Spring rush season is coming up, and while that dictates the rewiring of your TikTok For You Page to contain only OOTDs from aspiring sorority girls, it also means a time of stress, excitement, and preparation for collegiate girls everywhere.
Rush looks different everywhere: from Tiffany necklaces to TJ Maxx skorts, I’ve seen it and done it. While we familiarize ourselves with the relevance and longevity of online rush updates, it’s what happens in person that can revolutionize our preference round desires into bid day realities. So, from a seasoned sorority girl, here are the ins and outs, the yes’s and nos, and the secrets behind rush week.
talk greek to me
The singlemost important step in familiarizing yourself with Greek Life culture is all in the name. Literally. Let’s run down the verbage of rush week, and what this words mean to a potential new member.
PNM: A PNM is a potential new member, AKA yourself! If you hear actives, Rho Gams, or the SFL council refer to PNMs, they’re essentially catering to potential members who they want to bid a house!
THE 5 B’S: Boys, ballots, Bible, bucks, booze. Pro tip: don’t mention any of them. Think about it: what are you going to gain from bringing up any of these? Focus on your sisterhood, not your brotherhood!
ACTIVE: An affiliated member of an active chapter on your campus.
RUSH CRUSH: For actives: your rush crush is someone you need during the recruitment process that you want to pref or have as a little during the initiation process! If you’re a lucky PNM, you could be someone’s rush crush…
MC/PC: Formerly known as pledge class, currently known as member class. The group of girld who pledge a chapter that year!
RHO GAMMA/GAMMA CHI: The Rho Gams/Gamma Chi’s are the backbone of recruitment. They are active members of a campus chapter who separate themselves from their chapter, and instead of going through the active recruitment process, they help PNM’s find their forever home!
LEGACY: A legacy is someone who’s aunt, mother, grandmother, or other relative was in that same chapter, either at your university or elsewhere. Most schools don’t enforce legacy status anymore, but it’s fun to see where your family ended up!
COB: COB, or Continuous Open Bidding, is a form of informal recruitment. Typically for those who start formal rush but drop out, a COB can be given to a girl who has an interest in a house that dropped her.
PHILANTHROPY: Every chapter has their own philanthropy, or association with charity organizations regarding to their chapter beliefs!
GREEK ALPHABET: What the hell is a Phi versus a Pi? Girl, take this advice. Go learn your Greek alphabet. You’ll have to know it during the new member education process, and this will make rush so much easier.
keep it cute
In secondary importance to knowing your rush vocabulary, the most stressful part of recruitment can be the timely question: What do I wear?
Another pro-tip: don’t worry about it. At all. These girls are looking for a friendly, well-rounded, and involved girl: they see way past what you’re wearing.
Wear something comfortable that you feel your best in. If that’s a romper, a mini dress, or a pantsuit, you’re not going to look out of place at all. It all comes back to the balance of looking like you’re confident, but not too confident. You’re essentially going on a bunch of first dates, how are you going to make them remember you?
Whether thats pearls or fishnets, you’ve planned out your outfit the same way you’ve rehearsed your elevator pitch. Which brings us to our next point…
chapter check-in
It’s all about first impressions. But how do we know if they’re justified?
Actives are feeling the same as PNM’s during the recruitment process. Putting their best foot (and pair of heels) forward to impress everyone they meet, so how are we supposed to know what goes on behind closed doors?
Spoiler alert: the rumors you hear are never true. Someone might say Alpha Beta is a bitchy sorority, or Chi Delta is a bunch of nerds, but what does someone else’s opinion really matter to you? If that’s where you feel at home, run there. You’ll be so grateful you chose what your heart told you.
Segueing off of that, make sure you give every chapter the same chance. Follow them all on Instagram, take notes about what you liked in each house, take note of the location and so on. Sorority rush isn’t about who has the most aesthetically pleasing feed, or cutest color scheme. You’re choosing a sisterly bond you might cultivate for the rest of your life. You’re choosing bridesmaids, sisters, Starbucks trips, and couch sleepovers at the house.
What’s in my bag?
Another feared and unanticipated aspect of drastic seasonal differences between spring and fall recruitment is how to be prepared for your first house, and your final house five hours later.
Packing your rush bag is tricky: you could go one of two ways. There’s bound to be someone in your Rho Gam group with Listerine strips or spray deodorant, but do you really want to risk the prospect of being unprepared? After all, what if that final house is one of your favorites, but all you could focus on is the smell you’re exuding?
Here are my non-negotiables for spring recruitment, because in fall you’ll be a sweaty mess and in spring you’ll be frigid to the touch. Let’s balance it out.
WATER BOTTLE: You’re talking to so many girls in giant rooms, surrounded by 20 other PNM’s and actives. You’re constantly using your outside voice, so be prepared to lose your voice. As a retired theater kid who prides herself on vocal health knowledge, go the extra mile and have a cup of tea every night. You’ll thank me. If you’re not a tea girl, at least stay hydrated.
MAKEUP TOUCHUPS: Girl, they’re not judging you based on your full-beat. But confidence is key, and if you look good, you’ll feel good. A lip liner, gloss, an powder compact for touch up’s between houses can elevate your confidence, which is what the actives are looking for.
NOTES APP: Ok, we all know you’ll have your phone on you. Take your notes between houses so you can remember what you loved, hated, or might forget later!
don’t rush the process!
Overall, take your time with every chapter. You have all of these rounds for a reason – to see these girls multiple times and to get to know their sisterhood. If a house that you loved drops you, remember: it’ll all be fine. They weren’t your forever home!
This process is so much more than pearls and heels. You’re finding a place in this chaotic world that is college. You’re finding a family that inspires you, challenges you, and helps you out. If that means a few sweat stains and smudged mascara, so be it. It’s your own journey, so get out there and find your forever home!