College Sorority Rush Week Tips
Presenting Your Best Self and Asking Educated Questions
Feb 15, 2009
For college girls looking to go Greek, the first step is rush week. During this time, prospective sorority members attend events and meet girls from sororities across campus. At the end of rush week, sororities offer bids to the girls who they want to join.
Obviously, this can be a stressful process. Everyone fears rejection, and the prospect of not receiving a bid from the sorority you really want to join (or perhaps receiving no bids at all) can be daunting. It's kind of like applying for colleges all over again, and waiting nervously for what you hope will be an acceptance letter.
So how do you survive the rush week process? Here are some tips.
Be Yourself – Your Best Self
Rush week is kind of like one big job interview, so the same techniques that you would use in a job interview apply here as well. In an interview, one of the most important things is to be yourself. After all, people are usually pretty good at spotting someone who's being phony. At the same time, you want to be your best self. Let the girls see your most positive attributes, and tell them about some of your accomplishments and strongest qualities.
It's also important to be yourself because rush week is about finding a match. Sororities are looking to find girls who will fit into their group, and at the same time, prospective sisters are looking to find the sorority that best suits them. If you misrepresent yourself, you won't find the best match. And if a sorority doesn't choose you after they've seen your best self, they probably aren't the right one for you.
Dress Appropriately
Ask girls who have been through rush what the norm is for how to dress, and stick pretty close to that. However, as part of being your best self, you want to dress in a way that reflects your personality. If you normally don't wear heavy makeup, don't start now. If you always wear a cross pendant necklace, wear it to rush. If the sorority prefers girls who wear lots of makeup and who aren't religious, this isn't the best place for you anyway.
Ask Educated Questions
During rush week, you'll be asked lots of questions about yourself. However, it's also important to ask questions. Remember, you're trying to decide which sorority is best for you.
Some of the best questions you can ask are ones that show you've done some research about the sorority. Look at the chapter's website, and ask others on campus about this sorority. Then ask questions like, "I heard your house has the highest cumulative GPA on campus. Is that true?" Or ask, "I read about some of your philanthropy opportunities on your website. Are you still volunteering with the local school district?" These kinds of questions send the message that you're really interested.
Ask Questions About the Sorority Sisters
People like to talk about themselves, so one way to make a good impression is to ask the girls to tell you about themselves. The basic questions will do: ask them about their majors, their hometowns, the things they like to do on campus. In addition, ask about their experiences with the sorority. Try asking a question like, "So, Ashley, what do you like best about being in this sorority?" This is a good way to find out more about the sorority and make a good impression.
Keep Rush Week in Perspective
Above all, try not to let rush week freak you out. The worst thing that can happen is that you won't be chosen – and why would you want to be in a group that wouldn't have the good sense to choose you? Have fun during rush week, as this is a chance to meet people and attend some fun events. Best of luck!
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