Rushing as a Twin?

[ASTalumna06]

I obviously only know a few details about your situation and how close the bond you have with your sister really is, but I will give you these general pieces of advice:

You're going to college. There are a myriad of opportunities presented to you. Every person is interested in different things, and 99.9% of the time, people can find at least one thing that will make them happy outside of class. Find what makes you happy (on your own) and take advantage of all that college has to offer.

Be yourself! Don't get caught up on what some people might think of you (whether it be sorority chapters or anyone else), because for every person who shoots you down, there will be five more who will become friends.

Joining a sorority is for life. Having a (biological) sister is for life. You can choose the former, but not the latter. You obviously love your sister, and you know that no matter what, she'll be there forever. If you join a sorority, it will be too. Make sure that if you're accepting a bid, that you're not sacrificing your own happiness for your sister.. or anyone else for that matter. And don't let her do that for you, either.

If you do end up being sorority sisters, that'd be wonderful, and I'm sure you'll have the time of your life.

If you don't, that'd be wonderful, and I'm sure you'll have the time of your life. Remember that it's not the end of the world. Maybe it will be the perfect opportunity for the two of you to find yourselves, so to speak.

Have fun

[violetpretty]

You have both put yourselves in a good position with your grades and SAT scores, but those things are merely a good start and will by no means carry you through recruitment. Your personalities have to shine.

Like others have said, talk to your twin and establish "ground rules", namely:

-Are you going to tell chapters that you are a package deal, that you're willing to pledge different chapters, or not say anything?
-Depending on your answer above, will you and your twin tell each other your opinions of each chapter or keep everything a secret?

It is very possible that a chapter may be interested in just one of you, even if you are both very similar. This is mainly because your rusher may be random. If both of you talked to the same people at each chapter, each chapter would probably like you the same. However, one of you might totally hit it off with your rusher at one chapter and the other not so much, which will result in different invitations for the next round. Also, because you will have different rushers at each chapter, YOUR perceptions of the same chapter may very well be different.

Consider these two scenarios:

-You fall in love with a chapter, and you're going there for preference night. However, your twin either didn't like the chapter or got cut. Would you not want to be in this chapter if your twin couldn't be in it with you?

-Same scenario as above, only it's your twin in love with a particular chapter and you who didn't like it or got cut. Would you want your twin to not join for you?

I'm sure some chapters like the idea of pledging twins, but of course there are no guarantees with each chapters' membership selection procedures. I can think of many sets of twins in many chapters at my school, twins that joined different chapters, plus a set of triplets--they split up 2 and 1.

ETA: Here is a late 1980s retro thread about twins rushing together. The twins decide not to tell each other anything and still end up at the same chapter!

Good luck to you and your twin and may both of you find a great sisterhood, regardless of whether it is the same one!

[nervousnelly]

Wow ladies thanks for all the replies so quick! I have read over all of your replies and will really take it to heart! I think we will go ahead and be open about our thoughts on the different sororities as we go through RUSH just to see how each one feels personally. But on joining/not joining the same sorority we will just have to see what works out. Were definitely not going to let go of an amazing experience if we both want to accept bids from different sororities or if we want to pledge the same sorority. Do you guys have any ideas to help us set ourselves apart during RUSH? We are really identical twins so easy for people to think we are one person! Ohhhh and at my school we wear given shifts for every day of Rush except pref night so wearing different clothes won't matter/help!

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by nervousnelly

Do you guys have any ideas to help us set ourselves apart during RUSH?

Hmm, maybe wear different accessories.

That way if someone is wondering "which one?" they can say "The one with the silver/gemstone necklace" or "The one with the pink bracelet."

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by nervousnelly

Do you guys have any ideas to help us set ourselves apart during RUSH? We are really identical twins so easy for people to think we are one person! Ohhhh and at my school we wear given shifts for every day of Rush except pref night so wearing different clothes won't matter/help!

One of you could always wear your hair up for recruitment events, and the other could wear hers down. Larger and smaller earrings. Each of you wear a different necklace, and make sure to wear them to all of the events.

And also consider wearing completely different shoes from one another. I worked with a set of twins (who actually both ended up becoming members of Chi Omega at two different schools). We worked at an amusement park, so they were both wearing the same shirt and basically the same color shorts every day. If I saw them around the park, I could always tell who was who based on their shoes.

Basically, just try to be different and consistent with your accessories.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Maybe a hair ribbon of some sort? Two of my brothers are twins, and we usually look to see what kind of hat they are wearing to tell who is who.

[AOII Angel]

I have a different experience with twins in my chapter since we had two sets of identical twins in my pledge class as well as one set in the senior class when I pledged. All of these sets were extremely close like you describe for your own relationship. Also, my older sister (less than a year older) is my sorority sister. We always shared a room growing up and throughout college and frequently compared ourselves to twins. I couldn't imagine being in a different sorority than my sister. My pledge sisters who were twins said they couldn't either. That being said, establishing our own "identity" wasn't a big deal for any of us.
You'll know whether or not you want to be in the same chapter when you get to know those chapters better. If you really do want to join the same group, make sure you guys tell the chapters that y'all both want to join the same group if at all possible (but make sure they know that you will still pledge if you get a different chapter so they won't think you'll drop if they pledge you but don't get your sister....enough is up to chance in the process that you can't take this thought for granted!)
As for a way to stand out a separate people, only you and your family/friends really know the differences, so think about the differences this summer so you can have something to point out (make sure whatever it is will be a positive for both of you!)
After living with one of the sets of twins from my pledge class (at different times NOT together!) I now know that they were VERY different people even though no one could tell them apart!

Good luck...you'll figure it out as you go!

[GammaPhi1874]

Be yourselves and have fun!