Each year on college campuses, thousands of girls rush a variety of 26 assorted social sororities. Some may be legacies with their mother or even grandmothers tying them to specific sororities. Others may be hopeful firsts, rushing without any connections or background. Each school’s rush process is different- some happen in the fall, some in the spring. However, the general concept is the same, a mutual selection that results in girls becoming “sisters.”

Rushing across campuses can vary. In the South, where sorority involvement is extremely prominent, they will often require rushees to provide a minimum of 2 recommendation letters. At other schools, recruitment is more relaxed with no requirements.

With the amount of stigma surrounding sorority life, much of which is largely enforced by the media industry, many girls question whether or not rushing is even worth it. Common phrases such as “paying for friends,”  “sluts,” “superficial,” and other negatively connotated words used to describe women in sororities, as well as horror hazing stories, have deterred many from rushing. On top of all of that, sororities fees can reach up to an average of a whopping $1,000 per semester. Is rushing really worth it?

SORORITY 101

History:

The first sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, was established in 1851 at Wesleyan College in Georgia. Beginning as a secret society for women, the formation of a sorority that we know today, did not culminate until 1867 when Pi Beta Phi was established. The National Panhellenic Conference was established in 1902 when Alpha Phi, Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, and Delta Delta Delta joined together. The formation of sororities stands as a major accomplishment in the history of women’s rights and equality. The NPC represents 4 million women across 655 university campuses and 4,500 alumnae chapters in the US and Canada. Sororities were originally created as “fraternities for women,” but was changed to sorority when the term fraternity was deemed too masculine for a group of women.

Rush Process:

The rush process to find a house will differ from school to school but largely follows the same format.

1. Round Robbins: Usually spanning a short period of 2 or 3 days, round robbins is where potential new members (PNM) meet all sororities on campus. Each round involves PNMs conversing for a short period with a member of each sorority. The objective? You get to know the sorority and they get to know you!

2. Philanthropy: In the second round, PNMs return to only a select few houses where they learn about each chapter’s national philanthropy and events. After each house presents their philanthropy, PNMs again have an opportunity to converse with different members of the sorority.

3. House Tours: The third round allows PNMs to return to even fewer houses for a tour of each chapter’s house that they are invited back to. During house tours, PNMs have the opportunity to have deeper conversations with the sorority women to see if their values align.

4. Preferences: PNMs will visit, at most, 3 houses. Pref is the most formal and important night of rush where PNMs can choose which sorority they feel is best suited for them.

5.Bid Night: PNMs find out which sorority they have gotten into. Most bid nights involve opening an envelope then rushing to the house to join your sisters that are waiting.

PROS:

• Philanthropy: Participate in activities that benefit the greater good.

• Networking: With access to alumni across the country, being part of a sorority can mean meeting future employers that understand what responsibilities came with being Greek affiliated.

• Leadership Opportunities: Each house offers leadership positions for girls to undertake more responsibility and lead the sorority.

• Expansion of Social Circle: Make new friends, not only in your house but also through the rush process!

CONS:

• The Cost: By joining a sorority, your annual payment to the university could increase by about $1000.

• Potential Hazing: Though hazing is illegal at most universities, there are a few that still skirt the rules.

• Time Commitment: With mandatory events such as chapter meetings, recruitment, and philanthropy on top of all optional social events, partaking in a sorority could take a lot of time away from other things you love (including studying!)

RUSH OR NAH?

The choice to rush is 100% up to you. There is no obligation to join a sorority, nor is there any problem with joining one. Being at college is about exploring new avenues and figuring out what is actually meaningful to you. If nothing about a sorority stands out to you, there are plenty of other opportunities out there to make friends who share common interests. But if something does stand out, why not try rushing?