Sugar & Spice's Rush Thread

sugar and spice · #1 09-02-2002, 04:38 PM

I know some of y'all are addicted, so even though rush doesn't start until next week, I'm going to get this thread started! I've been at school since Thursday and just got my internet hooked up, and I've been incredibly social -- everybody is so nice, and we've been a bunch of fun stuff. I've been walking so much and there's been no time to eat; I wouldn't be surprised if I've lost five pounds since I got here!

I'm rushing at the University of Wisconsin, and we have eleven NPC sororities (let me see if I can name them off the top of my head!): Alpha Phi, Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Delta Tau, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Kappa Alpha Theta. I think the smallest chapter is around 65 and the largest is about twice that. I have heard great things about the Greek system here, so I'm really anxious to get started with recruitment. I have all my clothes, although some of them are still at home instead of in the dorms. (I live here in Madison, so it's just a 20-minute drive back to my house.) And I think I may have even convinced my roommate to rush with me! She's a freshman and I'm not sure she knows a lot about sororities, so I'm going to try to give her some advice and explain what they're all about before she goes through. She may change her mind, but I think we're both in agreement that since there's no obligation to pledge, it's a good idea to just go through recruitment and find out what it's all about -- if we decide it's not for us, we'll only have wasted some of our time and $30.

We have a sorority orientation meeting on Thursday -- what would you guys recommend that I wear to that?

Also, any last minute advice on ANY rush-related topic would definitely be appreciated! I've learned so much from Greekchat already, in the past month or so that I've been here. All of you give great advice and I don't know where I'd be without you!

AOIIalum · #2 09-02-2002, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sugar and spice
I know some of y'all are addicted, so even though rush doesn't start until next week, I'm going to get this thread started!

Addicted, who us?

Seriously, though, the very best of luck during recruitment.

As for what to wear to the orientation, I'd go with the 4 C's: Cute (as in looks good on you), Comfortable (fits well and you don't have to keep rearranging your outfit), Clean (self-explanatory of course!)and Casual (unless recruitment is very formal at Wisconsin, casual dress should be fine.) I don't know thing one about recruitment there, but I'm guessing if you follow the C's you'd be all right. If you've gotten a PNM Handbook or anything, just wear whatever is suggested for the orientation night if it's in there, if not go by the 1st round dress recommendations.

Other last minute advice, get rest and eat as healthy as you can during recruitment. Make sure your shoes are comfortable, no matter how good they look, achy feet are sad feet.

Good luck! Can't wait to hear about your week!
Christin

Shark_in_Skirt · #3 09-03-2002, 12:01 AM

My best wishes go out to you, Sugar! I'm rushing in about a month, and I'm so super-excited... I know you are, also!

Have a great time and please keep us updated.

XOXO,
Annie.

rubyrose · #4 09-03-2002, 01:46 PM

It sounds like both you and your roommate have an open mind going in to recruitment! What a wonderful outlook to have! I hope you both have a wonderful time!

XOMichelle · #5 09-03-2002, 06:45 PM

Yea Wisconsin! (Guess where I'm from? lol)

Good luck during rush!

Here's my advice: keep an open mind when dealing with sorority reputations, and then go with your gut! Pick the girls that you feel the most yourself with.

ll,
M

KappaKittyCat · #6 09-03-2002, 09:55 PM

Hey, honey! I'm so glad you're posting. Welcome home to Madtown, the greatest city in Wisconsin. PM/email me if you need anything.

GeekyPenguin · #7 09-03-2002, 10:15 PM

Oh I'm excited to read another Wisconsin thread! I don't go to Madison, it's one of the system schools, but it's such a fun place! we go to Madtown all the time, it's only an hour from my campus...and if you meet a girl named Laura in Pi Phi, that's one of my best friends from high school!

)

valkyrie · #8 09-03-2002, 10:15 PM

Oh, I can't wait to hear about your rush!!

As for what to wear Thursday, it's probably not something to stress about too much as long as you look nice, which of course you will. I would probably wear capris or a skirt with a cute shirt and sandals or flip flops, unless I knew that I should be more dressy than that.

