Informal Rush

[Miami1839]

Bucutie,

Your Welcome My bad on thinking you had Rushed Before. Thats great that it'll be your first time. Good Luck

Kevin

[FIUGreekSiS]

I am a Junior now and I am rushing for Phi Mu, my only regret is that I didn't do this sooner. The way I see it is--you will get out what you put in, and if this is what you really want then its never too late!

[This message has been edited by FIUGreekSiS (edited February 08, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by FIUGreekSiS (edited February 08, 2001).]

[bucutie02]

okay well i am deciding to bring this topic up once again. As most of you all know, this fall coming up i will be a junior! I am just worried because what will happen if i dont receive a bid and it will be due to my junior standing! Today i emailed one girl in every sorority telling them i will be rushing this fall as a junior and if that will affect be getting a bid or not. To tell you the truth, i have a feeling they will all say it will be fine just to get me to rush- but maybe truly inside they know they wont offer me one because ill be a junior! Of course, ill be a junior but it might take an extra year to actually finish with all my courses!

I am just worried about that because i wouldnt want that to interfere with me getting a bid. I know i have other things to worry about also, but there wouldnt be a point in rushing if i knew i couldnt get a bid due to that!

One girl told me that they are encouraged to take in more freshman since they will be in the chapter longer, and i completely agree on that- but wouldnt you prefer to take a non-freshman that you think would be a great asset over a freshman? That would definitely be my choice if i had anything to do with deciding on who gets a bid and who doesnt.

[This message has been edited by bucutie02 (edited March 06, 2001).]

[Tom Earp]

bcutie, if you find the right house to go with you will know it as you will gel with them. I hear a lot of negative thoughts about age and race. As in Animal House the movie B--S--t. We just Assoc. a a new man who is African/American. My first thought is he worth being my Brother from the reports of the active chapter, he would not be associateed if they did feel him worthy, that is what counts. I was 25 when I got married and started the local that then affliated in 9 mo. I am still envolved with my house,my National, Brothers from all over and have met my Brothers from all persuasions. They or My Brothers No Matter What!!
Do not give up finding the right group to be with as you will be with them for the rest of your life as a sister.

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

[coffeemug]

BUcutie

Well it will matter. Some houses may cut you after open house just because you are a junior. A double whammy may be being a junior and your grades.

My advice don't "advertise" you are a junior. Go in and have a great convesation be yourself etc and then when the chapter does their "back room stuff" let your personality speak before your class standing.

Best advice, pull up your GPA as much as you can and go in with a great attitude!!

[amycat412]

I disagree. Yes, some houses will, but is that where you want to be? In a house that will cut you because of your class standing? When it takes so many of us 4 1/2-5 years to finish undergrad what difference does it make? I personally would rather have a member give her all for 2 years than someone pledge as a freshman, not be ready for the commitment, and burn out by the time junior year rolls around.

I realize Rush is competitive. I myself went to a school where juniors had few options. But I STILL believe that when you click with a house and it is mutual, it will not matter.

BUCutie, continue to cultivate your new sorority friends. Continue to make them aware of your desire to be a part of the Greek system. Get your grades up and rush in the fall. Do not deny yourself something you want because of your class standing. If you don't try, you will never know and I think in the long run, that is harder to live with.

Good Luck!

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"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt

[This message has been edited by amycat412 (edited March 06, 2001).]

[SuperXO]

bucutie,
I said it once and will say it again to make you feel a little better, I hope. The chapters at U of H are not highly selective. The Greek system is small and many of them are not at total. There is no reason for someone younger to be chosen over you if there is room for both of you. If you are released, it may be due to grades, like coffee said, or, of course, you may just not click with a few houses! Don't worry too much. Again like coffee said, let the personality shine and I don't think those chapters will turn you down!

[bucutie02]

Originally posted by SuperXO:
bucutie,
The chapters at U of H are not highly selective.

SuperXO, i am sorry but that was highly offensive to me- and im not even in a sorority. I understand that you werent trying to bash the sororities, but it came across that way to me. You made it seem like just "anyone" can get in to a sorority here. Let me tell you that that isnt the case! It may not be a big as it is in other schools, but i think every chapter is selective to a certain extent. You may have visted the campus once or a few times, but there is no possible way you can tell how "selective" they are by just a few visits.

Your post didnt really make me feel any better about it because now you made it seem like its not very hard to get a bid if you have the grades. So lets say i go through rush and not get a bid, that really wont make me feel too good. Then, if i were to get a bid then you kind of make it seem like its not that big of a deal since they arent very selective.

Now before you reply saying that that wasnt what you were trying to say- let me just say that i know you werent trying to sound rude or anything- but it came off like that- well to me anyway! Like i said, i think every chapter is selective up to a certain extent. I know some schools are more than others, but every girl that does receive a bid receives one for a reason!

[amycat412]

I don't think "selective" was the right choice of a word. Perhaps "exclusive" would be better. That the sororities are not so exclusive that they'd let something like being a junior stop them from pledging a fabulous new member. And THAT is a good thing! Be happy that its not a competitive Rush like at some other schools (if this is the case) I think these more informal fromal rushes allow new members and sisters alike to make better decisions.

