Rush Stories (from activs/alums)

[maggieaxid]

Ok, there once was an old thread dedicated to this, but it has since dissapeared. But this is for all the alums/actives to share their Rush Stories so that the new PNM's on GC can get a feel for what rush might be like and what is happening to them is completely normal.

****one rule: don't bash other orgs!*****

I'll start....

I went through recruitment at Elon University (then, Elon College) in NC. There were 6 NPC sororities (AZD, AOTT, PhiMu, Tri-Sigma, ZTA, and ASA) to choose from and we had formal recruitment the first week of February. And my campus was probably about 55%-60% greek. I decided to rush bc thats what all my friends were doing. except for one, who was dead set against it.

I went into rush having my heart set on Tri-Sigma, I knew a lot of the girls and the chapter president's sister lived on my hall and i was really good friends with her and would go hang out with the Tri-Sigma's alot. And I really thought I would be one.
First Round, I really liked AZD, PhiMu, ZTA and of course Tri-Sigma. However, when I got my invitations back, I was dropped from Tri-Sigma and was absolutely devistated. I thought I should drop out of rush, but my rho chi convinced me to go through and get to know the other chapters. I got to drop one organization, which was ASA, and thats bc I really didn't click with the girls and couldn't see myself there.
Second round I went back to AZD, PhiMu, ZTA and AOTT. AZD, AOTT, and PhiMu had incredibly similar skits. Except I liked AZD's the best bc they did theirs in black light and it was lots of fun! I realized I didn't feel very comfortable at ZTA or PhiMu. They just weren't me. So I was kind of relieved when I got my invites the next day and ZTA had dropped me. I then dropped PhiMu and went back to AOTT and AZD.
The pref parties were totally different. And although AOTT's was extremely touching and made me cry, there was something more at AZD. I couldn't tell you what it was, but it just was.
And the next day was bid day and after our rho chis tortured us by handing them out and making us sit on them while they went through all the directions on what was to happen next, we then got to open them. And I got AZD! and it turned out my RhoChi was an AZD too!
On bid day, there were some girls screaming and cheering, others were crying and dissatisfied. It's just something that happens. But you do end up where you are sapossed to be.

[JMUduke]

I heard about some girls who went to my high school who helped with the formation of axo at elon...um sorry not really related to your post, but I thought it was interesting!!

[maggieaxid]

AXO colonized last fall.

[AOIIalum]

I went through Rush in the fall of 1983 as a freshman. We had 6 sororities on campus--AOII, DZ, Pi Phi, KD, SK and XO. I had an aunt who'd been a SK at the same school, but wasn't a legacy anywhere. I had registered for formal (rush) recruitment and was all set to rush. I'd asked for the week off work and had it granted, but when the week came around my boss gave some half-hearted reason why I couldn't have the time off and threatened to fire me if I took the time. Too bad I was so young and naive, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten away with it!!!

I missed formal recruitment but still got invites to COB parties by some of the sororities not at campus total (there were 3, including AOII) I wasn't very comfortable with one of the chapters, I already knew a few of the girls there and just didn't feel like I would be "home" with them. I went to an AOII pizza party and was just blown away, everyone was so friendly!

AOII had just been chartered in February 1983 so they were still so new It turned out that one of the sisters had known of me in HS via another club we'd been in. She'd been lobbying big time for me (and ended up as my big sis) and the chapter had been upset when I didn't come through formal. I liked joining a group where I could make a difference and leave a legacy...corny but true. It felt great to know I was WANTED because they felt they knew who I was, and not just to fill a number (it still took almost another full year to finally hit campus total!) I got a bid the next day and decided to go for it, even though I had just met everyone. It took me days to remember we were we were Alpha OMICRON Pi and not Alpha OMEGA Pi and that us being a Fraternity didn't mean we had guys too, LOL!

Almost 20 years after my formal pledging, I'm still so happy and proud to be a member of AOII.

