Some universities begin recruitment in the fall and may even begin before classes have started. Other universities hold rush in the spring or have a less formal rolling recruitment process. Rush can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. At most schools, going through rush will take up quite a bit of your time, so make sure that you research how long rush takes at your school and plan accordingly. [1] X Research source Make sure that you are aware of any prerequisite requirements that you will need to fulfill before your registration will be accepted, such as obtaining a minimum GPA.
There will likely be a registration fee, so make sure that you are aware of these costs and plan accordingly. At some schools, the office of Greek life will require or recommend that you include letters of recommendation with your application. Ask for letters of recommendation well in advance as these can take some time for people to complete.
If possible, go to charity events or other extracurricular activities put on by sororities on campus prior to rush. This will give you an opportunity to get to know some of the members ahead of time. After submitting your registration, you may be assigned a recruitment counselor who can provide you with some resources to help you familiarize yourself with the sorority chapters at your school.
The dress code for rush varies widely, but as a general rule of thumb, try to avoid wearing anything that would be inappropriate for class. While you want to be yourself and show off your individuality, you also want to make a good first impression and demonstrate how you will positively contribute to sorority life. [4] X Research source
As part of the first round of rush, you will likely attend open houses at several sororities. Some universities will require that you visit every open house during the first round to maintain rush eligibility, so make sure that you stick to a schedule and follow the rules. The first round is usually the shortest, meaning you will spend about 30 to 45 minutes at each sorority. The middle round or rounds of rush generally focus on teaching potential members about each sororities’ social events and philanthropies. The middle round or rounds usually involve a skit that allows each sorority to express their personality and values. [6] X Research source The final round, often called Preference Night, tends to last longer than the earlier rounds (about 1 hour), giving you more time to get to know the members. This round is usually dressier and more serious in tone, providing members with the opportunity to share about their sorority experience.
In the first and second rounds, you may not have much time to talk to many members for any significant amount of time. As the rounds go on, however, you will be able to spend more time at each, learning more about the sorority and its members. Ask members about the activities they are involved in. For example, find out if they are involved in any intramural sports, or how often they schedule social events. This will help you figure out which sorority will provide you with the types of opportunities you are looking for and will help you get a sense of which sorority is right for you.
At most schools, you will submit your rankings via email or on the school’s recruitment website immediately following the end of each round. While it varies from one school to another, you will usually be notified via email, the recruitment website, or by your recruitment advisor whether you have been cut from a sorority or not. You will be notified before the next round of rush begins.
If you receive several bids, reflect on your experiences and what you know about each sorority to help you make a decision. For example, if you are interested in pursuing a career in childhood education, you may want to join a sorority that works closely with a children’s charity. Or, if you want to join a sorority to make a new group of friends, reflect on your experience during rush and think about where you felt most comfortable. If you receive a bid to a sorority that was not your top choice, you may want to assess whether or not you actually want to join. Joining a sorority is a huge financial and time commitment, and if you did not feel that the sorority who offered you a bid was a good fit, you may decide to decline to join.
How you will notify a sorority that you have accepted your bid varies from one school to another. At some schools, you will receive your bids via email or on your profile on your school’s recruitment website, and accepting a bid will be as simple as clicking a button. At other schools, your recruitment advisor will deliver your bids to you, and will ask you to fill out a form accepting your bid.
