Advice for rushing as a senior?

roxy88 · #1 07-26-2008, 10:21 AM

Hi! I attend a small university in the south were there are only 4 different sororities and I'm just starting my senior year. I wanted to rush my freshman and sophomore years but because I didn't live on campus, found out about it too late.

I would like to go through rush this fall, but since I graduate in the spring of 2009, I'm not sure if I'll even get a bid and if it would be worth rushing. Is my senior statis going to hurt me? Any advice? Thank you.

basket96 · #2 07-26-2008, 10:28 AM

I would ask your campus panhellenic adviser if seniors are counted in quota on your campus. If they are not, then you are probably OK to go through, if they are counted, then it is very unikely you would get a bid. The reason should be pretty obvious: you are taking a spot that could be taken by someone who will be around to hold office and be more involved in the chapter. Plus, many seniors get "senioritis" during spring term, although you probably would not, that's just a reality for many chapters, and thus would be a perception that could hurt you.

You have to ask yourself why do you want to join and what will you bring to the chapter. Make sure you "sell" yourself, so to speak to the members you speak with that you want to be a contributing member, and not just have the "resume" factor.

If you don't go through (or even if you do and end up without a bid), you can apply to certain NPC sororities for Alumnae Initiation later on down the road (there are multiple separate threads on that subject).

Good luck!

texas*princess · #3 07-26-2008, 10:30 AM

It really depends on the campus.

In some schools where rush is not competitive, they will bid seniors if they really wanted to. You mentioned you are in the south, so not knowing what campus it is, there is a good chance that you won't get a bid because you'll only be an active member for less than a year whereas they can bid an underclassman and get 3-4 dues-paying years out of them.

I would say if you really want to give it a shot, go for it, but go into it knowing there is a very real possibility it might not have the outcome you were hoping for.

basket: maybe it's because you haven't been around GC for very long, but AI is not something you just "apply" for. It's an honor bestowed upon women that alumnae believe will be assets to their chapter. Do yourself a favor and read some of the older threads in the AI forum before you start spouting to everyone during recruitment that "there's always AI after you graduate". Sorry, but sorority shopping to fulfill college greek dreams after graduation isn't how it works.

ThetaPrincess24 · #4 07-26-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas*princess

basket: maybe it's because you haven't been around GC for very long, but AI is not something you just "apply" for. It's an honor bestowed upon women that alumnae believe will be assets to their chapter. Do yourself a favor and read some of the older threads in the AI forum before you start spouting to everyone during recruitment that "there's always AI after you graduate". Sorry, but sorority shopping to fulfill college greek dreams after graduation isn't how it works.

Agreed 100%.

KSUViolet06 · #5 07-26-2008, 06:31 PM

This depends largely on your school. At some schools, chapters are open to taking seniors, at others, it is pretty much unheard of.

Since you are graduating in the spring, it's possible that some chapters may not see the point of extending a bid to someone who will only be around for a year (as opposed to someone who will be around longer). However, no one here can really tell you for certain whether or not you will get a bid, and you have nothing to lose by trying.

I know this isn't something you brought up, but I just want to make this clear: Alumna Initiation is the exception, not the rule. It is not the solution for not having joined in college. It's reserved for those women who for whatever reason did not join in college, but have shown themselves to be worthy of being asked to join in a non-typical manner.

nittanyalum · #6 07-26-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas*princess

basket: maybe it's because you haven't been around GC for very long, but AI is not something you just "apply" for. It's an honor bestowed upon women that alumnae believe will be assets to their chapter. Do yourself a favor and read some of the older threads in the AI forum before you start spouting to everyone during recruitment that "there's always AI after you graduate". Sorry, but sorority shopping to fulfill college greek dreams after graduation isn't how it works.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThetaPrincess24

Agreed 100%.

And you will likely get clowned mercilessly if you do it again. TPx2 have been really pleasant about it so far, but that subject strikes a nerve with some people around here that you don't want to rile up.

DMBabyZTA · #7 07-26-2008, 08:50 PM

I am sure there is someone you can ask. And what's the harm in asking? The worst they could say is no. Sorority life is amazing. Don't back out just because there is a chance you won't get a bid. If you SHOW the girls of the sororities why you think you'd be a good asset, then they will accept you. There are exceptions to everything. Besides, you'll have sisters for life. PM me if you want some more advice. I went to a small, southern school, before coming to NCSU. So, I know a little bit about recruitment and rush at a school with 4-5 sororities. Good luck!

Totally, COMPLETELY agree about the AI statement.. Not a can of worms you want to open on a forum or in real life. Every sorority is different. Some think AI is fine, some on the other hand laugh in your face. To each is your own I guess.

good luck and let us know what you choose!

carnation · #8 07-26-2008, 08:50 PM

Does anybody have any more advice for her as a rushing senior?

breathesgelatin · #9 07-26-2008, 11:02 PM

There is a lot of variance between small southern schools. At some recruitment is very laid-back. At some it's moderately to highly competitive.

