Fall semester is synonymous with one thing to many incoming freshman–RUSH! And today I’m sharing all the best sorority rush tips you need to know.
Every semester, thousands of eager girls across the country participate in rush events, in order to learn more about their school’s sororities and potentially join a greek organization.
And it’s no wonder rush is so popular: Joining a sorority can facilitate leadership development and on-campus involvement, and can also bring you dozens of life-long friendships. Even if you don’t think Greek life is for you, rushing can help you get to know other girls in your class and develop your small-talk skills!
So, you’ve got your outfits picked out, your essentials stocked, your hairstyles planned, and recommendation letters turned in. Now what?
There’s only so much that the rush pamphlet will tell you, so I’m here to help. These dos and don’ts will provide you with tips and info to make sure that your sorority rush is a great experience!
Table of Contents
Rush Week Tips: Things to Do
1. Do bring a pair of flip-flops to leave in your purse and change into during passing periods.
Depending on what school you go to, sorority houses may be several blocks apart. Running in high heels is difficult, and your feet will certainly need the break!
2. Do keep your purse stocked.
I recommend bringing oil-blotting papers, baby wipes, a mirror and extra make up, mints, deodorant, and anti-bacterial hand gel. All of these will be lifesavers, especially during the hot days of August or September!
3. Do ask questions.
Use the time with each sorority to understand what the strengths of the organization are. Ask about what they’re involved with on campus, the type of academic rules they might have, and how much of a time commitment it is. Remember, the girls rushing you are just as nervous as you are, and the easier you make it to talk to you, the better!
4. Do get plenty of sleep and eat healthy meals.
Rush days are long and require lots of energy. You’ll want to be on your A-game the entire time, so getting sick is not an option. Remember that you’ll be coming in contact with tons of girls a day, so washing your hands and using antibacterial gel is a good idea. Also, try drinking Airborne or Emergen-C for an extra immunity boost!
5. Do use the time during skits to rest your feet and voice.
Enjoy those few minutes to yourself; cool down, relax your aching feet, and sip on the yummy drink they give you while watching the skit. However, don’t act bored or blase–that’s a sure way to get cut. Enjoy the skit, laugh and clap like you normally would, but use the time to regroup and refresh yourself.
6. Do be honest with yourself.
Eliminate different organizations mentally throughout the week and pledge according to what you want in your heart. Don’t let anyone pressure you into pledging a house that you do not feel comfortable at; not even your mom or siblings. Keep an open mind throughout the week, and be in touch with your instincts.
7. Do meet everyone you can!
Strike up conversations with fellow rushees during passing periods and remember girls you hit it off with that are rushing you. You never know who will end up living in your dorm hallway, sitting nearby in your biology lab, or participating in your pledge class! Rush is a great way to meet people and start off on the right foot at a new school.
8. Do be yourself and show off your personal style!
The best sorority houses are the most diverse ones–would you want all of your new friends to dress, talk, and look the same way? Of course not! Whether you like to dress boho, preppy, or little edgy, don’t be afraid to let your style come through.
9. Do pledge somewhere that challenges you.
College is all about personal growth, and there’s no better way to learn than by surrounding yourself with girls that make you want to be a better person. If you want to be a more devoted student, pledge somewhere with great test files, a cozy study room, and a high average GPA. If you want to be more involved, join a house that has several members in leadership positions on campus. You’ll be living with these girls, so its important that the house you’re picking is filled with good influences and good character.
Rush Week Don’ts: What NOT to Do
1. Don’t wear tons of jangling bangles or too many rings.
Remember that you’ll be shaking hands with dozens of girls a day–multiple rings will get uncomfortable in a hurry, and too many bracelets can be distracting.
2. Don’t be afraid to eat or drink anything that’s offered to you!
It’ll be hot outside and you’ll be doing A LOT of talking; the reason why sororities give you a soda or milkshake to sip on is because they know it will make you more comfortable! Don’t believe rumors perpetuated by TV shows like Greek that say sororities test you by seeing if you eat or not. Even if this were true, would you really want to join a house filled with girls who judge others like this? And while on that note…
3. Don’t believe everything you see on television or movies about Greek life.
The TV show Greek makes it seem like every sorority is at war with each other, and every girl in a sorority will stab you in the back the first chance they get. Remind yourself that this is NOT the culture of typical Greek organizations.
4. Don’t reach out to members of sororities outside of rush during recruitment week.
At most schools, members have been instructed by both Panhellenic (the governing body for sororities) and their rush team to NOT call, text, or send you facebook messages. This is a serious rush violation that they could get in big trouble for. Contacting them yourself will put your friends in an awkward position.
5. Don’t dress head to toe in sorority cliches.
Showing up to rush in pearls, red lipstick, a hair bow, and a beehive poof will only make you look ridiculous. If one of these things is your personal style, by all means wear it with confidence! But overkill will send the wrong message. Dress like yourself and be unique!
6. Don’t talk about boys or partying.
The conversations you have during rush should tie back to you or the sorority. Talk about your interests, hobbies, and what you would like to get involved with on campus. This should be a no brain-er as well, but really watch your language! Don’t say anything you wouldn’t say to your Grandma.
7. Don’t dismiss a house based on what you’ve heard from other people.
This especially applies if you’re a freshman and haven’t actually started school yet. The opinions you’re receiving about a sorority’s reputation may be biased or outdated. Go in with an open mind, and trust your gut.
8. Don’t hold grudges or blame anyone if you get cut from a house.
The way a sorority can bid on a girl differs for each Panhellenic administration, college, and chapter. Have an open mind about where you end up, and remember that you’re there because everyone in that house wanted you to be their sister!!
