Deciding to rush Sophomore Year. Help Please?

[BadCat25]

It is going to be harder but that is not to say there is no hope at all. I know social rejection sucks big time but you are not in a sorority now and if you don't try again you never will be so you are going to have to be emotionally tough and run the risk it will not work out. There are some things you can do to improve your chances. Study hard and get good grades. You don't want to be cut for bad ones. Get recs for every chapter. Get involved in a student organization. Sororities like that. Be on your best behavior for the rest of this school year. They won't give a bid to a tramp.
During rush I wouldn't be the one to bring up the fact that you went through rush this fall. They probably won't remember but if they do say you signed up but dropped out to concentrate on your grades. Keep an open mind about the chapters. This is very important. Your choices will probably be more limited than if you were a freshman.
The last thing, and I will probably get all kinds of abuse from the GC gang for this, is your looks. If you need to take off some pounds you must do it. Fat is a total killer in rush. Learn how to put on makeup like a pro. It can make a huge difference. Get a pro haircut you can easily reproduce. A $9.95 mall job won't do. Keep your eyes open on how the sorority girls on your school dress and do as they do. You want them to imagine you are one of them. You know from your first rush what they will ask you so practice your answers.
I can't think of anything else but good luck to you.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by BadCat25

The last thing, and I will probably get all kinds of abuse from the GC gang for this, is your looks. If you need to take off some pounds you must do it. Fat is a total killer in rush. Learn how to put on makeup like a pro. It can make a huge difference. Get as pro haircut that you can easily reproduce. A $9.95 mall job won't do. Keep your eyes open on how the sorority girls on your school dress and do as they do. You want them to imagine you are one of them. You know from your first rush what they will ask you so practice your answers.

I just wanted to add that while it's great to present yourself well, be smart about it. If you feel that you need to lose weight (for your own personal health reasons), then do it. But I wouldn't recommend going crazy and starving yourself for the sake of recruitment. Be smart and healthy about it (eat well, go to the gym, etc).

I also feel the need to add that losing weight, dressing well, and looking good are all nice, but those things alone don't generally = a bid. There's got to be more to you than just that (as badcat pointed out). Some of the prettiest girls in recruitment get cut for having sub-par grades, lacking connections in chapters, or having problems making conversation. There's got to be a balance. For example, a $200 haircut doesn't help much if you can barely hold a conversation.

Something that I find to be more important for sophomores is having good friends in chapters. It can NEVER hurt to have girls who know and like you in chapters. It won't guarantee to you a spot, but it is good to have.

[LΩVE]

Rushing as a sophomore at some schools can be an advantage, but it does depend on your school. If you spend your freshman year concentrating on what's best for you, like making good grades, finding other organizations on campus to get involved in, and making friends, that could help you your next time around. They'll see that you can handle college and that you can be an asset to their organization.

Truthfully, your behavior, weight, etc. CAN have an effect on your recruitment, but that shouldn't be your FIRST concern. No matter what, just be confident. If sororities don't want to give you a bid because you're overweight, for instance, then they probably aren't very mature as a group, anyway, and you should find other people to hang out with. Have fun, but don't have sex on the pool table at the fraternity house. Be comfortable with your body, but dress it to its advantage. (If you're really tiny, find something that makes you stand out. If you're a little overweight, wear clothing that fits and isn't too tight...actually, no one should wear clothing that's too tight. If you have a bigger chest, save the cleavage for the club. Being able to dress your best shows confidence.).