Some questions about going Greek

[Fewdfreak]

Hi, I'm Lauren and I'm kinda new here, this is my first time posting something, but I have been reading the forums (unregistered) for about a year now. I just wanted to introduce myself I am going to be a freshman next year at the University of Iowa, and I am hoping to rush and I just have some general questions about Greek life. I've read a lot on the internet, but some of it isn't really that specific.

First question: When is rush? I know that most schools have a formal rush at the beginning of the year, before classes begin and then also have a informal rush after the first semester. What are the differences between the two? (And if anyone knows the specific date for Iowa that would be great!) Also how do you find out more information about rush and joining a sorority, is there a meeting, or do they tell you it a registration? I've looked on the website they have, but it wasn't updated recently.

Here's my other question, I am kinda shy but I was involved with a lot of different things in high school, so what should I do to get to know more people? I know that I should be myself, but I'm not well endowed with the gift of gab, and I am kinda nervous about meeting a lot of new people and having to make a first impression. I don't want to come off a snobby or boring. Does anyone have any comments or tips on how to be more relaxed in meeting/talking to new people.

Thanks,
Lauren.

[Dionysus]

Originally posted by Fewdfreak


Here's my other question, I am kinda shy but I was involved with a lot of different things in high school, so what should I do to get to know more people? I know that I should be myself, but I'm not well endowed with the gift of gab, and I am kinda nervous about meeting a lot of new people and having to make a first impression. I don't want to come off a snobby or boring. Does anyone have any comments or tips on how to be more relaxed in meeting/talking to new people.

Thanks,
Lauren.

Though some people may disagree with this, IMO if you're shy you'll probably have a better chance of getting a bid if you go through informal rush or the period after formal (COB?), there's usually much less competition then.

[IowaHawkeye]

Hi Lauren
It just so happens that I'll be a Junior at the University of Iowa in the fall and I am involved with the greek system there so I can most likely answer any questions you have or find them if I don't personally know them.

Iowa rush is the week before school starts - which is August 19-25 this year. You'll be able to move into your dorm and get settled the weekend of August 17/18... On monday or possibly sunday - i don't remember, there will be a Panhel/IFC sponsored luncheon for you and your parents to learn more about the greek system and get acquainted with your Rho Chi's and rho chi groups. The first round of parties will begin on tuesday morning and end Sunday with Bid day.

All incoming freshman will recieve a Greek Life booklet and I think theyre sending interactive CD-roms this year - which are very cool - In it is more Greek life info at Iowa and an application to sign up for rush. All you need to do to sign up is fill this sheet out and send it in with your check. More than likely it will be coming by the end of June - and if it doesn't call the Office of Student Life (319) 335-3059 and just ask them to send you one!

Unless your registration advisor is greek (which I know quite a few of them are) greek life isn't talked about at registration - but definitely ask around - and if you see any girls on campus wearing letters when youre in Iowa City for registration, stop them and ask about greek life - I know they'll be more than happy to tell you lots of wonderful things.

Check the rush forum for rush tips - but honestly, I know i'm looking for someone who is themselves and very genuine - someone who was involved and wants to stay involved, a person I think would make an amazing sister.

If you have any questions - feel free to PM me

[valleygirl22]

Hi! i'm going through the same thing as you! i'm transferring to a new school this summer and i want to rush. i'm so nervous for all the same reasons as you! i know that we will both do great though! good luck and keep us all posted on how you are doing!

[AOII_Luv]

Hi! I go to Indiana University and was reading this topic. I thought it was very interesting that recruitment takes place before classes start. I was just wondering, about how many girls sign up for this fall process and how many sororities are there?

I actually emailed my chapter president about this just a few minutes ago asking why IU doesn't practice recruitment this way!

At IU, we have 19 sororities, but the 20th might be coming soon. The first round of recruitment takes place at the beginning of November, a Saturday and Sunday. The last three rounds take place the first week of January while everyone else is still on their Holiday break! Not a big fan of this since just about everyone is exhausted when the new classes start!

But, that is how we do it! Any information about this would really appreciated!

[aephi alum]

Lauren,

ARGH! I just wrote out this long response and IE ate it!

I'll give you the short version

Formal recruitment (the proper term - but I will always call it rush ) is what is most talked about in the rush forum. You have several rounds of parties. During round 1 you will visit every sorority, and at each, you'll meet a few sisters, and they may sing a song or do a skit. Then some groups will invite you back for round 2, etc. until the final round (preference) where you will go back to the 1 or 2 (or possibly 3) groups you "fit with" the best. Then, if all goes well, you'll be matched with one of those sororities.

Informal rush is generally a lot more laid back. Not all sororities hold informal, so by waiting for informal you automatically eliminate some of your options. Generally, a sorority will hold 2-3 get-together type events - study breaks, picnics, etc. You go to as many as you like and stay for as long as you like. Then they will let you know if they are extending you a bid or not. (Note: At my school, most sororities holding informal rush only have 2 or 3 bids to extend, so participation in informal rush is by invitation.)

I advise you to go through formal rush. It's not a good environment for a shy person (I know firsthand ) but if you go in prepared with questions to ask, you'll be fine. If you receive a bid, great. If not, you will have a better idea of what sorority life is like, and you will have met lots of people with whom you can keep in touch - which will help when it's time for informal rush.

