rush as a sophomore @ IU...

abelle06 · #1 09-06-2007, 05:37 PM

ok, here is my story.
while looking at colleges as a senior in high school, my parents made it pretty clear that they did not want me to go greek even though my mom was in a sorority. when i finally decided on a school (Indiana University), me rushing was still pretty much out of the picture and i thought i was ok with that.

i thought wrong.

seeing girls go through the rush process last year and coming home to my best friends that LOVED it and love where they are, i just feel like i made a huge mistake and i am going to go through rush this year regardless of my parents opinions.

my concern is that i keep hearing "some houses won't even look at you if your a sophomore" which i knew going into it, but i was wondering if anyone knew which houses at IU were like this. unfortunately i already have my "favorites" (houses where i know a few of the girls, houses i just like, and a house where i am a legacy, that i actually do really have an interest in) and i don't want to get into the process and be completely crushed. i would rather just know so i can go into it more open minded and maybe get some of my own bias out of the way. i know my thoughts about things will change when i actually go through rush, i just wanna know which houses won't even give me a chance so i know not to be heartbroken.

i don't know if this even makes sense, but i am just so EXCITED to rush this year and i just want to know more about what i am getting myself into.

thanks!!! : )

Drolefille · #2 09-06-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abelle06

ok, here is my story.
while looking at colleges as a senior in high school, my parents made it pretty clear that they did not want me to go greek even though my mom was in a sorority. when i finally decided on a school (Indiana University), me rushing was still pretty much out of the picture and i thought i was ok with that.

i thought wrong.

seeing girls go through the rush process last year and coming home to my best friends that LOVED it and love where they are, i just feel like i made a huge mistake and i am going to go through rush this year regardless of my parents opinions.

my concern is that i keep hearing "some houses won't even look at you if your a sophomore" which i knew going into it, but i was wondering if anyone knew which houses at IU were like this. unfortunately i already have my "favorites" (houses where i know a few of the girls, houses i just like, and a house where i am a legacy, that i actually do really have an interest in) and i don't want to get into the process and be completely crushed. i would rather just know so i can go into it more open minded and maybe get some of my own bias out of the way. i know my thoughts about things will change when i actually go through rush, i just wanna know which houses won't even give me a chance so i know not to be heartbroken.

i don't know if this even makes sense, but i am just so EXCITED to rush this year and i just want to know more about what i am getting myself into.

thanks!!! : )

I'm not sure anyone can tell you which houses care less for sophomores. But IMO, it's better for you not to go into recruitment with the idea that you're not good enough for XYZ in your head. It is more likely that the "top" chapters on campus, the ones who fill quota easily every year, will be disinclined to take a sophomore. However, even the top chapters take sophomores if there really is that connection.

Even freshmen can get cut hard, so go in with an open mind (and heart) and no matter what happens be willing to give those chapters who invite you back a shot.

KSUViolet06 · #3 09-06-2007, 08:50 PM

If you are a soph at IU, there's a good chance that you would experience some heavy cuts in the beginning.

There are some chapters that just won't take anything othre than freshman, but then there are others who would consider bidding a soph. That is a personal chapter decision.

They key to rushing at a competitive school like IU is being open minded. You can't go into it only wanting to join like 5 or 6 chapters because you're setting yourself up for a disappointment. I see you have favorites (sure everyone does) but you need to be willing to look outside your favorites and consider ALL chapters. As a soph, you can't afford to limit yourself by only wanting to be in a few of them.

PenguinTrax · #4 09-06-2007, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I'm not sure anyone can tell you which houses care less for sophomores. But IMO, it's better for you not to go into recruitment with the idea that you're not good enough for XYZ in your head. It is more likely that the "top" chapters on campus, the ones who fill quota easily every year, will be disinclined to take a sophomore. However, even the top chapters take sophomores if there really is that connection.

Even freshmen can get cut hard, so go in with an open mind (and heart) and no matter what happens be willing to give those chapters who invite you back a shot.

IU doesn't use a quota system. Chapters decide on how many membership invitations they offer.

TigerOwl · #5 09-07-2007, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenguinTrax

IU doesn't use a quota system. Chapters decide on how many membership invitations they offer.

Barbara, should we also tell everyone that over 1,700 women were registered last year (2006) for panhellenic recruitment at IU? I think so! A couple houses only gave out 40, 41, 42 membership invitations. Please correct me if I am wrong, since I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I think around 800 PNM's received bids.

violetpretty · #6 09-07-2007, 01:08 AM

It boggles my mind why Indiana insists on recruiting this way.

AOIIalum · #7 09-07-2007, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by violetpretty

It boggles my mind why Indiana insists on recruiting this way.

It's my understanding that there are only so many beds in the chapter houses, therefore, they set their quotas in order to keep the houses full.

PenguinTrax · #8 09-07-2007, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by violetpretty

It boggles my mind why Indiana insists on recruiting this way.

Nebraska (Lincoln) doesn't use quota system either.

PenguinTrax · #9 09-07-2007, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigerOwl

Barbara, should we also tell everyone that over 1,700 women were registered last year (2006) for panhellenic recruitment at IU? I think so! A couple houses only gave out 40, 41, 42 membership invitations. Please correct me if I am wrong, since I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I think around 800 PNM's received bids.

I don't remember the exact numbers, either. Unless they are online? Haven't looked.

Thing is, there are LARGER campuses than IU that use quota system and keep the houses full (with waiting lists!). I agree, it boggles the mind.

Their houses are HUGE, too. http://www.indiana.edu/~pha/phachapters/
A lot of the chapters are single-letter chapters.

Low C Sharp · #10 09-07-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

only so many beds in the chapter houses

But it's a choice on the sororities' part to say that everybody has to live in for X number of years. Lots of chapters thrive with only the sophomores and officers (for example) living in.
________
LILY_CARTER CAM

I"Urushee · #11 09-11-2007, 12:01 PM

i am a freshman at IU and I cannot wait for rush either!! every girl i talk to is in love with rush and said its the best time of their life! im really nervous though because it seems super competitive! Does anyone know if recs play an important role here? i know they are not mandatory, but I am still getting them. and also, i was told the 1700 girls that start out in the rush process cuts down by almost half by the end of recruitment.

Low C Sharp · #12 09-11-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

I'm sure if it was crippling the system it would change.

Well, sure, the system is doing fine. The problem is experienced by the open-minded PNMs who are excluded for no reason except campus tradition. If you're in the system, then you aren't one of those PNMs. But the campus panhellenic ought to be concerned about them.

Nationally, it seems that NPC has moved away from the model where the sorority system is meant to be an elite echelon for a certain slice of the college population (a concept the NPHC seems to have retained), and toward a model where participation is accessible to all interested women. I'm not saying one philosophy is better than the other, but I see NPC moving along that spectrum, and IU seemingly isn't coming along on the ride.
________
Toree cam

abelle06 · #13 09-14-2007, 12:09 PM

i will for sure be back! i'm incredibly excited for rush. so far i have had invites to check out houses from a few girls that i know and it's been great seeing the houses and getting to meet some of the sisters. next week is the first meeting of the recruitment process and I CAN'T WAIT!!! i will definitely let you guys know what happens to me : ) THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!

twinkle555 · #14 09-14-2007, 12:36 PM

yay!! good luck hun!

ASUADPi · #15 09-15-2007, 09:41 AM

I don't know, IMPO, the system sounds like it has flaws. To only take enough girls to "fill the beds" is going to leave alot of awesome PNM's out in the dust. I mean seriously if you have 1700 PNM's (or more) going through recruitment, there is still only 19 houses.

If the campus doesn't do a quota system, do they have a total?