What do you think of these rush tips?
Are you planning on rushing? If you’re already in a sorority, what tips do you have for incoming freshman? What do you wish you knew before you rushed? Do you have any funny stories or experiences to share?? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear them!
Do they look at age? I’ll be 27 years old and I’d like to join a sorority on campus. They don’t know how old I am, they assume I am only about 21 years old since I looks so young. I really like the people in the particular sorority on my campus. I want to join not to put something on my resume, but because I value good grades, and getting involved on campus and meeting people. I took off the last couple of years to pursue a career, but I realized its not what I want to do so I’m back in school pursing a different one. Will they consider me if they find out my age?
Hi! I am currently a college freshman taking classes at a community college. I decided to stay home for a year because I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. But I finally decided that I want to go to The University of Oklahoma and I really want to rush.. Only thing is I’m afraid that maybe I won’t have a very good chance of getting into a sorority as a transfer student. I’m not sure how many credits I’ll have when I transfer in the fall so I’ll either technically be considered a freshman because of the number of credits I have or I’ll be considered a sophomore.. But I’m not sure how the process will work out and whether or not I’ll get into a sorority. I’m just hoping to find a home away from home where I can make life long friends.
I had an awful experience during rush at a HUGE school where greek life was a big deal and I wish I could go back and tell myself this: don’t take anything too personally or seriously.
If you get cut, it is not personal: hundreds, even thousands, of girls may be rushing with you, so it’s not like any of the sorority members will actually get to know you, no matter how hard they try.
Also, if any of the other girls rushing make any sort of catty comments, just remember that they are probably very nervous and maybe even under tons of pressure from their own mothers in some cases. The rush environment can be very nerve-wracking and the worst you can do is let it ruin your confidence. I’m sure that yall will have a great time in college whether you join a sorority or not. Good luck!
I think these are great tips and joining greek life is truly a one in a lifetime experience. I was an unlikely candidate for a sorority, but going to a commuter school I found it difficult to make friends, going through recruitment and seeing all the choices, you can really see what is right for you. I am so happy in my sorority and have so many friends in other sororities as well. Also I met all of my non-greek friends through greek friends. It’s great networking and it’s not about the mystique or the charm, and it’s not what it’s like on tv, but it is a great time and definitely COLLEGE. haha
Great tips! I found my home with ZTA my freshman year and have loved every minute of my experience!
It’s a lot of fun reading this post – I only know about sorority life from movies – which I understand is nothing like real life.
It’s a fun tradition you guys have in the US.
I’m with Sasha; I really don’t understand the mystique of Greek life. I don’t think people should have to pay to make friends. Go do a play or join French Club. It will be far more enriching in the long run.
Also, everyone kept saying “trust the system,” which is so hard to do but incredibly true. The house I pledged was my absolute least favorite the first day. But by the end, I knew it was the right one.
I think its kinda cool tradition and seems like a neat experience. Im canadian so we don’t have sororities really in our schools but there are some that are low key but there.
@chelsea — tri delt at my school (penn state) had their charter taken away and their chapter disassembled for hazing. I’m sure your chapter is great but it’s hard to generalize across schools because girls can be so different.
Don’t hold grudges is the best one. 🙂
Hmm, perspective from someone in a country without sororities/fraternities:
I don’t think I’d personally do it. We have quasi-similar things, like certain clubs that seem exclusive, but in reality anyone can join ANY club. I’m from Europe and I could join the Christian Korean Engineers Without Boundaries (even though I am NONE of the aforementioned.) I think the idea of being “pledged” or whatever, is very foreign. A lot of kids at my uni live in residence, but no one does after first year unless they become a Residence Assistant (RA). Also, things like football and cheerleading are not NEARLY as big. It’s strange, but school spirit really lacks.
I guess I’m kind of with Sasha and Faith, but I think someone else’s point about how “paying for friendships” is not sorority-specific is right on. But I think everyone will agree that sorority life is all about auditioning for friendships, which I think feels just as skeevey.
I’m a huge fan of joining clubs and organizations on campus, but any other activity at college has to do with skills and interests. The idea of a group based around personality/looks just never appealed to me. Doesn’t that feel a little adolescent?
I find it mildly amusing almost every negative critique of sororities left in these comments have been dissected and attempt to be proven wrong.
It all comes down to opinion. If you want to be in a clique (that is EXACTLY what it is, selective membership, critiques, social requisites, etc.), and if you want to show that you “belong” in your sorority t-shirt, good for you.
I, personally, do not feel as if I need to be accepted by a judgmental clique under the guise of a “friendship” that is charitable. A group of murders can run Relay for Life and do a car wash for charity, that doesn’t change what the group actually is. And for the majority of Sororities (not all, the MAJORITY), it’s just another dumb social clique, just like the rich girls in high school.
I feel that everyone is generalizing. A LOT. I personally take offense to people saying you’re buying friends and/or are being judged by your looks. A sorority is so much more than one could imagine, given that you find the right one with the right people. I am sick of having to defend something that is near and dear to to my heart. I had a number of major tragedies happen in my life over the past year, and my sisters are the only ones who stuck by me the whole time–all my other “friends” outside my sorority gave up when things were looking bad. So I’m sorry you have such a negative opinion on sororities, and that you’re making assumptions based on…whatever. I just think that before you mount back onto your high horse, think about MY story and about what my sisters have done for me.
those are my two cents–take it or leave it.
My school is relatively small, and just got their second sorority…are there any tips that are unique for that situation?