Miss*Kay's Fall '07 Rush Chronicle!

[Miss Kay]

Hello everyone! Rush at my school does not begin for another month or so, but as always, there is a lot to think about, prepare for, stress about, and be excited about in the meantime!

I am transferring to a somewhat small cal-state school. There are only two NPC sororities at my school. I do not believe that rush there is very competitive at all, and through looking online, it looks like each chapter has only between twenty and thirty members. They stress online and on pamphlets that were handed out at orientation that junior transfers are very welcome.

I know I made a booboo when I posted a question specifically about what school I am attending. So in order to maintain the most amount of discretion at this point, I will from now on refer to each sorority as Sugar and Spice.

My school does deferred recruitment for fall, so only students with 12+ units are allowed to participate. I'm super excited to get started and cannot wait! I am a little bit concerned and confused about the process though. Online, they still have formal rush info for spring '07 posted and nothing about the fall recruitment posted. On Sugar's website, they have gotten a head start and have posted dates, times, locations (there are no greek houses on our campus yet!), attire etc. It looks like the first three nights will be at someone's house somewhat near campus. Each of the three nights has a theme, which sounds fun. We are instructed to wear casual attire. The fourth night is going to be at a restaurant near campus, and our only attire directions are to wear something warm. Spice has yet to post anything about their process and events, but it's still early...

So I'm a little confused about this whole thing with my school. I wonder if both Sugar and Spice will have events at the same time or separately. Will we be able to attend both groups' events, or do we have to chose one group to attend. I keep reading about cuts, and different rounds, and pref nights. Where does that come in with only 2 groups, when the events are held off campus. I wonder if at some point, the events become invite only? I understand that the situation might be a little bit different at my school since it is both small and the greek system small and new. It's kinda a bummer because the structure seems so different than from what I have been reading from your stories on here.

Needless to say, I am a bit confused, and a bit nervous, but a whole lot excited! I will make sure to keep you all posted as new info becomes available, or if i need to vent or ask questions, and of course, once rush starts!!

Much love
*kay*

[dvs-dz]

Does your college have anything about Greek life or Panhellenic on its website?

I think you may have given enough information that people can make a guess as to your campus. This is OK, just be very discreet, respectful, and courteous in your postings.

It's interesting that there are so many nights of recruitment parties with only two sororities. Good luck - I hope you have a great recruitment!

[adpiucf]

Call the office of Student Activities, or the equivalent. This is the office that oversees all of the campus organizations. They can answer any questions you have or point you in the right direction to contact the university staff member who oversees Greek Life.

It sounds like there are open recruitment events in the fall for upperclassmen and the deferred formal recruitment later on for everyone?

If this is the case, I would infer that the open recruitment events will be conducted individually and separately by Sugar and Spice without any formal coordinating schedules, or the supervision of Panhellenic Council. This would be a lot more laid back than formal recruitment. Plus, since there are only 2 sororities on your campus, recruitment itself is probably fairly laid back. Upperclassmen and transfers will tend to have more competititive consideration in this situation, and your likelihood of being offered sorority membership is greater.

There are never any guarantees, of course-- but sounds like you are in a good position to join a sorority at this school.

The web sites may not be updated to reflect the most current information-- at this point if there is a sorority recruitment contact at Sugar or Spice, you should go ahead and email or call them. If they have no information to give you, they'll be honest, or if they cannot speak to you about recruitment at this phase (due to silence rules), they will simply refer you to the right people in Student Activities.

[Miss Kay]

Originally Posted by dvs-dz

Does your college have anything about Greek life or Panhellenic on its website?

I think you may have given enough information that people can make a guess as to your campus. This is OK, just be very discreet, respectful, and courteous in your postings.

It's interesting that there are so many nights of recruitment parties with only two sororities. Good luck - I hope you have a great recruitment!

I figured people would be able to guess, but I don't mind too much. I'm not planning on giving anything away that would give away my identity until perhaps after it is all over.

And to answer your question, my school does have a greek life website, but it just lists the names of the chapters, their websites, and very very very general information, and SPRING 2007 RUSH INFO!!! GRR!

