Sophomore Spring Rush

[wmu_aoii]

Well, I was in your exact position (except for I was a freshman when I rushed, not a Sophomore). So - my advice is that you kick ass on your exams and bring up your GPA, rush in the Spring, and if you get a bid, that means you can actually live in the house next year instead of having to wait until your senior year! I rushed in the Spring, and only went to one house (my favorite during recruitment, which dropped me before pref) and I didn't feel like I had made the wrong choice. You've been through formal - you already know which houses you do and don't like. For people who don't go through formal and only do Spring rush, then yeah, they should go to as many houses as possible.

And as far as rushing next year and being a senior, I'm not going to lie, no sorority is going to see that as a good thing. To some, it might not be so bad, but that really depends on how competitive your school is. Longevity is what a lot of chapters are looking for right off the bat.

Long story short - why wait? Raise your GPA this semester, then GO FOR IT (especially if you're interested in living in the house)! You WON'T regret it!

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by wmu_aoii

...So - my advice is that you kick ass on your exams and bring up your GPA, rush in the Spring, and if you get a bid, that means you can actually live in the house next year instead of having to wait until your senior year!

Nothing to add except for this possible clarification/correction, though granted I don't know the specifics on this particular campus. Most housing lists now days are determined in early spring so those members who will not be living in have plenty of time to find alternative housing. Therefore depending on when spring Informal Recruitment occurs the list might already be determined and leases signed.

[Sablia]

I wanted to clarify something for any current UA students or any UA graduates. If I have offended anyone, I'm really sorry. That wasn't the point of this thread and I haven't meant to upset anyone. When I wrote my blog, I was mostly writing for my parents, so I am sure I sound rather harsh in it. The truth is, I did not hate any house, and they were all so nice to me, even though I made it clear I was super shy, introverted, and didn't like to drink. If I made it sound like I hated any one particular chapter, I didn't mean to. That wasn't really my intention, and I am sure I made the ones I didn't see myself in, sound worse than they were. All that I was meaning to say was that even though some of them were still super nice, I couldn't see myself fitting in there. I just wanted to clear that up, because I know my journal sounded kind of... bad, to those who read it.


Aoii (can I call you Blue? ): You're probably right. Sleeping and thinking with a clearer head made me see that there's no point in waiting. Rushing my Junior year could be fun again, but it would be really hard, and I'd be missing out on a lot of opportunities.

I'd like to live in house, possibly, but I guess it depends on which house I get into Most of the houses seem nice, but I only got 2 house tours, so I can't really make that judgement yet

I wanted to add that at UA, we have to visit every participating house, so even if there is a house I don't see myself at, there's a chance I might go back the next day anyway. I of course think that in this case, it's all about the manners, and unfortunately when some girls get called back to a house they ranked low, they are quite rude. I make a point to always be at the least, very polite. But one way or the other, I can't pick who I rush.


VioletPretty: I didn't know that 5th year students sometimes have to go alum so it's even more important for me to go in the Spring, I guess. That way I would at least have an extra semester of being an active, too.

I guess you're right and a part of me did want to skip Spring Rush but I've thought about it more and I only visited my favorite houses for maybe an hour, total, during the week. So for all I know, my perception of them is limited, and I could really be missing out on another great chapter/opportunity if I was too fixated on just the small percent of houses I actually had a chance to see. I'm going to definitely do Spring Rush, and go in with an open mind, and make an effort to show all the sororities that I'd love to be in their chapters! And if I get a bid great, and if not... lol, well then, I guess it's fall rush but I'd be a junior by then... maybe I'd check out non-NPC sororities


AzTheta: Thanks for your help! I emailed the Greek Life Office and I think they must be closed for the weekend (so I am just a little eager to get this show on the road!). I think Spring Rush sounds better and better, if all chapters are planning on making quota. There's HUGE numbers of girls rushing every year now; it's almost as if 11 sororities just doesn't cut it... But I enjoy them all anyway

So I guess I will focus a lot on grades and really try to bring up my GPA. (I checked on this tool called the A/B deficit calculator and I at least SHOULD be able to attain a 3.0 without much concern, but I am aiming higher... would a 3.0 be considered not all that good?)

