Last year I made a decision that surprised most of my family. I rushed a sorority. It had been a choice that I waited a year before making and it’s honestly one of the best decisions I’ve made. When I rushed, everything was online which took away a lot of the stress. However, with new precautions being put in place to deal with COVID, this year’s rushes are in-person. Just last week, my sorority held our in-person rush events and it got me thinking about what I wish I had known going into rush. While there are aspects of the sorority that are confidential, I have some general tips that I can share.
- Contact and respond to your recruitment chair
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Not only does this show that you’re interested, it also shows a great deal of responsibility and commitment to the sorority. Reaching out to the head of recruitment allows you to get your questions answered and also helps the sorority significantly by knowing who’s interested in rushing and what kinds of numbers to expect at their events.
- Show up to as many events as possible
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This is not only another way to express your interest in the sorority, it also makes sure you get to know it. Every rush event is based around a specific aspect of the sorority, so attending all the events will allow you to be well acquainted with it and make sure it’s a good match for you. Plus, you’ll get to know more of the active sisters and form meaningful connections.
- Follow dress code
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Following a dress code isn’t the most important tip, but it does make a difference. Sometimes you only get last-minute information about what you should wear to an event, so showing up in proper attire shows your commitment and is also a sign of respect. Rush events happen quickly and often if there’s a dress code, you’ll only get notified the day before. I know it’s not easy to find something that matches the dress code on short notice, so if you genuinely can’t find something (say, if there’s a specific colour for semi-formal) matching part of the dress code is best. That’s to say if it’s white semi-formal and you don’t have that, don’t show up in sweats, try to still show up in semi-formal. Ultimately if you don’t have something that matches, let the organizers know so that they know you did try and you’re not disrespecting instructions.
- Engage with sisters
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This is your chance to get to know the sisterhood! If you make it into the sorority, these women are going to be the ones who’ll have your back and who you’ll become friends with. Therefore, you should get to know them as soon as you can.
- Make the most of the experience
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Rush is only the first step to joining a sorority – so have as much fun as you can and get to know everyone! It’s not just for four years, it’s for life.