Rushing Again

[thetalady]

Originally Posted by Marie Rose

Hi again! So it's time for fall rush, but I'm a little conflicted. I'm now also interested in rushing Phi Sigma Pi, the honors fraternity. I understand that it's a lot like Panhellenic/ICF organizations, but with the perks of being an honor society as well. I'm allowed to rush a social and the honor frat, but how do I balance both? Supposing I receive bids from the honors frat and a sorority, is there a way I can manage the financial and time obligations for both organizations, considering that I have to maintain my grades, work, and am already committed to two other outside activities? Is it worth my while to join both?

There is simply no way for us to know the answers... we can't even make a good guess. Personally, I would suggest that you not to count those chickens before they are hatched. Take it one step at a time.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by thetalady

There is simply no way for us to know the answers... we can't even make a good guess. Personally, I would suggest that you not to count those chickens before they are hatched. Take it one step at a time.

The problem is that she kind of needs to decide which way to go. If she gets a bid from PSP, then rushes NPC and gets a bid from an NPC, she's either going to be 1) super stressed and pressed for time or 2) having to tell one or the other "I have something else in the pipeline, can I get back to you on that?"

Since it is your second time NPC rushing, I would go with that and see how it goes. Does PSP rush every semester or just once a year?

[KSUViolet06]

For what it's worth, I joined both an NPC and service org in college. It can be done, but it's not easy. I also was not a NM of both groups at the same time (I pledged my service org first, and Sigma the next year.)

[Marie Rose]

Thanks for the advice!!! I've decided to rush PSP this semester, and give Panhellenic a chance next semester!

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by Marie Rose

Thanks for the advice!!! I've decided to rush PSP this semester, and give Panhellenic a chance next semester!

Whaaaat?

Help me understand what made you come to that decision.

[angels&angles]

Yes, I agree with Sen (AND DEAN). That seems like the wrong decision. As someone who is already a non-freshman, your chances at an NPC sorority will only decrease (probably drastically) after this semester. Can you say the same for PSP?

[Marie Rose]

I have several reasons for choosing to rush PSP this semester and not a Panhellenic sorority. My most important reason is probably the reason you chose your houses: where I will be the happiest. My school is in informal rush right now. Therefore, not all the sororities are accepting new pledges. I remembered which houses I loved and which houses I did not when I rushed last time. Unfortunately, all of the houses that are taking new members (and there are only a few) are the ones I didn't love. I know times change and people and preferences change, but I'm not quite willing to rush these houses when I know I could be really happy somewhere else. I know that time is of the essence since (and I'll put this bluntly) I am a less favorable candidate and a sophomore, but there is a chance for me to find my home with a wonderful group of men and women who share most of my values.

I went to a rush event for PSP tonight and really clicked with the brothers. When I talked with them, I felt like I was talking to my friends and family. I believe in what they stand for, and I can picture myself hanging with them, wearing those letters proudly, and taking my place in the Greek system. Yes, there are a couple of sororities with whom I felt wanted and happy, but they are not in my grasp at the moment. When I know I have potentially found my place, why should I hold out for a NPC offer that may or may not come along, and may or may not make me happy?

You all had reasons for pledging your respective organizations. They are your family, and hopefully you are happy and loved there. Well, I think I may have found my family, and I want to join them. I love greek life, and I think there could be a NPC out there for me, but it's not in my hand right now. What's in my hand is the chance to be Greek, and to be Greek in a group that I have fallen in love with. What more could I ask for, other than your understanding of my choices and your support as I pursue this?

You all have been wonderful, and your advice is stellar. I will remember it as I move forward with rushing. If you are interested (and not pissed off at me for my choice), I will post my success or failure. Thank you so much!! <3

P.S For those of you who have finished fall rush, good luck with your new, beautiful pledges!!!

