Help! Rushing at Indiana University

[Ally T]

Hi, I am new here and hope you can help me. I am considering rushing at IU this year. I know a couple of girls from my high school who rushed and did not get into a sorority there and are telling me not to do it. I have no idea why they did not get in, because they are great girls - cute, friendly, good grades. It really surprised me. I really want to be in a sorority, but am afraid to be rejected like they were. They said it was humiliating.

I looked up IU's Panhellenic Group and their rush statistics showed that in 2014 only 1002 out of 1905 women got into a sorority even though they have more sororities that any other campus - 22 I think. That's only 52% - Yikes! Does that sound right?

My friend said IU is the toughest place to get into a sorority and that even girls that the sororities like get rejected because they want to keep it exclusive. She said they could change it, but they like it being really tough. Why is it so tough? Why wouldn't they want more good members?

Does an average girl like me even have a shot at getting into a sorority? I think I am decent looking and fun to be around, but so are a lot of girls, including the girls I know who did not get in. My grades are pretty good, but there's nothing outstanding about me - I'm not a cheerleader or an athlete or a musician. I'm just your average girl who wants to be social, volunteer, and make good grades.

I now wish I hadn't chosen to go to IU, because being in a sorority is important to me and I didn't realize it's a 50/50 chance there. I didn't know that until after I decided. My sister goes to another college and even though she's not Greek, a lot of her friends are. She said there is a sorority for everybody who wants to join one there and that you pretty much have to be a serial killer not to get in if you are open to all the sororities.

What can I do to make sure that I get into a sorority? Help!?

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Ally T

Hi, I am new here and hope you can help me. I am considering rushing at IU this year. I know a couple of girls from my high school who rushed and did not get into a sorority there and are telling me not to do it. I have no idea why they did not get in, because they are great girls - cute, friendly, good grades. It really surprised me. I really want to be in a sorority, but am afraid to be rejected like they were. They said it was humiliating.

I looked up IU's Panhellenic Group and their rush statistics showed that in 2014 only 1002 out of 1905 women got into a sorority even though they have more sororities that any other campus - 22 I think. That's only 52% - Yikes! Does that sound right?

My friend said IU is the toughest place to get into a sorority and that even girls that the sororities like get rejected because they want to keep it exclusive. She said they could change it, but they like it being really tough. Why is it so tough? Why wouldn't they want more good members?

Does an average girl like me even have a shot at getting into a sorority? I think I am decent looking and fun to be around, but so are a lot of girls, including the girls I know who did not get in. My grades are pretty good, but there's nothing outstanding about me - I'm not a cheerleader or an athlete or a musician. I'm just your average girl who wants to be social, volunteer, and make good grades.

I now wish I hadn't chosen to go to IU, because being in a sorority is important to me and I didn't realize it's a 50/50 chance there. I didn't know that until after I decided. My sister goes to another college and even though she's not Greek, a lot of her friends are. She said there is a sorority for everybody who wants to join one there and that you pretty much have to be a serial killer not to get in if you are open to all the sororities.

What can I do to make sure that I get into a sorority? Help!?

Oh, IU. I'll allow members here who are more familiar with the system answer your questions more specifically, but check out this thread. I know it's lengthy, but it will give you some insight into the process there:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...d.php?t=136816

The long and short of it is that IU doesn't work on the same recruitment system that most other schools across the country use; they use "bed rush", which in its simplest term means that a good number of the chapters only take the number of girls it takes to fill their house. To be honest, it can be downright heartbreaking to hear stories about PNMs going through recruitment there. However, if that's what you truly want, you should make an attempt.

Good luck!

[IndianaSigKap]

As an alumna of IU, I can tell you that while the process is grueling it can be rewarding in the end. What the stats you looked at don't accurately show are the number of women who withdraw from recruitment when they don't get invited back to chapters they "want". In previous years, women attended open house rounds before grades came in, there were always women who were removed from the process for grades and those women, since they started the process, were counted in the final placement rate. This is slightly misleading. Last year's recruitment was the first in which the entire recruitment took place second semester and with all of the bad weather, I am not sure how accurately those stats reflect the overall picture.

