Is it worth trying?

[cuteASAbug]

I really don't want to be negative or rain on your parade but I have to say that if recruitment starts tomorrow, good luck getting recs today. The sororities have been receiving recs (probably) all summer and even if you can get recs today, the sororities will see that you waited until the last minute to get them in.

[hottytoddychick]

Water parties are tomorrow, but formal recruitment isn't until Sept. 23. I know that impressions will still be made before then, but surely I can't be the last person to register. It's open until Sept. 14.

[cuteASAbug]

They stretch recruitment out for a month? How does that work? What are water parties? Good luck!

[hottytoddychick]

From what I understand it's kind of just a "test the waters" type thing. No decorations, nothing fancy, just water and girls. I'm still learning, though, so anybody feel free to correct me!

[Bamarox]

My guess is that rush as a junior is pretty tough.

[adpiucf]

My personal opinion may come off as harsh, but take it for what it's worth.

Most of the ladies rushing will be freshmen with very high GPAs, lots of extracurriculars and recommendations. A lot of those freshmen are going to be cut severely in the first few rounds.

At this school and as a junior, you're also going to receive some severe cuts. Not having recs is going to hurt you.

Please don't take any of these cuts personally. Put this idea into your mindset right now: Being cut does not mean they did not like you or that you're not good enough. It's just the nature of this section process. In regard to these circumstances, I would be very surprised, but very happy for you, if you receive a bid.

I do hope that you do receive a bid, but remember that the chances of this are small at such a competitive school. I urge you to go into this process with the interest to join "a" sorority, and not fixate on one or two that it seems you love or everyone else loves after the first round. These are all good-sized chapters; you could make friends and have a good experience with any of these groups.

Lastly, please look at the long-term costs you will be assuming by taking out a loan to pay for a social activity. What are you actually paying once you have paid off all of the interest? Your $1000 loan may end up costing you closer to $1500 when all is said and done. Other options: a part time job, a loan from mom and dad that you can pay back over the summer, etc? Please think this through.

I do wish you the best of luck with recruitment. Remember to be realistic, but most of all, have fun!

[hottytoddychick]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

My personal opinion may come off as harsh, but take it for what it's worth.

Most of the ladies rushing will be freshmen with very high GPAs, lots of extracurriculars and recommendations. A lot of those freshmen are going to be cut severely in the first few rounds.

At this school and as a junior, you're also going to receive some severe cuts. Not having recs is going to hurt you.

Please don't take any of these cuts personally. Put this idea into your mindset right now: Being cut does not mean they did not like you or that you're not good enough. It's just the nature of this section process. In regard to these circumstances, I would be very surprised, but very happy for you, if you receive a bid.

I do hope that you do receive a bid, but remember that the chances of this are small at such a competitive school. I urge you to go into this process with the interest to join "a" sorority, and not fixate on one or two that it seems you love or everyone else loves after the first round. These are all good-sized chapters; you could make friends and have a good experience with any of these groups.

Lastly, please look at the long-term costs you will be assuming by taking out a loan to pay for a social activity. What are you actually paying once you have paid off all of the interest? Your $1000 loan may end up costing you closer to $1500 when all is said and done. Other options: a part time job, a loan from mom and dad that you can pay back over the summer, etc? Please think this through.

I do wish you the best of luck with recruitment. Remember to be realistic, but most of all, have fun!

I'm trying to be really level-headed and realistic about this whole thing. I know as a junior, I'll have to work harder to get a bid, if I even can, but I'll also be excited just to have experienced rush and gotten a taste of greek life. I know it's not going to feel good getting cut, but I'm prepping myself for that.

Getting a loan from my parents is an awesome idea! I will definitely have to talk to them about it, because it'll be better than a real loan with interest and whatnot.

Since I'm living off campus, how am I supposed to find out who my gamma chi is?

I was looking at the Recruitment website for Ole Miss and it clearly states:

Each sorority asks for the following items:

• Picture
• Final transcript (this does not have to be official)
• Alumni recommendation
  (This is a letter or form that comes from the sorority alumna. You can contact an alumni chapter in your area if you do not know an alumnus personally. Alumni chapters can be located through the sorority’s national website. You can also search on the National Panhellenic website http://www.npcwomen.org/alumnae/a_directory.php)

I know it doesn't specifically state "ALL PNMs NEED A REC," but if CPCs are bound by that darn 1992 resolution saying that sororities cannot imply that a rec is needed in order to rush, why is it okay to ask for them here at Ole Miss and not at Auburn?


Sorry for the questions. This whole drama with parents not knowing their daughters needed recs to rush at SEC schools has definitely piqued my curiosity.

[adpiucf]

Good point. It isn't that they need the recs to rush... they need the recs to join. I think that is the difference when a CPC posts on their web site that recs are not necessary -- the CPC honors the NPC resolution that obligates chapters to secure the recs. And the chapters are securing the recs-- from the PNMs! I think it is smart that Ole Miss's CPC web site is specifying that the the individual chapters would like recs, transcripts and photos. The CPC isn't asking for those things-- the chapters are asking for them (asking rather than stating they are required).

[KSUViolet06]

MSKKG and OleMissGlitter are both Ole Miss sorority alumnae. Maybe they could provide you with some advice. Also, do a search. I think there are some general threads about Ole Miss rush. I'm sure there'll be more talk about it on this site as it gets closer.

[hottytoddychick]

Thanks KSU! I did send OleMissGlitter a pm earlier, but I'll definitely contact MSKKG.

[andrea981]

One of the things I would consider putting down in the recruitment forms is some type of explanation as to why you waited until your junior year. Many of the sororities will think that you just want the letters and will not put a lot of effort into the sorority and will blow off events and stuff. Long story short -- you need to "spin" your class year so that it is positive. Maybe, based on your previous posts, you could spin it by saying that you feel strongly about not committing to things that you don't know you can follow through on and say that in previous years you didn't want to commit to a sorority if you weren't sure it was within your budget. Then state that you have saved up money or something because it is important to you. I think if any sorority is willing to consider a junior, they would be more likely to do so in that situation.

[hottytoddychick]

Water parties were today, and it was so much fun! I had so many great experiences. I'm going to start a rush thread if anyone is interested.

Andrea- that is an awesome way to put it. Thank you so much! A lot of the girls were really supportive of the fact that I was a junior. I know a girl who graduated last year, and she said half of her pledge class was juniors, so I feel better about everything. I'm just so excited and can't wait until formal recruitment starts!