Rushing at SEC schools...

[stargrl272]

Hey everyone. I'm new here (obviously ) and I thought I'd ask your opinion on something. I'm a freshman this year at a big SEC school, but I didn't rush in the fall because I thought I would be too busy (I'm in the marching band), and well... my spring informal didn't quite work out. Do you think I will be at a serious disadvantage rushing as a sophomore? I've got a 4.0 going for me (so far), but I've read about how competitive they tend to be. If any of you have any advice for me, I would appreciate it. Thanks!
~Kelly~

[KSUViolet06]

From what I know of SEC schools, yes that will be a hinderace to you. I'll leave the rest of it our SEC girls here (paging OleMissGlitter, AchtungBaby80, DGLaura, bekibug, or someone )

[Tippiechick]

I think it will depend on where you are going. Do you go to UT-Knoxville? If so, it will not be as cut-throat as, say, Ole Miss...

It is still going to be tough as a sophomore. Let me repeat that. It is still going to be tough as a sophomore.

*Get your recs. Get your recs. Get your recs.
*Make sure your GPA is in the 3.0 range, at the least.
*Try and make friends with members in your classes, dorms, etc.

Read the other threads on rushing. They can be of assistance. But, without knowing which SEC school you're attending, all we can do is give general advice.

But, don't let anyone tell you that it will be as easy as rushing as a freshman.

Be realistic when rushing. If you don't have the grades and you have no recs, then like anyone, it will be nearly impossible to get a bid. But, also realize as a sophomore rushee on an SEC campus that you probably will get cut by some.

This is not to try and talk you out of rushing. It is meant to give you some HONEST advice about rushing. I don't want anyone rushing as a sophomore on an SEC campus without understanding the reality of rush. (I had to go in with NO idea what to expect.)

Good luck.

[bekibug]

Basically, co-sign on Tippie's post. Grades are the most important thing you can do something about, then recs. Making friends with people also doesn't hurt.

It's been my experience (having known girls that have rushed as sophomores, that is) that yes, you will be cut more heavily in the beginning because of standing. As long as you make the effort to put your best foot forward, though, I don't think it should matter--after all, you'll find out who just wants 4 years' worth of dues and who wants a great asset to their chapter.

Remember, they may know you're a sophomore, but don't let on you know it could be a hindrance. Anything that might make you uncomfortable, even unconsciously, will show through. They're throwing the party, but they're throwing it for you. So work it like you're a freshman and can give whatever they want. If they don't like it, their loss.

[Little E]

If you haven't done so read the posted threads at the top of the rush forum. I would also be careful how much you revel about yourself on these boards, just in case, but that is your decision. If you rush, keep us updated! Good Luck!

[pinkyphimu]

not from an sec school, but i think one other thing to remember is to be open to all of the organizations. don't go into recruitment thinking you are only willing to be a part of a few organizations. give everyone a fair shot, because as others have mentioned, you will be heavily cut because of your standing.

oh, and congrats on the 4.0! i hope you can keep it up!

[OleMissGlitter]

Hi Kelly!

Your grades are great! You sound involved! The main thing is to MEET as many sorority members as you can! The more you meet the better your chance will be. Sophomores and Juniors do go through recruitment her at Ole Miss, but it is harder for them to receive a bid because of the competition from the new freshmen. However, if you keep up your stellar grades and stay positive hopefully, you can find a great sorority to join at your University. Also, now would be a great time to start looking for recs. Ask your high school teachers and church friends if they were in a sorority and ask them to write a rec for you. Also, remember to always behave and act like a lady, not that you are not a lady already, but you never know who is watching you.

Keep us posted on how it goes and remember to ask us questions or PM us if you have anything specific.

-Katherine, AOII

[adpiucf]

Best of luck-- give formal recruitment a go.

Also, just to throw it out there-- do consider that marching band and a sorority are each large time committments. One of the two will have to compromise and if you pledge, you may find yourself missing a lot of sorority events due to marching band requirements. You may feel left out and not as close to your sorority sisters.

This is just a what-if scenario. We had ladies in our Greek system involved in the theatre program or marching band and while they were loved and appreciated, they were absent during big fall and spring events for their other activity and weren't able to experience sorority rites of passage or a lot of the little moments. Their time was spread very thin. This isn't to say you can't be successful at both, but do think about your options.

Before you pledge a sorority, ask yourself about the time committment and if your 4.0 can be maintained while you are part of two very time-consuming activities. You will also want to eventually get a part-time internship or pre-career experience.

Remember that the music groups have their own fraternal orgs where you can enjoy being Greek and have the flexibility of having more intimate understanding marching band obligations. This may be another option if pledging an NPC sorority concurrent with being a member of the band and a full-time student spreads you too thin.

Good luck -- I'm sure you will work out the best solution for your needs and interests.

[GeorgiaGirl]

I completely agree about making sure that joining and sorority and participating with the marching band isn't going to be too time consuming. I just joined my sorority (I'm not initiated yet) and I already find myself spending sometimes as many as five days a week participating in sorority activities. Now, I am doing more than the minimum requirement of activities, but I think that in order to get as much as you can out of your sorority you need to put as much as you can into your sorority.

