informal recruitment..as a junior??

[DeltaBetaBaby]

It kinda depends how many spaces are open for fall rush, and in which chapters...

Chapters participating in fall recruitment are those that are below total starting the school year, so they have a chance to catch up before formal recruitment. So let's say quota is usually 50. Most chapters will have 200 women right after formal recruitment, then graduate about 50, and return to campus in the fall with 150. Therefore, total is probably around 150.

If a chapter happens to have, say, taken 5 sophomores in their pledge class in the spring of 2004, maybe they graduated 55, and return to campus with only 145. In that case, they can fill five spots to catch up to the other groups before formal recruitment, and they will probably just grab friends of current members and such, and do it pretty quietly. In fact, a lot of chapters in that situation wouldn't even bother, for fear of damaging their reputation, and would just rush with 5 fewer girls.

OTOH, if there is a chapter on your campus that consistently misses quota, taking only 40 per year, then they may return with only 120 women. In that case, they have 30 spots to fill, and they are likely to have a less prestigious reputation. In that case, they are likely to fill as many spots as they can without compromising their values, and would rather take an awesome junior than leave a spot open.

So, the point is, the answer to your question depends a lot on whether you would be willing to look at the type of chapter I described in the second example.

***disclaimer: I have no idea what campus we are talking about, and therefore I have no idea if there is a chapter that misses quota every year, but from what I know, most campuses have that one group that just doesn't shine during formal recruitment.***

[BadCat25]

It's not weird to rush as a junior but all other things being equal your chances are not as good as if you were a sophomore so you are going to really have to sell yourself during rush. I would think up a good answer if you are asked why you did not rush before like "I didn't realize what I would be missing". Study abroad is a plus as this is considered very cool and will give you something to talk about during rush.
All this being said I would just do it. If you don't you will not be in a sorority and will regret that you did not even try. If it does not work out you will be in the same position you are now. It will really hurt to do it and not get a bid but this is just the risk you are going to have to accept.
I hope this has helped. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.