Christin

[Glitter650]

My Rush story is an interesting one I think. I rushed as a transfer student at the beginning of my junior year. I ended up pledging a local. I stayed with that for about a month.. It was horrible.They hazed, and it turned out that it just wasn't the place where I was supposed to be. Due to their pledge system (and some nasty mean-ness) I ended up being depledged. Then spring semester of last year I decided (after some hesitation) to rush the NPC sororities. We have an organized informal recruitment during spring. How it works is; there is one open house, during which rules are explained, and PNMs go through in groups (like formal rush) and meet each org for 20 minutes. then there are three rounds of parties (also like formal rush) but the PNM choose which groups to return to, no pref cards or cutitng of any sort and it doesn't end with pref party. So I decided after that first round not to return to one house because I could tell right away they weren't for me. The other two however impressed me, and seemed to have good strong chapters and nice girls. I went to all three parties for each organization. By the end of the week, I basically had decided that one was better for me than the other. I was still a little hesitant, but, I got a bid, I accepted, and now I have the best sisters on earth !!!!!! OH as a side note... after being depledged from my local basically "being a bad pledge" (more to it than that.. but..) I received the "outstanding new member" award from my chapter at our formal this year... so, I would have to say you're only as good as the people around you.

[aephi alum]

I think I posted my rush story on that old thread, but here goes:

I didn't plan to rush when I got to school. But my school had freshmen arrive 2 weeks before classes started, and for that first week, literally the only thing to do is rush, so I decided to give it a shot.

There were 4 national sororities and 1 local at the time:
Alpha Phi
Alpha Chi Omega
Sigma Kappa
Kappa Alpha Theta
Sigma Iota Phi

Sigma Iota Phi did not participate in formal rush.

The first round of formal rush is structured a little oddly at my school. You go to each chapter's rush room for 10 minutes for a little conversation and a skit. Then there are two long "open house" parties where you go back to whichever sororities you choose and stay for as long or short a time as you like.

During tours, I got the immediate impression about two of the sororities that they were full of stereotypically ditzy sorority chicks. (I later worked with members of these sororities via Panhel and learned that they're definitely not ditzes, but first impressions, yada yada yada.) I liked the other two sororities, so I only returned to them during open house. Both invited me back to round 2, so I went.

After round 2, I decided two things - 1. I liked the idea of being in a sisterhood, and 2. neither sorority was right for me. I knew Sigma Iota Phi was holding rush the following week, so I dropped out of rush and decided to visit them.

Within 5 minutes of entering their rush room, I knew I'd found my sisters. I stayed and chatted with them for an hour past the stated end time of their party. By the time I'd received my bid, I knew the names of all the sisters and all my pledge sisters, and something about each of them.

Later, we went national, hence my username.

I do believe you end up where you are meant to, but sometimes you have to make some hard decisions along the way.

[Stacy]

My rush experience was a great one, but isn't it funny how things work out the way they do. We go in expecting one thing and come out with something else. I think that is an important lesson for anyone going through rush...have a completely open mind and don't let anyone else sway you...this is a very important decision and you have to do what is right for you.

I went to a small school where there were 4 sororities (ZTA, AXO, Tri-Delt, and Phi Mu. When I went to school I had already decided I wanted to be a AXO. I stayed there during preview days and I knew some girls, so I had already decided that was for me. Well, the first day of rush I loved the house. I felt excited about the experience. But day two...I fell in love with ZTA. I knew that was were I belonged. The girls were honet and made me feel so at home.

I went through the rest of the week dropping Tri Delt on Weds. Then I had a hard time Thursday because all of my friends were going to Phi Mu. I didn't want to go there but was afraid they would be hurt if I dropped the house they wanted, and I was scared that I didn't know any of the girls that were talking about Zeta. But, I stood strong and dropped Phi Mu attending AXO and ZTA on pref night.

That night I felt all the feelings I was looking for at Zeta. So, I sweated bullets for the rest of the night waiting for that magic invitation. It finally came and I have never been sorry! It has truly been the greatest experience of my life.

