To Greek or not to Greek? So many girls headed off to college this fall are asking themselves the same question. Joining a sorority has a pros and cons, and each girl will have to weigh the options before making the choice whether or not Greek life is right for her.
There's a lot to navigate, and sometimes rushing doesn't always go as planned (mine certainly didn't). But in the end, things will work out the way their supposed to. The best thing you can do given the situation is do your research and be well prepared before heading to school. Knowing about how Greek recruitment works, what it's like at your school, and having some basic knowledge under your belt will make things that much more comfortable when you finally have to step into the room during Rush.
... your research ahead of time. Look things up! Find out how big Greek life is at your university, how many sororities there are to choose from, what the recruitment process entails, whether you rush first or second semester, and more information! If you need Rec letters, find out now so that you don't have to scramble at the last minute. Read up on your university's Student Life or Greek Life page all the information you can. Usually each sorority will have a website with information, photos, and letters from the Executive Board. Read this information as well to get a general feel for each group. And if you need any general advice, Sorority Sugar on Tumblr is a great resource!
... look at Greek Rank. GreekRank.com is one of the many college forums on the Internet that just aren't worth your time. I've looked up the information for my university multiple times out of fun, and the things that you read can really skew your perception of Greek Life and taint your personal feelings about each chapter. Although some of the information might be "true," it's best to form your own opinions and get to know the chapters without hearing stereotypes. Also, most of the material posted on Greek Rank is argumentative and pits chapters against each other for no reason. I haven't seen anything good ever come from Greek Rank, and in most chapters, using it is looked down upon. My Theta chapter strongly discourages the use of Greek Rank and has a strict NO SELF-RANKING policy.
... get to know girls on campus. My recruitment experience was spring semester, so I'm pulling from my own experience, but usually during the beginning of the year, Greek chapters on campus will host events in order to put themselves out there for PNMs (Potential New Members) and get to know the incoming class. I met a lot of Greek girls during this time and got to hear a little bit about the different organizations on campus and what they were like. It's important to put your face out there before recruitment happens, so that current members may remember you better or be able to vouch for you during deliberations and cuts. Getting to know some of the girls involved in Greek life can be super beneficial for you come rush time, and even if you don't end up in the same organization, you may meet some very cool friends!
... get caught up on one organization. It's super easy to do this, and more of us are guilty of only wanting to be in one sorority than we'll admit. I'll go ahead and say that I fell into the trap too, and in the end limiting myself made things only worse. It's important to notice each organization for their best qualities and look positively about them all. You never know where you might end up or who may decide to give you a bid, or you could change your mind mid-way through recruitment and like a sorority that was not your original favorite! Keep an open mind and let whatever happens happen!
... present yourself in the best light. Make sure you're aware of the dress code each day, arrive on time for events, all that good stuff. If it helps you, think about possible conversation topics in the weeks ahead of rush so that you know what sorts of things to and not to talk about. The girls will understand if you're nervous and they will help guide the conversation, but be aware of your language, body language, and overall presentation. Appearing confident will only make you a more interesting, more desirable PNM.
... trash talk. Speaking badly about a class, professor, subject, or another sorority will be a red-flag to the girls during recruitment. I've actually had a friend that dropped a sorority completely during rush because one of the girls kept making bad comments about her favorite teacher! It's best to avoid all touchy subjects during recruitment, and not to say anything bad about another organization. Word will spread and it can really put a damper on your recruitment experience. It's never a good idea to put down an organization, even if you think it's not "cool" enough. And appearing bitter toward a "higher tier" organization for not accepting you back for another round can also seem very immature or catty to some. Keep all rush conversation basic and simple. And save any complaining for your Saturday night phone call with your parents.
... trust the process. I can NOT stress this one enough. People always spewed this wisdom on me back when I was going through recruitment and although I "believed them" I never really believed them (if you know what I mean). Like I previously mentioned, I got stuck in the trap of thinking that my real favorites were the popular favorites, and probably didn't give everyone as fair a chance as I should have while rushing. I liked a lot of the girls, but I thought I deserved the best (which is true - you all deserve the best) and I thought that the best was the most popular house. I realized a month or two after Bid Night, however, that the process really did know more than I did. The process put me in Theta, which is made up of girls just like me. Theta is the best house for me. Theta is the right house for me. And I should have let the process work its magic instead of getting caught up in the popularity of it all. You will end up where you are supposed to, so don't get caught in that awkward middle ground of thinking you know what's best for you more than the entire process does. It will never steer you wrong.
... be upset if things don't go as planned. I feel like these last three bullets are all along the same lines, but that's because they really are so important. If you're less than excited about the name you see on your bid card, stick it out for a little bit. Go to a few events. It's okay to call your mom or be sad and angry the first few days, and it's okay to consider not accepting the bid. But no matter what hold your head up high. You may find out that you were given a bid to the perfect place, and you couldn't see the greatness even though it was right under your nose. Don't give up on it just yet. If after a few weeks you honestly hate every single thing about it, then reconsider. But seriously only if there's not a single positive thing you can think of. More often than not, you can get involved to change the things you don't like about your sorority and make it even better!
Hopefully this guide was helpful for some of you going through upcoming recruitment. Don't stress - you'll be just fine even through the process can be tiring and daunting. In the end, it will be worth it when you get a new group of sisters to hang out with on campus. I highly recommend Greek life and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me!!
Be First to Post Comment !
Post a Comment