<p>One must also remember that the members generally have 15-20 minutes in the early round of rush. Although I won’t use the word “cut” because it is about ranking now, one must assume that those first rounds are hard because there is not much to go on. It is about chemistry as much as anything. Even in the “hair product” situation, there was probably another house that was putting the natural appearance in the plus column, especially at a diverse Greek system like Cal. With the computerized pairing systems, women who exercise the maximum number of options will have the best chance to join. It is when a person worries about prestige over fit that people drop out of recruitment. </p>
<p>I went to a school that has a very vocal Greek culture, and that has one of the most competitive sorority recruitments outside of the SEC. I saw wonderful women that did not get bids. I know of only one person who left after a failed recruitment, and it was partly due to the fact that the school already felt large and impersonal. With the exception of DePauw and Wabash, Greeks are not the majority at any school (even though it may feel like it). If people look at the opportunity for Greek life as a plus not a requirement, most people should be happy. If one was to pick a school only because of Greek life, I would say that a re-examination of their college education would be in order.</p>
<p>Actually Mizzbee, I read through this entire thread yesterday and thought that it was the one thread I’ve read on CC where the advantages and disadvantages, pluses and minuses of a sorority were discussed calmly and without rancor. It seemed to me that while everyone agreed that there are advantages to a sorority, no one seemed to feel that rush was one of them. And even the sorority sisters, both past and present, felt real reservation about the rush system.</p>
<p>Great post SoccergirlNYC…you really did a good job of explaining how sorority recruitment works! </p>
<p>My D did rush at UT and it is extremely competitive. We had heard that it is based so much on who you know and who can “pull” for you in the house. This is VERY true. There are girls in every sorority that come from all different backgrounds and who may or may not use “product in thier hair” etc. My D had a sucessful rush but she ended up with her 3rd choice. She now sees that it is the right place for her and she is very happy. It has been a very positive experience thus far, with the exception of the actual week of rush…that was one of the worst weeks I have lived through as a mom…don’t ever want to go through it again </p>
<p>My best advice for any girl that is thinking about rushing is to keep an open mind and not go in thinking only one or two houses will be a fit. There are great girls in every house…try not to get caught up in the tiers or rankings because they can easily change from year to year.</p>
<p>lololu, I think there is one positive of rush: when I went to interview for jobs a few years later, I felt confident that I could handle it, based on my rush week experiences as a PNM and an active. I agree completely that it is very stressful for PNMs…it is stressful for actives, too.</p>
<p>Rush is definitely stressful. My daughter went thru Rush twice. The first time she had a fabulous time and on four house day had three houses she loved, and then on two house days all three had dropped her. The fourth house was not a match so she dropped. BUT, she made great friends in her rush group who she ended up spending a lot of time with. She decided to rush again a year later. It was incredibly stressful for her (and me). Definitely a roller coaster ride. But on the two house night she had two houses she really liked and ended up in the house with a friend from her original rush group. She loves being in the sorority and it has been very good for her. However, this year, as an active, rush was equally as stressful. I read recently a saying that said “everything works out in the end, and if it hasn’t worked out yet that means it’s not the end” which I think is really true for rush (or college admissions). What you think you want isn’t always what ends up being best for you.</p>
<p>SoccerGirlNYC: Your explanation of the Release Figure Method is very good. The National Panhellenic Conference guidelines allow for the best possible experience for a potential new member who is willing to complete the entire recruitment process.</p>
<p>The one major college campus where this is not the case is Indiana University. That campus Panhellenic sets its quota (the number of new members each chapter may take) based on the number of spaces each chapter’s house can hold. The number of women not matched at IU is a blackmark on the Panhellenic system. Women can have a great sorority experience without living in a chapter house, but IU refuses to budge from their ways. So, a word of warning to parents of daughters at IU. There will be lots of disappointed young ladies at IU at the start of next semester.</p>
<p>That is really too bad.
There are many great Greek systems where only a small amount of the girls live in the chapter house. The rest of the girls attend chapter meetings and visit the house, but live on campus or elsewhere.</p>
<p>Indiana’s recruitment is still the toughest because of this. AND because of deferred rush, everyone has heard all the rumours and have made up their minds on their ‘favourites’ before recruitment starts in January. There are 2 groups at least at IU which COB after formal recruitment finishes, so if women would only keep an open mind, then there are chances to be Greek - but of course, they are deemed ‘less desirable’ so PNMs don’t want to return there…</p>
<p>And I agree- I found rush incredibly stressful both when a PNM and active…although I do find myself returning to lessons I learned in rush workshops when I have to network and meet people at work!</p>
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