Sorority Rushing

<p>Ok, I need someone to be VERY honest with me as I don't know much about this subject and the internet is FLOODED with information. My d is a freshman at UF, she decided to try and RUSH this weekend for the Spring spots in the Sororities. Now, I did not have the financial means to attend college so, I did not attend a sorority. I Do not have any friends down here that were part of one(we are originally from up north). My husband on the other hand, was president of his NYU chapter of Alpha Phi Delta, but pledging a fraternity in the 80's seems a little different it is now.</p>

<p>So to make a long story short, she attended the first informational meeting for Spring rush, filled out the application and went through the Reitz Union interviews. Then on to the house previews and interviews. None of my daughters friends were interested in Rushing, so she went alone. My daughter is a beautiful, bright (A student), outgoing person, who waited until Spring to Rush so she could get the feel of the school first, which I thought was a good idea. She volunteers currently at the Animal shelter, Museum and is a EcoRep at her dorm. When asked she said she felt good about the interviews and that a couple of the girls didn't even want to talk to anyone else. Yet when the time came for calls yesterday evening...there were no calls/no bids! </p>

<p>Can anyone give me any insight as to maybe why? Obviously, she is really down and I want to help, so I was researching on what she may have done wrong. Some of the things I found were that she did not have any letters of recommendation. Or HS transcripts. Is this something that is necessary, especially in the Spring? I thought that Spring was more informal? Do you really need these letters at all? What is REALLY required in order to stand a good chance of being bid on? lf she chooses to try aqain in the Fall will she be blackballed because she was already passed over once? Or because she will now be a Sophomore(I read they usually like Freshman)? Where do you mail these letters and to whom? Can they be from anyone? As for her dress, it was very appropriate, just to the knee, light colored teal, no gaudy flowers etc., flats, hair nicely done, minimal jewelry and makeup.</p>

<p>As you can see, we don't know much about this but if she is interested in trying again, I would really like to give her a fighting chance!</p>

<p>Thanks for any and all advice!</p>

<p>During Spring, not all of the sororities have spots open, so it may just be that the ones that did would not have been a good fit for her, and ones that would have wanted her had no spots. As for letters of recommendation, they’re supposed to be from alumni/current sisters of the sorority and you can find info on format/where to send them on the sorority’s website. If she wants to rush again in Fall I don’t think she’ll have anything to worry about. I’ve heard of sophomores and even juniors rushing and getting bids. Finally, I’m sure your daughter is a great girl, but this is the University of Florida. We all do volunteer work and have great grades otherwise we wouldn’t have even gotten in. </p>

<p>If she’s really down about it she could always try rushing again in Fall when all of the sororities will have spots to fill and she may have a better chance, and if not there are many other options such as my sorority, Delta Nu Zeta, which is a local sorority, or any of the hundreds of other student organizations.</p>

<p>for all of the helpful information and for letting us know that there are also local sororities on campus as well as the national ones. Does your sorority go thru the rushing process for recruitment or is there another way to apply? Also, does Delta Nu Zeta have a particular specialty or focus such as premed etc.? </p>

<p>As for my daughter, she is feeling better today. She is still not sure whether she will Rush again in the fall, but if she does, armed with all of this new knowledge and practice I’m sure it will be a little easier.</p>

<p>Until the, she will be looking into some of the other student organizations you spoke of to stay involved, perhaps even getting a job this semester.</p>

<p>My sorority is pretty much exactly like the National ones except that we don’t have a house and our dues are much lower. We do have a rush week each Spring and Fall, but it is much much less formal and stressful than the Panhellenic rush. For example, I rushed this year and we had two casual events (scavenger hunt in the Rietz and stuffing teddy bears for kids in the hospital, also in the Rietz) and then a more formal interview (which was pretty basic and only took about 15 minutes). We are pretty small right now because we’ve only been on campus for 3 semesters, but we have grown very quickly and from the original 5 girls we now have about 35. I joined because I didn’t think I would fit in with or be able to afford Panhellenic, but still wanted the sisterhood feeling, and I’m so happy with my decision. If you want any more information on us or our rush then our website is here: [Delta</a> Nu Zeta,University of Florida - Home](<a href=“http://deltanuzetauf.■■■■■■■■■■/]Delta”>http://deltanuzetauf.■■■■■■■■■■/) .</p>

<p>There is still a possibility she could get a bid since it is cob. I suggest you visit sorority recruitment forums. Just google it. There are pages and pages of advice. If she does decide to rush in fall, get recs for all the houses. My daughter loves being in a sorority while my son said fraternity life not for him! She lives in the house now at UF and wish I could live there too cause it is far superior to how I lived in college! LOL!</p>

<p>I sent you a PM :)</p>

<p>I also was a freshman that rushed in the Spring and did not get any calls. You have to stay positive just because for every bid a girl gets they have 24 hours to accept or decline it but as girls decline them the sororities send out more bids.</p>