<p>I am <em>thinking</em> about rushing for a sorority in August but I am wondering if it would be a good move. If your daughter was in a sorority, what was the experience from your point of view? I am not sure that the present day sorority experience is like that of my aunt's and mother's. If you didn't allow or encourage your daughter to rush, why not?</p>
<p>Can I assume you’re at least a sophomore? 'Cause I don’t think freshmen should rush when they barely know their way around campus or anound the universe.</p>
<p>No, I am a freshman. I have been advised to rush as a freshman because it is harder to get bids as a sophomore and almost impossible as a junior/senior. Is this correct information?</p>
<p>Every school is different.</p>
<p>I’m a parent, and at the school I attended – a loooooooooong time ago – we rushed as freshmen, before classes started. I rushed, I got an invitation, I pledged. </p>
<p>I. did. not. like. it. </p>
<p>So at the beginning of my junior year, I “deactivated.” Became persona non grata. </p>
<p>That said, everyone else in my pledge class loved it, stayed in, and are probably still involved. You need more opinions than mine.</p>
<p>Generally, it’s harder to rush as an upperclassman (btw, it’s now called “recruitment,” not “rush”).</p>
<p>I was one of those people who said and thought I’d never join a sorority, but I did in the Spring semester of my freshman year, and, with a few rough patches, it’s been an amazing experience. :)</p>
<p>Every school is different, as VeryHappy said.</p>
<p>At the school my daughter attends, freshmen cannot “rush” (and it is still informally called “rush”) until second semester. I think this is a good idea. It’s hard to decide whether or not you would like Greek life – let alone a particular house – when you’ve barely arrived at your campus.</p>
<p>My daughter had no interest in Greek life and never even considered rushing. I think this was a sound decision for her; she’s too private a person to enjoy the communal life of a sorority, and she really wouldn’t fit in there because most of her friends are guys (and on top of that, she doesn’t drink). But other students really enjoy being in a sorority. It’s a very personal choice.</p>
<p>kollegkid, what is the school??</p>
<p>USC - Formal Recruitment is in August</p>
<p>Which way are you leaning? And why?</p>
<p>My daughter rushed as a freshman last fall. I had my reservations about it because just adjusting to everything else seemed a daunting task and the time commitment seemed
( to me ) overwhelming. She loves it and I can honestly say that it has been a very positive experience for her. My biggest concern was that her grades would suffer , but she made the Dean’s List both semesters.
She has really bonded with her sisters and I think she will continue to do well and benefit from being part of this sorority.</p>
<p>I was leaning towards doing it. I’d like to have a busy social calendar and always enjoyed Job’s Daughters and other clubs like that with outings and themed events. I’ve also been busy with good works and would like to be around others interested in philanthropy. Family members rave about Greek experiences. </p>
<p>On the other hand, as I do my homework, I am hearing and seeing things about drugs, sex, and alcohol that make me wonder what I would have in common with some of the girls that are attracted to sororities. </p>
<p>I am having a hard time figuring out what sororities really are like.</p>
<p>I fully endorse going through recruitment as early as possible. </p>
<p>Good chapters will have good new member education programs (pledge programs) that help freshmen navigate the adjustment period. For many, simply having a group of known acquaintances can be a massive help. </p>
<p>Kollegekid, you can go through recruitment without accepting a bid. The best way to figure out what USC sororities are like is to see them up close and personal. At a bare minimum, you’ll meet other freshmen girls and make some connections that way, and you may find a sorority that you feel at home at. If not, you can drop out, and at least you’ll know it’s not the environment for you. You really have nothing to lose by going through and at least checking it out.</p>
<p>totally agree with bigredmed: best way to see if USC sorority life is for you is to go through recruitment and then decide…if you don’t go through the entire process, you can go through recruitment again; check with USC if that applies to a spring recruitment or the following fall…</p>
<p>FYI, USC has spring freshman admits that cannot be shut out of recruitment, so there must be some sort of spring process (or the following fall for them to be recruited as sophs)</p>
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My sorority is very diverse. We have everything from the hardcore party sluts to the girls that never drink and don’t do anything bad. Don’t trust the stereotypes. You will find a sorority that you fit in with. If you are worried about that stereotype of people, you could consider going with a service sorority (they focus on philanthrophy more) instead of a social sorority.</p>
<p>Like you, I was really unsure if I wanted to join one. Then I decided to rush (what is there to loose, right?) and I really do like it. Just go to rush and get to know some of the members and see if you see yourself fitting in with them. I was very happy I did it my first year at this school. I met a ton of great people that I wouldn’t have otherwise met and I can’t imagine college without being in my sorority!</p>
<p>Which USC? Carolina or CA? Both have competitive recruitments. You definitely have a better chance as a freshman as compared to an upperclassman.</p>
<p>My daughter, my bio sister, and I all went Greek at 3 very different schools (southern LAC, New England public flagship, and research university) My daughter and her aunt pledged at the first available opportunity (spring fresh and fall fresh); I pledged as an upperclassman. I never lived in my house, my sister did. My sister and I are both very involved with our GLO’s alumnae associations even many decades post-graduation. Daughter lives in the house at her school and has held different offices for her chapter.
Sorority house rules regarding male visitation and other issues tend to be much stricter than dormitory regulations.</p>
<p>Get your recs lined up for ALL the Panhellenic Council houses at the school, (don’t forget to send ty notes to the women who write your recs) max out your invites (ie go back to ones not necessarily your favorites if you don’t have a full schedule), keep an open mind and ignore the gossip from other rushees, review the attire suggestions (keep them in mind but step it up a notch). </p>
<p>Clean your FB of anything that might be even slightly questionable. No pics or references to alcohol, smoking, excessive party behavior, etc.</p>
<p>I’m an asian male and it seems that fraternities are caucasian dominated, would I fit in at any fraternity next year if I choose to rush? It sounds like it might be a fun thing to do.</p>
<p>Also, I don’t drink or smoke but I like to hang out with people who can party/have fun without getting themselves drunk or high, are there fraternities that would fit for me?</p>
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<p>“Sororities” aren’t like anything. Each school is going to have a different overall sorority culture, and within that culture, the sororities will vary wildly. In specific sororities, culture will vary wildly by chapter. I could tell you about MIT’s sorority culture, or about those of the individual chapters there, but that would have no relevance for you, because your school’s chapters could be completely different, even if they come from some of the same sororities.</p>
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<p>Pierre0913, you may want to ask this over on the Clemson board, because the rest of us don’t know what the fraternities there are like. However, a good starting point for you might be to find out if any of the chapters at Clemson are chapters of fraternities that have been designated as “dry” by their Nationals (I don’t know what all of them are, but I know that Sigma Nu and Phi Delta Theta are two).</p>
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<p>Yes. This. Lather, rinse and repeat. There’s simply no advice that women at other schools can give you, honestly. It’s so specific to your school.</p>
<p>D will rush this Fall. In fact, she will start summer term, come home for a week, then go back a week early for sorority recruitment, “rush” is the week BEFORE school starts for Fall. She will be able to move into her dorm early too, so she can participate on campus during recruitment.</p>
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Best piece of advice about sororities AND fraternities. And, as Pizzagirl said . . .lather, rinse, and repeat.</p>
<p>Each school’s sorority and fraternity culture is different, and WITHIN each sorority/fraternity, the members themselves are different. Very important not to pre-judge. Go through Rush and see what your impressions are. It’s a valuable way to access if you want to pledge, and no harm done if you decide not to do so.</p>
<p>Good luck!!</p>