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by Marie Rose

I have several reasons for choosing to rush PSP this semester and not a Panhellenic sorority. My most important reason is probably the reason you chose your houses: where I will be the happiest. My school is in informal rush right now. Therefore, not all the sororities are accepting new pledges. I remembered which houses I loved and which houses I did not when I rushed last time. Unfortunately, all of the houses that are taking new members (and there are only a few) are the ones I didn't love. I know times change and people and preferences change, but I'm not quite willing to rush these houses when I know I could be really happy somewhere else. I know that time is of the essence since (and I'll put this bluntly) I am a less favorable candidate and a sophomore, but there is a chance for me to find my home with a wonderful group of men and women who share most of my values.

I went to a rush event for PSP tonight and really clicked with the brothers. When I talked with them, I felt like I was talking to my friends and family. I believe in what they stand for, and I can picture myself hanging with them, wearing those letters proudly, and taking my place in the Greek system. Yes, there are a couple of sororities with whom I felt wanted and happy, but they are not in my grasp at the moment. When I know I have potentially found my place, why should I hold out for a NPC offer that may or may not come along, and may or may not make me happy?

You all had reasons for pledging your respective organizations. They are your family, and hopefully you are happy and loved there. Well, I think I may have found my family, and I want to join them. I love greek life, and I think there could be a NPC out there for me, but it's not in my hand right now. What's in my hand is the chance to be Greek, and to be Greek in a group that I have fallen in love with. What more could I ask for, other than your understanding of my choices and your support as I pursue this?

You all have been wonderful, and your advice is stellar. I will remember it as I move forward with rushing. If you are interested (and not pissed off at me for my choice), I will post my success or failure. Thank you so much!! <3

P.S For those of you who have finished fall rush, good luck with your new, beautiful pledges!!!

I want to wish you the best of luck with PSP. It's a great feeling when you think you've found your home. I hope it works out for you. As for joining an NPC, I was under the mistaken impression that you had decided to skip Formal Recruitment in favor of joining PSP. Now that it's clear that Formal is in the spring, I think you've made a good decision. Focus on PSP for now.

[angels&angles]

Ah, like Leslie Ann, I didn't realize this semester was informal. That makes a lot more sense. However, I feel the need to point out that it is extremely likely that the chapters who are doing informal, the ones you don't like as much, are highly likely to be the only ones willing to take a chance on a non-freshman, unless you are just BFFFFFFFFF with some of the girls in the other chapters. As a sophomore, your mind should be completely open because you will likely have fewer choices than a freshman.

Good luck with PSP and formal in the spring!

[Marie Rose]

So rush is finished, and I'm sorry to say that I think I didn't revive a bid. I'm not sure because we were supposed to receive a call last night regardless of whether we received a bid or not. I didn't get a call. Not a text, email, knock on my door, nada. So now I'm just floating. I'm pretty certain I didn't get a bid, but it's still really upsetting that I'm clearly not worthy of enough respect to get told what happened, instead of leaving me guessing. I was told earlier in rush to not be upset if I didn't get a bid, and that it wasn't a reflection of my value to PSP or whether or not they liked me. I just don't know what to do. I need some closure.

[MTSUGURL]

If you were told that you would be contacted no matter the outcome, I wouldn't completely discount it yet. It is possible that you didn't receive a bid, not I'd give it a bit more time.

[Marie Rose]

Alright, now I'm faced with an unexpected dilemma. I don't want to seem pathetic or desperate, but there is, a bit ironically, one more chance to get recruited to a Greek organization this semester. It's a NPC that's recolonizing on my campus. I don't know much about it, but I have a chance to rush and become a founding member of the chapter. I'm still fresh from my rejection from PSP (which I discovered was because even though I was an ideal match and hit it off with the brothers, the applicant pool was too vast), and I'm wondering if the only reason I'm considering this at all is stemming from my ticking "Greek expiration date". I still very much want to find my family, and I thought I had done so, so what do you think I should do? Go to this NPC rush and see, or wait until next semester to rush PSP again OR go through formal again. Or should I throw in the towel, accept that I'm a loser, and begin my days as a GDI! I'm starting to feel pathetic, but I honestly just want to find the group on campus that feels most like family. This isn't about being popular or wearing letters for the sake of wearing letters. I just want to be accepted and loved by awesome people, which have always been my reasons for joining Greek life.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Marie Rose

Alright, now I'm faced with an unexpected dilemma. I don't want to seem pathetic or desperate, but there is, a bit ironically, one more chance to get recruited to a Greek organization this semester.