The funny thing, I never wanted to be greek. I did it because my friends were. Later I became President! Funny how that works.

[nauadpi]

My story starts with me wanting to have nothing to do with greek life. I had been talking to my soon to be first roommate on the phone and she mentioned that she was going to go through formal recruitment. My first thought was oh no I am moving in with a ditzy sorority chick. Well as soon as I got to actually meet her in person I found out I was completely wrong. So she went through rush, and joined AOII, and I saw how much fun she was having. So then I saw a sign that ADPi was having an event that friday night, being a few weeks into the school year. Well due to the fact that I am in a male dominated major, am from out of state, and in general hung out with more guys then girls I decided it wouldnt be a bad thing to try. So I went to ADPi's event. Well it turns out it was a kareoke (very much spelled wrong) night. It was loads of fun, and the girls ability to make total fools out of themselves was just where i knew I could fit in. Well that weekend there were a bunch of the international officers there, so I actually had an interview type thing with them on saturday. That day I was also shown around the adpi wing (at Northern Arizona University all 7 sororities and 12 of the 14 fraternities all live in on res. hall). Well on sunday I received a bid from ADPi and I excepted. The funny part is that my mom and my sister were both in sororities in college, but I am nothing like them. So when I called my parents and said I had excepted a bid to adpi they were in a bit of shock, till they got to know my sorority sisters and realzied how perfect it was for me. By sunday night I went through alpha ceremony (new member ceremony). From that point on ADPi has been a large part of my life.

[lilsnakeyk]

I posted this a long time ago.......but here it goes again

In the LBC, we have:

Alpha Omicron Pi
Alpha Phi
Delta Gamma
Delta Zeta
Delta Delta Delta
Gamma Phi Beta
Sigma Kappa

I rushed my sophomore year at Cal State Long Beach, and I knew that rush was going to be a tough time for me. I was/am a double in-house legacy to Alpha Phi and Tri-Delta. In addition to that, my best friend who had rushed the year before me was a Delta Gamma.

On preview night in the student union, it was absolutely insane. But I distinctly remember making a connection with women among all of the commotion at three different houses, Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma, and Sigma Kappa.

One day one, we went to all of the houses and again I felt a connection with Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma, and Sigma Kappa. This time at Gamma Phi Beta, too, but I still felt that I didn't quite fit in with the image that they were portraying. Needless to say, narrowing down the seven to four that night was really easy.

On day two, I went back to Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma, Sigma Kappa, and Gamma Phi Beta. I didn't feel the same connection at Alpha Phi and Gamma Phi Beta as I did at Sigma Kappa and Delta Gamma, so it was again relatively easy for me to cut houses that night.

Pref was absolute hell for me. I went to Delta Gamma first, and my best friend in the whole world preffed me, and she told me that either way she would still be my best friend (and still is to this day).
This girl that I absolutely adored at Sigma Kappa (Michelle) preffed me, and it seemed like we had known each other forever, and she told me something that stuck with me, she said "Tonight will be full of decisions for you, but no matter what you choose, make sure you go where your heart tells you to"

I was the absolute last one to fill out my bid card, and just sat there, paralyzed. I couldn't decide. But, what Michelle said had really stuck with me, and I chose Sigma Kappa, and haven't regretted it a day since.

As for my best friend, she's still my best friend. Michelle became my guardian angel sis.

[AOIIBrandi]

I don't remember if I posted or not...

I had known I wanted to go greek forever. My mom is an AXO, and I would always read her Lyre (AXO's magazine) when it came in the mail. So when I went away to school one of the first things I wanted to know about was rush. We found out it was the week before classes and freshman living in the dorm could move in early to participate, so I did. At my school we had:

ADII
AOII
AZD
KD
KKG
Phi Mu
ZTA

From the beginning of this you would think I had a great rush, but it really was a bad experience that turned out great in the end.

