what if i wait to rush?

heatherh1981 · #1 07-27-2000, 11:55 AM

If i wait to like my sophmore or higher year to rush, would i have a better chance? i'm not planning on it anytime soon, i'm going to September 3. But i was just wondering

PenguinTrax · #2 07-27-2000, 01:03 PM

It really depends on the campus and the chapters. I know that many chapters really want to take freshwomen and that's their priority because they need to insure that each year is 'full'. However, I know that many chapters will rush quality upperclasswomen because of the maturity, experience and higher grades they offer. It really depends on the the chapter, but my opinion is that a quality member is a quality member, regardless of age.

Barb

LexVegas · #3 07-27-2000, 03:05 PM

That sounds like a bad stragegy, if the only reason you'd want to wait is to improve your chances of getting a bid.

At small schools like mine, where the majority of rushees are freshmen, waiting until soph. year or later can't help you, but it COULD hurt.

From the sorority's point of view, older rushees are less attractive, since they will not pay 4 yrs. of dues. A sorority depends on getting a full pledge class each rush of women who will pay dues for a full 4 years. Sure, some houses make exceptions for older rushees who they really love, but bear in mind that when a sorority accepts an older pledge, it is harming its own finances. Each older rushee that it bids means one less freshman who will pay the whole way can be offered membership.

Sororities expect less, extracurricularly, from freshmen rushees, since they understand that they just got to school. They would expect a good level of involvement from an older rushee, who has had a chance to settle in. In effect, the bar is raised for older rushees.

If what you want is to get in, your best bet is to rush when most other women do. Don't skip a year to rush the next; this does not make you more attractive to sororities.

etienneSAI · #4 07-28-2000, 02:49 PM

if you wait until your sophomore year, everyone will find out what your REAL motives are for joining a sorority and then you'll really be screwed now, won't you???

etienne

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"red is the color of music and has been since the very earliest of times. the caps of faeries and musicians are well-nigh always red."~*~w.b.yeats

"I think that happiness is when you can let yourself feel every emotion you want at any time instead of being a lying little fuck." - Tori Amos

preppie · #5 07-28-2000, 04:28 PM

Ooooohhhh evil! Really girls, lets TRY to be civil!

Texas Alum · #6 07-28-2000, 08:28 PM

Penguin and Lex are offering really solid advice. I don't know of any schools with NPC chapters at which your rush experience would be better as a non-freshman.

I know that at U.Texas there used to be chapters that wouldn't even pledge a sophomore unless she transferred and had THE most stellar GPA and extracurriculars at her previous school. (juniors are "free" at UT and don't count towards quota, although only a handful actually go through)

etienneSAI · #7 07-28-2000, 09:01 PM

okay okay okay....you're right, i was being petty and i'll STOP now. sorry to preppie and the greeks out there. i wasn't really setting a good example of a sigma alpha iota...i think my mind just got carried away!

etienne
sigma alpha iota-the hartt school of music

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"red is the color of music and has been since the very earliest of times. the caps of faeries and musicians are well-nigh always red."~*~w.b.yeats

"I think that happiness is when you can let yourself feel every emotion you want at any time instead of being a lying little fuck." - Tori Amos

preppie · #8 07-28-2000, 09:55 PM

Don't worry about it, its VERY understandable, especially since I've been rereading some of these posts. We just have to remember that the written word can sometimes be taken very differently from the spoken!

mwedzi · #9 07-30-2000, 07:34 AM

Heather,

As they all said, it depends on the school and on your chapter. My chapter really values sophomore and junior rushees. They tend to show a more mature and realistic perspective of college life. They have already proven that they have the grades and the overall drive to make it through college and they understand better than an incoming freshman the idea of managing time in university. This doesn't mean that we have anything against freshmen, as most go on to be great members. But we also love our slightly older rushees. BTW, I pledged as a sophomore.

And about the harming the finances thing, as long as the spots of those who leave are replaced by new members, everything still works out okay.

lizzie3d · #10 08-01-2000, 03:41 AM

I would venture to say that a third or more of the women who rush at my university are sophomore or older. I think by that time people have settled in and they feel like they know what the campus is about, and then they want to see what greek life is about.

In addition, I pledged as a sophomore, my roommate as a junior, and my suitemate as a senior. All three of us are getting equally wonderful experiences in our respective houses-- it didn't matter how late we joined, everyone treated us the same. As far as I'm concerned, the women who will be dedicated to the house and active in all the events will be women who have matured, and sometimes that means they will be a little older. That doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Lizzie

awdiddleaw · #11 09-13-2008, 01:03 PM

As a freshman in college, I was really shy, and wasn't entirely sure if Greek life was for me, so I didn't rush, although nearly all the freshmen rush at my school. Sophomore year I considered it, but then thought that it might be too much of a commitment. I had a lot of difficult classes, and had my heart set on getting straight A's in them, so I felt I needed to put the majority of my free time into studying.

By junior year, I had realized that I was pretty good at managing my time and getting good grades. I was also a lot more confident, and decided that joining a sorority was something I really wanted to do. I went through rush, but unfortunately did not receive a bid. There was a very large freshman class rushing that year and not enough sororities. I really enjoyed the rush parties, and would have loved to experience Greek life, but most of the decision was not in my control.

Overall, I think being an older student may have hurt me during rush. In my opinion, freshmen seem to have the best chance of getting a bid, so if you are even considering rushing as a freshman, go for it!

texas*princess · #12 09-13-2008, 01:07 PM

this thread is 8 yrs old.

breathesgelatin · #13 09-30-2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LexVegas

That sounds like a bad stragegy, if the only reason you'd want to wait is to improve your chances of getting a bid.

At small schools like mine, where the majority of rushees are freshmen, waiting until soph. year or later can't help you, but it COULD hurt.

From the sorority's point of view, older rushees are less attractive, since they will not pay 4 yrs. of dues. A sorority depends on getting a full pledge class each rush of women who will pay dues for a full 4 years. Sure, some houses make exceptions for older rushees who they really love, but bear in mind that when a sorority accepts an older pledge, it is harming its own finances. Each older rushee that it bids means one less freshman who will pay the whole way can be offered membership.

Sororities expect less, extracurricularly, from freshmen rushees, since they understand that they just got to school. They would expect a good level of involvement from an older rushee, who has had a chance to settle in. In effect, the bar is raised for older rushees.

If what you want is to get in, your best bet is to rush when most other women do. Don't skip a year to rush the next; this does not make you more attractive to sororities.

Hey, a random W&L person from 8 years ago!!