Very weird situation..

[GTrushee]

So here's the deal: I'm 18, but a junior by hours since I dropped out of high school after my sophomore year to attend college. I went to a medium sized school for my freshman year and transferred to Georgia Tech after that. I've now been here for a full year.

Last year I rushed, but dropped out after the second day (our rush starts the Friday night before classes start and ends the next Wednesday). I did so because I was dropped from all but one sorority, and that sorority was one I knew wouldn't fit. I have spent the last year observing our campus sororities and that has only strengthed my desire to rush again.

However, I'm very nervous about being rejected again. I've recently decided to take more time to get my degree (about three more years instead of two), so I am similar to a rushing sophomore. I have a 3.63, which is a relatively high GPA for Georgia Tech, and I have been pretty involved in extracurriculars over the last year; however, I'm still terrified that this will not be enough!

Does anyone have any advice? I have a rec for one sorority, but should I try to get more? Anything you ladies have to say would be extremely helpful. Thank you!

[Drolefille]

I don't know your school, but I'd say go through recruitment again but go through knowing you may be cut hard again. If you don't think you can deal with that, don't put yourself through it.

[dgdramadawg]

I have friends who are members of most GA Tech chapters. Recs are important, though not important like they are at UGA. They can help you get to round two at Tech, but they won't necessarily get you further.

If you want to re-rush, give it a shot. But I would think twice about dropping out so early on... even if you only have one house, give them a chance for more than one round. A lot of houses will be even less likely to pledge a junior than a sophomore, so you need to be prepared for that.

[UGAalum94]

You should try to get more recs and you should try to talk to girls in the groups that you already know before rush.

If your GPA is stronger and you are more involved, you may do better overall generally. I don't know how important it is to be a first year when you rush at Tech, but you'd be better off communicating your issues with class standing before rush, IMO, maybe even have an alum do it for you in a rec, so that someone who is already singing your praises can call it to their attention that you are only 18, the same age as the other PNMs and that because you are majoring in ___ you will be there three more years.(I'd find a more positive spin than that you dropped out, if you can too; do you mean post-secondary option?)

Do you have people that know you that you can get recs from? If you don't, you could do the same thing by talking with girls who are already in the groups about it before recruitment to see what they think.

[GTrushee]

I did joint-enrollment my junior year of high school and was accepted into Tech's early admission program and skipped my senior year. I am technically a dropout, as I never recieved a diploma, but I probably shouldn't have said it so bluntly.

I actually am getting a rec from a past president of one sorority, who knows a family member of mine. I'm just not sure if I should try to get multiple recs by asking women in the local Alumnae Panhellenic Association. I've also told a few friends that are sisters about my choice to rush, but I'm worried to say too much because I know that a) word gets around and it's never wise to say "oh, I have my heart set on ABC!" and b) they're not supposed to discuss rush.

[dgdramadawg]

Originally Posted by GTrushee

I actually am getting a rec from a past president of one sorority, who knows a family member of mine. I'm just not sure if I should try to get multiple recs by asking women in the local Alumnae Panhellenic Association. I've also told a few friends that are sisters about my choice to rush, but I'm worried to say too much because I know that a) word gets around and it's never wise to say "oh, I have my heart set on ABC!" and b) they're not supposed to discuss rush.

Get a rec at each house to be safe. At Tech, not having one won't necessarily mean an automatic cut, but as an upperclassman you will want every door open to you. Regardless of your age, you are still a junior.

a) Very good! Never say this. You can tell friends you are rushing without revealing your pre-recruitment thoughts on any chapters.
b) I'm not sure what the rules on contacting PNMs are at Tech at this point in the year. But even if you can't contact them, you can at least know to seek them out during recruitment parties if at all possible.

[Buttonz]

The recs can't hurt, I'd do everything that I can to get a rec to every house.

Be prepared to give every house a fair shot and even if you get cut by all but one or two, give whatever you have left a fair shot.