JUNIOR Rush at University of Southern California Fall 2013

[Blue Skies]

USC is a tough (okay, "highly competitive") recruitment. Read all the stickies at the top of the page and work your networks to get those recs! You will need at least one for every chapter.

Be emotionally ready for cuts. It's easy to do this in theory, but it can wear you down to have cuts coming every day, especially when you have a lot to bring to the table. The best advice that I can give you is to commit to yourself to see the process through to prefs, no matter what you think about the chapters. You can always drop out after prefs knowing that you gave it your best shot.

Another thing to guard against going through as a Junior is ambivilence. You know that you can make it on campus just fine without the sorority experience, so it is critical to convey to your rushers your enthusiasm and interest in sorority life. Be prepared to talk about the leadership strengths that you can bring to the chapter, and what you hope to gain through sorority membership.

Be prepared to keep an open heart to chapters that may not be at the top of your wish list. As a junior, those chapters may well be where a possible bid may come from. Keep in mind that in a large chapter, there will inevitably be many women with whom you are compatible, even if you have a hard time finding those women during recruitment. A chapter might be a really good match for you even if it doesn't seem so obvious at first.

The colonization may be a good opportunity for you, especially with your leadership skills.

[scgirl92]

Thanks for your feedback. Would you say that colonization is more competitive than formal recruitment?

[scgirl92]

Thanks so much for the responses! I really appreciate it.

[scgirl92]

Are dues for colonies typically more or less than established chapters?

[PhiAlpha05]

Originally Posted by scgirl92

Thanks for your feedback. Would you say that colonization is more competitive than formal recruitment?

I think that would depend on how the particular school and chapter is handling recruitment. At least with the ZTA recolonization, I guess they did interviews rather than putting all the girls through formal rush (which is a huge advantage to the PNMs, at least with UM's formal rush process, which has been discussed ad nauseam), so if you do better with one-shot interviews than with several rounds of parties, that might work better for you (but it may still be competitive if 1000 girls are trying for 100 spots or something). So I think I'd ask the Greek Life Office about that, just to get a feel for how AGD is going to run things!

[Blue Skies]

Originally Posted by scgirl92

Thanks for your feedback. Would you say that colonization is more competitive than formal recruitment?

It's competitive, but in a different way. A colony will want women from each class -- freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. As a junior, they will want you to come to them with demonstrable leadership skills, which is why I think that you might be an attractive candidate for them. They will want you to hit the ground running in terms of getting the colony fully functioning. But you would have a lot of help in that regard.

Do a serach for "colony," "colonies," or "colonization" on this board and you will get a good idea of what it's about. It would be a lot of work but would also be a satisfying experience.

Also keep in mind that sorority membership is for a lifetime. You would have opportunites throughout your life for sisterhood and service, should you choose to pursue them.

[scgirl92]

By the time I rush I will hopefully have gotten in to a B.S. to M.A. program meaning that I would still be at USC for another year after my senior year completing my Masters degree. In addition, I plan to stay for another year to get my Doctorate as well. If I'm still attending USC would I be considered an active member or alumnae in a house? And could I continue to live in the house after senior year even though I'd technically be a grad student? I know this is planning way ahead but I want to make sure I have the correct info before rush.

Thanks again for all your guys' help! GC has been such a great resource for me considering my limited knowledge about greek life coming into college.