Should I Rush?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
1

<p>A lot of my friends from different schools are encouraging me to rush next year at UNC. While none of them are at UNC, they all say they're huge advocates of greek life. However, I've never heard from any of my friends at UNC on whether I should rush or not. I think I want to, but I don't know much about it.</p>

<p>I definitely want to be able to be in a sorority to make new friendships and all that. I really want to be involved on campus, but I don't know how involved the sororities are. I'm not into girl drama or petty stuff like that.</p>

<p>I guess basically I want it to add to my college experience, not take away from it. Can anyone give me any information on rushing and greek life at UNC?</p>

2

<p>I’m not in a sorority, but as far as the are they involved on campus question, I would say yes. I was on a Committee for Dance Marathon and several of the girls on my committee were in various houses. All of the houses seem pretty committed to philanthropy. I can’t really give you any inside info about cattiness, but my overall impression is that the houses are all so large that there is a mix of great girls that you’d want to be friends with with a healthy dose of *****y/immature girls.</p>

3

<p>That makes sense. I know you probably can’t tell me this, but do you think being in a sorority would take up a lot of time?? I want to do other things on campus, such as dance and what not.</p>

4

<p>acarrollina16- I have a D going to UNC next year and she isn’t the sorority type and probably won’t rush. I did rush at Maryland way too many years ago but I am guessing the experience is still similar. Yes, it does take a lot of time but it is the time that you put into something that ends up paying off as you build closer friendships. I lived on campus all 4 years; 2 in dorms and the last two campus apts. I am not in touch with anyone from my college days other than some of my sorority sisters. I really have to think to come up with the names of my roommates that weren’t in my sorority! At a large school there are multiple sororities and each one has a slightly different personality to it and multiple personalities within it. Like I told my D, there is a place in a sorority for everyone if you want to rush. Being part of the greek system is what made a huge school a smaller community for me. By nature, I am an introvert. Being a sorority member gave me a place where I belonged. I could hang out at the house or go to our parties, intramural sports teams, philanthropies, formals, house dinners etc simply because I was a member. Gotta go will write more later.</p>

5

<p>Back again- What I would suggest is starting to Rush your Freshman year. If you are overwhelmed or just not sure then drop out and wait until the following fall. Most students grow up a lot and change during their first year at college so the house that you might pick as a Freshman really might not be the best fit for you but having tried Rush will help you figure out the process and what you are really looking for. Rushing your Sophomore year you will know your way around campus, know how things work better and will have had a chance to meet some of the girls in order to have a better feel for which house you will have the best fit with. It really is a great experience and most are national sororities so it will be a group that you will belong to for life. When you move to a new town and don’t know anyone, look up your closest alumni group! There are also LOTS of leadership positions to help develop you as a well rounded person. Give it a try. If it isn’t for you then just drop out of Rush before the final night.</p>

6

<p>Thank you so much!!! Your posts were definitely really helpful. I think I will try it out, because like you said if I don’t like it I can just drop out! But it also seems like a really good opportunity to get involved and have lifetime connections</p>

7

<p>I hate to discount what turtlelover has said. I think Greek life is very different depending on what school you’re coming from. For what I’m about to say, this really only applies to my experience at Carolina and would not be relevant at any other school simply because I don’t know how things work there. </p>

<p>If you’re rushing simply because you’re coming from OOS or you’re afraid you won’t make friends otherwise, then don’t rush. You will make tons of friends, I promise, and the best way to make them is through other clubs. Also, if you know you want to be involved in a lot of different clubs, don’t rush.</p>

<p>If you specifically want to be in a sorority and participate in many many mixers, formals, cocktails, chapter, etc., then look into it.</p>

<p>What I have against sororities:

  1. Though there are exceptions, sorority life is very much about class. I had many, many friends in several sororities. They were all good people, but I often found myself very uncomfortable when talk came up about what went on in their houses. It is not possible to be in a sorority if your family is without means. If you’re middle class, it’s probably possible, but I think buying all the dresses needed for all the different events would add up really quickly. Really, everything involved with sorority life adds up quickly. It’s much more expensive than what’s on paper. Consider that the people you’re friends with will not be into your “typical” college student life of burritos and hanging out at Weaver Street on the weekends. The few weekends I hung out with my friends in sororities, we’d do stuff like drive to South Point where one of them blew $1400 at J. Crew, or go to a random restaurant in Raleigh and blow $35 a person. That just wasn’t in the cards for me as a first year, and no, I am not exaggerating.</p>

<p>2) There are so many events during the year (which is a good thing) BUT it would be impossible to be lightly active in several groups and be in a sorority. You could maybe do one or two clubs outside of Greek life, but that would be hard to manage and do well in school.</p>

<p>3) Rush for the women who are already in the sorority. It’s ridiculously intense, with daily required meetings to rehearse stuff and get organized. No time to study, no time for friends, and at one point, you will not be allowed to be seen talking to men when you’re out at night. I had a friend who was in my major and decided to drop a class after she failed a test because she hadn’t had time to study from rush, which then led her to dropping the major she’d been in for two years. Maybe that was her own fault, but I thought her priorities were a little weird. Plus, if you miss a rush rehearsal you’re fined.</p>

<p>Having said all this, if none of this phases you at all and you think all the sorority events sound really fun, then go for it!!</p>

8

<p>I’m in a sorority on campus and I have to say that you should listen to more opinions than what is posted above. Everyone at Carolina got in here for a reason and that’s because they are smart, hard-working, dedicated students. That is not suddenly going to change because you join a sorority. I have NEVER felt awkward because of class differences and can maybe pick out two or three “*****y” girls in my sorority. School work ALWAYS comes first in your sorority and you will ALWAYS be excused from any chapter function because of study groups/quizzes/exams. I am not at all one of those genius kids and I’ve successfully juggled hospital volunteering, a theatre group, good grades, and my social sorority life. I have never in my life been on a shopping trip where someone spends even more than $100. If we can get a cheap dress at Forever 21 we will always buy there over Bevello or other boutiques. And cloying talks about how you won’t get your typical college kids, but I couldn’t disagree more. I have every single type of person in my sorority and we will eat “burritos and hang out on Weaver street.”</p>

<p>On another note, I actually did rush because I was OOS and wanted to make new friends because I literally new NO ONE coming in. My roommate (who was random and I don’t live in Granville) happened to rush as well and we both loved it. These girls are actually genuine and don’t fit any sorority stereotype at all. We like to go out and get dressed up, but what girl doesn’t? Most of my involvement in my sorority is with philanthropies and meals honestly. And we have competitions to see who can have the highest GPA, so I really don’t think school work is an issue.</p>

<p>Above all, don’t let other people’s opinions (mine included) sway your decision, but at least go through rush for the experience of meeting new people!</p>