Is it possible to finish recruitment and not get a bid? Yes it is. Unfortunately, it does happen. All PNMs need to have an open mind, there will be 22 chapters and I cannot imagine not being able to find a group to call your own within chapters the size of IU's. I am on campus several times a year for sporting events and other events, I can honestly tell you that I have met wonderful women in each and every chapter there.


To be successful in IU's recruitment it takes a mix of having an open mind, ranking your chapters wisely after each round and just plain old fashioned luck. Don't let people scare you away if it's something you really want to do. I, along with thousands of other women, have made it through the process at Indiana so there are happy endings.

[DGTess]

While I'm not going to pretend to offer advice, I remind you that you cannot be invited to join a sorority if you don't rush. If, as you say, being Greek is important to you, you do what it takes.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Ally T

She said they could change it, but they like it being really tough. Why is it so tough? Why wouldn't they want more good members?

This is the kind of attitude you have to put behind you if you want a snowball's chance of being successful in rush. Few things are more unappealing than someone new who walks into a situation, points at the people already there and says "you're doing it wrong."

You have a whole semester to become the person YOU want to be NOW - not someone a family friend portrays you as in a rec or who you were when you graduated high school. Get involved on campus, don't sit in your dorm room playing online. Make an effort to meet sorority and fraternity members from as many groups as possible through extracurriculars, classes, and parties. (If you go to parties, either don't drink at all or have one drink and stop. You don't need to be the drunk freshman.) Surround yourself with POSITIVE people. Girls who tell you how humiliating recruitment was, who deride the Greek groups for their exclusivity and who talk about how much better their school's way of recruitment is are not positive people.

And do keep an open mind about all the groups, but be true to yourself as well. You should feel a sorority will contribute to you as much as you will contribute to a sorority. If this is too one-sided either way, you don't end up with a very positive sorority experience.

Good luck!

[Griffins&Quills]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If you go to parties, either don't drink at all or have one drink and stop. You don't need to be the drunk freshman.

SERIOUSLY! This is true of EVERY campus that has deferred rush and even summer freshman. Don't screw it up before recruitment even starts by being 'that girl'

[shellylou]

Keep an open mind when you meet the ladies of all the chapters, including the ones that are "unhoused."

[33girl]

Originally Posted by shellylou

Keep an open mind when you meet the ladies of all the chapters, including the ones that are "unhoused."

Originally Posted by 33girl

And do keep an open mind about all the groups, but be true to yourself as well. You should feel a sorority will contribute to you as much as you will contribute to a sorority. If this is too one-sided either way, you don't end up with a very positive sorority experience.

Good luck!

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This is the kind of attitude you have to put behind you if you want a snowball's chance of being successful in rush. Few things are more unappealing than someone new who walks into a situation, points at the people already there and says "you're doing it wrong."

You have a whole semester to become the person YOU want to be NOW - not someone a family friend portrays you as in a rec or who you were when you graduated high school. Get involved on campus, don't sit in your dorm room playing online. Make an effort to meet sorority and fraternity members from as many groups as possible through extracurriculars, classes, and parties. (If you go to parties, either don't drink at all or have one drink and stop. You don't need to be the drunk freshman.) Surround yourself with POSITIVE people. Girls who tell you how humiliating recruitment was, who deride the Greek groups for their exclusivity and who talk about how much better their school's way of recruitment is are not positive people.

And do keep an open mind about all the groups, but be true to yourself as well. You should feel a sorority will contribute to you as much as you will contribute to a sorority. If this is too one-sided either way, you don't end up with a very positive sorority experience.

Good luck!

This is good advice. GLOs want members who are active on campus and get good grades. You need to bring something to the table.