The first day was an info session with all the sororities in the same room. The second day we met our Rho Chis and went to 10 minute parties at all the sororities even the BGLOs although they weren't participating. I loved KD, AOII, and ZTA. I liked ADII, but after thinking about it I think it was more b/c of knowing a lot of ADIIs at home. The other houses I just couldn't see myself in.

The second day I was invited back to AOII, AZD, KKG, and ZTA you could go to 6. Although AZD and KKG are great orgs I really didn't want to go back to them, but I had to. I cut them that night (lucky for us the rushees ranked every night as well.

The third day I was only invited back to AOII and ZTA. At this point I didn't know which one I wanted more, but I was very disappointed b/c I was only invited back to 2 and you could go to 4 or 5, at least they were 2 that I loved.

The next day Pref I was only invited back to one house AOII, needless to say I was devestated (mainly thinking "how can no one like me I don't even know anyone at this school"), but OK because I loved AOII and they were inviting me back. Between picking up my invitations and the parties one of my roomate's friends (roomate wasn't rushing b/c she was ineligible that semester) who was a ZTA stopped by (totally against the rules I know) and I just burst into tears - she left quickly. Later my roomate told me she was dropping by b/c they were talking about snapping me after formal. Anyway when we met with our groups before Pref my Rho Chi told me how to tell AOII I was really interested in them without letting on that they were the only ones I was preffing. Pref was beautiful, and touching, and made me cry. So even though I only had one org to put on my card I felt like it was the place for me. I did tell my Rho Chi to please call me if I didn't get a bid to save me the embarrassment, and she agreed.

She didn't have to call though because I did get a bid from AOII. I was so happy, and I haven't looked back since. But I am able to sympathize with those who have had and will have bad experiences during formal recruitment. Later I found out AOII had wanted me from the 1st day - that was pretty cool

[DRau]

While we are telling rush stories, I've got a GREAT one from the active side of rush.

I was chapter President during fall recruitment my senior year, and we had spent many long hours planning the perfect rush week. Everything was going great - we got huge returns, our skit went well, and house moral was at an all time high.

So Pref. night comes around and we had spent 2 days hanging lights, setting up tables, polishing crystal, and preparing our desserts. In fact, we had SO MANY women coming to Pref night that we had to use two rooms to fit them all, so we set up a walkway between the two with sheeting hanging from the ceiling, accented with candles and rose petals.

I was in my bathroom putting on lipstick about 10 minutes before the doors were opening on our first party when I heard it-- It was unmistakable..... The FIRE ALARM!!! One of the candles fell onto the sheet wall and sent it instantly up in flames. A sister made a quick grab for the fire extiguisher and managed to put out the fire before any MAJOR damage was done, but now our house was full of smoke, ash was everywhere, and the entire chapter was running around like chickens with their heads cut off in their little black dresses.

We grabbed about 10 fans and set them up next to the site of the blaze and had our alumni stand directly in front of it to hide it from the PNM's who were waiting outside.

Luckily, we got everything cleaned up and opened our doors on time - but that is an experience that I will NEVER FORGET!!!

Love and AOE from the Pacific Coast ,
Delia

[PiPhiJulie]

I go to a university where Greek Life is pretty big. There are 9 sororities (AOPi, Chi-O, Tri-Delt, DG, KAT, KD, KKG, Phi Mu & Pi Phi).
The first round is split into 2 days. Day 1 I went to Tri-Delt, KD, AOPi, & KAT. I remember standing outside the first house & I was so nervous! I liked Tri-Delt & KD alot. AOPi & KAT were OK but the girls didn't seem like they cared to be there.
Day 2 was Pi Phi, Chi-O, Kappa, DG & Phi Mu. We were having really bad weather & it was pouring down raining & lightening while we were waiting outside at Chi-O & Pi Phi. Everyone in my group was soaked. I really liked Chi-O & Pi Phi. Kappa, DG & Phi Mu were really good too.
The next day I picked up my invites & I was cut from Tri-Delt & AOPi. I had to cut one more, so I cut KAT.
Skit Night. At KD & Phi Mu I didn't really feel like I had much in common with the girls. They were nice but I didn't feel comfortable. The others were great & I was worried about having to choose between Chi-O, Pi Phi, DG & Kappa for Prefs.
The next morning I woke up & I could barely talk. I had a sore throat but I though it was nothing. I almost dropped out of rush cause I didn't know what to do. My Rho Chi convinced me to go get my invites. I was cut from KD, Phi Mu & Chi-O. I wasn't that upset about KD & Phi Mu. I was really upset about Chi-O. My roomate talked some sense into me & I decided not to drop out. I preffed Pi Phi, DG & Kappa. By the end of the day I knew I wanted to be a Pi Phi. Bid Day was the longest day of my life. It was a Monday & we had class. Finally I went to get my Bid & was soo excited about getting Pi Phi. I can't imagine being anything else.