Please don't say it this way, it sounds like you are joining the Army or a cult. (One more reason I detest the term "recruitment.")

Go and see if you dig the colony, and if not, try formal again in the fall.

Oh, and PSP's reason as to why you didn't get a bid seems really weird to me. If they have a large pool of equally awesome applicants, I don't know why they wouldn't want to take them all. People can take twins when taking littles, we did that in APO when we had a huge number of people interested.

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by Marie Rose

....but I honestly just want to find the group on campus that feels most like family. This isn't about being popular or wearing letters for the sake of wearing letters. I just want to be accepted and loved by awesome people, which have always been my reasons for joining Greek life.

I am sorry that I didn't come back to acknowledge that you had answered my question from before. Thank you for answering and I am sorry you did not receive a bid from PSP. Read below to see why I feel this is a blessing in disguise.

But yes, go through colony recruitment. I truly believe your shift in understanding needs to come from within and from without. In other words, you need to understand that even if you get a bid from Da Baddest Bitches, Inc., that is not a guarantee that you will be accepted and loved off the top. Sisterhood and brotherhood just doesn't work like that. You may not click in the beginning, you may not click in the end, but hopefully you can make the best of whatever situation you find yourself in IF YOU GET A BID.

If you are invited to join a colony, it's going to be different. You will have to be a tone setter, a leader, a giver. This is quite literally not about what you can get from a sorority, but what you can give to it. Think about that when you are next in a situation to be judged by GLO members. My hunch is that they're not "feeling" you for some reason.

Originally Posted by 33girl

Go and see if you dig the colony, and if not, try formal again in the fall.

Oh, and PSP's reason as to why you didn't get a bid seems really weird to me. If they have a large pool of equally awesome applicants, I don't know why they wouldn't want to take them all. People can take twins when taking littles, we did that in APO when we had a huge number of people interested.

So basically, and this is pretty rude of me but I also feel like being honest: PSP doesn't impress me. It seems like APO with a GPA. I know the GCers here who have been members enjoyed their undergrad years, but there was always a second or third organization they were also loyal to.

The PSP members I know who are NOT members of another org have done shit for their organization after graduation. I'm not down with that. PSP has far fewer alumni volunteers than say APO and I just feel like the members I know literally did it because they couldn't get into anything else, and then they graduate and don't give back. That annoys me.

That annoys me about members of every GLO, but especially PSP for some reason.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

I am sorry that I didn't come back to acknowledge that you had answered my question from before. Thank you for answering and I am sorry you did not receive a bid from PSP. Read below to see why I feel this is a blessing in disguise.

But yes, go through colony recruitment. I truly believe your shift in understanding needs to come from within and from without. In other words, you need to understand that even if you get a bid from Da Baddest Bitches, Inc., that is not a guarantee that you will be accepted and loved off the top. Sisterhood and brotherhood just doesn't work like that. You may not click in the beginning, you may not click in the end, but hopefully you can make the best of whatever situation you find yourself in IF YOU GET A BID.

If you are invited to join a colony, it's going to be different. You will have to be a tone setter, a leader, a giver. This is quite literally not about what you can get from a sorority, but what you can give to it. Think about that when you are next in a situation to be judged by GLO members. My hunch is that they're not "feeling" you for some reason.

Great post! (I removed the PSP part because I have no personal knowledge of PSP.)