It may be too late for this if silence has started, but I would advise you to speak to some sorority women that you know and are friends with (if any) and ask them to honestly assess what your chances might be. They'll probably have a better read on it than anyone else. Obviously though that won't help if you don't know any sorority members.

I would say go for it, but realize that it's difficult to pledge as a senior. The sororities may have the attitude of "why did you wait so long?" The answer you gave us was that you just didn't know about/hear about recruitment before. Well, they may ask why not, if you were interested? Why didn't you investigate it fully?

I would advise you to have a better answer ready than "I just didn't know about it." Not something untruthful - maybe you could say you realized it was your last chance to join the sisterhood of a lifetime or something. You get my drift?

Thetagirl218 · #10 07-27-2008, 12:08 AM

Speaking as someone who did pledge her senior year, I really think it depends you school and its environment. It is also different if you are going through formal recruitment as opposed to COB or founding.

If you feel strongly about this I would go ahead and go through recruitment. You will never know if you don't give it a try!

I would not trade my Greek experience in for anything!

basket96 · #11 07-27-2008, 12:42 AM

(*insert white flag here*)

I stand corrected on the alumnae initiation part of my post, I certainly did not mean it to be a substitute for joining as an undergraduate. I meant that someone who misses the collegiate aspect of sorority life can look into this. (I know it is not particularly common, in fact within Kappa, it is extremely rare), but it can happen for someone who approaches it correctly with certain groups. That is why I recommended researching it to the original poster. It is not my intention to debate that here. I honestly have mixed feelings about it. I just think that someone completely unfamiliar should know all options (however rare some of those may be) so she can decide for herself which path is best.

Roxy, if you were my sister or daughter I would recommend to do what DMBabyZTA said and go for it and show the chapters on your campus what an asset you would be to their group.

Good luck, and please let us know what you decide!

southernbell196 · #12 07-27-2008, 12:44 AM

I would follow the other people's advice by asking you campus panhellenic if you count in quota, i would also judge the atmosphere of your campus whether or not it's a very competitive recruitment or its more laid back. More than anything though I would ask yourself if it would ruin your senior year to not get a bid if you did rush. If it would not ruin your senior year than I would defiantly rush. For some women their memories of being in a sorority in college are some of their fondest memories , it would be worth trying to get that even if it was only for a year.

Blue Skies · #13 07-27-2008, 12:53 AM

I agree with Basket -- if Juniors and Seniors are not counted toward quota, or if you have your own quota, you are good to go. Just realize that you will be cut more than the younger girls. If you can handle that, along with the associated costs of recruitment, then I would go for it. You have nothing to lose.

I think when you are going through recruitment as an upperclasswoman, it's easy to be wishy-washy about joining a sorority. After all, you know you can survive without one. So you have to sell yourself in much the same way that you do for a job interview. Express a sincere interest in finding a sisterhood. Ask intelligent questions (do your homework.) Be prepared to tell how you can hit the ground running and help a chapter with committee work, etc. If you are being rushed (recruited) by fellow upperclasswomen, use that to your advantage and bond with them. Some may disagree with me on this, but I say if you've formed a good impression of a chapter over your past three years at the school, then say so, and say why that's the case.

I honestly don't think you would regret going through recruitment. You will meet lots of new women and get a close-up view of an important segment of campus life. Women will remember you and be friendly to you for the rest of the year even if you end up not joining a sorority. Going through recruitment builds bridges of understanding.

33girl · #14 07-28-2008, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southernbell196

I would follow the other people's advice by asking you campus panhellenic if you count in quota, i would also judge the atmosphere of your campus whether or not it's a very competitive recruitment or its more laid back. More than anything though I would ask yourself if it would ruin your senior year to not get a bid if you did rush. If it would not ruin your senior year than I would defiantly rush. For some women their memories of being in a sorority in college are some of their fondest memories , it would be worth trying to get that even if it was only for a year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Skies

I honestly don't think you would regret going through recruitment. You will meet lots of new women and get a close-up view of an important segment of campus life. Women will remember you and be friendly to you for the rest of the year even if you end up not joining a sorority. Going through recruitment builds bridges of understanding.

Agree with these two statements. If the school is very noncompetitive and the pledge classes commonly have a variety of class years included, you should have a chance.

I would not, however, say you "found out about it too late" as a reason why you didn't rush beforehand - that makes you look kind of slackery. Just say that you weren't sure sorority life was for you before or something along those lines.

Kansas City · #15 07-30-2008, 04:20 PM

I will not by any means suggest that you not go through recruitment however, as nearly every other post has suggested, your options may be limited depending on the atmosphere of the chapters on your particular campus. I question why after three years you have finally decided to go through recruitment. I really don't buy the "I didn't know about it" excuse because it sounds like you just didn't care enough about the Greek system to find out about it until your senior year. I was paired up as a sophomore to mentor a senior on bid day and although she loved being a part of the sorority, she really didn't have the time or energy needed to fully commit to it. Before you decide to go through recruitment please make sure that your senior class load, internships and commitments in other organizations do not stand in the way of getting everything that you want from a Greek organization.