Good luck, and be sure to keep us posted

[PenguinTrax]

I agree with AEPhiAlum, not all groups will hold informal recruitment events. If you are really interested in Greek life, I recommend you go through Formal Recruitment.

If you check the Sorority Recruitment FAQ (in my sig), that should answer many questions for you.

Good luck!

[dzrose93]

Lauren,

Do NOT let being shy stop you from going through formal Rush!!!!!!!!! I was extremely shy when I went through my own formal Rush, and some of the parties were a little awkward because I wasn't sure what to say or what questions to ask. However, I found out very quickly that I felt comfortable with the DZ girls in their parties and that I had a far less difficult time carrying on a conversation with them than I did the other groups on campus. You'll probably feel that way with certain houses also and that's how you know that you "fit" in with those particular girls.

My suggestion is to make a list of questions going into Rush that you can be prepared to ask if there is a lull in the conversation. Most of the time, you're only going to be speaking with one or two girls at a time, so it's not like you'll be bombarded with a group of sisters all at once. And, most of the time, they'll be asking you simple things -- about your activities in high school, what your major is, why you're rushing -- things like that. So, relax and enjoy yourself. The sororities are trying to impress you just as much as you're trying to impress them. And they are used to dealing with shy rushees - trust me!

I think that the biggest positive thing that came out of my collegiate years in Delta Zeta is that I am no longer a shy person. I can pretty much carry on a conversation with anyone now, and I attribute that skill to being in a sorority. You can't help but learn to open up when you have so many sisters to meet!

Good luck! Please let me know if you have any questions. And definitely take IowaHawkeye up on her offer of help. She knows the ins and outs of Rush at your soon-to-be school and can answer most of your general questions.

[Greek_Girl]

I went through Recruitment just last fall, and last summer, I was on greekchat all the time asking questions. One of my biggest questions was "I'm shy-does that hurt my chances?" Of course, looking back I see that it wasn't a big thing at all. When you go in all of the rooms (or houses, depending on how your Recruitment is set up), all the girls make you feel so welcome. Even if you are shy, you'll find yourself opening up quickly. They ask tons of questions about you and things that you have done. Even though I was very very nervous and wasn't talking to pretty much anybody, before I got in the room, after I walked in the first room I opened up.

Now I have been in my sorority for almost a year. I am not nearly as shy as I used to be. I can actually start conversations with people now

As for formal recruitment vs. a informal (cob) type of recruitment, I would have to say that I would definantly recommend Formal Recruitment. Yes, formal recruitment is very stressful, but you see all of the sororities. A lot of times, not every sorority at a school will participate in informal recruitment. Only one sorority out of four at my school can participate in informal recruitments. A lot of times the only sororities that can participate are those sororities that are under total(the number set by the school's Panhellenic). So, during Formal Recruitment you have a chance at all of the sororities as opposed to just a few.

Hope this helps some. Just have fun!!

[IowaHawkeye]

Originally posted by AOII_Luv
Hi! I was just wondering, about how many girls sign up for this fall process and how many sororities are there?

At Iowa there are 13 sororities:
Alpha Phi
Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Xi Delta
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Gamma
Delta Zeta
Gamma Phi Beta
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Pi Beta Phi
Zeta Tau Alpha

Typically, in my past 2 years of experience, quota is around 35 and the number of girls going through rush is around 500-800 give or take a few.

[dzrose93]

Don't forget to check out the Rush Forum... A ton of questions can be answered there just by reviewing old threads.

[Tom Earp]

Before I started my Local and had to get up in front of a group of more than 10, I was scared to death and would get sick!

I fought to get us on campus and become a member of a Strong International!

I learned from this experience to talk in front of a very large crowd of people as I gave the Key Note Speech at the Chartering!

I also gave the key note 5 years later to an even larger group of people!

I worked my butt off to get grades so we could win the outstanding Fraternity for GPA!

As a local, we had a 1.35 and with in 2 Semesters we had the Highest!

We as Greeks strive for more than any individual living in a Dorm to have good grades and participate in functions that will round you out as an Individual upon Graduation and go to the real life of working.

True, your time is not your own, but it is set out for you to do and function in a certain manner.

You learn to budget your time and strive to do more than most! Yes the first Sem as a Recruit is tuff but so is life after school!!!!!

Parents who are afraid are like students who are afraid of the unknow!

I for one have learned more doing what I did as a person than I did in 7 years of College! People looked at my resume and said OH you were in a Fraternity and you held this office, etc!

If you do not look into and try it, and this goes for everyone, you learn even less than you fan for you to be better prepared to handle real world situations~

[Fewdfreak]

Thanks for all of the advice, everyone has been so helpful on the boards. Thanks especially to IowaHawkeye for the dates, I wrote these in my planner. I probably am going to rush in the fall, but thanks for all of the explainations on everything, I'm looking forward to rush and college life.

L.

[Tom Earp]

L, one thing I forgot to mention, I was Initiated in 1966 and amd still very involved in my Fraternity.

As you can see, there are still many Alums who are a little long in the tooth that are still very involved and many others who want and have become members through Alum Procedures!

Point this out to your parents. If they have any questions, I am sure that any of us would be happy to talk with them!!!!!!!