Zillini: That's good to know! I will keep it in mind! Thanks so much, I didn't actually understood how it worked... so I will cross my fingers


Thanks everyone for your help. What I am getting is to participate in Spring Rush because if I don't I will be wasting a valuable opportunity; To work a LOT on my grades this semester; to get in touch with Greek Life now, to get information; and to not just fixate on the houses I liked a lot last time, but to be openminded again. Is it about right?

OK, thank you all for your advice! I will try my hardest to do all that and it all makes sense. Thanks for the advice about my journal, I will go edit it. Also, anybody have any more advice?

Thanks all

[bear_down]

Originally Posted by Sablia

I wanted to clarify something for any current UA students or any UA graduates. If I have offended anyone, I'm really sorry. That wasn't the point of this thread and I haven't meant to upset anyone. When I wrote my blog, I was mostly writing for my parents, so I am sure I sound rather harsh in it. The truth is, I did not hate any house, and they were all so nice to me, even though I made it clear I was super shy, introverted, and didn't like to drink. If I made it sound like I hated any one particular chapter, I didn't mean to. That wasn't really my intention, and I am sure I made the ones I didn't see myself in, sound worse than they were. All that I was meaning to say was that even though some of them were still super nice, I couldn't see myself fitting in there. I just wanted to clear that up, because I know my journal sounded kind of... bad, to those who read it.


Aoii (can I call you Blue? ): You're probably right. Sleeping and thinking with a clearer head made me see that there's no point in waiting. Rushing my Junior year could be fun again, but it would be really hard, and I'd be missing out on a lot of opportunities.

I'd like to live in house, possibly, but I guess it depends on which house I get into Most of the houses seem nice, but I only got 2 house tours, so I can't really make that judgement yet

I wanted to add that at UA, we have to visit every participating house, so even if there is a house I don't see myself at, there's a chance I might go back the next day anyway. I of course think that in this case, it's all about the manners, and unfortunately when some girls get called back to a house they ranked low, they are quite rude. I make a point to always be at the least, very polite. But one way or the other, I can't pick who I rush.


VioletPretty: I didn't know that 5th year students sometimes have to go alum so it's even more important for me to go in the Spring, I guess. That way I would at least have an extra semester of being an active, too.

I guess you're right and a part of me did want to skip Spring Rush but I've thought about it more and I only visited my favorite houses for maybe an hour, total, during the week. So for all I know, my perception of them is limited, and I could really be missing out on another great chapter/opportunity if I was too fixated on just the small percent of houses I actually had a chance to see. I'm going to definitely do Spring Rush, and go in with an open mind, and make an effort to show all the sororities that I'd love to be in their chapters! And if I get a bid great, and if not... lol, well then, I guess it's fall rush but I'd be a junior by then... maybe I'd check out non-NPC sororities


AzTheta: Thanks for your help! I emailed the Greek Life Office and I think they must be closed for the weekend (so I am just a little eager to get this show on the road!). I think Spring Rush sounds better and better, if all chapters are planning on making quota. There's HUGE numbers of girls rushing every year now; it's almost as if 11 sororities just doesn't cut it... But I enjoy them all anyway

So I guess I will focus a lot on grades and really try to bring up my GPA. (I checked on this tool called the A/B deficit calculator and I at least SHOULD be able to attain a 3.0 without much concern, but I am aiming higher... would a 3.0 be considered not all that good?)

Zillini: That's good to know! I will keep it in mind! Thanks so much, I didn't actually understood how it worked... so I will cross my fingers


Thanks everyone for your help. What I am getting is to participate in Spring Rush because if I don't I will be wasting a valuable opportunity; To work a LOT on my grades this semester; to get in touch with Greek Life now, to get information; and to not just fixate on the houses I liked a lot last time, but to be openminded again. Is it about right?