BTW--- the parties that I listed were only for Sugar. I haven't the slightest idea what Spice has planned for recruitment at this point!

[AOE2AlphaPhi]

I'm almost sure I know what school you go to. Just be discrete, and don't say anything to identify the chapters until AFTER bid day.

[Miss Kay]

Originally Posted by AOE2AlphaPhi

I'm almost sure I know what school you go to. Just be discrete, and don't say anything to identify the chapters until AFTER bid day.

Hey got your message, and no i don't go there Don't worry, I'm not planning on saying a whole lot until after, but thanks for the advice!!

[Jill1228]

hope things go well for you. I added you to the list

[Miss Kay]

Recruitment is still over a month away. School starts in two weeks though. I am hoping to join another activity on campus such as the student government, just to get involved and start meeting people.
I have my hair appointment set for next week, just want to put my best foot forward and make sure I look great before recruitment instead of just during recruitment. I will be attending a pretty small school, and there are 3 majors that are extremely popular on campus, and I'm double majoring in 2 of them... so I'll undoubtedly run into people I will be rushing with/ ladies in the sororities already. And impressions that you make on people before rush are just as important as those you make during, right? You'll never know who you might meet, and who might know whom...
I'm also wondering about recommendations. By reading some recruitment stories from other girls on this message board, it seems like a lot of people have been working on getting recommendation letters. But, it also seems like rush is so much different at other schools than here. I'm not sure if they would really be necessary here. People that I have talked to have told me that they are not required, but I can't help but wonder... If I sent in recs, would they be looked upon favorably or would I see overly-eager? I know girls from both sororities in other chapters from the university I used to attend. Would it be worth while to get a recommendation from these girls, or does it have to be alumni only?
Also, I don't know anyone at all at my new university, so obviously, I wont know anyone who is going through recruitment. It might seem a little lonely at first, but I guess it is for the better. I have a feeling I will meet so many new and interesting people by going at this on my own! Can't wait!!

[AChiOhSnap]

Originally Posted by Miss Kay

Would it be worth while to get a recommendation from these girls, or does it have to be alumni only?

I think it depends on the specific sorority. You can ask your friends if they'd look into it for you.

Don't worry about looking overly eager. A few years ago, recs were really uncommon at my school (as I hear it is for many sororities in the Northwest/Upper Midwest), but they're slowly gaining in popularity. We went from having like one a year when I first joined (from a PNM's grandma or something) to having at least a quarter of the PNMs send them in.

It really can't hurt, but you probably only need one per sorority. There are likely some legacies going through recruitment with you that will have recs too, so the sororities shouldn't think too much of it.

[Anniebell]

In answer to your statement about having pref parties and rounds and such I would assume you won't have those because it sounds like your formal recruitment will be in the Spring. Fall recruitment will be just a series of parties that each of the chapters have. The level of structure that informal recruitment has depends on the school. Some school keep it fairly structured and require girls go to every house at least once and others make it a free for all and let girls do whatever they want. In regards to the recommendation letters, it never hurts to have them and it shows the chapters you are really taking it seriously. Even if rush isn't that strong at your school if the chapter are close to total they may only be able to take a certain number of girls and better safe than sorry. Anyway, that's my opinion! Good Luck!

[bejazd]

YAY!!!! A California girl story!

There was a great article in the paper about your school just a week or so- it is really growing! Ummm, 14,000 applicants for 3000 new student spots. I predict that Sugar and Spice will have company soon!

I just met a freshmen at a bachelorette party the other night who is headed off to the same school from Orange County. She didn't mention if she was thinking about rushing but she is so excited to start school!

Can't hurt to get your friends to write you a recommendation, especially if they can add some info about you that expands on the basic stuff that will be on the rush application. You won't seem over eager.

Your school has deferred rush for new freshmen only right? I'm guessing that there will be a Pref ceremony of some type...the whole thing just won't be as structured as some of the stuff you may have read here.

good luck Miss Kay!