[ROWDYsister]

I rushed last year, my freshman year. I was homeless for the first night b/c my apartment didn't allow me to move in yet so I stayed with my best guy friend from high school. Just as I was settling into his apartment and recharging my cell, my old roomie called. She sounded so tired, b/c the week we had off she spent at ROTC orientation camp. She was in tears and said that she couldn't juggle recruitment and sorority life and her ROTC duties. I told her to sleep on it, that she was just tired, but the next day she dropped.

UF had 15 sororities last year and my first party was with Chi Omega. I thought the house was beautiful, the girls were awesome, I loved everything about it. I got invited back to 13 parties for the next round and made my cuts. So for Rd. 2 I went to 10 parties. My other old floormate dropped out by the 3rd round b/c "her major was too hard" and she had only gotten invited back to three sororities. Round 3 I was invited back to 9 and went to 6 parties.

I preffed at Pi Beta Phi, Chi Omega, and Kappa Kappa Gamma. I liked them all and planned on joining one of them. Chi O was my favorite the whole week until Prefs. When I went to Pi Phi, everything changed. I walked into the house and it was like a lightbulb went off in my head...I just felt like that was the house for me. The girl who rushed me and I hit it off so well. I could just see myself being friends with her and belonging to that house.

After the parties all the PNMs walked back to Normal Hall for final rankings and wondered if I should go with my original decision and just pick Chi-O or pick Pi Phi which had made such an impression on me at the last minute. I had a feeling whoever I chose, I would get.

I had the card in front of me and I knew I was going to pick Pi Phi so I was one of the first to turn it in. The next day, Bid Day, I tried to tell myself that if I didn't get Pi Phi I would still be okay. I saw the huge Pi Phis This Way sign hanging on the parking garage across the field and I couldn't bear to look at it. Then when I finally got my bid card I opened it up and it said, "Congratulations! You are invited to become a member of Pi Beta Phi!" I actually turned the card around and read it all the way through because my paranoid mind told me it was saying the house I COULDN'T join.

Anyway, I realized it did say I got Pi Phi and the girl in my rush group who said she wanted it, too, and I gave each other crushing hugs and ran to Pi Phi. It was a great day. And towards the end of my pledgeship the girl who rushed me and was my Bid Day buddy became my big sister! I told her she was the reason I joined Pi Phi.

And it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I couldn't see myself anywhere else now.

[josh8o]

It's 3:15 on Friday morning, and I cant sleep...
so I'm gonna put a guys rush story in here.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, do you smell an emmy?!
Here it goes...