And BTW, you MUST tell us EVERYTHING!!!!! Feed our addiction!

aephi alum · #9 09-04-2002, 04:58 PM

Casual / no jeans should be fine for your orientation. Nice top, slacks/capris/skirt, comfortable shoes (not sneakers). You will probably just be meeting your rho chi (or whatever U Wisconsin is calling them) and your fellow PNM's, so dress won't be so critical, but it never hurts to look your best.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

AXO_MOM_3 · #10 09-05-2002, 10:21 PM

Good luck! Update us soon!

APhiRattlerGal · #11 09-05-2002, 10:53 PM

CANT WAIT. I'm so excited for you!!

always-
ili

sugar and spice · #12 09-05-2002, 11:14 PM

Tonight we had orientation at the Union theater. We divided up into our Rho Chi groups (yes, Wisconsin is still calling them Rho Chis) and had to fill out twelve copies of the same card with all our information on it -- it took forever! Every group has three Rho Chis, and our groups are all super-friendly and nice. The Rho Chis told us that about 400 girls had pre-registered, and usually 300-400 register the night of orientation, so they were pleasantly surprised at the number of people going through recruitment.

Then all the Rho Chis did a skit for us, where they sang, in tune to the Brady Bunch theme song, about a girl who goes off to college and joins a sorority. After that, all the Panhel execs gave little speeches about philanthropy, hazing, etc.. The recruitment chair gave a little speech about how national sororities aren't like Sigma on "Sorority Life," and then we broke up into our Rho Chi groups.

As an icebreaker, our Rho Chis had us introduce ourselves and tell the story behind our favorite scar, which seemed kind of weird at first but actually turned out to be really fun because you weren't all trying to impress each other with how cool and perfect you were; instead we got to hear stories about how so-and-so scraped her knees falling off her bunk bed or from tripping down the stairs.

Thanks for the advice on clothing. I ended up wearing a black top and a knee-length denim skirt, which I think worked well -- a lot of girls were dressed similarly. I thought that rush itself would be dressier than it appears it will be; I planned on skirts for the first round, sundresses for the second and a semi-formal dress for the third, and for each of the clothing suggestions those are the dressiest options, while I assumed they'd be somewhere in the middle. That's not a problem though. It'll make a good impression.

As for the recruitment schedule, we start out with an ice cream social on Sunday. I'm not sure if we'll be meeting the sorority girls or just getting to know the people in our Rho Chi groups, and the other groups, better. Then on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday we have first round parties, and on Thursday we rank the eleven sororities. Then second round parties aren't until Tuesday and Wednesday of the next week (we can go to up to 7 houses) and then for Pref, which is on Friday, we can visit up to 3. Then Bid Day isn't until SUNDAY -- I can't believe we'll have to wait over 24 hours to find out our bids. That gives me TWO nights that I won't be able to sleep!

Personally, I think the schedule is more spread out than it needs to be. I'm pretty sure it's that way at least in part due to the fact that we've got two home football games, both on Saturdays, and they don't want to interfere with that, but still. I'm going to have to learn how to be patient over the next few weeks!

valkyrie · #13 09-05-2002, 11:22 PM

OMG, I feel like *I'm* not going to be able to wait that long to find out what happens -- I have NO IDEA how you are going to wait! It's going to be so much fun, though, and I can't wait to hear all about it!! (Hey, am I effectively conveying the point that I CAN'T WAIT???)

The favorite scar thing is really cool, for exactly the reason you mentioned -- reminding everyone that the other PNMs aren't all perfect, which is an awesome thing to keep in mind during rush.

Good luck, have fun, and keep us posted!

AXO_MOM_3 · #14 09-05-2002, 11:58 PM

Wow - what a long time to wait! All of us rush thread addicts will be on pins and needles too - checking every other hour to see if there is an update! Have a great time!

KDHoney · #15 09-05-2002, 11:58 PM

Wow...that is a spread-out schedule! Well, more time to enjoy the rush thread I guess

Best of luck to you...just be yourself and it will all work out for the best! Can't wait to hear more about your experience...