starting to doubt I was wanted in the first place. This is something I've really wanted and now it doesn't seem worth it anymore after getting hurt.

My take on it is... if in the fall you don't have to compete against freshmen, then go for it. Because if this is truly what you want, you have to find out if those “weird things” are true. And if they are and you don’t get a bid, at least you won’t always wonder “what if..?”

33girl · #12 02-09-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilpadfoot

I just went through formal recruitment and got cut before preference and ended up being one of two girls who didn't get a bid at all. I don't believe my school is very competitive, it's very small and only has three sororities whose total is 50 each.

I'm waiting to hear back from the Greek Advisor tomorrow because my roommate and I were very upset today after finding out we were the only two who went bidless besides the girl who declined her bid and I'll be asking if there are any openings for COB, but I have a feeling there aren't any. The eight other girls who got cut before preference all got snap bids.

Don't rush again.

Oh, and I would say the same thing if you were a sophomore.

Sometimes in small systems there isn't a place for everyone. Accept that and move on. You will be better off for it.

lilpadfoot · #13 02-09-2009, 01:56 PM

I was just informed through a good fraternity friend that the sorority that I really liked liked me as well, but I didn't meet enough sisters during rush, and that I should come to their events and rerush in the Fall.

Thanks for all the encouraging words.

agzg · #14 02-09-2009, 02:06 PM

I would say try to make friends with some of the sorority women that you loved during recruitment.

Unfortunately, there was a girl who was *bestfriends* with several members, did informal recruitment the fall of her senior year, and still didn't get a bid. However, they stayed *bestfriends* and I always enjoy seeing her at various functions where we all would be invited. She's a wonderful woman, it just didn't work out for her.

I guess my point is, bid or not, sorority women are taught the deeper meaning of friendship, and tend to unknowningly pass it on to non-affiliated friends. And who doesn't like more good friends?

KSUViolet06 · #15 02-09-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilpadfoot

I was just informed through a good fraternity friend that the sorority that I really liked liked me as well, but I didn't meet enough sisters during rush, and that I should come to their events and rerush in the Fall.

Thanks for all the encouraging words.

Not to be a "debbie downer" here, but be advised that fraternity boys aren't always reliable sources of info when it come to this sort of thing. Especially since membership stuff typically isn't discussed with non-members.