spring 2001 i transferred to a new school. i was in the middle of my sophomore year and really wanted to rush and join a fraternity. i had known the names of some of the fraternities on campus, but didn't know anyone in them. at sdsu IFC rush is informal...very informal. the week before rush there was information tables set up on centennial walk. i was nervous about walking up to them, but after the first "hi, I'm josh and I'm looking into rush" it was easy. that day i didn't get to talk to every house, but i talked to a lot of them. phi kappa psi and theta chi were the two that really made an impression on me. the guys i talked to were really nice, and the info i got on the houses got me interested.
well the first day of rush i went on my journey...i was rushing alone since i didn't know anyone. the first house i went to was phi kappa psi. they were just hanging out in the front yard. i remember meeting so many guys, and having a blast. i didn't go anywhere else that day, but that night a girl i went to high school with took me over to kappa alpha because she knew a lot of the guys. i hung out there, but kinda was like "whatever."
that next day i had tons of messages from different houses telling me to stop by their houses. i tried to go to all of them but didn't. i remember going to sigma pi and just feeling out of place. i wanted to leave so bad. the next place i went was theta chi because they had impressed me so much when i talked to them on campus. i went there, but didn't feel the same...one guy had transferred from the same school as me, but other than that i just wanted to get over to phi kappa psi. when i was walking to phi kappa psi i had to pass by the kappa alpha house. this one guy in kappa alpha saw me and yelled out to me. he wanted to make sure i would stop by later.
so the rest of the week i spent my time at phi kappa psi, then i would walk over to kappa alpha. in my mind i liked phi kappa psi from the start, but kappa alpha was growing on me. the 3rd night after i left phi kappa psi to go to kappa alpha i was offered my first bid. when i was told by kappa alpha that they wanted to bid me all i could think was "i wish it was phi kappa psi." i ended up telling them i needed to think about it...i was holding out for phi kappa psi. i did go to see kappa alpha's stripper that night, and had a blast. the next night i got my bid from phi kappa psi, but when i received it i did not know if i wanted it. i told them i did not know either. so i took a day to think about what i wanted to do--was it going to be phi kappa psi or kappa alpha?
i could not decide, so i thought about the most fun i had during rush, it was the kappa alpha stripper night. because of a naked woman i accepted a bid to kappa alpha. within a week after rush i was still thinking about phi kappa psi. when the 3rd week rolled around i did not know if i had made the right choice. a week later was spring break and i figured that i could use a week at home to figure out what i wanted...but the night before i came home i ran into some phi kappa psi's on the street, one who would become my big bro. they were not who i wanted to see because at that point i knew i regretted not joining phi kappa psi and it was hard to see the people i meet during rush. anyway, after i got back from spring break i went to my pledge-ed at kappa alpha and depledged. when i walked out of the house without my pledge pin on i felt at ease...it was a feeling i cannot express. i knew i had made the wrong decision and was in the process of correcting it.
the rest of that semester was one of me wanting to be a phi kappa psi, but holding out for the fall. the only part of greek life i saw was from the two sigma kappa's who had become my friends.

fast forward to fall 2001

i waited what seemed forever to rush again. when fall rush started i only wanted to go to phi kappa psi, but IFC had the first day of rush be house tours. so i spent the day meeting guys from every house. unfortunately i had to go to kappa alpha too...trust me it was awkward. when i got to phi kappa psi all the guys i had talked to remembered me. after that day i spent the rest of that week at phi kappa psi. when i received my bid (again) it was like "finally."

i rushed twice, and made my mistakes...of course i wish i hadn't made them, and that i had chosen phi kappa psi in the first place, but this experience has made me stronger. it also has showed everyone in my house how much i want to be there. one of the guys who was in the spring 2001 pledge class told me i have one of the best "road to phi psi stories."


i like to tell my story. i figure if enough guys read it, one might not be persuaded into joining a house that he may not fit with because of a stripper, or other fake rush tools.

[AOIIalum]

Originally posted by josh8o
I like to tell my story. i figure if enough guys read it, one might not be persuaded into joining a house that he may not fit with because of a stripper, or other fake rush tools.

Josh, thanks for sharing your story! Even though the sororities don't have strippers during recruitment a lot of what you said makes sense for anyone going through. It can be easy to be swayed by the "image" and overlook the "substance" during recruitment. In the end you did follow your heart (yeah, I know it's sappy but) even though making that decision couldn't have been easy for you.

Good for you and congratulations for doing what was right for you in the end. Phi Kappa Psi is lucky to have you as a brother!

Fraternally,
Christin