[Ally T]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 33girl
This is the kind of attitude you have to put behind you if you want a snowball's chance of being successful in rush. Few things are more unappealing than someone new who walks into a situation, points at the people already there and says "you're doing it wrong."


I'm not trying to say anybody is doing it wrong, I just have a lot of questions, so sorry if it came across that way. I certainly wouldn't go into rush saying that, but I am curious why IU is the way it is as far as sorority rush, because it is different from everybody else. Half of the girls signed up not getting in last year is a lot and like I said before the 2 girls I know who were a part of that are super disappointed and embarrassed to even talk about it.

One girl suggested I needed to get to know some fraternity guys who can talk me up. And get recommendations - who do I get these from? She also said it will help me that I am going to live in NW rather than Central or SE campus, because more girls make it who live there, because that's seen as the cool halls. She said to start saving now for new outfits for rush - buy some Lilly Pulitzer dresses and other clothes to dress to impress and it also cost $70 to sign up for rush. It's kind of overwhelming. I don't know anything about any of the sororities, so I have an open mind.

Why do some sororities not have houses? Are they going to get houses or do they not want them? If they don't have a house where do they have their meetings and events? Except for the meetings, etc I don't think I care if a sorority has a house because I think it would be fun to live in my own apartment, but a sorority house would be fun too! It does seem like they need to have a common place though.

I read the thread that was suggested about rush last year and it's downright scary to be honest - very negative- and kind of supports some of the bad things people have said about IU rush. Even some of the people who like it get kind of mean/negative to people asking questions or being upset or challenging ideas about it. So many other threads here about rush in general or at other schools are so much more upbeat and positive. I also saw another website when I googled IU sororities that ranked the sororities. It is really mean and many of the sororities and fraternities are picked on, like Mean Girls. I know anonymous postings can be really mean, so I try not to read into it, but are the sororities really broken up into social tiers? They are so mean to the sororities that don't have houses and even some that do, saying they take anyone and they are just a group of randoms, which even I know isn't true because so many girls don't even get into sororities at all. Are the sororities and fraternities really that hung up on reputations and putting each other down or are these just random jerks?

Ok - so here's what I am asking to those of you who went through sorority recruitment at an extremely competitive school like IU. I know I need to go into it with an open mind and consider all the sororities, not just a few. I get that. So...What else can I do so that I am not one of the negative statistics? Do they have parties where I can visit their houses and get to know them in the Fall? I don't want to be a stalker, if you know what I mean. If I don't know anyone for recommendations, can I still get them somehow? What if I can't get one for all the sororities? How does a recommendation help or not having one hurt? How can I stand out in a crowd of 2000 girls in 40 minutes? Why do they do it this formal way - rather than just invite people over casually and really get to know them? I always have thought of myself as a very laid back person, but I'm kind of freaking out about this. Uggh, I know I sound pathetic, but I want to give myself a fighting chance, so any advice would be great. Thanks to everyone who has made suggestions so far.

[Missouri Ivy]

1. Forget that anonymous site. Like right now. If you were to check any school on there, I'd venture to guess at least 90% of the posts are nasty, petty opinions voiced by insecure people who may or may not even be members of GLOs.

2. Someone from IU, feel free to correct me, but Lily for rush there doesn't sound right. (Unless there is a line of Lily parkas I'm unfamiliar with.)

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by Missouri Ivy

1. Forget that anonymous site. Like right now. If you were to check any school on there, I'd venture to guess at least 90% of the posts are nasty, petty opinions voiced by insecure people who may or may not even be members of GLOs at IU.

2. Someone from IU, feel free to correct me, but Lily for rush there doesn't sound right. (Unless there is a line of Lily parkas I'm unfamiliar with.)

