How to go survive sorority Recruitment…

There is nothing quite like the American tradition of sorority recruitment.  The anxiety, the excitement, the disappointment all mixed in to one fun filled summer week – dictating the rest of your college life. The drama of the entire thing can be exhausting….here are some tips that my knowledgeable friends and I have put together from experience at SMU and Ole Miss rush. Two of the most terrifying places to rush in the entire country and if we can get in so can you. Just take our advice.

Don’t show up blind. Do your research. Learn about each house, the history, philanthropy (for example if you don’t know what this word means you better look it up fast) etc. Be prepared. This will also give you an idea of the core values of each house even before you walk in the door.

Get rec letters. If someone tells you that  letters of recommendation are not needed they are lying. You should try to have at least one letter of recommendation for each house. Call your aunts or ask your neighbors if they know anyone who could write you a letter. Don’t be embarrassed because everyone asks. The more (2-3) recs per house, the better chance you will have of making it to the next round. Also, ask your mom or family members what houses they were in because chances are you might be a legacy, which is a HUGE advantage.  Note: send in a picture and resume to the person who is writing you a rec and don’t forget to follow up with a THANK YOU note.

Look the part. People will say that it does not matter what you look like, but you have a very short amount of time to make a great impression on a lot of people. So of course your appearance matters, get it together. Do your hair and make up. Wear simple jewelry and cute put together outfits. It’s not about being the prettiest or having the most expensive shoes, it’s about being the total package (sweet, well-rounded, fun, interesting, polished) Buy a nice purse…do not wear your black North Face fanny pack that is cute only at high school football games. I also recommend getting a manicure and a pedicure. Face it – you are partially being judged by your appearance so make sure you look as good as possible. Note: It’s better to be on the more conservative/classy side than on the trendy/over the top side of the wardrobe dept.

Note: Wear new shoes or really clean nice shoes. The girls rushing you will usually be sitting on the ground  in front of your chair so the first thing that they see is your feet. Don’t wear scuzzy worn down Old Navy flip flops or ripped up heels. Be aware that you are going to be standing all day BUT you must still wear beautiful shoes..your feet are just going to hurt, sorry.

Think of interesting things to talk about. You will for sure get asked, “what did you do this summer?” Think of a great answer, now take that answer and make it interesting. Talk about a trip you went on. Travel is a great topic. Do NOT say you just sat around or that you did not DO anything. So dull and the worst answer of all time. Make something up if all else fails. Note: Have a go to set of questions or topics you want them to know about you…that way you can avoid awkward silences.

Kiss some ass. The girls are working so hard to have a successful rush and they have been putting in long hour’s getting ready for you. Say you LOVE the banner, the decorations, the t-shirts, tell them you love that they all have on matching pink heels, compliment how pretty the house looks or how loud the sidewalk song was (Trust.. they made them practice it at least two dozen times!) Be sweet and compliment each girl on the hard work!! Everyone loves compliments.

Don’t forget- you have sent in a picture, resume, and a recommendation. The girls rushing you will know things about you (hopefully). Just smile, look like you are having fun, don’t show your stress or hot and tired and ask questions. You need to be memorable so the houses will ask you back.

Keep Gossip to a Minimum. Don’t speak poorly about any house no matter where it ranks among your choices. You never know who has sisters or friends in different houses. My advice, keep your experience and opinions to yourself. The decision to pick a house is a very personal one.  The house you pick will set the stage for your college experience, so choose wisely ladies. Note: say you do get your second or third choice house…you’ll want everyone to think it was your first choice all along. Resist the need to gossip and over share!

*Remember that for every house you don’t want some girl would give anything to get in.

• Bring in your purse:

• safety pins

• band aids

• lip Gloss/make up

• tissues

• small paper/pen

• small deodorant/light perfume

  
  

What to Wear. Dress to impress.  No one is going to say, “she looks to glamorous for this house” or “her dress is too pretty.” Note: girls don’t want to see your boobs in a low v-neck. Keep it classy. On dress up day wear a simple flattering plain patterned or printed sundress. On pref day, wear a cocktail dress, I would go with a simple black dress and great earrings with a fun pair of heels. Most importantly…SMILE. Make them want to hangout with you. Don’t talk about boys or parties.

Any other pointers that I forgot ladies?

(Source: Delta Gamma University of Missouri,  Marilyn, Ashley)