OK, thank you all for your advice! I will try my hardest to do all that and it all makes sense. Thanks for the advice about my journal, I will go edit it. Also, anybody have any more advice?

Thanks all

UA recruitment is extremely competitive and you have basically used your best chance of receiving a bid. There really isn't such a thing as a do-over here.

Without knowing details about you and your personality, the big objective things that hurt you during your first recruitment were:

-Class standing. Sophomores can get bids, although not frequently. Freshmen have a huge advantage.
-Grades. Academics are very important with UA sororities, and particularly important with one you were in love with. Why would a chapter keep inviting back a sophomore with marginal grades when they could invite a freshman with a 4.0 they liked just as much?
-Recs. You need them at all the UA chapters.
-Blog. You didn't do yourself any favors by putting that blog up. Although chapters may not have seen it during recruitment, they most certainly have now. It's pretty obvious who you are and VERY obvious which chapters you're talking about.

So there really aren't a lot of things you can change in that list come fall. AFAIK everyone made quota and the few chapters who may have COR/spring recruitment will be the very same houses you didn't like during formal.

Juniors occasionally get bids, but they aren't shy, introrverted, uninvolved re-rushers with marginal GPAs. They are women who are already well known to the members and truly extraordinary in all areas. You're also dealing with chapters that have a "once cut always cut" policy, so even if you change radically before fall, you'll still get cut from them immediately.

I know this all sounds harsh, but it's the reality you are dealing with here.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by bear_down

UA recruitment is extremely competitive and you have basically used your best chance of receiving a bid. There really isn't such a thing as a do-over here.

Without knowing details about you and your personality, the big objective things that hurt you during your first recruitment were:

-Class standing. Sophomores can get bids, although not frequently. Freshmen have a huge advantage.
-Grades. Academics are very important with UA sororities, and particularly important with one you were in love with. Why would a chapter keep inviting back a sophomore with marginal grades when they could invite a freshman with a 4.0 they liked just as much?
-Recs. You need them at all the UA chapters.
-Blog. You didn't do yourself any favors by putting that blog up. Although chapters may not have seen it during recruitment, they most certainly have now. It's pretty obvious who you are and VERY obvious which chapters you're talking about.

So there really aren't a lot of things you can change in that list come fall. AFAIK everyone made quota and the few chapters who may have COR/spring recruitment will be the very same houses you didn't like during formal.

Juniors occasionally get bids, but they aren't shy, introrverted, uninvolved re-rushers with marginal GPAs. They are women who are already well known to the members and truly extraordinary in all areas. You're also dealing with chapters that have a "once cut always cut" policy, so even if you change radically before fall, you'll still get cut from them immediately.

I know this all sounds harsh, but it's the reality you are dealing with here.

Applause.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Sablia

And if I get a bid great, and if not... lol, well then, I guess it's fall rush but I'd be a junior by then... maybe I'd check out non-NPC sororities

Non-NPC sororities and/or co-ed fraternities are not a "consolation prize" for women who do not receive bids through NPC rush. Please do not treat them as such. KTHXBYE.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by Sablia

Thanks everyone for your help. What I am getting is to participate in Spring Rush because if I don't I will be wasting a valuable opportunity; To work a LOT on my grades this semester; to get in touch with Greek Life now, to get information; and to not just fixate on the houses I liked a lot last time, but to be openminded again. Is it about right?

Yes. Sounds like you have a game plan and definite direction, and that you've learned quite a bit in a short time period.

I am relieved that the mistakes I made as a college freshman (actually, all the way through college and into my 20s) were not memorialized on anything remotely resembling the Internet. With time, memories fade. I burned a lot of journals and truly awful pictures (the hair! the clothes! Gah!) and do I regret it? No!

good luck to you, and I hope you find a home, whether in a sorority or in another group.