I know that at UGA marching band members are not able to participate in fall recruitment because they have serious, mandatory practices during the same week. Do you know if this is the case at your school?

Remember that the music groups have their own fraternal orgs where you can enjoy being Greek and have the flexibility of having more intimate understanding marching band obligations.

Co-sign

My friends here in the marching band have joined UGA's women's music fraternity and they all love it. It gives them the opportunity to be greek with the events and the relationships without as much of a time commitment. Just something to think about.

Don't think that I'm trying to discourage you from rushing. If you are someone who has really great time management skills (which I'm assuming that you do since you have a 4.0 and a large marching band commitment) then joining a sorority may be great for you. My advice? I noticed during fall rush that the sophmores in my group actually ended up in the groups that they wanted. Why? They had many friends in the group. I would advise you to definitely get to know the greek women in your classes and around campus, keep up your grades, and good luck with whatever you choose to do!

[stargrl272]

Thanks for all the great advice! Yes, I am at UT-Knoxville. I definitely plan to keep my mind open during recruitment. I'm pretty sure it (recruitment) won't conflict with my marching band stuff, except maybe one day. The marching practices are during the day and the recruitment events are at night. A girl in guard with me did fall recruitment last year and everything worked out schedule-wise.
As far as music organizations go, I don't think I would fit in well with those (edit: not to be rude). I'm not very musically oriented. I don't actually play an instrument, I just do color guard. I will keep an open mind as far as that goes to though.
Umm... again, thanks for all the advice!
~Kelly~

[CarolinaDG]

I don't know about other schools, but at USC there were a LOT of Delta Zetas in marching band. Also, a few of my sorority sisters were in orchestra. And I had a few ZTA's in Choir with me, as well as a tri-delt and myself. All of these organizations have huge time commitments, but most GLO's will understand that you have these commitments and will work around you.

As far as rushing as a sophomore... Well, one of the ZTA's and the tri-delt in my choir both rushed as sophomores. And both of these org's at USC have STELLAR reputations. But I knew both of them before they rushed, and these two were incredible girls. Very sweet, very involved, and both knew a LOT of sorority members before rush. I also rushed as a sophomore. I was invited back to some of the top sororities on campus, but I had reccommendations to most of the sororities when I rushed. My situation is a little different, because I came in with preconceived notions about the sororities. I didn't want to join ABC because they seemed too snobby. I didn't want to join XYZ because there was a girl in there that I didn't like. I wanted XVR the most because of their reputation, but would use RVX as a fall back because a lot of the girls wanted me to pledge. In the end, ironically, I pledged DG because a Sigma Nu had told me to give it a chance even though I hadn't even thought about it. Then, I got into the room and it was the ONE room where I could be myself and didn't feel like I had to sit up straight with my ankles crossed and hair perfect. Once I got in, I had friends in ZTA and ADPi and Tri-Delt, and Chi O, and so on and so on, but I was glad that I picked the one that I was comfortable with. Although I still talk to girls from other org's now that I've graduated, the DG's are the ones I'm calling on for favors or making dinner dates with. The fact of the matter is, if you're in a competitive SEC school then make sure to get your reccomendations and make friends beforehand and behave yourself at parties, but in the end go where YOU feel right.

[RedRoseSAI]

Originally posted by stargrl272
As far as music organizations go, I don't think I would fit in well with those (edit: not to be rude). I'm not very musically oriented. I don't actually play an instrument, I just do color guard.

Of course, I can't speak for the chapter at your school, but I "just do color guard" and am an active alumna, a college chapter advisor, and former national director for Sigma Alpha Iota. There are several girls who are in the guard (and don't play an instrument) at the chapter that I advise. Just because you don't play music doesn't mean you don't love it! PM me if you have any questions.

[33girl]

Originally posted by stargrl272
As far as music organizations go, I don't think I would fit in well with those (edit: not to be rude). I'm not very musically oriented. I don't actually play an instrument, I just do color guard. I will keep an open mind as far as that goes to though.
Umm... again, thanks for all the advice!
~Kelly~

I believe that Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi both just require membership in band to join, not necessarily proficiency in an instrument. It would probably vary from chapter to chapter how "musical" everyone actually is.

[AchtungBaby80]

I rushed at an SEC school as a sophomore and got my first choice! Granted, UK isn't Ole Miss or anything like that, but I can name 3, maybe 4, sororities off the top of my head that you pretty much will not get into if you are a sophomore, so yeah, I'd say it is competitive to an extent. Get your recs, even if the rush application says you don't need them. And I agree with whoever said go out and meet sorority members...knowing girls in about half the houses did work to my advantage.

[UKDaisy]

Kelly! So glad you found GC! I attend the University of Kentucky and I was in marching band and a sorority at the same. Of course the sorority was band related *Tau Beta Sigma*, which is not at UT. But it worked out great. This fall I COB'd Kappa Delta, while still helping out with band andbeing in pep band. SO its very possible. You just have to work with time management.


We are lucky that Uk and UT aren't as Southern Rush as say, Ole' Miss or LSU. But it still isn't easy. Keep in touch with your girls on here from UT, paging REdFox. PM if you have questions. And have fun!!!