What is Rush.... Exactly?

[blulady]

Folks, Please pardon my ignorance. I would like someone to explain to me the Rush System. I do not think I understand it. It sounds interesting but what is pref and COB? How exactly does orgs in the NPC get members and why is there a quota and who establishes it? What if you don't meet quota? Do you ever have to accept someone who you don't really want because of it. Also what happens during rush? If a person is accepted in your org as a pledge, and they wear paraphernalia of some sort, what happens to that paraphernalia when they don't get in?

I think a bid is a vote right? It seems like a person can get a bid for more than one org. is that true?

Im a member of Zeta Phi Beta and as you all know we do not rush, but I would like to know how its done.

[James]

Here is a thread with a link to a "rush manual" that some people like.

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...threadid=53462

Even where it might not apply to all schools, it can still provide a good over view for you to refine your questions.

[aopirose]

OK, I’ll take a shot.

Recruitment, formerly known as rush, is a system of events open and/or invitational. Potential Members (PMs) and organizations use these events as a mutual selection process. At its conclusion, the PM usually finds a “home” and the organization gains a class of new members, formerly called pledges. This system of events varies greatly depending on the school and the number of organizations participating.

An example schedule would be this:

Round 1 – Open House – All PMs invited to all chapters
Round 2 – Philanthropy – This may be an invitational round on the sorority’s part. PMs learn about the sororities’ service events and may do a hands on project.
Round 3 – Skit Night - This may be an invitational round on the sorority’s part. PM learn more about the sororities’ personality and have a whole lot of fun.
Round 4 - Preference – This round is by invitation only and is the most serious of all nights. Some chapters perform a solemn ceremony with a couple of emotional speeches. Sometimes there is not a dry eye on the sisters’ part. Heavy decisions are being made on both sides. Both sides are trying to determine who their future sisters will be.
Round 5 – Bid Day – A PM will learn if she has a bid, which is an invitation to join. Following the bid distribution, new members will be taken to their new sorority house or other location where there will be fun festivities.

COB is Continuously Open Bidding. A chapter who did not meet Quota or is under Chapter Total can extend bids until they reach whichever number is greater.

The college Panhellenic Association, if one exists, establishes Quota. Quota is the maximum number a chapter can take during Formal Recruitment. It is the number of PMs reaching a certain round divided by the number of sororities participating. Five hundred PMs divided by ten sororities equal Quota of 50. The idea is to keep the chapter sizes relatively even.

Chapter Total – This is the established by the college Panhellenic Association as the “ideal” chapter size for a campus. Depending on the school, that number could range from 40 to 200 members.

If a chapter does not meet Quota or Chapter Total, it is highly encouraged to do so. (Numerous threads on this topic.)

If a new member depledges or is released then all materials bearing the sorority’s name is supposed to be returned.

ETA: James posted a good link while I was typing away.

[KSUViolet06]

Oh, and FYI, in the end you can only be extended one bid (invitation to join), so it's important to think hard and rank your final 2 or 3 groups accordingly.

ETA: Round 3 at some schools may include a video or slide show and house tour in place of a skit.

We NEVER feel pressured to take anyone we don't feel would be a good addition, whether we are at quota or not. You still do have your chapters who will take ANYONE just to make quota, which isn't always good.

Feel free to ask any questions you have about our process, it's even hard for me to understand sometimes.

[blulady]

Let's see if I get the basic idea of this rush thing: When a person rushes, they are going sorority shopping. They place the sororities in an order of preference and hope they get a bid on the one they like the most. If they get a bid on the one they like the least, they can either accept or decline. If quota at a school is lets say 50, a sorority can bid on about 75 girls and just hope at least 50 of them accept the bid, right? Is it a "I like you and I hope you like me too type thing?" Or do I still have it twisted?

Is pref night the night you find out you got a bid?



PS: Some of my sorors might think Im crazy for saying this, but I think this is kind of a cute way to get new members. Truth is, this could never work in NPHC.

[blulady]

Oops disregard, the day you find out you got a bid is bid day. DUUUUUUHHHH.

[blulady]

Folks, I got another question. When is a person who is selected as a pledge for a sorority or a fraternity considered a member of that fraternity or sorority? Is it at the final initiation ceremony or when they are inducted as pledges?

[AOII*Azra-elle]

Some organizations, I'm not sure about all, have a pinning ceremony on bid night. Then within a week they have the actual pledge ceremony where the new women are introduced into the new member period. At the end of this time, usually 6-8 weeks after pledge pinning they are then initiated.

As far as paraph. not all houses allow their new members to wear letters. AOII does, and I know some others do, allow their new members to wear any kind of letters they want *letters, written words, lavaliers*. My chapter, if the women quit before initiation or after they usually give back their AOII stuff.

[aopirose]

Let's see if I get the basic idea of this rush thing: When a person rushes, they are going sorority shopping.

I never thought of that analogy but it could work. There is “shopping” on both sides.

They place the sororities in an order of preference and hope they get a bid on the one they like the most.

Yes, or they could like them all equally but they had to rank them and would be happy in any one.

If they get a bid on the one they like the least, they can either accept or decline.

They can accept or decline any bid.

If quota at a school is lets say 50, a sorority can bid on about 75 girls and just hope at least 50 of them accept the bid, right?

Maybe it’s me but that sounds a little desperate on the sorority’s part. Keep in mind that the sororities are paring their lists each round too due to release figures and general impressions. (See this thread - http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...threadid=22514 ) I’ll use a chapter that I worked with last year. This chapter is pretty much tops on its campus. Return rates to parties are between 98-100%. Quota was 21. The chapter could invite back 42 girls but chose to invite back only 35 to preference. When we received our list of new members, we had only slid one spot to our second bid list. The girl we lost was a double legacy to another sorority on campus.


PS: Some of my sorors might think Im crazy for saying this, but I think this is kind of a cute way to get new members. Truth is, this could never work in NPHC.

They probably will but I'll still love ya!

When is a person who is selected as a pledge for a sorority or a fraternity considered a member of that fraternity or sorority?

A person is considered a member once they accept their bid and goes through the formal pledging ceremony. Keep in mind that this depends greatly on the organization and their policies as to membership privileges