[James]

bucutie02,

I hate to answer for someone else because I could be wrong and I am sure that SuperXO can express her sentiments better than I can.

Disclaimer aside, I believe the operational concept here is groups not at total and selctivitiy.

If groups are not at total they don't have the need to arbitraily cut people for whatever reason.

For example I know a girl at one school that didn't get a bid from her sorority of choice, many of whom were her friends, even though she suicided. The reason in this case was the way they did the bid mathcing.

Because the list was presented in alphabetical order, they had picked their limit before they got to her name! Because they did it in a linear fashion and didn't randomly asign numbers.

So I don'y believe that superXO belives that anyone can get in, but you may have a fairerchance because groups don't have to find a silly reason to drop you.

Originally posted by bucutie02:
SuperXO, i am sorry but that was highly offensive to me- and im not even in a sorority. I understand that you werent trying to bash the sororities, but it came across that way to me. You made it seem like just "anyone" can get in to a sorority here. Let me tell you that that isnt the case! It may not be a big as it is in other schools, but i think every chapter is selective to a certain extent. You may have visted the campus once or a few times, but there is no possible way you can tell how "selective" they are by just a few visits.

Your post didnt really make me feel any better about it because now you made it seem like its not very hard to get a bid if you have the grades. So lets say i go through rush and not get a bid, that really wont make me feel too good. Then, if i were to get a bid then you kind of make it seem like its not that big of a deal since they arent very selective.

Now before you reply saying that that wasnt what you were trying to say- let me just say that i know you werent trying to sound rude or anything- but it came off like that- well to me anyway! Like i said, i think every chapter is selective up to a certain extent. I know some schools are more than others, but every girl that does receive a bid receives one for a reason!

[bucutie02]

amycat412 and James,
Thanks for clearing that up- i guess i just took what she said the wrong way, and i am sorry for that. You guys helped me understand what she was really trying to say!!

[SuperXO]

Thanks everyone, for bringing up different views on this topic. As we all know, it is all to easy to mistake someone's tone of voice or inflection in an email/ post. Anyhow, I won't make this long, but I agree with James and Amy that what I was trying to say IS that the groups will not release for ridiculous reasons and my knowledge of the campus and their recruitment statistics tells me that you have a great chance because the chapters (not exclusive/ selective/ whatever you want to call it) can and should base their decision solely on factors you can control (such as personality and grades) rather than those you cannot (like your age). That's why I was hoping you would feel more secure, because you know you are in control of these aspects and can have an impact on how they feel about you and effectively direct your recruitment experience. Best of luck.

[Chiocutie]

Hi bucutie02,

I'm a Chi Omega at the University of Houston. I just came across this thread today and I wanted to tell you that you don't even need to worry about being a Junior and rushing in the fall. It's okay to do so, but you do need a 2.0 GPA to pledge (and rush I think). I'm the New Member Educator in my Sorority and I can not even begin to tell you how much fun being in a sorority is. Its definetely an experience you'll never regret. We have an AWESOME pledge class this spring '01 and even a junior in our new member class. She's a great member, and I'm sure you would be too. Chi Omega is the Largest Womens Fraternity in the the world. Don't listen to what others have to say, find out yourself about a house you're interested in. Feel free to contact us SarahChiO@aol.com (my pledge sister )or even me Chiocutie99@aol.com. Good luck with Rush and School!

[amycat412]

BUCutie,

I have to agreee with ChiOCutie and I'm sure SuperXO, HeidiHo and Hootie will all say the same thing...

My Chi O experience was unforgetable. I've met women who are incredible and because I've had the opportunity to meet them, my life is forever changed for the better.
And I believe THAT is why Fate/Providence/God/Luck -- whatever drew me to XO in college.

Oh, and in my pledge class we had a 24 year old sophomore. So I don't think your age/class standing is a big deal at all. Get your grades up, can you take some summer school classes to augment your GPA as well?

I hope that whatever house you choose to be a member of in the fall makes you feel as loved and accepted as Chi O has for all of us.

Amy



[This message has been edited by amycat412 (edited March 08, 2001).]

[bucutie02]

Chiocutie, it is so great to hear from someone that goes to UH!! Thank you so much for clearing up the whole junior status thing. I know others have said it shouldnt matter, but i also know that every school is different- so you in a way calmed my fear about that!! I have emailed Sarah, this past week actually and she did reply. She told me about the great pledge class you guys have this spring and also about where your sorority house is at. The funny thing is that i was actually around there monday afternoon and i received her email later on that day! Anyway, i dont live around there. Do you live on campus, apartment, or at home? I am sorry for asking you, but its just that i havent met anyone in a sorority that lives at home, although i do hear many girls do live with their parents.

Well i hope to hear from you soon! i was so excited when i saw that you went to UH!!

I would also like to thank everyone that has replied to my long post about rush- y'all have been so helpful and informative!!

[This message has been edited by bucutie02 (edited March 09, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by bucutie02 (edited March 09, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by bucutie02 (edited March 09, 2001).]