Yes, Lilly for rush is not an IU thing! In fact IU is about as far away from Lilly as you can get. First round will be in January. PNMs more typically wear jeans, a recruitment tee shirt (if given one), boots and a Northface or Columbia jacket. The warmer the better, including hats, scarves, and gloves. You will be standing outside in the cold outside of each chapter house. Each day gets a little dressier and pref night attire is a cocktail dress. Think New Year's Eve dress for a classy event. Often on pref the PNMs wear Uggs between pref parties and ditch them with their Rho Gam right as the doors open.

And please do not even pay attention to that other site. Most of the comments are not even written by Greeks at IU. The posts are written by those intending to cause trouble.

[irishpipes]

There are several threads on Greekchat about acquiring recommendations from alumnae. Getting recs takes time and often a lot of effort. IU may not be as rec-happy as some other schools, but I would suggest doing your best to acquire them since they can only help you, and not having a rec for certain chapters will hurt you.

Also, if the $70 recruitment fee seems steep, make sure you review the costs associated with being in a sorority to be sure it doesn't present a barrier to membership for you. Costs can be quite high.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Ally T

Half of the girls signed up not getting in last year is a lot and like I said before the 2 girls I know who were a part of that are super disappointed and embarrassed to even talk about it.

Stop listening to these girls. Now. Stop.

Originally Posted by Ally T

One girl suggested I needed to get to know some fraternity guys who can talk me up.

Be careful with this. You never know whose boyfriend or crush you are talking to at a school that size. Talking and being friendly to guys in class - good. Chatting someone up at a party all night - possibly very bad.

Originally Posted by Ally T

And get recommendations - who do I get these from?

Read me!

Originally Posted by Ally T

I read the thread that was suggested about rush last year and it's downright scary to be honest

Last year's rush was a super mess since a round of parties was cancelled due to inclement weather and women had to go from 12 chapters to 3. (Revisiting that thread, nobody ever did answer my question, by the way.) It should not be that bad this year.

Originally Posted by Ally T

Why do they do it this formal way - rather than just invite people over casually and really get to know them?

Because there are 2000 people rushing. If the thought of that sort of rush turns you off immediately, then IU Greek life (or any large school Greek life) may not be for you.

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Also, if the $70 recruitment fee seems steep, make sure you review the costs associated with being in a sorority to be sure it doesn't present a barrier to membership for you. Costs can be quite high.

Yes. This. (Not sure if you were overwhelmed by that or by the Lily reference.)

To restate: Keep your grades up. GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS. Put yourself out there. Listen to POSITIVE people.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by KDCat

This is good advice. GLOs want members who are active on campus and get good grades. You need to bring something to the table.

This is so important! So often, people think about what sorority or fraternity can do for them, versus what they can offer. Every organization needs people with different talents. Here are a few ideas:

- Committee Members - people to carry out plans in the background, good organizers, outgoing people to be the "faces" at public events
- Summer camp counselors, education majors - this kind of training and experience is great for someone who wants to lead new member education
- Prelaw or business student, someone with experience running meetings - every group has some sort of method for running meetings, such as Robert's Rules of order.
- Good with money - treasurer
- Writers - stuff to send to your Inter/national magazine, school newspaper announcements, nomination forms, scripts for skits/serenades
- Artists - create banners, posters, advertisements
- Singer - teach and lead songs for rush/recruitment, write new chapter songs and chants, serenades
- Dancer - put together skits for recruitment, Greek Week events, etc.
- Photographer - for official events, scrapbook/archives
- Cook/Baker - if you don't have a chef or even a kitchen, there are probably a ton of opportunities to make food - fundraisers, sisterhood dinners, recruitment/homecoming/alumni(ae) weekend refreshments
- Athletes - Greek week, intramural sports
- Crafty people to make decorations, favors for events, fundraisers, philanthropy events
- Good at public speaking - emcee/host events like formal, award ceremonies, etc.

There are so many opportunities in every organization. Figure out your talents and think of examples during which you've used them. This is the type of stuff people will find interesting during recruitment - what you're good at, your passions, etc. What makes you, you.